Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Digital Camera - Black (10MP, 20x Optical Zoom) 2.8 inch LCD
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Digital Camera - Black (10MP, 20x Optical Zoom) 2.8 inch LCD
See it at Amazon.co.uk for £347.50Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Not what I expected...
(3 out of 5) by Mr. P. J. Davis on Jul 8, 2009 (Kingston upon Hull, England)Having seen a top rating in a photo mag for the cheaper SX10 model I had expected the SX1 to equal, if not surpass in performance but how mistaken I was. In fact, I wished I had done more research.
In line with some online reviews I have found the sensor to be way too noisy. It would appear the change to CMOS was done to allow HD video and for no other reason and what results is significant grain even at low ISO settings. Go anything over 100 ISO and it's a BIG issue.
As with most 'bridge' cameras the "fringeing" - or chromatic abberation - can be pronounced and is quite noticeable in scenes where trees are against a sky. Both of these failings require quite some work in Photoshop to fix.
Image quality is consistent accross the range although macro could be clearer. Image stabalisation is up to Canon's usual high standard and allows handheld shots even at full zoom.
Overall, the pictures are sharper than my old Olympus SP - but one would expect that on a camera that is 3MP higher resolution.
The construction is good and feels solid with a responsive zoom and low shutter lag. The fold out and swivel screen is helpful for macro shots and other awkward situations. Menus are easily navigable with the only niggle being the wheel on the rear for rotating through selections which sometimes is unresponsive.
Overall then I have to say this camera is not worth the high price tag. For a company with such a pedigree to produce a high priced camera that gives terrible image noise and colour fringeing hints at either lazyness or a work in progress. Perhaps they are waiting for feedback on the CMOS image handling before making a decision whether to stick with it. My feedback is definitely negative.
As my main need is for good sports tracking and the item is not faulty I will keep this camera - while I save up for something better - but I cannot honestly recommend it. Unless you really, really need the HD movie recording I would suggest you look to the cheaper SX10 with the older sensor and spend the saving on some accessories instead.
You have been warned.
In line with some online reviews I have found the sensor to be way too noisy. It would appear the change to CMOS was done to allow HD video and for no other reason and what results is significant grain even at low ISO settings. Go anything over 100 ISO and it's a BIG issue.
As with most 'bridge' cameras the "fringeing" - or chromatic abberation - can be pronounced and is quite noticeable in scenes where trees are against a sky. Both of these failings require quite some work in Photoshop to fix.
Image quality is consistent accross the range although macro could be clearer. Image stabalisation is up to Canon's usual high standard and allows handheld shots even at full zoom.
Overall, the pictures are sharper than my old Olympus SP - but one would expect that on a camera that is 3MP higher resolution.
The construction is good and feels solid with a responsive zoom and low shutter lag. The fold out and swivel screen is helpful for macro shots and other awkward situations. Menus are easily navigable with the only niggle being the wheel on the rear for rotating through selections which sometimes is unresponsive.
Overall then I have to say this camera is not worth the high price tag. For a company with such a pedigree to produce a high priced camera that gives terrible image noise and colour fringeing hints at either lazyness or a work in progress. Perhaps they are waiting for feedback on the CMOS image handling before making a decision whether to stick with it. My feedback is definitely negative.
As my main need is for good sports tracking and the item is not faulty I will keep this camera - while I save up for something better - but I cannot honestly recommend it. Unless you really, really need the HD movie recording I would suggest you look to the cheaper SX10 with the older sensor and spend the saving on some accessories instead.
You have been warned.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
What more to say????
(5 out of 5) by Alan Bickerstaff on Jun 26, 2009 (Swannington, England)I won't bother repeating all the comments below - suffice to say that after a couple of weeks, I am very impressed.
Some follow up info, though. If anyone's looking for a case for the SX1, the Lowepro Apex 100AW is a pretty much perfect fit. Went round quite a few shops trying to find one that the camera would go in, but which would also then fit into a briefcase. At 125mm high (x180L x140W), this one does - just - and will also hold a spare set of batteries.
