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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R

Portability
64
Imaging
32
Features
53
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
73
Features
76
Overall
74

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R 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
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Updated by Sony A7R II
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony A7R, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and A7R (36MP) and the SX1 IS (1/2.3") and A7R (Full frame) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The SX1 IS was revealed 5 years earlier than the A7R and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX1 IS grades against the A7R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Sony A7R

 SX1 IS A7R 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Canon SX1 IS

 A7R SX1 IS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014March 2009Fresher by 59 months
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1230k230kClearer screen (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Sony A7R

 SX1 IS A7R 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX1 IS provides outer measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 615 grams (1.36 lbs) while the Sony A7R has measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

See the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony A7R in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SX1 IS against the A7R.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX1 IS and A7R is 64 and 78 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX1 IS and A7R.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SX1 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A7R will render more detail because of its extra 26MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older SX1 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Portrait photography information
Sony A7R Portrait photography information
45
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
83
has manual focus
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography advice
Sony A7R Street photography advice
56
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (615 grams)
79
tilting screen
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competitors (465 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony A7R Sports photography highlights
32
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (340 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A7R as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (615 grams)
resolution not great (10MP)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competitors (465g)
environment sealing
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
bad battery pack (340 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Landscape photography highlights
Sony A7R Landscape photography highlights
44
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (2.8 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Vlogging features
Sony A7R Vlogging features
57
quite wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
missing mic support
heavier than competition in class (615g)
36
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
lighter than competitors (465 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Sony A7R
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISSony Alpha A7R
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Sony Alpha A7R
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-27 2014-02-13
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.20 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500s 1/160s
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 615 grams (1.36 lbs) 465 grams (1.03 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 2746
Other
Battery life - 340 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $600 $1,898