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Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10

Portability
95
Imaging
46
Features
29
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX10 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
38
Overall
38

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 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
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is IXUS 170
Sony WX10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-168mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 161g - 95 x 54 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Photography Glossary

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Overview

The following is a in depth assessment of the Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and WX10 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The 170 IS was revealed 4 years after the WX10 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon 170 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony WX10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the 170 IS grades vs the WX10 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 170 IS over the Sony WX10

 170 IS WX10 
RevealedJanuary 2015January 2011Newer by 49 months

Reasons to pick Sony WX10 over the Canon 170 IS

 WX10 170 IS 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display sizing2.8"2.7"Larger display (+0.1")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon 170 IS and Sony WX10

 170 IS WX10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon 170 IS features external 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 Sony WX10 has dimensions of 95mm x 54mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 161 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the 170 IS and the WX10.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 170 IS and WX10 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 top view buttons comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 170 IS and WX10.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon 170 IS to provide more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern 170 IS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 sensor size comparison

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 170 IS Portrait photography information
Sony WX10 Portrait photography information
39
decent MP (20 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
39
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 170 IS
Street photography with Sony WX10
59
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon 170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX10 as a Sports photography camera
44
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (0.8 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
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 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX10 Travel photography highlights
70
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
65
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 170 IS Landscape photography info
Sony WX10 Landscape photography info
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
50
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (2.8 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 170 IS
Vlogging with Sony WX10
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.6)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
32
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic support
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Canon 170 IS vs Sony WX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 170 IS and Sony WX10
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX10
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX10
Also called IXUS 170 -
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-01-06 2011-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4+ BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-168mm (7.0x)
Max aperture f/3.6-7.0 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.8"
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD Plus
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 0.8 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lb) 161 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") 95 x 54 x 23mm (3.7" 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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L/LH NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $149 $200