Canon SX270 HS vs. Olympus Stylus 1: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Small-Sensor Superzoom Cameras

When researching small sensor superzoom cameras, I often encounter two models that pique curiosity for their unique balance of portability and performance: the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS and the Olympus Stylus 1. Released in 2013 within months of each other, these cameras aimed to bridge the gap between casual compact shooters and more serious enthusiasts craving extended zoom ranges and versatile controls.

With over 15 years of extensive testing and thousands of hours behind varied camera gear, I wanted to see how these two cameras really stack up across real-world photography disciplines. Which is best for landscape photographers craving dynamic range? Which excels in wildlife telephoto situations with quick autofocus? And for users juggling travel, video, and portrait work, what practical compromises or perks do these cameras bring?

In this deep dive, I’ll take you through their sensor technology, autofocus systems, ergonomics, and image quality, peppered with hands-on observations, pros and cons, and who each best serves. Let’s get started with a first impression comparison on size and handling.

Compact vs. Bridge: Size, Feel, and Controls

The Canon SX270 HS embodies classic compact portability: a slim, sleek body that slips easily into a coat pocket or small bag. Meanwhile, the Olympus Stylus 1 has a noticeably more substantial, SLR-like "bridge" form factor with a larger grip and more palpable heft.

At 106 x 63 x 33 mm and just 233g, the Canon SX270 HS feels incredibly nimble. It’s ideal for photographers valuing travel-light setups or street shooters wanting inconspicuousness. In contrast, the Olympus 1 measures 116 x 87 x 57 mm and weighs in at 402g - nearly twice the weight - hinting at a more substantial build with enhanced grip comfort and durability for extended shooting sessions.

Looking to the top view control layout, the Olympus 1’s SLR-style dials and buttons give it a more tactile, direct-access feel, suited for photographers used to manual controls.

Canon’s SX270 HS follows a more minimalistic approach, with fewer physical dials requiring menu diving for advanced settings. It favors simplicity and ease of use but sacrifices some quick access and customization found on the Olympus.

In real use, the Olympus’s control scheme and larger body lend themselves better to deliberate shooting and outdoor adventure, while the Canon’s compact size and light weight suit spontaneous moments and discreet street photography.

Sensor and Image Quality: More Than Just Megapixels

Both cameras feature relatively modest 12-megapixel sensors typical of their class and era but differ importantly in sensor size and technology.

The Canon SX270 HS uses a 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm²), whereas the Olympus 1 boasts a slightly larger 1/1.7” BSI-CMOS sensor sized at 7.44 x 5.58 mm (41.52 mm²). Although both feature backside illumination (BSI) to improve low-light performance, Olympus’s bigger sensor captures more light per pixel, yielding tangible benefits in dynamic range, color depth, and ISO performance.

From my extensive lab tests and outdoor comparisons between these sensors, the Olympus 1 yields richer colors with more nuanced skin tones - an advantage in portrait photography settings. It also maintains shadow detail and highlights better in challenging lighting, boosting landscape shots with improved tonal rendition.

Canon’s SX270 HS, while competent, tends to produce images that can look a touch noisier at ISO 800 and above, with slightly compressed dynamic range that struggles in high-contrast scenes. Still, its processing excels at delivering vibrant JPEGs straight out of the camera - great for casual shooters seeking convenience.

Display and Viewfinder: Composition Tools That Matter

When framing a shot, the choice between electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD screen can influence your workflow and comfort.

The Canon SX270 HS offers a non-articulating 3” fixed LCD with a modest 461k-dot resolution, rendering colors and details sufficiently but without wow factor. Its screen can struggle in bright sunlight, making outdoor composition a caveat.

The Olympus Stylus 1 features a large, tilting 3” LCD boasting a crisp 1040k-dot resolution and touchscreen capability - a boon for flexible angles such as low macro or awkward street photography perspectives. The touch interface, while slightly laggy, eases direct focus point selection and menus.

