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Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX270 HS
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Revealed July 2014
Photography Glossary

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Canon SX280 HS versus Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and XG-1 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was brought out 16 months before the XG-1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX280 HS scores against the XG-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Pentax XG-1

 SX280 HS XG-1 
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Canon SX280 HS

 XG-1 SX280 HS 
RevealedJuly 2014March 2013More modern by 16 months

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Pentax XG-1

 SX280 HS XG-1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX280 HS provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Pentax XG-1 has dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX280 HS versus Pentax XG-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the XG-1.

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX280 HS and XG-1 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The image here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX280 HS and XG-1.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Pentax XG-1 to offer greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged SX280 HS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography information
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography information
34
focusing manually
provides face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
40
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography features
Pentax XG-1 Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (233g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (567g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX280 HS
Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
45
amazing zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography details
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography details
61
lighter than competitors (233g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
52
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (1248mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (567 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography factors
Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography factors
41
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
45
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery power (240 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging factors
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (233 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (567 grams)
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Canon SX280 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Pentax XG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSPentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Pentax XG-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-03-21 2014-07-15
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 567g (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photographs 240 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Launch price $325 $599