Home > Latest Reviews > Photography > Digital Cameras > Canon > DCRP > PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Digital Camera

(4 out of 5)

Probably the best hybrid camera/camcorder yet, but still far from perfect.

Review by Jeff Keller | May 4, 2009 | + Share

The Canon PowerShot SX1 isn't just a super zoom digital camera -- it's also a video camera capable of recording Full HD video. In the past, hybrid cameras have been just so-so, but the PowerShot SX1 takes good quality stills and very nice HD movies. Add in a rotating LCD, manual controls, snappy performance, and lots of point-and-shoot features, and you end up with a hybrid camera that's done the right way. The SX1 isn't perfect, though: it's expensive, with a low resolution EVF, bizarre manual exposure options, and images that have a bit too much purple fringing for my taste.

Continue reading full review @ Digital Camera Resource Page

Pros	Cons
Very good photo quality (in good light) Whopping 20X optical zoom lens, with a 28 - 560 mm range Optical image stabilization Flip-out, rotating 2.8" widescreen LCD display good outdoor + low light visibility Manual controls (though see below) and plenty of scene modes Can record Full HD video, with stereo sound, use of optical zoom and image stabilizer, and more Fast startup, focus, shot-to-shot, image playback speeds Very good continuous shooting for a compact camera RAW format supported Hot shoe for external flash Customizable menu, button, and spot on mode dial Redeye not a problem thanks to automatic removal tool Good face detection (with subject tracking) and handy face self-timer features Wireless remote and lens hood included HDMI output Above average battery life -- uses AA batteries	Expensive Noise visible at ISO 80 in shadows and low contrast areas gets worse fairly quickly Fairly strong purple fringing some highlight clipping Electronic viewfinder is smaller and lower resolution compared to the SX10 Slowest shutter speed require use of scene mode, despite manual exposure modes Slow-charging flash Average low light focusing performance -- AF-assist lamp easy to block with fingers Scroll wheel needs to provide "feedback" -- buttons are cluttered and confusing No memory card or lens cap retaining strap included

Pros

Cons

Very good photo quality (in good light)
Whopping 20X optical zoom lens, with a 28 - 560 mm range
Optical image stabilization Flip-out, rotating 2.8" widescreen LCD display
good outdoor + low light visibility
Manual controls (though see below) and plenty of scene modes
Can record Full HD video, with stereo sound, use of optical zoom and image stabilizer, and more
Fast startup, focus, shot-to-shot, image playback speeds
Very good continuous shooting for a compact camera
RAW format supported
Hot shoe for external flash
Customizable menu, button, and spot on mode dial
Redeye not a problem thanks to automatic removal tool
Good face detection (with subject tracking) and handy face self-timer features
Wireless remote and lens hood included
HDMI output
Above average battery life -- uses AA batteries

Expensive
Noise visible at ISO 80 in shadows and low contrast areas
gets worse fairly quickly
Fairly strong purple fringing
some highlight clipping
Electronic viewfinder is smaller and lower resolution compared to the SX10
Slowest shutter speed require use of scene mode, despite manual exposure modes
Slow-charging flash
Average low light focusing performance -- AF-assist lamp easy to block with fingers
Scroll wheel needs to provide "feedback" -- buttons are cluttered and confusing
No memory card or lens cap retaining strap included