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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus 1s front
Portability
79
Imaging
38
Features
66
Overall
49

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Old Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX30 IS
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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus 1
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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the 1s (12MP) is very close but the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and 1s (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX20 IS was announced 5 years prior to the 1s and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the 1s when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Olympus 1s

 SX20 IS 1s 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus 1s over the Canon SX20 IS

 1s SX20 IS 
RevealedApril 2015July 2010More recent by 58 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Olympus 1s

 SX20 IS 1s 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS enjoys physical dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Olympus 1s has specifications of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SX20 IS versus the 1s.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and 1s is 65 and 79 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The photograph here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and 1s.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The SX20 IS offers the smaller sensor which should make getting bokeh trickier. The older SX20 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus 1s
37
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
46
has manual focus
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Street photography camera
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
71
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Sports photography camera
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (450 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography info
Olympus 1s Travel photography info
53
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (600g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
great battery life (450 per charge)
supports touch focus
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
long zoom (300mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography features
Olympus 1s Landscape photography features
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
53
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (450 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging features
Olympus 1s Vlogging features
50
rather wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
32
really wide (28mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus 1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Olympus 1s
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISOlympus Stylus 1s
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Olympus Stylus 1s
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-06 2015-04-13
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 35
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 10.30 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 600g (1.32 lbs) 402g (0.89 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $500 $699