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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot A3200 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
Portability
86
Imaging
39
Features
45
Overall
41

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Key Specs

Canon A3200 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F) lens
  • 149g - 95 x 57 x 24mm
  • Released January 2011
Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX150 IS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX170 IS
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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Canon A3200 IS versus Canon SX160 IS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Canon. The sensor resolution of the A3200 IS (14MP) and the SX160 IS (16MP) is very comparable and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A3200 IS was manufactured 3 years before the SX160 IS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A3200 IS grades versus the SX160 IS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3200 IS over the Canon SX160 IS

 A3200 IS SX160 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon A3200 IS

 SX160 IS A3200 IS 
RevealedJune 2013January 2011Fresher by 29 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX160 IS

 A3200 IS SX160 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A3200 IS comes with external measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Canon SX160 IS has proportions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") along with a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs).

Compare the Canon A3200 IS versus Canon SX160 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the A3200 IS versus the SX160 IS.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A3200 IS and SX160 IS is 95 and 86 respectively.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3200 IS and SX160 IS.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to produce greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older A3200 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography highlights
33
good megapixels (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Street photography details
Canon SX160 IS Street photography details
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX160 IS Sports photography details
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
50
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Travel photography features
Canon SX160 IS Travel photography features
71
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
68
good battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (291g)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Landscape photography factors
Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography factors
42
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
51
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
good battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX160 IS Vlogging advice
34
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX160 IS
 Canon PowerShot A3200 ISCanon PowerShot SX160 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3200 IS Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-05 2013-06-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Smart Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 149 gr (0.33 pounds) 291 gr (0.64 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Battery style - AA
Battery model NB-8L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $230 $199