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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS

Portability
64
Imaging
33
Features
53
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Key Specs

Canon SX1 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 615g - 128 x 88 x 88mm
  • Launched March 2009
Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Introduced August 2009
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX1 IS (10MP) and the SX120 IS (10MP) is fairly comparable but the SX1 IS (1/2.3") and SX120 IS (1/2.5") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX1 IS was unveiled 4 months prior to the SX120 IS which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SX1 IS scores vs the SX120 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Canon SX120 IS

 SX1 IS SX120 IS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Canon SX1 IS

 SX120 IS SX1 IS 
Display sizing3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX120 IS

 SX1 IS SX120 IS 
IntroducedMarch 2009August 2009Same age
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX1 IS has got physical dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") and a weight of 615 grams (1.36 lbs) while the Canon SX120 IS has sizing of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SX1 IS compared to the SX120 IS.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX1 IS and SX120 IS is 64 and 87 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through specifications. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX1 IS and SX120 IS.

To sum up, the two cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The SX1 IS has got the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX1 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX120 IS
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
33
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/500s)
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX120 IS as a Street photography camera
56
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (615 grams)
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average (285g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography info
Canon SX120 IS Sports photography info
33
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX1 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX120 IS
52
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (615 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
built-in flash
long reach (360mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (285 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Landscape photography highlights
Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography highlights
44
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX120 IS Vlogging highlights
57
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than average (285g)
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX120 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX120 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISCanon PowerShot SX120 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-03-27 2009-08-19
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 36-360mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-4.3
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 6.3
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds 1/500 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 615 grams (1.36 lb) 285 grams (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC card SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $249