Canon SX1 IS Digital Camera Review

Canon SX1 IS

Digital Camera Review

5 It looks like an innocent compact SLR, but the Canon SX1 IS is actually a paparazzi-pleasing ultrazoom in sheep's clothing, with a 20x zoom plus high-def 1080p video. For the same $600, though, you could buy a highly rated interchangeable-lens SLR.
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Introduction  
It looks like an innocent compact SLR, but the Canon SX1 is actually a paparazzi-pleasing ultrazoom in sheep's clothing, with a 20x zoom plus high-def 1080p video. For the same $600 price, though, you could buy a highly rated interchangeable-lens SLR.
    Page 1 of 16 Product Tour x

 

Section The Good The Bad
x Product Tour Solidly constructed; practical design Oddly placed tripod socket
x Color Highly accurate color reproduction Most accurate color mode not the default choice
x Noise Outperformed other ultrazooms at high ISO settings Noisier than other models at more modest ISOs
x Resolution Acceptable results overall; effective image stabilization, important for ultrazooms Lots of barrel distortion at widest setting; more chromatic aberration than others
x Video Fine 1080p movie performance Trails the Sony SX1 in video color and sharpness
x Playback Multiple quick browsing options; full-featured video playback mode No calendar view; only one thumbnail display
x Hardware Well-built articulated LCD; lens zooms quickly and accurately; HDMI out; included wireless remote Mediocre electronic viewfinder
x Controls Full manual, shutter- and aperture-priority plus accurate auto mode; user-defined settings available via mode dial Burst mode slower than Canon claims
x Design & Handling Easier to hold than competing models; well-designed quick-access menu while shooting; excellent user guide Main menu system requires too much scrolling
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