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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100

Portability
64
Imaging
32
Features
53
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 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 a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony a5100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX1 IS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The SX1 IS was released 6 years before the a5100 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX1 IS scores vs the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Sony a5100

 SX1 IS a5100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Canon SX1 IS

 a5100 SX1 IS 
RevealedAugust 2014March 2009Newer by 65 months
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Sony a5100

 SX1 IS a5100 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX1 IS features external dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") having a weight of 615 grams (1.36 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony a5100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX1 IS versus the a5100.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX1 IS and a5100 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching a spec sheet. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX1 IS and a5100.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX1 IS due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony a5100 will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged SX1 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony a5100 Portrait photography factors
45
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography information
Sony a5100 Street photography information
56
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (615 grams)
82
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography details
Sony a5100 Sports photography details
32
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
68
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery life (400 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
52
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
80
good battery life (400 CIPA)
has focus by touch
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Landscape photography camera
44
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5100 as a Vlogging camera
57
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (615g)
34
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Sony a5100
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Sony Alpha a5100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-27 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 179
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.8" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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 gr (1.36 lbs) 283 gr (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life - 400 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $600 $448