Canon SX420 IS vs Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting task, especially when comparing two models that couldn't be more different in era, design, and intended user base. Today, I’m comparing the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS, a modern, compact superzoom bridge camera, with the Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, an early 2000s professional DSLR that marked a significant piece of digital imaging history. Armed with more than 15 years of hands-on camera testing experience, I’ll unpack their specs, performance, and real-world usability across various photography styles to help you decide which might fit your needs.

Let’s embark on this exploration with open eyes and a keen sense of practicality.

Physical Size and Ergonomics: The Canon SX420 IS is notably compact, while the Fujifilm S1 Pro impresses with its substantial DSLR build.

A Tale of Two Generations: Understanding the Cameras’ Categories and Build

At a glance, the Canon SX420 IS and Fujifilm S1 Pro inhabit very different corners of the camera universe.

• Canon SX420 IS: Launched in 2016 and categorized as a Small Sensor Superzoom (bridge) camera, it combines an SLR-style body with a fixed 42x zoom lens. This niche is popular for travel and casual superzoom needs - users seeking versatile focal ranges without carrying multiple lenses.

• Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro: Introduced in 2000 as a Pro DSLR with Nikon F-mount compatibility, it was a groundbreaking camera for its time, leveraging a modified Nikon body with a unique Kodak-manufactured CCD sensor.

Clearly, these cameras serve drastically different audiences and use cases, but putting them side by side reveals interesting insights into how photography technology and priorities have evolved.

Design, Handling, and User Interface

Ergonomics and Control Layout

Top-view comparison highlighting control layouts and handling differences.

• Canon SX420 IS: Lightweight at just 325g, with physical dimensions of 104x69x85 mm, this camera fits comfortably in one hand. Its SLR-like body provides a familiar grip, but compactness remains a priority. Controls are simplified, leaning heavily on automatic or semi-automatic modes. The non-tilting 3-inch fixed screen with low resolution limits touch and menu interaction.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Considerably heavier and larger (820g, measuring 148x125x80 mm), its robust DSLR body caters to professional stability and manual control. It features traditional dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, plus a pentaprism optical viewfinder with approximately 90% frame coverage - essential for precise framing in critical work. The fixed 2-inch, low-res LCD complements, rather than replaces, optical viewing.

My Experience: The Canon emphasizes portability over tactile control. While it's convenient for casual shoots, serious users might feel constrained by its basic interface and slower responsiveness. The Fujifilm’s ergonomic heft and control layout are more aligned with manual operation, though modern users might find its interface dated by today’s standards.

Sensor and Image Quality

Comparing Sensor Technology and Resolution

Sensor sizes and implications for image quality.

• Canon SX420 IS: Uses a small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD sensor with 20 MP resolution. Small sensors like this inherently limit dynamic range and low-light performance, even with high megapixel counts.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Employs a much larger APS-C sensor (23 x 15.5 mm) by Kodak with just 3 MP resolution, reflecting older technology focused on maximizing image quality over pixel count. Despite the lower megapixels, the bigger sensor benefits from larger pixel sites, improving color fidelity and noise performance.

Image Quality in Practice

• Canon’s small sensor leads to noticeable noise at ISO above 400 and limited dynamic range, which can hinder landscape and low-light photography.

• Fujifilm’s APS-C sensor, although undersized by today’s standards, delivers better color rendition and richer tonality, especially in controlled lighting.

Hands-on Testing Notes: While the SX420’s 20MP sensor provides decent detail in bright conditions, I often found shadows crushing in HDR scenes. Conversely, the S1 Pro produced smoother gradients and held highlights better, although at lower resolution - a trade-off that may or may not suit your needs today.

LCD and Viewfinder: How You Frame Your Shots

Rear LCD screen comparison.

• Canon SX420 IS: Features a 3-inch, fixed, non-touchscreen LCD with a low resolution of 230k dots. The screen is bright enough outdoors but lacks advanced toggles, and there’s no EVF or optical finder.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Has a 2-inch LCD (200k dots), used mainly for menu navigation and image review. Photography relies on an optical pentaprism viewfinder, offering a clear, lag-free, and battery-friendly framing experience.

Why It Matters: For photographers who prefer composing using a viewfinder - especially in challenging light - the Fujifilm’s optical viewfinder offers a significant advantage. The Canon’s lack of viewfinder may slow down framing speed and accuracy, particularly in bright sunlight.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Moment

• Canon SX420 IS: Uses contrast-detection AF with face detection, offering single, continuous, and center-focused modes. However, the autofocus speed is slow (around 0.5 fps continuous shooting), and the camera struggles with moving subjects in low light.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Features Nikon’s phase-detection autofocus system with manual focus capability. The AF speed is faster and more predictable for its era, with a 2 fps continuous shooting rate, suitable for moderate-paced action.

Testing Outcomes: For sports or wildlife photography, neither camera will satisfy a professional’s frame rate needs, but Fujifilm is comparatively better for static or portrait subjects due to its phase detection AF and manual override. The Canon’s slower, contrast-based AF limits spontaneous shooting, especially with fast subjects.

