• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 560.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 300.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Canon SX1 IS advantages over Olympus Stylus 1

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $700 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • More telephoto lens reach
    560 mm vs 300 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Faster shutter
    1/3200 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Olympus Stylus 1 advantages over Canon SX1 IS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1/1.7 inch vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.30 vs 2.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Thinner
    56 mm vs 87 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/500 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    11 years vs 16 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    404g vs 585g
    Lighter weight
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.27 vs 0.59 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    12.0 vs 10.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.1 fps vs 3.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 14 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Review Excerpt

  • High-quality constant aperture 10.7x zoom lens with excellent performance; Very affordable for what it delivers; Ergonomically sound with a solid, professional feel; Highly customizable; Fast overall performance; Built-in EVF and tilting touchscreen LCD; Automatic lens cap.

  • Smaller sensor size than 1-inch and Micro Four Thirds models mean far lower image quality as ISO tops 800; 28mm eq. is not as wide as some competitors and not overly suited for landscape photography.

The Competition

Compared to Canon SX10 IS

Canon SX1 IS
Canon SX10 IS
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • HDMI out
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
Olympus Stylus 1
Canon SX10 IS
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Sony DSC-HX1

Canon SX1 IS
Sony DSC-HX1
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Hot shoe
  • $499
  • 1/2.4 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Manual focus
Olympus Stylus 1
Sony DSC-HX1
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $499
  • 1/2.4 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Canon SX20 IS

Canon SX1 IS
Canon SX20 IS
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
Olympus Stylus 1
Canon SX20 IS
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Nikon P7100

Canon SX1 IS
Nikon P7100
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $500
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Olympus Stylus 1
Nikon P7100
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $500
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 24p video

Compared to Olympus Stylus 1s

Canon SX1 IS
Olympus Stylus 1s
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $549
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Olympus Stylus 1
Olympus Stylus 1s
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $549
  • 1/1.7 inch
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