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Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900

Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 front
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Key Specs

Canon 170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.6-7.0) lens
  • 141g - 100 x 58 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Also referred to as IXUS 170
Sony T900
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 143g - 98 x 58 x 16mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Canon 170 IS and Sony T900, both Ultracompact cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and T900 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The 170 IS was unveiled 5 years after the T900 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the 170 IS matches up against the T900 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Sony T900

 170 IS T900 
IntroducedJanuary 2015February 2009More modern by 72 months

Reasons to pick Sony T900 over the Canon 170 IS

 T900 170 IS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3.5"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon 170 IS and Sony T900

 170 IS T900 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon 170 IS offers outside dimensions 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 T900 has measurements of 98mm x 58mm x 16mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.6") along with a weight of 143 grams (0.32 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 170 IS and Sony T900 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the 170 IS against the T900.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 170 IS and T900 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 top view buttons comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 170 IS and T900.

Plainly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon 170 IS to provide extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger 170 IS is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 sensor size comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 170 IS Portrait photography info
Sony T900 Portrait photography info
38
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon 170 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony T900 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon 170 IS Sports photography details
Sony T900 Sports photography details
43
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (0.8 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 170 IS
Travel photography with Sony T900
69
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 170 IS Landscape photography features
Sony T900 Landscape photography features
41
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
36
has manual focus
screen larger than average (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 170 IS Vlogging factors
Sony T900 Vlogging factors
32
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
28
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Canon 170 IS vs Sony T900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 170 IS and Sony T900
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
Alternate name IXUS 170 -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Launched 2015-01-06 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.6-7.0 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3.5 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 0.8 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 2.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141 grams (0.31 pounds) 143 grams (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") 98 x 58 x 16mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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 Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $149 $300