Canon 170 IS vs Sony A7

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Canon 170 IS vs Sony A7, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the 170 IS (20MP) and the A7 (24MP) is pretty close but the 170 IS (1/2.3") and A7 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The 170 IS was revealed 12 months after the A7 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Canon 170 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the 170 IS matches up versus the A7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS & Sony Alpha A7. The full galleries are viewable at Canon 170 IS Gallery & Sony A7 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon 170 IS enjoys physical measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony A7 has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Look at the Canon 170 IS vs Sony A7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the 170 IS vs the A7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 170 IS and A7 is 95 and 78 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 170 IS and A7.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 170 IS with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A7 will result in more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more recent 170 IS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.