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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99

Portability
64
Imaging
32
Features
53
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
68
Features
88
Overall
76

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 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
  • Launched March 2009
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and A99 (24MP) and the SX1 IS (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX1 IS was unveiled 4 years earlier than the A99 and that is quite a big gap as far as 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 A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SX1 IS grades against the A99 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Sony A99

 SX1 IS A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Canon SX1 IS

 A99 SX1 IS 
RevealedDecember 2012March 2009More recent by 45 months
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Sony A99

 SX1 IS A99 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX1 IS has got 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) and the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX1 IS versus Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX1 IS compared to the A99.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX1 IS and A99 is 64 and 57 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX1 IS and A99.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SX1 IS using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony A99 will offer extra detail having an extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SX1 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
45
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Street photography information
Sony A99 Street photography information
56
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (615 grams)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
32
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A99 as a Travel photography camera
52
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (615 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
weather sealing
MP count good (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX1 IS
Landscape photography with Sony A99
44
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse function
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
bad battery (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
57
pretty wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (615g)
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
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Canon SX1 IS vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Sony A99
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISSony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-03-27 2012-12-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focus range 0cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.20 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/250 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 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 615 grams (1.36 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots 1 2
Cost at launch $600 $1,998