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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus 1s front
Portability
79
Imaging
38
Features
66
Overall
49

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Launched August 2009
Olympus 1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-300mm (F2.8) lens
  • 402g - 116 x 87 x 57mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus 1
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the 1s (12MP) is very comparable but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and 1s (1/1.7") use totally different sensor size.

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The SX120 IS was brought out 6 years before the 1s which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus 1s being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX120 IS grades vs the 1s in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Olympus 1s

 SX120 IS 1s 

Reasons to pick Olympus 1s over the Canon SX120 IS

 1s SX120 IS 
LaunchedApril 2015August 2009Newer by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus 1s

 SX120 IS 1s 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX120 IS enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Olympus 1s has measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX120 IS against the 1s.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX120 IS and 1s is 87 and 79 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The image here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and 1s.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX120 IS featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus 1s will provide more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography advice
Olympus 1s Portrait photography advice
33
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
46
has manual focus
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
Street photography with Olympus 1s
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
heavier than average in class (285 grams)
71
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
good battery power (450 shots)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
long zoom (360mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (285 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
64
good battery power (450 CIPA)
provides focus via touch
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography info
Olympus 1s Landscape photography info
36
manual focus
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
53
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
good battery power (450 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging info
Olympus 1s Vlogging info
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic socket
heavier than average in class (285 grams)
32
relatively wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus 1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Olympus 1s
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISOlympus Stylus 1s
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Olympus Stylus 1s
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2015-04-13
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 10.30 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lbs) 402 gr (0.89 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 450 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $249 $699