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Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70

Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 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
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Also Known as IXUS 170
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed March 2009
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Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Canon 170 IS and Pentax P70, both Ultracompact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and P70 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The 170 IS was released 5 years after the P70 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the 170 IS matches up vs the P70 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Pentax P70

 170 IS P70 
RevealedJanuary 2015March 2009Newer by 72 months

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Canon 170 IS

 P70 170 IS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Canon 170 IS and Pentax P70

 170 IS P70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon 170 IS provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Pentax P70 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Canon 170 IS and Pentax P70 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the 170 IS against the P70.

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 170 IS and P70 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The image underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 170 IS and P70.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Canon 170 IS to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger 170 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 170 IS Portrait photography features
Pentax P70 Portrait photography features
38
megapixel count good (20MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon 170 IS Street photography advice
Pentax P70 Street photography advice
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than average (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 170 IS Sports photography features
Pentax P70 Sports photography features
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (0.8 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 170 IS
Travel photography with Pentax P70
69
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.6)
56
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (155 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 170 IS Landscape photography information
Pentax P70 Landscape photography information
41
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
32
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 170 IS
Vlogging with Pentax P70
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.6)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
more heavy than average (155g)
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Canon 170 IS vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 170 IS and Pentax P70
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 ISPentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS Pentax Optio P70
Also called as IXUS 170 -
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2015-01-06 2009-03-02
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.6-7.0 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 0.8 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 141g (0.31 lb) 155g (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" 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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L/LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $149 $200