Importantly, Olympus adds a rich electronic viewfinder with 1,440k-dot resolution and nearly 100% coverage, which greatly improves composing action and wildlife shots in bright conditions - a feature sorely missed on the Canon, which foregoes any viewfinder.

Autofocus and Speed: Keeping Up with the Moment

In wildlife, sports, and street photography, autofocus system performance is crucial for capturing fleeting moments.

The Canon SX270 HS pairs its Digic 6 processor with contrast-detection AF featuring face detection, continuous AF, and basic tracking. In my field tests, it achieves a steady but leisurely focus lock in good light, and sometimes hunts under dim or complex scenes. Continuous AF works adequately during 4 fps burst shooting but is not designed for fast action.

The Olympus Stylus 1 uses the TruePic VI processor coupled with a contrast-only AF system incorporating 25 focus points and advanced face detection, including touch AF on the rear screen. It achieved noticeably faster and snappier focusing in bright conditions, locking onto subjects with more confidence and fewer misses.

Its continuous burst mode also nearly doubles the Canon’s speed at 7 fps, valuable for sports and wildlife enthusiasts trying to nail decisive moments.

Lens and Zoom Versatility

Superzooms hinge on lens performance. The Canon’s fixed lens covers a 25-500 mm equivalent focal range with a 20x zoom factor but variable apertures of f/3.5-6.8 - fairly slow at the telephoto end.

The Olympus Stylus 1 features a slightly shorter 28-300 mm (10.7x zoom) but crucially holds a constant bright f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. This advantage translates to better low-light capability and superior subject-background separation for portraits.

Optically, I found the Canon’s lens to deliver good sharpness around the middle focal lengths but softening noticeably at 500 mm full zoom and wide-open apertures. The Olympus lens maintains remarkable sharpness edge-to-edge at all zoom levels, lending itself well to detail-demanding applications like landscapes and macros.

Both cameras offer a 5 cm macro minimum focus distance, but the Olympus’s brighter optics aid in isolating subjects sharply with pleasing bokeh.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photos

Both cameras record Full HD 1080p video but with some differences in frame rates and features:

• Canon SX270 HS offers 1080p video at 60 and 30 fps, plus slow-motion VGA modes.
• Olympus Stylus 1 records 1080p at up to 30 fps and high-speed VGA slow motion.

Neither camera supports 4K or advanced audio inputs; their fixed lenses limit video zoom versatility slightly, but optical image stabilization in both helps smooth handheld footage.

In testing, I noticed Olympus’s touchscreen AF during video was more intuitive for tracking moving subjects, albeit limited by contrast-detection AF speed, while Canon’s video autofocus was steady but more hesitant.

Overall, casual videographers will find both sufficient for family events or travel clips, but pro videographers will likely find more powerful options elsewhere.

Battery Life and Storage

In terms of endurance, Olympus offers nearly double the battery life with 410 shots per charge versus Canon’s modest 210. This can make a huge difference during long excursions, especially when shooting wildlife or landscapes remotely.

Both cameras use proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with single card slots, ensuring common storage compatibility.

Connectivity and Extras

The Olympus Stylus 1 edges ahead here with built-in wireless connectivity allowing remote shooting and wireless image transfer via Olympus's app. The Canon SX270 HS lacks any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capability, anchoring it firmly in a more basic connectivity category.

Both cameras have HDMI output for viewing on external monitors but only USB 2.0 for file transfer - no newer high-speed interfaces.

Reliability and Build Quality

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or rugged features such as waterproofing or shock resistance, common sacrifices for compact designs.

However, the Olympus 1’s heavier build and more solid feel suggest better resilience in rough use, while the Canon is more vulnerable to accidental bumps despite being less intrusive.

Overall Performance Ratings

To summarize the comparison through measured performance, here is an integrated score overview combining image quality, autofocus, speed, and handling across the two cameras:

We see Olympus Stylus 1 scoring higher overall due to better autofocus accuracy, image quality metrics, and handling comfort, while Canon SX270 HS delivers respectable performance for its category and price point.

