Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic S1

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic S1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and S1 (24MP) and the SD970 IS (1/2.3") and S1 (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The SD970 IS was released 11 years before the S1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SD970 IS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SD970 IS scores against the S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and Panasonic Lumix DC-S1. The complete galleries are available at Canon SD970 IS Gallery and Panasonic S1 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS has physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S1 has dimensions of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SD970 IS vs the S1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and S1 is 94 and 54 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The picture below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and S1.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SD970 IS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic S1 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.