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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
94 Imaging
35 Features
24 Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97 Imaging
40 Features
26 Overall
34

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic XS1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was released 4 years prior to the XS1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SD970 IS scores against the XS1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Panasonic XS1

		

		

			
 SD970 IS XS1 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Canon SD970 IS

		

		

			
 XS1 SD970 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2013February 2009More recent by 47 months
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic XS1

		

		

			
 SD970 IS XS1 
Manual focus  No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Neither includes Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS features physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic XS1 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).
Take a look at the Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic XS1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the SD970 IS and the XS1.
Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and XS1 is 94 and 97 respectively.
Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
More often than not, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and XS1.
Clearly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic XS1 to show extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older SD970 IS will be behind in sensor tech.
	
			Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
			Photography Glossary	

	
	
	
	

	

		
Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Canon SD970 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic XS1
26
 comes with face detection focus
 lack of manual focus
 no manual control
 can't use external flash
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
30
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 focusing manually not possible
 manual mode not available
 no external flash support
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Panasonic XS1
56
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
64
 image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors in class (103g)
 screen does not articulate
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Sports photography information
Panasonic XS1 Sports photography information
25
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect auto focus
41
 image stabilization (Optical)
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 includes tracking autofocus
 low fps (1.0 fps)
 no shutter priority mode
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Travel photography features
Panasonic XS1 Travel photography features
51
 flash built-in
 does not have Time Lapse recording
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
69
 lighter than competitors in class (103g)
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 rather wide (24mm)
 does not have Time Lapse recording
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison
Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography advice
32
 nice screen size (3 inch)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 lack of manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
 no manual control
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 does not have Time Lapse recording
39
 rather wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 focusing manually not possible
 can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
 screen is small (2.7")
 manual mode not available
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
 does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Canon SD970 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic XS1
28
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 comes with face detection focus
 wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
 video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
 does not have external mic support
31
 rather wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors in class (103g)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
 does not have external mic jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Panasonic XS1
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-02-18 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch to focus    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
Center weighted AF    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detection AF    
Contract detection AF    
Phase detection AF    
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual exposure    
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance 3.50 m 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
Auto exposure bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 160g (0.35 pounds) 103g (0.23 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing - $130