Clicky

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
Portability
81
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2014
Photography Glossary

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Canon. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and SX400 IS (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SD970 IS was launched 6 years earlier than the SX400 IS which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SD970 IS scores versus the SX400 IS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon SX400 IS

 SD970 IS SX400 IS 
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Canon SD970 IS

 SX400 IS SD970 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014February 2009Newer by 66 months

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX400 IS

 SD970 IS SX400 IS 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Canon SX400 IS has sizing of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS 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 differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SD970 IS against the SX400 IS.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and SX400 IS is 94 and 81 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The picture below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and SX400 IS.

All in all, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX400 IS to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD970 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX400 IS
26
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography details
Canon SX400 IS Street photography details
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
52
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX400 IS
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
42
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (190 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography info
Canon SX400 IS Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
60
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (190 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography features
Canon SX400 IS Landscape photography features
32
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery life (190 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX400 IS as a Vlogging camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
28
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon SD970 IS vs Canon SX400 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Canon SX400 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISCanon PowerShot SX400 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Canon PowerShot SX400 IS
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2014-07-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing distance 2cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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 grams (0.35 lb) 313 grams (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1")
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 - 190 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L NB-11LH
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 Single Single
Launch cost - $229