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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Launched September 2009
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the E85 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was announced 7 months prior to the E85 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SD970 IS matches up vs the E85 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Pentax E85

 SD970 IS E85 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Canon SD970 IS

 E85 SD970 IS 
LaunchedSeptember 2009February 2009More recent by 7 months

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax E85

 SD970 IS E85 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD970 IS has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax E85 has measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the E85.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and E85 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The visual here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and E85.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of pictures but you should consider the release date of the cameras into account. The older SD970 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography details
Pentax E85 Portrait photography details
26
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Pentax E85
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Pentax E85
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography information
Pentax E85 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography advice
Pentax E85 Landscape photography advice
32
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
23
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD970 IS
Vlogging with Pentax E85
28
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Pentax E85
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPentax Optio E85
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Pentax Optio E85
Also called Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-18 2009-09-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 32-96mm (3.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing distance 2cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off -
Hot shoe
AE 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160g (0.35 lbs) 145g (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 ID NB-5L D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release - $0