Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX400 IS: Which Superzoom Camera Suits Your Creative Journey?

When delving into the world of superzoom cameras, you’re often balancing various priorities: zoom range, image quality, portability, and usability. Today, we’re exploring two Canon models that blur the line between casual shooter and enthusiast tool - the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS (2009) and the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS (2014). Both cameras embrace the small sensor superzoom segment but differ fundamentally in design philosophy, features, and performance.

With over 15 years of rigorous camera testing under our belt, we’ll unpack how these two compare technically and practically. Whether you’re after landscape vistas, wildlife close-ups, or casual travel snaps, you’ll find the insights you need to make an informed decision.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Before diving into specs, let’s talk about the physical experience of these cameras because how a camera feels in your hands shapes your shooting enjoyment and agility.

• Canon SX1 IS: Styled like an SLR with a bulky, bridge camera body, it weighs a substantial 615 grams and measures 128x88x88 mm. The generous grip and dedicated controls cater well to enthusiasts accustomed to DSLR-like ergonomics.

• Canon SX400 IS: A compact that prioritizes portability, it’s lighter at 313 grams and smaller (104x69x80 mm). This size makes it ideal for travels when packing light matters most.

You can see the SX1 IS’s bulky, SLR-inspired grip contrasts against the sleek pocketability of the SX400 IS.

From hands-on experience, the SX1 IS’s size facilitates steady shooting with long telephoto zooms, reducing hand fatigue during extended wildlife or sports sessions. The SX400 IS embraces straightforward grab-and-go convenience but lessens physical control options.

Design and Controls: Your Interface with Creativity

How intuitively you can operate a camera has a direct impact on your ability to frame, focus, and capture fleeting moments.

The SX1 IS offers manual dials easily reached by thumb and forefinger, while the SX400 IS opts for simpler button layouts suitable for novices.

The SX1 IS shines with manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual) and exposure compensation - valuable for photographers who want creativity at their fingertips. Contrastingly, the SX400 IS has a fixed program mode, lacking manual exposure and shutter priority control. This makes the latter ideal for beginners or casual shooters but limiting if you want to push creative boundaries.

Sensor and Image Quality: Evaluating the Heart of the Camera

The sensor dictates much about image quality - resolution, noise control, dynamic range.

Both use a small 1/2.3” sensor, but the SX1 IS benefits from CMOS technology and offers RAW output, while the SX400 IS’s CCD sensor pushes pixel count higher but lacks RAW.

From test shooting experience, CMOS sensors like that in the SX1 IS generally provide better low-light performance and faster data readout, as well as flexibility through RAW capture. The SX400 IS’s higher resolution can yield more detailed images at optimal lighting but struggles more in dim conditions and offers only JPEG files.

Expect SX1 IS images to retain colors and dynamic range better in challenging lighting compared to the SX400 IS, which may produce noisier results at ISO 800+.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Moment

Whether shooting fast-moving sports or quiet wildlife, autofocus (AF) system speed and accuracy are critical factors.

The SX1 IS offers single AF without continuous tracking, so following fast subjects may be more challenging. The 4 frames per second burst is decent, but limited for rapid action.

SX400 IS adds continuous AF tracking, but only fires at 1 fps - making it less suitable for sports or wildlife photography. Face detection on both cameras enhances portrait accuracy, but the SX1 IS’s manual focusing option can help nail focus when autofocus struggles, such as in macro or low light.

Lens and Zoom: Long Reach vs Versatility

Zoom lenses are the defining feature of superzoom cameras. Comparing focal length and aperture ranges:

The SX400 IS boasts a more impressive 30x zoom (24-720mm) reaching further into the telephoto spectrum, making it appealing for casual wildlife, sports, or distant travel shots where portability is key.

The SX1 IS opts for a 20x zoom (28-560mm) but with a brighter maximum aperture at the wide end (f/2.8 vs. f/3.4), helping in lower light and producing better subject separation.

Both have optical image stabilization, important for long-zoom shooting to reduce blur from hand shake.

Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots with Confidence

Viewfinders remain relevant for steady composition, especially outdoors.

• The SX1 IS offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in addition to a fully articulating 2.8-inch LCD with 230k dots. The articulating screen facilitates shooting at creative angles and vlogging.

• The SX400 IS does not have a viewfinder, and the 3-inch fixed LCD has identical resolution.

Articulating screens like on the SX1 IS give you flexibility for creative framing, vlogging, and selfies.

If you find glare on LCDs outdoors challenging or desire steady eye-level composition, the SX1 IS’s EVF is a key advantage. However, the SX400 IS’s larger screen benefits casual review and framing.

Image Quality and Real-World Shooting: Sample Gallery

Let’s examine the cameras’ output quality in varied conditions.

Canon SX1 IS front Canon SX1 IS screen back Canon SX400 IS front Canon SX400 IS screen back

• Portraits: The SX1 IS’s wider aperture helps create smoother bokeh, lending to more flattering subject separation. SX400 IS portraits are sharper due to higher resolution but less creamy in background blur.

