-
Introduction
-
01.Product Tour
-
02.Color
-
03.Noise
-
04.Resolution
-
05.Video
-
06.Sample Photos
-
07.Playback
-
08.Hardware
-
09.Controls
-
10.Design & Handling
-
11.Nikon P90 Comparison
-
12.Olympus SP-590UZ Comparison
-
13.Sony HX1 Comparison
-
14.Conclusion
-
15.Photo Gallery
-
16.Comments
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
Previous: Page 10
Design & HandlingNext: Page 12
Olympus SP-590UZ ComparisonNikon P90 Comparison
The Nikon P90 is the low-cost choice among our reviewed ultrazooms, at just $400 for a 12-megapixel camera with 24x zoom. It has a 3-inch LCD that tilts up and down from a bottom hinge, though it doesn’t fully pivot the way the Canon SX1 screen will. The Canon costs $200 more for a slightly shorter zoom and lower resolution (at 10 megapixels), but provides full 1080p video recording, where the Nikon is stuck in old-fashioned 640×480 movie mode. The Nikon comes with a rechargeable Lithium ion battery, a potential plus versus the AA-burning Canon, but if you invest in a set of rechargeable AAs you’ll get more shots per charge with the Canon than the Nikon can deliver, plus the ability to buy off-the-shelf AAs if your rechargeables peter out while shooting.
Despite the Nikon’s higher megapixel count, our still image lab test results favor the Canon by a significant margin in nearly every category (the P90 did turn in better scores for image noise). The Nikon image stabilization system was ineffective in our testing, a considerable stumbling point for an ultrazoom camera. And when it comes to continuous shooting, the Canon smoked the Nikon with 3 frames per second versus 1.36 fps. The Nikon does offer a much higher top ISO setting, though, with ISO 6400 at full res.
All told, the Nikon P90 isn’t a bad camera for the price, but we far prefer shooting with the Canon.
| Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P90 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Canon PowerShot SX1 IS | Nikon Coolpix P90 | |
| Price | $599.99 | $399.99 |
| Colors | black | black |
| Dimensions | 127.5mm x 88.3mm x 87.7mm | 99.0mm x 114.0mm x 83.0mm |
| Optical Zoom | 20x | 24x |
| Sensor | 1/2.3"-type, CMOS, 11.8 megapixels | 1/2.33"-type, CCD, 12.7 megapixels |
| Display | articulated LCD, 2.8 in., 230000 pixels | articulated LCD, 3.0 in., 230,000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | electronic, 148000 pixels, 100.0 % coverage | electronic, 230000 pixels, 97.0 % coverage |
| Manual Controls | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control |
| Connectivity | A/V, USB, miniHDMI, hot accessory shoe | USB, A/V |
| Battery | AA | removable lithium-ion, EN-EL5 |
Shop for the Canon SX1 IS
Latest News
& Reviews
-
21-May-2012
DigitalCameraInfo Fill-in-the-Blank Contest!
Enter our photo contest for your chance to win a Canon 5D Mark III—or one of our weekly prizes! Read More...
-
21-May-2012
Photo App of the Week: Touchnote for Android and iOS
We took the postcard-sharing service Touchnote for a spin last week. Read on to see what we thought of our experience sending real versions of our cellphone pictures. Read More...
Top Rated Point & Shoots
-
$499.001Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$499.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$449.992Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$449.99TypesUltra-ZoomAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels16.8 MP -
$799.993Canon PowerShot G1 X
Canon's new G1 X features a giant 1.5-inch CMOS sensor and the same manual control that we loved on the G12. Read full 7-part review
$799.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$429.994Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$429.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -
$399.995Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$399.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels
Features
-
Canon 5D Mark III Review, News, and Samples
Check out all the latest news, reviews, sample photos and videos from the Canon 5D Mark III. Read More...
-
CP+ 2012 Digital Cameras
We’re live in Yokohama for our second year covering Japan’s premier photo show. Stay tuned for dozens of new product announcements and our first-hand impressions of all the cameras they didn’t have at CES. Read More...
-
CES 2012 Digital Cameras
We’re in sunny Vegas to bring you the latest news and in-depth first impressions reviews of all the hottest cameras for 2012. Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo New Year's Giveaway
Check back every day for the rest of 2011 to see what we’re adding to the grand prize package. It all starts with the Sony NEX-5N and ends with over $4000 in prizes! Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo.com 2011 Select Awards
After a year of tireless testing and deliberation, we’ve made our selections for the very best cameras of 2011. Read More...
(add your own)