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Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550

Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 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
  • Announced January 2015
  • Additionally Known as IXUS 170
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Canon 170 IS versus Sony W550, both Ultracompact cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and W550 (14MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The 170 IS was brought out 3 years later than the W550 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 170 IS scores vs the W550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Sony W550

 170 IS W550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015July 2011More recent by 43 months

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon 170 IS

 W550 170 IS 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon 170 IS and Sony W550

 170 IS W550 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon 170 IS enjoys exterior dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Canon 170 IS versus Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the 170 IS versus the W550.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 170 IS and W550 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 170 IS and W550.

As you can see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon 170 IS to result in more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The newer 170 IS should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 170 IS Portrait photography details
Sony W550 Portrait photography details
38
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon 170 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon 170 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony W550 Sports photography highlights
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (0.8 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon 170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
69
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
65
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 170 IS Landscape photography information
Sony W550 Landscape photography information
41
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 170 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony W550 Vlogging highlights
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
29
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Canon 170 IS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 170 IS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Also called as IXUS 170 -
Category Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2015-01-06 2011-07-24
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4+ BIONZ
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 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.6-7.0 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 0.8 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
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 141 grams (0.31 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L/LH NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Pricing at launch $149 $119