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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Canon SX160 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
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX150 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX170 IS
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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Canon. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and SX160 IS (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was revealed 5 years earlier than the SX160 IS which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SD970 IS scores vs the SX160 IS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SD970 IS SX160 IS 
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SD970 IS

 SX160 IS SD970 IS 
LaunchedJune 2013February 2009Newer by 52 months
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX160 IS

 SD970 IS SX160 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Canon SX160 IS has dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SD970 IS versus the SX160 IS.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and SX160 IS is 94 and 86 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading specs. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and SX160 IS.

All in all, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to offer more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography info
Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography info
26
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX160 IS as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Sports photography factors
Canon SX160 IS Sports photography factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
51
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography factors
Canon SX160 IS Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
69
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX160 IS as a Landscape photography camera
32
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
51
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX160 IS Vlogging information
27
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
wide angle not the best (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX160 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISCanon PowerShot SX160 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2013-06-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 2cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160 gr (0.35 lbs) 291 gr (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7")
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 - 380 pictures
Form of battery - AA
Battery model NB-5L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release - $199