Canon's early 3.3MP compact from 2000 — 2x 32-64mm zoom, CompactFlash storage, no video.
The PowerShot S20 was an early digital compact from Canon, released in March 2000 as the follow-up to the PowerShot S10 in the original point-and-shoot arm of the S-series. It arrived when three-megapixel resolution was the leading edge of consumer digital photography.
It carried a 3.3-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD, at the time a very high pixel count for a pocketable camera, behind a 2x optical zoom covering 32-64mm equivalent at f/2.9-4.0. Images were stored on CompactFlash cards and composed on a 1.8-inch LCD or the optical viewfinder; there was no movie mode, in keeping with its 2000 vintage.
Today the S20 is mainly of interest as an early-digital collectable and for the distinctive rendering of first-generation CCD compacts. The short 2x zoom starts slightly wide at 32mm, handy indoors, but slow card writes, limited ISO range and dated ergonomics make it a curiosity rather than a daily camera.
Used examples should be tested with a period-appropriate small CompactFlash card, as very large modern cards may not be recognised by a camera of this age. Check the original battery and charger situation before buying since cells this old often no longer hold charge, inspect the LCD for fading, and confirm images are free of sensor streaks.