Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

53

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Zoom
Great zoom
20x
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Olympus PEN E-PL1

33

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

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 flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Screen size Larger screen 2.8" vs 2.7"
Help
Almost the same
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX1 IS

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Size Significantly smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 128x88x88 mm
Help
2.9x smaller
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 8.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.7" vs 3.5"
Help
2.1x thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Weight Significantly lighter 334 g vs 615 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The PEN E-PL1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $644.12
Help
The best price we've seen is $384 cheaper (2.5x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
53 vs 33
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon SX1 IS or the Olympus PEN E-PL1,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by iniwu this month
Canon SX40 vs Olympus PEN E-PL1

Am somehow between a beginner and an expert. I like to take family and wedding pictures. I like ...

0
votes
by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
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
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Screen size Very small screens Help
SX1 IS:2.8"
PEN E-PL1:2.7"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Supports RAW No RAW support
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Size Larger

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

Showing 0 comments