Canon Powershot SX1 IS review and ratings
The Canon Powershot SX1 IS is the most advanced compact digital camera on the market (as at January 2009). The more basic features include 10 megapixels and a 20x optical zoom lens. The lens has image stabilisation built in as you would expect considering its length. Canon has used a CMOS sensor instead of the more standard CCD type you routinely find on other compact digital cameras. CMOS sensors tend to be faster and that helps to give the Powershot SX1 IS the edge when it comes to speed. It is capable of shooting at 4 frames per second. That comes in very handy when you are trying to shoot moving subjects such as sports and wildlife.
Inside the body are a full set of manual exposure controls. Manual focusing is available too. You can also shoot short HD quality movie clips. When you want to shoot a movie there is no need to switch modes as there is a dedicated movie button on the back of the camera. A hotshoe is available for attaching speedlites. Another very useful feature is an LCD screen that pulls out and twists round to compliment the angle you are shooting from. A viewfinder is also available. The viewfinder has dioptre correction available to match the focusing of the viewfinder to your eyesight. There is a remote control and a custom mode for storing your favourite settings.
There are no real competitors to this camera at the moment. If you are looking for good quality, but with a lower price tag and therefore a few less features, try taking a look at the Panasonic DMC FZ28.
Rating: Above Average
Summary: If you are looking for all the bells and whistles you can find, plus excellent picture quality then this is about as high as you can go without buying a Digital SLR camera.
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