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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
  • Launched February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2014
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus TG-850 iHS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Olympus. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and TG-850 iHS (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was launched 6 years before the TG-850 iHS which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SD970 IS scores against the TG-850 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SD970 IS TG-850 iHS 
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Canon SD970 IS

 TG-850 iHS SD970 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2014February 2009Newer by 60 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SD970 IS TG-850 iHS 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SD970 IS has got physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-850 iHS has proportions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus TG-850 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SD970 IS and the TG-850 iHS.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and TG-850 iHS is 94 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading specs. The picture below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and TG-850 iHS.

All in all, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-850 iHS to offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography details
Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography details
26
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography details
Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography details
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Sports photography features
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography features
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery (330 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD970 IS
Travel photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
72
good battery (330 CIPA)
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography details
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography details
32
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
50
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proof
good battery (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging advice
28
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISOlympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Other name Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2009-02-18 2014-01-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
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 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4616 x 3464
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 1/2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160 gr (0.35 lb) 218 gr (0.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 330 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Launch price - $250