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Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820

Portability
64
Imaging
32
Features
53
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L820 front
Portability
72
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 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
  • Announced March 2009
Nikon L820
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-675mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 470g - 111 x 76 x 85mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon L810
  • Newer Model is Nikon L830
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Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Canon SX1 IS versus Nikon L820, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and L820 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX1 IS was introduced 4 years before the L820 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the SX1 IS grades versus the L820 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Nikon L820

 SX1 IS L820 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon L820 over the Canon SX1 IS

 L820 SX1 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2013March 2009More recent by 46 months
Screen dimension3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Nikon L820

 SX1 IS L820 
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX1 IS features exterior measurements 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 Nikon L820 has proportions of 111mm x 76mm x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 470 grams (1.04 lbs).

See the Canon SX1 IS versus Nikon L820 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX1 IS against the L820.

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX1 IS and L820 is 64 and 72 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX1 IS and L820.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Nikon L820 to result in more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older SX1 IS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Portrait photography information
Nikon L820 Portrait photography information
45
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
30
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon L820 Street photography highlights
56
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
38
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (470g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX1 IS
Sports photography with Nikon L820
32
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
36
incredible zoom range (23-675mm 29.3 x zoom)
good megapixels (16MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX1 IS
Travel photography with Nikon L820
52
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
56
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
long zoom (675mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (470g)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX1 IS
Landscape photography with Nikon L820
44
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
36
relatively wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX1 IS
Vlogging with Nikon L820
57
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
24
relatively wide (23mm)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic support
heavier than competition (470 grams)
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Canon SX1 IS vs Nikon L820 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Nikon L820
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISNikon Coolpix L820
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Nikon Coolpix L820
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-03-27 2013-01-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
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) 23-675mm (29.3x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.0-5.8
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m -
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500s -
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) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 615g (1.36 lb) 470g (1.04 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 111 x 76 x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 320 photos
Battery style - AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $192