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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 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
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • New Model is Pentax KF
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax K-70, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the SD970 IS (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The SD970 IS was announced 8 years prior to the K-70 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SD970 IS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SD970 IS matches up against the K-70 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Pentax K-70

 SD970 IS K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Canon SD970 IS

 K-70 SD970 IS 
IntroducedJune 2016February 2009Newer by 88 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k461kSharper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax K-70

 SD970 IS K-70 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SD970 IS features exterior dimensions 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 Pentax K-70 has specifications of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") along with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax K-70 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SD970 IS and the K-70.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and K-70 is 94 and 62 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The image underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and K-70.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SD970 IS using its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-70 will offer more detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Portrait photography camera
26
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Street photography highlights
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
71
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
very good ISO range (102,400)
heavier than competition (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Pentax K-70
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD970 IS
Travel photography with Pentax K-70
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
64
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
heavier than competition (688 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Landscape photography camera
32
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (102,400)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-70 as a Vlogging camera
28
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
71
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic port
heavier than competition (688 grams)
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Pentax K-70
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPentax K-70
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Pentax K-70
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-02-18 2016-06-08
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 102400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 2cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 688g (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
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 - 410 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Storage slots One One
Launch cost - $649