• Landscape: The SX1 IS delivers better tonal gradation in shadows and highlights, thanks to CMOS sensor’s superior dynamic range.

• Wildlife & Sports: Both handle zoomed-in subjects but autofocus lag and burst limitations of SX400 IS hinder capture of quick action.

• Low Light: The SX1 IS produces cleaner images at ISO 800+ with less chroma noise.

Video Performance: Moving Beyond Stills

Video is a major factor for content creators.

The SX1 IS clearly offers superior video specs, recording smooth Full HD 1080p at 30 fps in h.264. This quality suits vloggers and casual filmmakers.

The SX400 IS maxes out at 720p HD, adequate for social sharing but less future-proof.

Neither camera supports external microphones, so onboard audio quality is mediocre at best. The SX1 IS’s articulating screen makes framing easier in selfie video scenarios.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

• SX1 IS battery life details are scarce, but heavier power demands and EVF use typically reduce longevity.

• SX400 IS offers approximate 190 shots per charge using NB-11LH battery - standard for a compact of its class.

Both support SD cards but differ in slot compatibility: the SX1 IS can use SD, SDHC, or MMC, while the SX400 IS supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC (newer higher capacity cards).

Connectivity and Extras

Neither model has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. The SX1 IS offers HDMI out for direct TV connection, whereas the SX400 IS does not, limiting external display options.

Durability and Build Quality

Both lack environmental sealing, waterproofing, or shock resistance, so treat either with care in harsh outdoor settings.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Suitability

Which Camera Should You Choose?

Here is how these two cameras fit into various photography use cases:

Portrait Photography

• SX1 IS: Better skin tone rendering, smoother bokeh from wider aperture, face detection, and manual focus help craft flattering portraits.
• SX400 IS: Higher resolution may enhance detail but lacks manual controls to finesse exposure or focus creatively.

Landscape Photography

• The SX1 IS’s wider aperture, better dynamic range, and articulating screen give you more creative control. The SX400 IS’s higher megapixel count helps for cropping or large prints, but dynamic range and noise are weak points.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

• Both stretched here - the SX1 IS’s faster burst and manual focusing make it a slightly better bet, but neither matches modern dedicated cameras for speed.
• The SX400 IS’s longer zoom is tempting but pairing with slow AF and 1 fps burst rate limits action capture.

Street & Travel Photography

• SX400 IS shines for portability, weight, and discreetness.
• SX1 IS bulkier but offers more control and better video/vlogging support.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras focus to zero centimeters in macro mode, but SX1 IS’s manual focus aids better precision.

Night & Astro Photography

• The SX1 IS’s CMOS sensor and ISO performance make it more competent at low light shooting.

Video Creators

• SX1 IS leads by a significant margin with Full HD and articulating screen.

Professional Use

• Neither model is fully professional grade, but SX1 IS’s RAW, manual modes, and EVF fit better for serious enthusiasts.

Our Testing Methodology

Over years of comparative camera testing, we evaluate using a blend of:

• Laboratory benchmarks: Measuring sensor noise profiles, dynamic range via test charts.
• Controlled field shooting: Testing autofocus speed/accuracy tracking moving subjects.
• Real-world scenarios: Landscapes, portraits, macro with both cameras under typical conditions.
• User interface ergonomics: Hands-on control speed and comfort.
• Video assessment: Quality, stabilization, and usability.

Our goal is to reflect practical daily experience photographers face.

Final Verdict: Balancing Features and Creative Freedom

If you want to explore manual techniques, shoot better video, or refine your photography skills, the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS remains a versatile option worth considering despite its age.

If your priority is travel-friendly camera with massive zoom and simple operation for snapshots, the SX400 IS delivers impressive reach at an affordable price point.

Getting the Most Out of Your Superzoom Camera

Regardless of choice, consider these tips:

• Invest in a sturdy tripod or monopod when shooting extreme telephoto to maximize sharpness.
• Use manual focus and exposure (when available) for challenging portraits or macro shots.
• Explore RAW workflow for greater image editing flexibility (available on SX1 IS).
• Carry extra batteries or external chargers for longer shooting days.
• Practice zoom framing techniques - a longer lens is powerful but requires steady technique.
• Check lens hood or UV filter options to protect your fixed zoom lenses.

In Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS and SX400 IS present contrasting visions of the superzoom camera. The SX1 IS leans toward enthusiasts who value control, image quality, and video, while the SX400 IS aims for straightforward zoom-packed portability.

We encourage you to handle these cameras in person, test the controls and ergonomics, and align your choice with your creative goals. The right tool makes photography more joyful and expands your vision.

Happy shooting!

If you want to dive deeper, check out our full hands-on video reviews and sample galleries, or visit your local camera store for a firsthand try of these Canon superzooms.