Canon SX160 IS vs Sigma SD1

Below is a thorough assessment of the Canon SX160 IS vs Sigma SD1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Canon and Sigma. The resolution of the SX160 IS (16MP) and the SD1 (15MP) is fairly close but the SX160 IS (1/2.3") and SD1 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The SX160 IS was manufactured 2 years later than the SD1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX160 IS being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the SX160 IS scores against the SD1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX160 IS and Sigma SD1. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX160 IS Gallery and Sigma SD1 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX160 IS provides physical measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") and a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 has sizing of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX160 IS vs Sigma SD1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX160 IS compared to the SD1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX160 IS and SD1 is 86 and 77 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX160 IS and SD1.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SX160 IS featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Canon SX160 IS will render greater detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher SX160 IS is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.