Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Video Mode (17.00)

Movie shooting is always just one button-press away, thanks to the dedicated movie button located to the right of the electronic viewfinder. Recording is limited to a 4-gigabyte file or one hour in length, whichever comes first. With the aspect ratio set to 4:3, movies can be shot in either 640×480 or 320x 240 resolution, at 30 frames per second. In 16:9 mode, full HD (1920×1280) movies can be shot at 30 fps, but there is no option to choose the lower-resolution 1280×720 high-definition format. Class 6 memory cards or faster are recommended for HD shooting.

The camera will continue to autofocus on the subject while shooting, though autofocus lock is available by pressing the MF button. You can also choose manual focus for movies. White balance and exposure are also adjusted automatically to match the shooting conditions by default, but exposure compensation is available.

Sound is recorded in stereo, with the mics positioned on either side of the lens. There is no input jack for connecting an external mic. The sound recording level can be left on auto or adjusted manually in the setup menu, with a useful on-screen decibel meter as a guide. A wind filter can also be toggled on or off.

Special effects including Color Accent, Color Swap and My Colors are supported while shooting movies. It’s also possible to shoot a still during movie recording, though the video sound will drop out momentarily so the shutter sound won’t be captured.

Video Color (10.93)

There was a performance chasm between the tested cameras when it came to accurate video color reproduction: the Sony HX1 did exceptionally well, and the Canon SX1 also produced results that are quite pleasing to the eye, while the Olympus video shows a distinct color cast and the Nikon video (due to a major white balance problem under our incandescent studio lights) looks awful. More on how we test video color.

Video Sharpness (6.02)

Here again, the Sony and Canon lead the pack, with the other two tested cameras deep in the weeds. The fundamental reason is right there in the specs: the Sony and Canon are CMOS-sensor cameras that shoot at full 1920×1280 resolution, while the Nikon and Olympus have CCD sensors limited to the increasingly antique 640×480 video standard. More on how we test video sharpness.