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Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
64 Imaging
36 Features
42 Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
38

Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX20 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX40 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
  • Announced July 2014
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Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was manufactured 4 years prior to the XG-1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX30 IS grades vs the XG-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Pentax XG-1

          

          

            
 SX30 IS XG-1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen  Take selfies
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Canon SX30 IS

          

          

            
 XG-1 SX30 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014September 2010Fresher by 46 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax XG-1

          

          

            
 SX30 IS XG-1 
Manually focus  Dial exact focusing
Touch display  No Touch display
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
When you are intending to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX30 IS enjoys exterior measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Pentax XG-1 has sizing of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).
Check out the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax XG-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX30 IS compared to the XG-1.
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX30 IS and XG-1 is 64 and 66 respectively.
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX30 IS and XG-1.
As you have seen, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to render extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older SX30 IS will be behind in sensor technology.

            Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Canon SX30 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax XG-1
41
 focusing manually
 MP count good (14 megapixels)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
40
 has manual focus
 decent MP (16 megapixels)
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison
Canon SX30 IS Street photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Street photography advice
49
 screen articulates fully
 image stabilization (Optical)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
 more heavy than competition (601g)
43
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
 heavier than competitors (567 grams)
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Sports Comparison
 Canon SX30 IS as a Sports photography camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
43
 excellent zoom range (24-840mm  35.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (14 megapixels)
 slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no phase detect auto focus
45
 great zoom range (24-1248mm  52.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent MP (16 megapixels)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 bad battery (240 shots)
 lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Canon SX30 IS Travel photography information
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography information
57
 MP count good (14 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 selfie friendly screen
 fairly wide (24mm)
 great reach (840mm)
 missing Timelapse recording
 more heavy than competition (601 grams)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
52
 decent MP (16MP)
 has built in flash
 rather wide (24mm)
 long reach (1248mm)
 lack of Time Lapse mode
 bad battery (240 per charge)
 heavier than competitors (567 grams)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary
Landscape Comparison
Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography factors
Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography factors
40
 focusing manually
 fairly wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (14 megapixels)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
 tiny screen (2.7")
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
 missing Timelapse recording
45
 has manual focus
 rather wide (24mm)
 screen size is decent (3")
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent MP (16MP)
 can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
 bad battery (240 per charge)
 lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
 Canon SX30 IS as a Vlogging camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Vlogging camera
49
 fairly wide (24mm)
 selfie friendly screen
 image stabilization (Optical)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
 low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
 missing external microphone jack
 more heavy than competition (601 grams)
25
 rather wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 lack of external mic support
 heavier than competitors (567 grams)
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Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Pentax XG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISPentax XG-1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Pentax XG-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-09-14 2014-07-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detection focusing    
Contract detection focusing    
Phase detection focusing    
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 6.80 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support    
Headphone support    
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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 601g (1.32 lbs) 567g (1.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 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 - 240 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $400 $599