Some follow up info, though. If anyone's looking for a case for the SX1, the Lowepro Apex 100AW is a pretty much perfect fit. Went round quite a few shops trying to find one that the camera would go in, but which would also then fit into a briefcase. At 125mm high (x180L x140W), this one does - just - and will also hold a spare set of batteries.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
for happy snapping or more technical pictures
(4 out of 5) by Mr. M. B. Landeryou on May 1, 2009 (carmarthenshire, west wales)i have had this camera for nearly two months and i still have loads to learn about it's capabilities. this is my second digital camera (the first being a canon A410) AND THE UPGRADE IS HUGE. the zoom is fantastic at getting close-up shots of birds etc.(from a range of about 15-20 feet) and the macro and super macro is stunning at close-in pics of flowers, moss and fungus and also bugs etc.
the 4 frames a second shooting is very usefull at doing birds in flight and the SANDISK 4GB 111 SDHC cards i use can keep up with the writing speed from camera too card quite easily. (30mb per sec read/write speed) i use two sets of 2850 re-chargeable batteries and one set of 2700, and one set of any of them, can last a couple of days, taking approx. 2000+ high-res jpg's.
i haven't used the hd video aspect of this camera yet (not important too me) so i will not comment on this aspect of it's features other than to say that it only takes one push of a button to do and seems very good, given that i only tried it for about 30 seconds or so. it does use a load of space on the card though and i think my 4GB cards are good for only about 30 minutes each.
the macro shooting is great though and will easily show the hairs on a bumble bee, butterfly, house fly etc. if that is your thing. the close-ups of moss and fungus will show fantastic detail and colours aswell, especially using super-macro. the lens can touch the subject and still be in focus. terrific.
the best results are obtained at low ISO numbers eg. 80-200. higher ISO'S can show a little bit of grain, but it all depends on how sunny it is at the time. you need a low ISO and a fast speed for best results to get birds in flight, but for feeding birds (relatively still) you can use 400-800 ISO, with a bright day, and still get resonably good results. it is all a matter of practice though and i still have a long way to go before i get anywhere near the capabilities of this camera.
the manual is over 300 pages (if you print it out) and is not as helpfull as it could be. i suspect it has been written by someone whome knows all about camera's and so expects the novice to be able to cope with the huge amount of features and combinations of shooting modes available. this camera will do "happy snaps" if you want it to, but it can also reward the new enthusiast with some fantastic results. it takes very good "inside" pictures when put on "auto" thanks too the on-board flash and makes the results of my old A410 look completely naff. the big lcd screen on the back is also very handy for macro shooting when you can't bend down close enough too the subject....bee's, butterflies, plants etc.
this camera is not for the complete beginner however, due mainly too the complex features available, but it will reward you with some brilliant pics if you are prepared to put a little effort into learning about at least some of the more commonly used features. to get one substantially better (another canon model for example) you will need to spend around £850+, and that is just for the body, with no lens attached. the lens on the SX1 is fixed.
ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE SX1 IS ONLY 8.1 MEGAPIXELS IN WIDESCREEN MODE. IT IS 10 MEGAPIXELS IN FULL SCREEN MODE ONLY. this is a feature of the camera that i have yet to see in ANY advert, so may be something you will need to think about when comparing it too other makes of camera with simmilar features. this isn't an issue for me though, as i crop picturs into widescreen anyway when doing "close-ups" of the subjects, so only loose the "extra" 2 megapixels from parts of a picture that are not neccessary. pixelation on a subject happens at the same point of zooming-in, whether you use full-screen or widescreen, so use the mode best suited too your monitor etc. i highly recommend this camera but have given it only 4 stars due too the un-helpful handbook which you either need access to a computer at all times to read, or carry the print-out version with you (it's heavy) also, the small loss of quality in pictures at very high ISO speeds and the ONLY 8.1 megapixel shooting in WIDESCREEN MODE.
the 4 frames a second shooting is very usefull at doing birds in flight and the SANDISK 4GB 111 SDHC cards i use can keep up with the writing speed from camera too card quite easily. (30mb per sec read/write speed) i use two sets of 2850 re-chargeable batteries and one set of 2700, and one set of any of them, can last a couple of days, taking approx. 2000+ high-res jpg's.
i haven't used the hd video aspect of this camera yet (not important too me) so i will not comment on this aspect of it's features other than to say that it only takes one push of a button to do and seems very good, given that i only tried it for about 30 seconds or so. it does use a load of space on the card though and i think my 4GB cards are good for only about 30 minutes each.
the macro shooting is great though and will easily show the hairs on a bumble bee, butterfly, house fly etc. if that is your thing. the close-ups of moss and fungus will show fantastic detail and colours aswell, especially using super-macro. the lens can touch the subject and still be in focus. terrific.
the best results are obtained at low ISO numbers eg. 80-200. higher ISO'S can show a little bit of grain, but it all depends on how sunny it is at the time. you need a low ISO and a fast speed for best results to get birds in flight, but for feeding birds (relatively still) you can use 400-800 ISO, with a bright day, and still get resonably good results. it is all a matter of practice though and i still have a long way to go before i get anywhere near the capabilities of this camera.
the manual is over 300 pages (if you print it out) and is not as helpfull as it could be. i suspect it has been written by someone whome knows all about camera's and so expects the novice to be able to cope with the huge amount of features and combinations of shooting modes available. this camera will do "happy snaps" if you want it to, but it can also reward the new enthusiast with some fantastic results. it takes very good "inside" pictures when put on "auto" thanks too the on-board flash and makes the results of my old A410 look completely naff. the big lcd screen on the back is also very handy for macro shooting when you can't bend down close enough too the subject....bee's, butterflies, plants etc.
this camera is not for the complete beginner however, due mainly too the complex features available, but it will reward you with some brilliant pics if you are prepared to put a little effort into learning about at least some of the more commonly used features. to get one substantially better (another canon model for example) you will need to spend around £850+, and that is just for the body, with no lens attached. the lens on the SX1 is fixed.
ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE SX1 IS ONLY 8.1 MEGAPIXELS IN WIDESCREEN MODE. IT IS 10 MEGAPIXELS IN FULL SCREEN MODE ONLY. this is a feature of the camera that i have yet to see in ANY advert, so may be something you will need to think about when comparing it too other makes of camera with simmilar features. this isn't an issue for me though, as i crop picturs into widescreen anyway when doing "close-ups" of the subjects, so only loose the "extra" 2 megapixels from parts of a picture that are not neccessary. pixelation on a subject happens at the same point of zooming-in, whether you use full-screen or widescreen, so use the mode best suited too your monitor etc. i highly recommend this camera but have given it only 4 stars due too the un-helpful handbook which you either need access to a computer at all times to read, or carry the print-out version with you (it's heavy) also, the small loss of quality in pictures at very high ISO speeds and the ONLY 8.1 megapixel shooting in WIDESCREEN MODE.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Canon Powershot SX1 IS
(4 out of 5) by L. Forbes on Feb 20, 2009 (Houston Scotland)This camera is all the reviewers say it is. And Better! I have used Canon equipment since the early sixties and this one gives me the most fun. It is true the lens is amazing and when filming, either at the HD setting, or below, the sound quality is marvellous. Just when you thought the upcoming latest alternatives had a RAW facility and the SX1 didn't, Canon have just introduced details of this facility being available via a software release in mid March. This is just terrific.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent camera, and fantastic picture quality
(5 out of 5) by Simon Grierson on Jun 6, 2009 (Kent, England)Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Digital Camera - Black (10MP, 20x Optical Zoom) 2.8" LCD
Having just had our first Baby, we decided that it was high time to get a decent camera. However, we were stuck betwen getting a decent SLR or a decent HD video camcorder.
After a modicum of research, we came to this - the Canon Powershot SX1 IS, which bridges both worlds ery nicely.
It's a ProSumer camera, so therefore has a fixed high quality Powerzoom lens - (20x optical to be precise), and lots of manual and automatic options. It also allows you to shoot 1080p HD video and use the super-quiet zooming function on the lens - just as if it were a real camcorder.
The resulting images are impressive, colourful without being over-saturated, and there is nary a hint of whiteout on brighter photos.
If there was a downside it would be that the lens cap is not tethered to the body, so you need to buy one separately (though they are only a few pence or pounds - depending where you get them from), plus you have to keep buying batteries. (get some rechargeable - I have some 2900mha AA batteries from Uniross - they last forever and with the right charger can be charged in around 15 minutes)
It has a good solid feel, with a large metal ring around th lens . Although it appears to be threaded to accept accessories, none are available and ou certainly cant add any filters without someone desinging a 3dd party add on.
Overall, I'd thoroughly reccomend this to anyone not quite ready to make the leap to full SLR - or does not want to lug about dozens of expensive lenses, but wants more than just snapshots.
Having just had our first Baby, we decided that it was high time to get a decent camera. However, we were stuck betwen getting a decent SLR or a decent HD video camcorder.
After a modicum of research, we came to this - the Canon Powershot SX1 IS, which bridges both worlds ery nicely.
It's a ProSumer camera, so therefore has a fixed high quality Powerzoom lens - (20x optical to be precise), and lots of manual and automatic options. It also allows you to shoot 1080p HD video and use the super-quiet zooming function on the lens - just as if it were a real camcorder.
The resulting images are impressive, colourful without being over-saturated, and there is nary a hint of whiteout on brighter photos.
If there was a downside it would be that the lens cap is not tethered to the body, so you need to buy one separately (though they are only a few pence or pounds - depending where you get them from), plus you have to keep buying batteries. (get some rechargeable - I have some 2900mha AA batteries from Uniross - they last forever and with the right charger can be charged in around 15 minutes)
It has a good solid feel, with a large metal ring around th lens . Although it appears to be threaded to accept accessories, none are available and ou certainly cant add any filters without someone desinging a 3dd party add on.
Overall, I'd thoroughly reccomend this to anyone not quite ready to make the leap to full SLR - or does not want to lug about dozens of expensive lenses, but wants more than just snapshots.