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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Pentax Optio I-10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 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
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Pentax I-10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon SD970 IS versus Pentax I-10, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the I-10 (12MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was released 11 months before the I-10 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the SD970 IS scores versus the I-10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Pentax I-10

 SD970 IS I-10 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax I-10 over the Canon SD970 IS

 I-10 SD970 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2010February 2009More recent by 11 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Pentax I-10

 SD970 IS I-10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS provides outer 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 Pentax I-10 has dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS versus Pentax I-10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the I-10.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and I-10 is 94 and 93 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The graphic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and I-10.

All in all, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of pictures though you may want to consider the release date of the products into consideration. The older SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography info
Pentax I-10 Portrait photography info
26
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography information
Pentax I-10 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Pentax I-10
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD970 IS
Travel photography with Pentax I-10
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography features
Pentax I-10 Landscape photography features
32
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging details
Pentax I-10 Vlogging details
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
wide angle not great (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Pentax I-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Pentax I-10
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISPentax Optio I-10
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Pentax Optio I-10
Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-18 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
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 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 2cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 lbs) 153 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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-LI92
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price - $310