Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

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Reviewed: Mar 2009
User reviews (21)
3.81
Amazon reviews (64)
3.50
10.0 megapixels | 2.8" screen | 28 – 560 mm (20×)

Fifth generation 'SLR-like' superzoom from Canon is the first in a new wave of CMOS-sensored 'serious' compact cameras, and boasts an impressive spec list that includes a huge 28-560mm (equiv.) 20x zoom, 1080p HD movie capture and high speed shooting, plus a wealth of photo enthusiast features (manual controls, raw mode). There's no doubt the SX1 IS offers a lot of camera in a compact package, but it's expensive (especially compared to sister model, the SX10 IS), the image quality is nothing special, and unless you really want HD movies it's hard to recommend.

Specifications

Body type
Body type SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 ?
Other resolutions 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 3840 x 2160, 1920 x 1080 ?
Image ratio w:h 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 ?
Effective pixels 10.0 megapixels ?
Sensor size 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) ?
Sensor type CMOS ?
Image
ISO Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 ?
White balance presets 6 ?
Custom white balance Yes ?
Image stabilization Optical ?
JPEG quality levels Super-Fine, Fine, Normal ?
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.) 28 – 560 mm
Optical zoom 20×
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Multi-area
  • Single
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
?
Digital zoom Yes (4x)
Manual focus Yes ?
Normal focus range 50 cm (19.69") ?
Macro focus range 0 cm (") ?
Number of focus points 9
Lens mount Unknown
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Fully articulated ?
Screen size 2.8" ?
Screen dots 230,000 ?
Touch screen No
Live view Yes ?
Viewfinder type Electronic ?
Photography features
Maximum aperture F2.8 - F5.7 ?
Minimum shutter speed 15 sec ?
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 sec ?
Aperture priority Yes ?
Shutter priority Yes ?
Manual exposure mode Yes
Subject / scene modes Yes
Built-in flash Yes (pop-up)
Flash range 5.2 m
External flash Yes (hot-shoe)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Continuous drive Yes (4 fps) ?
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom)
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±2 EV (at 1/3 EV steps) ?
Videography features
Format
  • MPEG-4
  • H.264
Microphone Stereo
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/MMC card ?
Storage included 32 MB SD card ?
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) ?
HDMI Yes ?
Wireless None ?
Remote control Yes
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery AA ?
Battery description AA batteries (NiMH recommended) ?
Weight (inc. batteries) 615 g (1.36 lb / 21.69 oz)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88 mm (5.04 x 3.46 x 3.46")
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
Timelapse recording No ?
GPS None
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