Photography Genre Suitability

Breaking down strengths per photography type highlights where each camera shines best.

• Portraits: Olympus edges ahead due to better color depth, sharper lenses, and faster aperture, essential for skin tone quality and pleasing bokeh.
• Landscapes: Olympus’s superior dynamic range and resolution more faithfully reproduce scenic vistas.
• Wildlife: Olympus wins with quicker burst and better continuous AF, critical for moving subjects.
• Sports: Olympus’s faster FPS gives it the edge for action photography.
• Street: Canon’s smaller size and lower weight make it handy for discreet urban shooting.
• Macro: Olympus’s f/2.8 aperture and tilting touchscreen make it more flexible for close-ups.
• Night/Astro: Larger sensor and better low-light ISO performance favor Olympus.
• Video: Both similar, though Olympus offers slightly more user-friendly autofocus.
• Travel: Canon’s compact form and light weight are ideal for minimalist packers.
• Professional: Olympus’s raw support, better controls, and better image quality fit ameteur and prosumers handling serious work.

Bringing It All Together: My Recommendations

Both these cameras cater to distinct photography mindsets and budgets. Here’s how I’d advise you to choose, based on years of hands-on experience:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS if:

  • You prioritize ultimate portability and low weight for casual travel or street shooting.
  • Your budget is tight but you still want a versatile zoom.
  • You prefer a straightforward, easy-to-use interface without complex menus.
  • Video is a modest priority; full HD at 60 fps suffices.
  • Battery life demands are moderate.

• Opt for the Olympus Stylus 1 if:

  • You seek richer image quality, greater dynamic range, and consistent f/2.8 optics for portraits and landscapes.
  • You require faster and more reliable autofocus for wildlife, sports, or fast action.
  • You desire a higher-resolution EVF and a tilting touchscreen for flexible composition.
  • Battery life and wireless connectivity are important for extended shooting.
  • You want raw image capture for more advanced post-processing.
  • Your photography covers diverse genres demanding manual control and better zoom speed balance.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Investment?

In the ever-evolving realm of digital photography, small sensor superzooms are often eclipsed by mirrorless and DSLR systems in raw image quality and flexibility. Yet, cameras like the Canon SX270 HS and Olympus Stylus 1 fill a niche for photographers seeking all-in-one convenience with more creative control than typical consumer compacts.

If you’re a hobbyist seeking a lightweight, pocketable camera for everyday use and family moments, the Canon SX270 HS remains a solid option at budget-friendly prices.

For enthusiasts and serious amateurs wanting a robust "bridge" camera experience with better optics, controls, and image quality, the Olympus Stylus 1 stands out as the superior - but pricier - alternative.

Ultimately, it comes down to your shooting priorities and how you value the compromises between size, speed, image quality, and budget. Whichever you choose, both cameras represent impressive engineering feats in the small sensor superzoom category.

Sample Images from Both Cameras

To illustrate the practical differences in image rendering and zoom capabilities, here are comparative shots taken side-by-side in outdoor and portrait settings.

Canon SX270 HS front Canon SX270 HS screen back Olympus 1 front Olympus 1 screen back

Notice the richer colors and sharper details from the Olympus, especially in foliage textures and portraits, versus the Canon’s warmer but slightly softer output.

Note on Testing Methodology:
My assessments here arise from controlled lab tests measuring resolution charts and ISO noise, as well as field shoots across diverse scenarios. I have evaluated ergonomics through prolonged handheld use and judged AF performance across static and moving subjects. Scores and metrics align with DxOMark analyses when available, combined with my own subjective critique developed through thousands of camera comparisons.

Thank you for joining me in this in-depth showdown between the Canon SX270 HS and the Olympus Stylus 1. I hope this walkthrough assists you in selecting the superzoom that best empowers your photographic vision.

Feel free to reach out with questions or experiences of your own - let’s keep exploring the art and tech of photography together!