overview

As well as being compared against other super zooms, the Canon PowerShot S1 IS is also often compared to entry-level DSLRs and compacts. The Canon PowerShot S1 IS's top rivals come from Canon (such as the PowerShot SX20 IS and the PowerShot S3 IS) and Olympus (such as the SP-560 UZ and the SP-700)

compared toRecent super zooms

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon S1 IS compared to other competitive super zooms include: it is slightly smaller (standard size 111x78x66 mm vs prosumer size 115x83x92 mm), is thinner (2.6" vs 3.4") and is slightly less expensive ($288.29 vs $484.95).

However, on average it has significantly less zoom (10x vs 20x), records lower quality movies (480p @ 30fps vs 1440 x 1080 @ 30fps), has a much narrower wide-angle lens (38 mm vs 28 mm), has a much smaller screen (1.5" vs 2.7") and has a slightly lower resolution screen (114k dots vs 230k dots).

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
5 years newer
$369 - $413

Significant advantages of the SX20 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.5" vs 1.5"
  • Much better wide-angle: 28 mm vs 38 mm
  • Significantly more zoom: 20x vs 10x

Significant disadvantages of the SX20 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • Significantly larger: Prosumer size 128x88x87 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Heavier: 600 g vs 469 g

common strengths of the SX20 IS and S1 IS

  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/3200 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the SX20 IS vs the S1 IS

Olympus SP-560 UZ

Olympus SP-560 UZ
3 years newer
$485

Significant advantages of the SP-560 UZ (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.5" vs 1.5"
  • Much better wide-angle: 27 mm vs 38 mm
  • Significantly more zoom: 18x vs 10x

Significant disadvantages of the SP-560 UZ (vs the S1 IS)

  • None found

common strengths of the SP-560 UZ and S1 IS

  • Fairly small: Prosumer size 116x79x78 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Thin: 3.1" vs 2.6"
  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
arrow Compare the Olympus SP-560 UZ vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
2 years newer

Significant advantages of the S3 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.0" vs 1.5"
  • Much higher resolution: 6 MP vs 3.2 MP
  • Larger sensor: 1/2.5" 5x4mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm

Significant disadvantages of the S3 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • None found

common strengths of the S3 IS and S1 IS

  • Fairly small: Prosumer size 113x78x76 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Thin: 3" vs 2.6"
  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
arrow Compare the S3 IS vs the S1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
4 years newer
$600

Significant advantages of the SX1 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.8" vs 1.5"
  • Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
  • Much better wide-angle: 28 mm vs 38 mm

Significant disadvantages of the SX1 IS (vs the S1 IS)

  • Significantly larger: Prosumer size 128x88x88 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Significantly heavier: 615 g vs 469 g

common strengths of the SX1 IS and S1 IS

  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/3200 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the SX1 IS vs the S1 IS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
5 years newer
$315 - $414

Significant advantages of the DMC-FZ35 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.7" vs 1.5"
  • Much better wide-angle: 27 mm vs 38 mm
  • Much higher resolution: 9.8 MP vs 3.2 MP

Significant disadvantages of the DMC-FZ35 (vs the S1 IS)

  • None found

common strengths of the DMC-FZ35 and S1 IS

  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
5 years newer
$350 - $380

Significant advantages of the DSC-HX1 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 3.0" vs 1.5"
  • Higher resolution movies: 1440 x 1080 @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
  • Much better wide-angle: 28 mm vs 38 mm

Significant disadvantages of the DSC-HX1 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Larger: Prosumer size 115x83x92 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Thicker: 3.6" vs 2.6"

common strengths of the DSC-HX1 and S1 IS

  • Both have digital viewfinders: Digital vs Digital
  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/4000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

compared toRecent entry-level DSLRs

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon S1 IS compared to competitive entry-level DSLRs include: it has image stabilization (lens vs none), is significantly smaller (standard size 111x78x66 mm vs professional size 127x104x80 mm), is slightly lighter (469 g vs 590 g), is thinner (2.6" vs 3.1") and is much less expensive ($288.29 vs $732.99).

