Clicky

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 6D front
 
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Key Specs

Canon 6D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 770g - 145 x 111 x 71mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Renewed by Canon 6D MII
Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX160 IS
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon 6D and Canon SX170 IS, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Canon. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the 6D (20MP) and SX170 IS (16MP) and the 6D (Full frame) and SX170 IS (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The 6D was introduced 6 months prior to the SX170 IS so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon 6D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the 6D matches up vs the SX170 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

        

Reasons to pick Canon 6D over the Canon SX170 IS

 6D SX170 IS 
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon 6D

 SX170 IS 6D 

Common features in the Canon 6D and Canon SX170 IS

 6D SX170 IS 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2013Similar age
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 6D features physical dimensions of 145mm x 111mm x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") and a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) and the Canon SX170 IS has specifications of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Canon 6D and Canon SX170 IS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the 6D compared to the SX170 IS.

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 6D and SX170 IS is 59 and 88 respectively.

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specifications. The photograph below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 6D and SX170 IS.

To sum up, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 6D with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Canon 6D will deliver greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS sensor size comparison

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 6D
Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
79
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
43
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon 6D as a Street photography camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
63
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Canon 6D as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
68
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proofing
good battery (1,090 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.5 fps)
lack of image stabilization
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Canon 6D Travel photography details
Canon SX170 IS Travel photography details
60
good battery (1,090 shots)
weather proofing
good MP (20 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competition in class (251g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Canon 6D as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
good battery (1,090 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
49
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 6D
Vlogging with Canon SX170 IS
30
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
31
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (251g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon 6D vs Canon SX170 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 6D and Canon SX170 IS
 Canon EOS 6DCanon PowerShot SX170 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 6D Canon PowerShot SX170 IS
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-02-12 2013-08-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5+ Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Canon EF fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-448mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 250 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 97 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting speed 4.5 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 770 grams (1.70 lbs) 251 grams (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 145 x 111 x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2340 not tested
Other
Battery life 1090 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,699 $0