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Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
95
Imaging
46
Features
29
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

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
  • Released January 2015
  • Also Known as IXUS 170
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

The following is a detailed review of the Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42, both Ultracompact digital cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the 170 IS (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The 170 IS was manufactured 5 years after the FS42 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the 170 IS matches up vs the FS42 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Panasonic FS42

 170 IS FS42 
IntroducedJanuary 2015April 2009Newer by 70 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Canon 170 IS

 FS42 170 IS 

Common features in the Canon 170 IS and Panasonic FS42

 170 IS FS42 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon 170 IS provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the 170 IS against the FS42.

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 170 IS and FS42 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The picture below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 170 IS and FS42.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 170 IS featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Canon 170 IS will give extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher 170 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 170 IS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
39
megapixel count good (20MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 170 IS
Street photography with Panasonic FS42
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 170 IS Sports photography information
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (0.8 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon 170 IS Travel photography details
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography details
70
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 170 IS Landscape photography info
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography info
41
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
22
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 170 IS Vlogging features
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
32
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 170 IS and Panasonic FS42
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Also referred to as IXUS 170 -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Released 2015-01-06 2009-04-17
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.6-7.0 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 0.8fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lbs) 132 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L/LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $149 $580