Sorry Canon lovers...SX1 or Sony HX1

Can anyone shed some light on the whether to purchase the sx1, sony hx1, sx 10 (i have ruled out the 20). I have looked at 5 million reviews and now I just want some opinions and conversation. Thanks to anyone who has used one or more of these cameras.

I moved up from the SX10 to the SX1. For me, the CMOS sensor (they're not at all the same as CCDs as used in the rest of the PowerShot line), which I'm used to from my EOS digital bodies, the improved performance (at least in part due to that CMOS sensor), Canon's RAW (yes, I know about CHDK, but I prefer to minimize the number of software products I need to use), and HD video were enough in the way of improvements to make it worth my while. Fortunately, my sister had just been looking at the SX10, so she's now very happy with mine.

Get the SX1. It has full 1080P video, and can shoot RAW, where you'll get much better images, -when- you learn to process them.

If I may ask, what features of the SX20 turned you away, if the SX10 is still a candidate for your consideration?

I just saw noise comparison photos between the SX10 vs SX20 and the SX20 was noticeably better. SX20 has HD, Digic 4, and as mentioned - better low light shooting.

This is all news to me. All of the sites I went on to get info said the only difference was the megapixels and that the pictures were not as good because "they have once again put to many mp on a small sensor" Where did you see the photos and did they compare the sx20 to the hx1? Thanks so much.

mishymama wrote in post #8601831
This is all news to me. All of the sites I went on to get info said the only difference was the megapixels and that the pictures were not as good because "they have once again put to many mp on a small sensor" Where did you see the photos and did they compare the sx20 to the hx1? Thanks so much.

I sit corrected - I've tried in earnest to find the post with the link I read this morning - but have not been able. I did find the website however - and my memory in this case - is decisively... poor!
This was a 'low-lighting' comparison between the SX20 & SX10 - here:

http://www.digitalvers​us.com …a2=1&mo2=649&p2​=4503&ph=7

what I don't understand is that this morning I distinctly was left with the impression that the SX20 handled low light better than the SX10 - to the degree I was mildly contemplating getting the SX20 (selling my SX10)...

I apologize.

I did not know of the existence of the HX1 - but nevertheless - a comparison between the SX10 & HX1 is here:

http://www.digitalvers​us.com …a2=1&mo2=649&p2​=4503&ph=7

interesting - SX1 vs SX10 - low light

http://www.digitalvers​us.com …a2=1&mo2=649&p2​=4503&ph=7

skid00skid00 wrote in post #8601185
Get the SX1. It has full 1080P video, and can shoot RAW, where you'll get much better images, -when- you learn to process them.

And don't forget, the hotshoe and vari-angle (flip-N-twist) screen.

I presume you've read this but let me send anyway.

http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/CanonSX1IS/p​age17.asp

If money is no problem for you SXI should be ok. But IMHO the CMOS technology is not worth the price difference between the SXI and SX10/SX20. My two cents.

Bencooper21 wrote in post #8603748
I presume you've read this but let me send anyway.

http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/CanonSX1IS/p​age17.asp

If money is no problem for you SXI should be ok. But IMHO the CMOS technology is not worth the price difference between the SXI and SX10/SX20. My two cents.

Having had the SX10 and now the SX1 I take that review with a very large grain of salt. There's a learning curve with every new camera; you can't just transfer, unchanged, your experience with one to another and assume that because they look the same you can do everything exactly the same. CMOS and CCD sensors (and their supporting electronics) especially are different animals. You can't transfer your experience with a CCD-based camera to a CMOS-based camera and assume you can handle them the same way. And I suspect that that's what the dpreview reviewer tried to do. There's a reason that virtually every DSLR in production today uses a CMOS sensor rather than the CCD everyone used until Canon's pioneering 1D. And that's that it's simply a better performing sensor.

I would be very interested to see what people have to say about the HX1 because I have a friend that is thinking about getting that camera because she only wants something a bit better than a P & S. She is not into photography and wants a good little camera.
From what I gather the reviews seem good. Only cons are about the image quality after ISO speeds after 400.
Camera build was rated to be a little on the plasticy side.
So I don''t know what to tell her because it doesn't appeal to me being an XSI Canon owner.

I've been tossing up between all the superzooms, SX1, SX20, Pana FZ35 and Sony HX1. I think in the end it just has to come down to personal preference & price - the image quality is pretty similar across the board (which is to say, noisy in low light & noise reduction visible even at base ISO, but that's only if you're a pixel peeper).

The SX1 & HX1 have the advantage of the CMOS sensor which lets you get a better 'burst rate'. I think the HX1 goes up to 10 frames a second without dropping image quality. Whether the CMOS actually gives you a better picture, however, is pretty debatable. When you're working with the teeny tiny sensors that you get in the superzooms, going CMOS over an optimised CCD really isn't going to give you much of an edge.

The SX20 and FZ35/38 were the joint winners of the DPreview super zoom group, with the FZ35 being lighter and a smidgen 'faster' at the long end of the zoom, while the SX20 has better colour and the advantage of a hotshoe. In regards to image quality between the two, you're standing on pretty even ground. The SX20 is a bit 'softer' but its noise is pretty close to resembling grain and its even throughout. In comparison, the FZ35 is sharper, but that sharpening occasionally creates some nasty little artifacts. Both cameras have a similar amount of chromatic aberration at the edges, but the FZ35 does a very good job of correcting this in camera. The FZ35 will also output to RAW where the SX20 does not, however it's worth being aware that you'll then have to fix that CA yourself.

In relation to handling, the SX20, SX10 and SX1 are all pretty much the same - they're quite comfortable in the hand and have an articulated LCD. The usefulness of the articulated LCD is debated and more in the style of a movie camera than a film camera. The FZ35 is a fair bit lighter, but that may not be to some people's tastes and its LCD is fixed. The Sony HX1 is a bit chunkier than the Canons and I actually found the grip quite uncomfortable (I have smallish hands and my fingers weren't long enough to wrap around it securely). While I'd normally prefer its version of the articulated LCD (since it pops out horizontally, so it's good for above head or waist high shooting) it seemed to protrude a bit from the camera rather than sitting flush against it, making for an even clunkier design.

So, at the end of the day, its really about what feels most comfortable for you and what features you prefer. Do you really want to shoot in RAW? Do you really need a hotshoe? Are you wanting to take lots of photos in the span of a second? Would you prefer something a bit lighter and easier to handle?

The image quality across the board is so similar that it's really hard to make a decision just based on that (believe me, I've tried!). So long as you're aware that you're just getting a standard point and shoot with a long zoom, you shouldn't be disappointed.

I've got the SX1, and compared it to my G9 and 1Ds (with a 24-70, and 70-200 2.8 IS).

You only want the SX1 if you intend to shoot RAW, and you know how to use a good converter (PS CS4 is excellent, and fixes the lenses CA), or you need HD video. The video is very good, even displayed on a 55" HD LCD tv.

I use the SX1 all the time, and only bring out the big gun for certain situations-like needing instant AF, or in dim light, or when I want the absolute best.

The SX1's lens is very good for a 20x zoom. It's not quite as good as the G9's 5x lens, but it's fine for 13" x 19" prints.

The sensor *is* noisy, but CS4 NR does a very good job wiping almost all of it away. You need to use masking and lumi NR in the sharpening panel.

You might want to browse through this thread over on Steve's of SX1 photos.

http://forums.steves-digicams.com …8-canon-sx1-pictures.html

From what I've seen of his images, DonalDuc is no quack...with his SX1.

Dennis