Canon SX160 IS vs Olympus 1s

Below is a in depth review of the Canon SX160 IS vs Olympus 1s, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and 1s (12MP) and the SX160 IS (1/2.3") and 1s (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SX160 IS was manufactured 22 months earlier than the 1s making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX160 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus 1s being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SX160 IS scores against the 1s in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX160 IS & Olympus Stylus 1s. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon SX160 IS Gallery & Olympus 1s Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS offers external measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Olympus 1s has measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX160 IS vs Olympus 1s in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SX160 IS against the 1s.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and 1s is 86 and 79 respectively.

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX160 IS and 1s.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX160 IS due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Canon SX160 IS will provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older SX160 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.