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Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Key Specs

Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Superseded the Canon SX210 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX240 HS
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
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Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX230 HS (12MP) and XG-1 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX230 HS was manufactured 4 years prior to the XG-1 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX230 HS being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX230 HS grades against the XG-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Pentax XG-1

 SX230 HS XG-1 
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Canon SX230 HS

 XG-1 SX230 HS 
LaunchedJuly 2014July 2011Fresher by 36 months

Common features in the Canon SX230 HS and Pentax XG-1

 SX230 HS XG-1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX230 HS has physical dimensions of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Pentax XG-1 has proportions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") accompanied by a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the SX230 HS compared to the XG-1.

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX230 HS and XG-1 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The visual here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX230 HS and XG-1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Pentax XG-1 to give extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older SX230 HS is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Portrait photography camera
34
focusing manually
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
40
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Street photography information
Pentax XG-1 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (223g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others in class (567g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
36
incredible zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (210 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
45
great zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Travel photography factors
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than others (223 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
long zoom (392mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (210 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1248mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery pack (240 shots)
more heavy than others in class (567g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Landscape photography features
Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography features
41
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (210 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
45
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Vlogging factors
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
34
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (223 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
25
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (567 grams)
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Canon SX230 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX230 HS and Pentax XG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX230 HSPentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Pentax XG-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-07-19 2014-07-15
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-392mm (14.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech PureColor II TG TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 223 grams (0.49 lb) 567 grams (1.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 210 shots 240 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $599