Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100
64 Imaging
32 Features
53 Overall
40


89 Imaging
65 Features
74 Overall
68
Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot SX1 IS and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SX1 IS Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Sony a5100
SX1 IS | a5100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Canon SX1 IS
a5100 | SX1 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | August 2014 | ![]() | March 2009 | Newer by 65 months |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.8" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony a5100 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS | Sony 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 |