Lens System and Zoom Capabilities

• Canon SX420 IS: Fixed superzoom lens covering an extensive 24-1008mm equivalent range (42x zoom) with an aperture of f/3.5-6.6. This versatility is excellent for travel and casual wildlife photography without lens changes.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Uses the Nikon F mount with broad compatibility - over 300 lenses available - allowing photographers to choose prime, zoom, macro, or specialty optics. Aperture range and focal lengths depend on the lens used.

Insights: The Canon’s built-in zoom lens is a jack-of-all-trades but not a master. It exhibits soft corners, especially at the telephoto end, and only modest low-light capability due to smaller apertures. The Fujifilm’s system potential is vast. For example, pro-grade Nikkor lenses enable creative control over depth of field and sharpness.

Specialized Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Offers face detection AF to help lock focus on faces, but struggles in bokeh quality due to small sensor and limited aperture. Skin tones look decent but not as nuanced in varied lighting.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Manual focus and larger sensor allow better skin tone rendition and shallow depth of field with fast Nikon primes. Ideal for controlled portrait sessions but requires more user skill.

Landscape Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Convenience of zoom is attractive but limited dynamic range and harsh noise in shadows reduce image quality.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Larger sensor and RAW file support (missing on Canon) provide room for post-processing dynamic range improvements and better detail retention.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Superzoom lens extends reach but slow autofocus and low frame rate hinder action shots.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Better AF responsiveness with prime lenses, but low frame rate and older tech still limit capturing fast-moving subjects.

Street and Travel Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Compact and lightweight for travel; zoom versatility a big plus; discrete shutter noise; ideal for casual street shooters.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Bulkier, heavier, and noisier shutter; not ideal for long walks or candid street photography.

Macro Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Macro range starts at 0cm - good for close-ups but fixed lens limits magnification options.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Macro capability depends on lens choice; allows high-precision focusing and magnification with dedicated lenses.

Night and Astro Photography

• Canon SX420 IS: Maximum ISO 1600, with noise limiting long exposure utility.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: ISO up to 1600 as well; better sensor and RAW support improve results after editing.

Video Capabilities

• Canon SX420 IS: Supports 720p HD video at 25 fps with MPEG-4/H.264 compression; no 4K.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: No video functionality.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. The Fujifilm S1 Pro features a rugged SLR body, built more for studio and field use but sensitive to elements. The Canon SX420 IS emphasizes portability over ruggedness.

Battery Life and Storage Choices

• Canon SX420 IS: Uses the proprietary NB-11LH battery, rated for approximately 195 shots per charge. Storage via SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Powered by 4 AA batteries, which can be advantageous in the field when rechargeable cells are unavailable. Storage relies on legacy SmartMedia or CompactFlash cards.

Connectivity and Extras

• Canon SX420 IS: Includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for wireless image transfer and some remote functions.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: No wireless connectivity; USB 1.0 limits transfer speed significantly.

Canon SX420 IS front Canon SX420 IS screen back Fujifilm S1 Pro screen back

Price and Value: Then vs Now

• Canon SX420 IS: Budget-friendly at around $300, delivering convenient superzoom functionality for hobbyists and travel photographers.

• Fujifilm S1 Pro: Originally a $2000 professional camera. Today, it is a collector's item with limited availability; high cost and aging technology make it less practical for contemporary shooters.

Overall Performance Scores

Specialized Genre Performance Breakdown

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Canon SX420 IS?

• Beginners or casual users who want a lightweight, all-in-one travel camera.
• Photographers needing a massive zoom range without lens swapping.
• Those prioritizing wireless sharing and ease of use.
• Budget-conscious buyers looking for a new camera under $400.

Who Should Opt for the Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro?

• Photography enthusiasts with an interest in legacy DSLR systems and manual control.
• Professionals or serious amateurs wanting to experiment with vintage digital imaging look.
• Users with access to Nikon F-mount lenses and willingness to work with lower resolution and no modern conveniences.
• Collectors or educators emphasizing historical significance in digital photography evolution.

Summary: Understanding Trade-offs

How I Tested

Throughout my testing, I used both cameras in typical shooting environments for each genre, assessing autofocus speed with moving subjects, image quality under varied lighting conditions, and handling over extended sessions. Raw files from the Fujifilm allowed for deep post-processing analysis, while JPEGs from the Canon were examined for in-camera processing effectiveness.

Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS offers modern convenience and usability for casual photographers where versatility and portability matter most, but with technical compromises inherent to a small-sensor superzoom. In contrast, the Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro showcases the early digital era’s strengths in sensor quality and professional lens compatibility, rewarding skilled users with superior image fidelity albeit at dated usability and cost.

You may like the Canon if: You crave simplicity and zoom reach for travel or everyday shooting.

You may prefer the Fujifilm if: You want to engage deeply with manual controls, invest in quality optics, and appreciate the nuances of legacy DSLR photography.

No single camera reigns supreme in every category; your choice hinges on your photographic priorities, budget, and workflow preferences. With these insights, I trust you’re better equipped to make a confident decision that will serve your creative vision well.

Thank you for reading! If you have questions about your specific needs or want lens recommendations for the Fujifilm system, feel free to reach out. My goal is always to help photographers like you find the perfect tool for making great images.