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Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5

Portability
64
Imaging
33
Features
53
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Key Specs

Canon SX1 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P3
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Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SX1 IS versus Olympus E-P5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and E-P5 (16MP) and the SX1 IS (1/2.3") and E-P5 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The SX1 IS was manufactured 5 years earlier than the E-P5 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the SX1 IS scores versus the E-P5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Olympus E-P5

 SX1 IS E-P5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Canon SX1 IS

 E-P5 SX1 IS 
RevealedOctober 2013March 2009Fresher by 55 months
Display dimension3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Olympus E-P5

 SX1 IS E-P5 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX1 IS enjoys 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 Olympus E-P5 has dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Check the Canon SX1 IS versus Olympus E-P5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX1 IS and the E-P5.

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX1 IS and E-P5 is 64 and 85 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX1 IS and E-P5.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SX1 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Olympus E-P5 will show extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The older SX1 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-P5 as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
71
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography details
Olympus E-P5 Street photography details
56
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (615g)
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
heavier than competition in class (420g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography info
Olympus E-P5 Sports photography info
33
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-P5 Travel photography highlights
52
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (615g)
low megapixels (10MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than competition in class (420 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Landscape photography information
Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography information
44
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Vlogging factors
Olympus E-P5 Vlogging factors
57
decently wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (615 grams)
33
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
heavier than competition in class (420 grams)
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Canon SX1 IS vs Olympus E-P5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Olympus E-P5
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISOlympus PEN E-P5
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Olympus PEN E-P5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-03-27 2013-10-03
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 35
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.20 m 7.00 m (ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 615g (1.36 pounds) 420g (0.93 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 895
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $600 $389