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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Introduced August 2009
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Canon SX120 IS versus Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very comparable but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and MX-1 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizing.

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The SX120 IS was revealed 4 years prior to the MX-1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SX120 IS scores against the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Pentax MX-1

 SX120 IS MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Canon SX120 IS

 MX-1 SX120 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2013August 2009More modern by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax MX-1

 SX120 IS MX-1 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX120 IS features outer measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX120 IS versus Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the SX120 IS against the MX-1.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and MX-1 is 87 and 84 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and MX-1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax MX-1 will produce greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
42
has manual focus
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (285g)
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography advice
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
has no phase detect autofocus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (290 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
very long reach (360mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average (285g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
good battery (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (391 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
36
focusing manually
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse function
55
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
good battery (290 shots)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging features
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging features
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone socket
more heavy than average (285 grams)
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external mic support
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Pentax MX-1
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Pentax MX-1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-19 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 6.3 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $249 $400