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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
27
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Key Specs

Canon SD960 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 145g - 98 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 110 IS
Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX160 IS
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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Canon. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SD960 IS (12MP) and SX170 IS (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD960 IS was unveiled 5 years earlier than the SX170 IS and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SD960 IS grades against the SX170 IS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD960 IS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SD960 IS SX170 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SD960 IS

 SX170 IS SD960 IS 
AnnouncedAugust 2013February 2009More recent by 54 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX170 IS

 SD960 IS SX170 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD960 IS offers exterior dimensions of 98mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX170 IS has dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SD960 IS compared to the SX170 IS.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD960 IS and SX170 IS is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD960 IS and SX170 IS.

To sum up, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to resolve extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SD960 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
26
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Street photography details
Canon SX170 IS Street photography details
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (251 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Sports photography factors
Canon SX170 IS Sports photography factors
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD960 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (251 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
36
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (2.8")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
49
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
31
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than others (251 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX170 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX170 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD960 ISCanon PowerShot SX170 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Canon PowerShot SX170 IS
Alternative name Digital IXUS 110 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-02-18 2013-08-22
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off
External flash
AE bracketing
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 145 grams (0.32 lb) 251 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 54 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7")
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 - 300 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-4L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price - $0