Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P100

70

"The P100 is definitely the current big deal in Nikon's Coolpix performance line."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's overall-performance
"The overall control layout is simple and straightforward."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Weight
Light-weight
481 g
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

65

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
External flash
External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX1 IS

Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.5" vs 3.9"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
Around 90% longer exposures
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX1 IS

Advantages of the Nikon P100

Zoom More zoom 26.1x vs 20x
Help
More than 70% more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Wide angle Better wide angle 26 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Around 10% better wide angle
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
2.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The P100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 615 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 114x83x99 mm vs 128x88x88 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
65 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P100.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot SX1 IS
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P100
NikonCoolpix P100
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
0
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
1
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
0
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Zoom Great zoom Help
SX1 IS:20x
P100:26.1x
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX1 IS:0 cm
P100:1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX1 IS:3.5"
P100:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
SX1 IS:615 g
P100:481 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Size Large Help
SX1 IS:128x88x88 mm
P100:114x83x99 mm

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

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

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$319 - $350

Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

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

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$496

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$305 - $475

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355

Lowest price Is much less expensive
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
True resolution Takes much lower resolution photos
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$374 - $379

Zoom Has much more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$583 - $600

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$219 - $304

Size Much smaller
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Aperture Narrower aperture

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Nikon Coolpix P90

Nikon Coolpix P90

Super zoom

$539

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Movie format Lower resolution movies
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Nikon Coolpix P100
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Nikon Coolpix P100
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Nikon Coolpix P100

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for christopherreid christopherreid (0:24 AM, April 01, 2010)
Hi Werner, the P100 shows a lot of advantages over ths SX1 IS, probably why we choose it as the winner. Zoom, ISO, shooting speed, LCD resolution all go to the P100 and they're all good things to have in a camera.
 
Avatar for wernerweidinger wernerweidinger (7:05 PM, March 30, 2010)
Am undecided- can somebody help me-
Nikon P100 or Canon SX 1 IS-
would appreciate your advice,
Werner