Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus SH-3

Below is a complete overview of the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus SH-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and SH-3 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was launched 8 years earlier than the SH-3 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the SD970 IS grades against the SH-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and Olympus Stylus SH-3. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SD970 IS Gallery and Olympus SH-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SD970 IS provides exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Olympus SH-3 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus SH-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SD970 IS against the SH-3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and SH-3 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over specs. The visual here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and SH-3.

All in all, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus SH-3 to offer greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SD970 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.