Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Review

The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS is the most recent successor to the series of worthy superzooms which started back in 2004 with the Canon PowerShot S1 IS. In subsequent years, the S1 IS was furthered refined in terms of processing power and megapixels and more features were added with the release of S2 IS, S3 IS and the PowerShot S5 IS. Now Canon breaks the mould and for the first time, brings in an entirely different lens for this series, and adds an ‘X’ to the nomenclature, releasing two variants, the SX10 IS with a 20X zoom lens and 10 MP sensor, and the SX1 IS having a CMOS sensor, RAW image capture mode and 1080p full HD video recording. This is the first few of the new generation prosumer digital cameras with a CMOS sensor, with Sony HX1 and Ricoh CX1 being a couple of others. It should be noted here that CMOS is the dominant sensor type used in almost all dSLRs and offers superior image capture ability. Full HD video recording is possible only because of the CMOS sensor. This makes the PowerShot SX1 IS a very exciting camera to work with.

Let's first look at the specifications:

Sensor: 1/2.3 " Type CMOS• 10.0 million effective pixels

Lens: 28- 560 mm equiv (aspect ratio 4:3), 29 – 580 mm (aspect ratio 16:9)• 20x Optical zoom • F2.8 - F5.7 (max) • 13 elements in 11 groups (1 aspherical element, 1 UD element)

Image Sizes: 3648 x 2736 • 2816 x 2112 • 2272 x 1704• 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480• 3640 x 2160• 1920 x 1080

Processor: Digic 4

Movie clips: 1920 x 1080 (HD) @ 1080p• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15fps• WAVE (stereo) HD) Up to 4GB or 29 min. 59 sec.(L and M) Up to 4GB or 1 hour

Sensitivity: Auto• Hi-ISO Auto• ISO 80-1600 (3200 as scene mode)

File formats: Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2)• Still: RAW• Still: RAW + JPEG Large/Fine• DPOF 1.1•

Movie: QuickTime MOV format

Auto focus: TTL • AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point) • 1-point AF (Fixed center) Focus modes • AF: Single, Continuous • Manual •

Focus bracket AF assist lamp: Yes

Focus distance: Closest 0 cm

Metering: Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF) • Center-weighted average• Spot

Flash: Auto• Manual Flash On / Off• Slow Synch• Red eye reduction• Flash exposure lock• Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments• Manual Power adjustment • Second Curtain Synch• Range: 50 cm - 5.2 m (wide) / 90 cm - 4.0 m (tele)

Hot-shoe: Canon EX Speedlites (270EX, 430EXII, 580EXII and older models) • E-TTL with EX series Speedlites, Canon's High Power Flash HF-DC1 Viewfinder •

EVF: (0.40" type) • 148,000 pixels LCD monitor • Vari-angle 2.8" TFT• 230,000 pixels• Adjustable Brightness • 100% Coverage

Connectivity: HDMI Mini Connector• USB Hi-Speed• AV out Print compliance •

PictBridge: Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Fixed Size Print and Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP & ES printers only)

Storage: SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus compatible

Power: Compact AC power adapter CA-PS700,• Battery Charger Kit CBK4-300• Ni-MH Batteries NB4-300

Weight: (with no batteries) 585g (20.6 oz)

Dimensions: 128 x 88 x 88 mm (5 x 3.5 x 3.5")

On first look, the features that appeal the most are the 10 MP 1/2.3” CMOS sensor, a 20X zoom range from wide angle 28 mm (equivalent) to 560 mm (equivalent), RAW mode, 16:9 aspect ratio, full HD videos and continuous shooting up to 4 fps. Let us explore all these and other features in this camera.

Please continue on to the second page of this digital camera review to learn what the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS has to offer in terms of design, performance, features and more!