Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

The Canon SX1, at $599.99, is the most expensive ultrazoom in our test group by a substantial margin, with a $200 gap between the 10-megapixel 20x Canon and the 12.1-megapixel 24x Nikon P90. Of course, two of the ultrazooms reviewed are limited to...

20x wide-angle zoom; good 1080P video at 30 fps; fine photos with enough available light; very effective OIS

DSLR price ; no DSLR response; steep learning curve vis-a-vis other point-and-shoots; high noise at ISO 800; no auto pop-up flash; disappointing LCD screen; no Smart Auto

It's an excellent mega-zoom for the photographer willing to learn its idiosyncrasies and spend $600.

Good resolution, Good color; Generally accurate focus gives a high 'hit rate' even in auto mode; Huge photographic versatility with 28-560mm lens and super macro mode; Image stabilization works very well (and can be used in movie mode); Fast continuous...

Noise and noise reduction effects visible at anything over ISO 80; Noise reduction starts to destroy fine detail at anything over ISO 100; ISO 800 and 1600 very noisy and of limited use; Lens is prone to chromatic aberration and purple fringing; Movie...

Lets start with the good.

The SX1 IS is a powerhouse of a camera, with a long zoom and a good range of features. The high definition video it captures looks very promising, and the camera handles well. But there are a few things about it that are less than optimal; the zoom...

CMOS sensorFull HD Video RecordingRAW mode image captureHDMI output

Selection dial somewhat troublesome

The major benefit of the Canon Powershot SX1 IS is that it can shoot...

As a bridge between the advanced compact digital cameras and beginner’s dSLRs, the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS occupies a unique spot. It's as close to an SLR as possible without actually being one. So for a person who needs a fantastic camera with high...

At a $599.99 list price, it's certainly not the cheapest ultrazoom you can buy (the Nikon P90 sells for $200 less), but the SX1 justifies the higher price tag with good-looking high-definition video and impressive lab-tested image quality. You also get...

Very good photo quality (in good light) ; Whopping 20X optical zoom lens, with a 28 - 560 mm range ; Optical image stabilization ; Flip-out, rotating 2.8" widescreen LCD display; good outdoor + low light visibility ; Manual controls (though see below)...

Expensive ; Noise visible at ISO 80 in shadows and low contrast areas; gets worse fairly quickly ; Fairly strong purple fringing; some highlight clipping ; Electronic viewfinder is smaller and lower resolution compared to the SX10 ; Slowest shutter...

If you're looking for a camera that can take high definition videos, then the PowerShot SX1 is absolutely worth checking out. It's not without its issues, but the PowerShot SX1 does most everything very well. If you don't need HD video recording, RAW...

Very accurate colors; Low noise at high ISOs

High noise at lower ISOs; Lots of distortion at wide angle

The Canon SX1, at $599.99, is the most expensive ultrazoom in our test group by a substantial margin, with a $200 gap between the 10-megapixel 20x Canon and the 12.1-megapixel 24x Nikon P90. Of course, two of the ultrazooms reviewed are limited to...