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Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
13
Overall
25
Canon PowerShot A480 front
 
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Key Specs

Canon A480
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 140g - 92 x 62 x 31mm
  • Announced January 2009
Canon 170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.6-7.0) lens
  • 141g - 100 x 58 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Also referred to as IXUS 170
Photography Glossary

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS, both Ultracompact cameras and they are both built by Canon. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the A480 (10MP) and 170 IS (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A480 was manufactured 7 years earlier than the 170 IS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the A480 scores versus the 170 IS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A480 over the Canon 170 IS

 A480 170 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Canon A480

 170 IS A480 
RevealedJanuary 2015January 2009More modern by 72 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k115kClearer screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A480 and Canon 170 IS

 A480 170 IS 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon A480 offers outside measurements of 92mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Canon 170 IS has measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the A480 vs the 170 IS.

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the A480 and 170 IS is 94 and 95 respectively.

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The picture here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A480 and 170 IS.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon 170 IS to show more detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A480 will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A480 Portrait photography features
Canon 170 IS Portrait photography features
25
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
38
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A480 Street photography highlights
Canon 170 IS Street photography highlights
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A480 Sports photography features
Canon 170 IS Sports photography features
16
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (0.8 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A480 Travel photography highlights
Canon 170 IS Travel photography highlights
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A480 Landscape photography features
Canon 170 IS Landscape photography features
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
41
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A480
Vlogging with Canon 170 IS
22
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
32
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Canon A480 vs Canon 170 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A480 and Canon 170 IS
 Canon PowerShot A480Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A480 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Otherwise known as - IXUS 170
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2009-01-15 2015-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - DIGIC 4+
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 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 5152 x 3864
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.6-7.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 0.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140g (0.31 pounds) 141g (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 92 x 62 x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-11L/LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $210 $149