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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 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
  • Launched August 2009
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and S1 (14MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and S1 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The SX120 IS was unveiled 18 months before the S1 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX120 IS scores vs the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Pentax S1

 SX120 IS S1 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Canon SX120 IS

 S1 SX120 IS 
IntroducedMarch 2011August 2009More modern by 18 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax S1

 SX120 IS S1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX120 IS has got external measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the SX120 IS against the S1.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX120 IS and S1 is 87 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The pic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX120 IS and S1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax S1 will offer you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography highlights
Pentax S1 Portrait photography highlights
33
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
35
has manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
heavier than competition in class (285 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX120 IS
Sports photography with Pentax S1
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX120 IS
Travel photography with Pentax S1
51
has built in flash
long reach (360mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (285 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
64
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography advice
Pentax S1 Landscape photography advice
36
you can focus manually
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax S1 as a Vlogging camera
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (285 grams)
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
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Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Pentax S1
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISPentax Optio S1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Pentax Optio S1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-19 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2500s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (0.63 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $249 $174