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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS 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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX260 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX280 HS
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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Canon. The resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the SX270 HS (12MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was unveiled 5 years before the SX270 HS and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SD970 IS scores vs the SX270 HS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon SX270 HS

 SD970 IS SX270 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Canon SD970 IS

 SX270 HS SD970 IS 
ReleasedMarch 2013February 2009Fresher by 49 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX270 HS

 SD970 IS SX270 HS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution461k461kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS has got outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Canon SX270 HS has sizing of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SD970 IS vs the SX270 HS.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and SX270 HS is 94 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through specs. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and SX270 HS.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels so you can expect similar quality of images although you would want to take the age of the products into consideration. The older SD970 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography info
Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography info
26
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
34
you can focus manually
features face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Canon SX270 HS
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography info
Canon SX270 HS Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
61
lighter than competition (233g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery (210 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD970 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX270 HS
32
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse recording
41
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery (210 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Vlogging camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (233g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX270 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISCanon PowerShot SX270 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Canon PowerShot SX270 HS
Also called as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-02-18 2013-03-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focusing distance 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 pounds) 233 gr (0.51 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 - 210 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L NB-6L
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
Storage slots One One
Retail price - $284