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Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

*Est. $590

Reviewed June 2009
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

pros
  • 20x zoom lens
  • HD video
  • RAW format support
  • Upgraded CMOS sensor
  • Swiveling LCD display
cons
  • Metering problems
  • Bulky
  • Poor battery life
 
 
Where to Buy
  • Amazon

    for $599.95

  • Vanns.com

    for $579.97

  • eBay

    for $529.00

 
 
 

At first glance, the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS appears nearly identical to the well-reviewed Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. But upon closer inspection, the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS offers some impressive upgrades: a higher-end CMOS sensor, HD video and RAW format support. For ultra-zoom aficionados, the SX1 IS offers more versatility and, according to CNET's Lori Grunin, "slightly better performance and image quality." Like the SX10, the SX1 has a 10-megapixel resolution, 20x optical zoom and a 28 mm wide angle lens that's equipped with image stabilization. It's equally as bulky and bears a slightly larger 2.8-inch variable LCD display, which can be rotated to accommodate different shooting and lighting conditions. The upgraded CMOS sensor, according to DigitalCameraReview.com, provides increased immunity to noisy images and uses less power.

Reviewers say the Canon PowerShot SX1 has faster performance with more accurate auto focus. The camera turns on and shoots in 1.4 seconds, and has better continuous-shot rates and faster shot-to-shot times. Grunin considers photo quality to be the best of its class, with less noise and artifacts than the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. However, performance is not problem-free. Don Wan of DPReview.com and users at Amazon.com note loss of detail due to noise reduction, and in testing Wan found the lens prone to color fringing -- that is, visible bands of colors between light and dark areas of a photo. (This is a common occurrence in images of trees against a bright sky.) High-contrast metering is also fickle, and battery life limited. Still, the upgrades in HD video and RAW support format alone may be worth the extra hundred dollars in cost for some users. Grunin says that the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS is "probably the best megazoom we've tested so far."

CNET, DigitalCameraReview.com and DPReview.com provide testing and in-depth evaluation of the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, comparing it to its highly rated sibling, the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. A few user reviews for this relatively new camera appear at Amazon.com, where owner experiences help to reveal potential problems with extended use.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
AmazonAmazon rated 3.50 (1651 reviews)1651 store reviewsIn Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25!$599.95
Vanns.comVanns.com rated 4.50 (549 reviews)549 store reviewsIn Stock. New$579.97
eBayeBay rated 4.00 (1175 reviews)1175 store reviewsIn Stock. New$529.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

Grunin takes the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS for a test run and likes what she sees, despite its drawbacks with image artifacts, bulky size and quirky interface. Nonetheless, the camera provides the versatility and performance of a DSLR with the added benefit of a 20x zoom and HD video. Overall, she says it's "probably the best megazoom we've tested so far."

Review: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Lori Grunin, April 27, 2009

2. DigitalCameraReview.com

In his test of the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, J. Keenan says the camera is virtually identical to its sibling -- the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS -- with the exception of a few important features: a new CMOS sensor, HD video and RAW format support. The PowerShot SX1 IS is a powerhouse that outperforms the SX10 IS, with better shutter lag, continuous shot rates and faster shot-to-shot times.

Review: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, J. Keenan, May 4, 2009

3. DPReview.com

Although the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS performs well, Don Wan says it offers "too little to justify its higher price." He recommends the less expensive yet powerful Canon PowerShot SX10 IS.

Review: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Review, Don Wan, March 2009

4. Amazon.com

Only a handful of owners post comments about the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. While most agree that the HD video and CMOS sensor are nice upgrades, several complain of problems with noise images, wobbly video and bulkiness.

Review: Canon PowerShot SX1IS, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of June 2009

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