However, on average it has a much smaller screen (1.5" vs 2.7"), has a much smaller sensor (1/3.6" 5x3mm vs APS-C 23x15mm), has a lower quality type of viewfinder (digital vs pentamirror), doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen and doesn't shoot as fast continuously (1.7 fps vs 4 fps).

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
2 years newer
$759 (body only)
$733 18-55mm lens

Significant advantages of the Digital Rebel XTi (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.5" vs 1.5"
  • Has an optical viewfinder: Pentamirror vs Digital
  • Much larger sensor: APS-C 22x14mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm

Significant disadvantages of the Digital Rebel XTi (vs the S1 IS)

  • No image stabilization: None vs Lens
  • Significantly larger: Prosumer size 127x94x65 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm

common strengths of the Digital Rebel XTi and S1 IS

  • Fairly small: Prosumer size 127x94x65 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Thin: 2.6" vs 2.6"
arrow Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XTi vs the PowerShot S1 IS

Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000
5 years newer
$630 - $680 (body only)
$750 - $766 18-55mm lens

Significant advantages of the D5000 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much larger screen: 2.7" vs 1.5"
  • Has an optical viewfinder: Pentamirror vs Digital
  • Much larger sensor: APS-C 23x15mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm

Significant disadvantages of the D5000 (vs the S1 IS)

  • No image stabilization: None vs Lens
  • Much larger: Professional size 127x104x80 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Significantly thicker: 3.1" vs 2.6"

common strengths of the D5000 and S1 IS

  • None found
arrow Compare the Nikon D5000 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

compared toRecent compacts

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon S1 IS compared to competitive compacts include: it has much more zoom (10x vs 2.5x), has better image stabilization (lens vs none), has a viewfinder (digital vs none) and is significantly less expensive ($288.29 vs $799.99).

However, on average it has a slightly narrower wide-angle lens (38 mm vs 24 mm), has a slightly lower resolution screen (114k dots vs 460k dots), is much larger (standard size 111x78x66 mm vs compact 109x56x27 mm), has a much smaller screen (1.5" vs 3.0") and has a much smaller sensor (1/3.6" 5x3mm vs 1/1.7" 7x5mm).

Olympus SP-700

Olympus SP-700
1 year newer

Significant advantages of the SP-700 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much smaller: Compact 98x57x24 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Much larger screen: 3.0" vs 1.5"
  • Much lighter: 180 g vs 469 g

Significant disadvantages of the SP-700 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much less zoom: 3x vs 10x
  • Narrower aperture: f/3.3 vs f/2.8
  • No image stabilization: None vs Lens

common strengths of the SP-700 and S1 IS

  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the Olympus SP-700 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Kyocera Finecam 3300

Placeholder
3 years older

Significant advantages of the 3300 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much smaller: Compact 38x94x66 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Much larger sensor: 1/1.7" 7x5mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm
  • Much lighter: 240 g vs 469 g

Significant disadvantages of the 3300 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much less zoom: 2x vs 10x
  • No image stabilization: None vs Lens
  • No viewfinder: None vs Digital

common strengths of the 3300 and S1 IS

  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the Kyocera Finecam 3300 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Leica D-LUX 4

Leica D-LUX 4
4 years newer
$800 - $1,000

Significant advantages of the D-LUX 4 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much smaller: Compact 109x56x27 mm vs Standard size 111x78x66 mm
  • Much larger screen: 3.0" vs 1.5"
  • Much larger sensor: 1/1.7" 8x6mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm

Significant disadvantages of the D-LUX 4 (vs the S1 IS)

  • Much less zoom: 2.5x vs 10x
  • No viewfinder: None vs Digital

common strengths of the D-LUX 4 and S1 IS

  • Wide aperture: f/2.0 vs f/2.8
  • Good image stabilization: Lens vs Lens
  • Fast max shutter speeds: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/2000 of a second
arrow Compare the Leica D-LUX 4 vs the Canon PowerShot S1 IS