Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

63

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

56

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External flash
External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX1 IS

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 2.8" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
More than 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX1 IS

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS

Weight Slightly lighter 600 g vs 615 g
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
63 vs 56
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS.

advice

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I am considering either the SX1 IS or the SX20 IS,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Zoom Great zoom Help
20x
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/3200 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
SX1 IS:615 g
SX20 IS:600 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX1 IS:3.5"
SX20 IS:3.4"
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Size Large Help
SX1 IS:128x88x88 mm
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Screen size Very small screens Help
SX1 IS:2.8"
SX20 IS:2.5"
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Zoom Poor zoom Help
20x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Size Is significantly smaller
Zoom Has significantly less zoom
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Size Is much smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Significantly less zoom

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (8:36 PM, August 11, 2010)
Thanks for pointing that out, fixed!
 
Amkroosh (4:41 PM, August 10, 2010)
both cameras has a flip-out screen as you can see in the pictures you included.
Please correct that mistake