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Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35
Canon PowerShot A4000 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Key Specs

Canon A4000 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 95 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2012
Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
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Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon A4000 IS and Canon SD970 IS, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both are designed by Canon. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the A4000 IS (16MP) and SD970 IS (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The A4000 IS was announced 3 years after the SD970 IS which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the A4000 IS grades versus the SD970 IS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A4000 IS over the Canon SD970 IS

 A4000 IS SD970 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2012February 2009More modern by 37 months

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon A4000 IS

 SD970 IS A4000 IS 
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A4000 IS and Canon SD970 IS

 A4000 IS SD970 IS 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon A4000 IS has got outside dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Canon SD970 IS has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Canon A4000 IS and Canon SD970 IS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the A4000 IS versus the SD970 IS.

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A4000 IS and SD970 IS is 95 and 94 respectively.

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A4000 IS and SD970 IS.

As you have seen, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should anticipate the Canon A4000 IS to give more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The fresher A4000 IS provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A4000 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography advice
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
26
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A4000 IS Street photography details
Canon SD970 IS Street photography details
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A4000 IS Sports photography advice
Canon SD970 IS Sports photography advice
38
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (175 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A4000 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Travel photography camera
62
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery (175 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A4000 IS Landscape photography details
Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography details
41
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery (175 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
32
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A4000 IS
Vlogging with Canon SD970 IS
31
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Canon A4000 IS vs Canon SD970 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A4000 IS and Canon SD970 IS
 Canon PowerShot A4000 ISCanon PowerShot SD970 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A4000 IS Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Also called - Digital IXUS 990 IS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-02-07 2009-02-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-224mm (8.0x) 37-185mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.2-5.7
Macro focus range 1cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 145g (0.32 lb) 160g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 175 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-11L NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $199 -