Canon SD970 IS vs Ricoh CX1

Lets look more in depth at the Canon SD970 IS and Ricoh CX1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Ricoh. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and CX1 (9MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SD970 IS was unveiled within a month of the CX1 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SD970 IS grades vs the CX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS & Ricoh CX1. The full galleries are viewable at Canon SD970 IS Gallery & Ricoh CX1 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS has got external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Ricoh CX1 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS and Ricoh CX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the CX1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and CX1 is 94 and 93 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and CX1.

Clearly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SD970 IS to provide greater detail having an extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively.