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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.Color
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03.Noise
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04.Resolution
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05.Video
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06.Sample Photos
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07.Playback
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08.Hardware
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09.Controls
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10.Design & Handling
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11.Nikon P90 Comparison
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12.Olympus SP-590UZ Comparison
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13.Sony HX1 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Comments
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
Previous: Page 11
Nikon P90 ComparisonNext: Page 13
Sony HX1 ComparisonOlympus SP-590UZ Comparison
The 12-megapixel Olympus SP-590UZ leads the pack when it comes to pure zoom power, but it’s hard to get excited about its image quality and feature set, especially when compared to the Canon SX1 and Sony HX1.
The Olympus scored just slightly higher in our overall resolution testing, but trailed the Canon in color accuracy, image noise, and video performance — no surprise there, since the Olympus shoots video at a mediocre 640 × 480 resolution while the Canon delivers high-quality 1080p high def movies. We found the Olympus SP-590UZ image stabilization was nowhere near as effective as the Canon SX1 system. And when it comes to burst mode shooting, the Olympus proved positively pokey at less than one shot per second versus three shots for the Canon.
The Olympus LCD does work particularly well in bright sunshine, though it lacks the hinged flexibility of the Canon screen. And Olympus’ continued support for the low-capacity, high-cost-per-megabyte xD memory card format versus the industry-standard SD/SDHC cards used by the Nikon is disturbing. The Olympus has a terrific right-hand grip, but on the left the lens is practically flush with the side of the camera, making comfortable maneuvering more difficult than with the relatively spacious Canon. Both cameras combine auto, manual and preset scene modes effectively, but the Olympus won’t shoot RAW files, which the Canon supports.
The Olympus SP-590UZ does sell for a much lower price than the Canon SX1, but there are good reasons to spend a bit more and get a lot more camera.
| Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Olympus SP-590UZ | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Canon PowerShot SX1 IS | Olympus SP-590UZ | |
| Price | $599.99 | $499.99 |
| Colors | black | black |
| Dimensions | 127.5mm x 88.3mm x 87.7mm | 109.22mm x 99.06mm x 88.9mm |
| Optical Zoom | 20x | 26x |
| Sensor | 1/2.3"-type, CMOS, 11.8 megapixels | 1/2.33"-type, CCD, 12.4 megapixels |
| Display | articulated LCD, 2.8 in., 230000 pixels | LCD, 2.7 in., 230,000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | electronic, 148000 pixels, 100.0 % coverage | electronic |
| 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, miniHDMI |
| Battery | AA | AA |
Shop for the Canon SX1 IS
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