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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Olympus VR-330 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
38
Overall
36

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 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
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Olympus VR-330
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus VR-320
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus VR-330, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the VR-330 (14MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was introduced 24 months earlier than the VR-330 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the SD970 IS matches up versus the VR-330 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Olympus VR-330

 SD970 IS VR-330 
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Canon SD970 IS

 VR-330 SD970 IS 
ReleasedFebruary 2011February 2009Fresher by 24 months

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Olympus VR-330

 SD970 IS VR-330 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD970 IS has physical measurements 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 VR-330 has measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Canon SD970 IS versus Olympus VR-330 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SD970 IS and the VR-330.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and VR-330 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD970 IS and VR-330.

Clearly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus VR-330 to result in more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older SD970 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography factors
Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography factors
26
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Olympus VR-330
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (158g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VR-330 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
46
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography highlights
Olympus VR-330 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
69
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VR-330 as a Landscape photography camera
32
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD970 IS
Vlogging with Olympus VR-330
27
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (158g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Olympus VR-330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Olympus VR-330
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISOlympus VR-330
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Olympus VR-330
Also called as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2011-02-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 24-300mm (12.5x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range 2cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160g (0.35 pounds) 158g (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 model NB-5L LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch - $220