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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Launched February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly close but the SD970 IS (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor sizes.

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The SD970 IS was launched 5 years prior to the MX-1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SD970 IS scores vs the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Pentax MX-1

 SD970 IS MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Canon SD970 IS

 MX-1 SD970 IS 
RevealedJuly 2013February 2009Fresher by 53 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k461kSharper display (+459k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax MX-1

 SD970 IS MX-1 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS has external 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 Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check out the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the MX-1.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and MX-1 is 94 and 84 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and MX-1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical resolution but different sensor sizing. The SD970 IS has got the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier. The older SD970 IS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
26
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
42
you can focus manually
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Sports photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (290 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
61
good battery power (290 per charge)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
32
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
good battery power (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
33
pretty wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
heavier than others (391g)
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Pentax MX-1
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPentax MX-1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Pentax MX-1
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-02-18 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 391g (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch - $400