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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS

Portability
64
Imaging
33
Features
53
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS 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
  • Released March 2009
Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX270 HS
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX280 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are built by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX1 IS (10MP) and the SX280 HS (12MP) is pretty similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX1 IS was unveiled 5 years before the SX280 HS which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX1 IS scores vs the SX280 HS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX1 IS SX280 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX1 IS

 SX280 HS SX1 IS 
RevealedMarch 2013March 2009Newer by 48 months
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX280 HS

 SX1 IS SX280 HS 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX1 IS offers outside dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 615 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Canon SX280 HS has sizing of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX280 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX1 IS versus the SX280 HS.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX1 IS and SX280 HS is 64 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX1 IS and SX280 HS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Canon SX280 HS to deliver greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SX1 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography advice
46
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
34
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX280 HS Street photography factors
56
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (615 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (233 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography info
Canon SX280 HS Sports photography info
33
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Travel photography factors
Canon SX280 HS Travel photography factors
52
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (615g)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than others (233g)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Landscape photography highlights
Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography highlights
44
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no Timelapse recording
41
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX280 HS Vlogging information
57
decently wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (615g)
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (233 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX280 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISCanon PowerShot SX280 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX280 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-03-27 2013-03-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.8" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 615 gr (1.36 lb) 233 gr (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 210 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $325