Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800
94 Imaging
34 Features
24 Overall
30


96 Imaging
45 Features
29 Overall
38
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed February 2009
- Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS
(Full Review)
- 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F3.2-6.4) lens
- 125g - 97 x 55 x 21mm
- Introduced February 2014

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Overview
On this page, we are evaluating the Canon SD970 IS versus Sony W800, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and W800 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The SD970 IS was released 6 years prior to the W800 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SD970 IS matches up versus the W800 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SD970 IS Gallery & Sony W800 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Sony W800
SD970 IS | W800 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony W800 over the Canon SD970 IS
W800 | SD970 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2014 | ![]() | February 2009 | More recent by 60 months |
Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Sony W800
SD970 IS | W800 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | No Touch display |
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Physical Comparison
When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SD970 IS enjoys outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony W800 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).
Look at the Canon SD970 IS versus Sony W800 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SD970 IS compared to the W800.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and W800 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specifications. The visual underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and W800.
To sum up, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony W800 to show more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older SD970 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony W800 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SD970 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 |
Also Known as | Digital IXUS 990 IS | - |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2009-02-18 | 2014-02-13 |
Body design | 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 surface area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 20 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 5152 x 3864 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | - |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 37-185mm (5.0x) | 26-130mm (5.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.2-5.7 | f/3.2-6.4 |
Macro focusing range | 2cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Screen resolution | 461k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD display |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15s | 2s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/1500s |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames per second | 1.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.50 m | 3.50 m |
Flash settings | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off | Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
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 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | AVI MPEG4 |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 160 gr (0.35 pounds) | 125 gr (0.28 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 97 x 55 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") |
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 ID | NB-5L | NP-BN |
Self timer | Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | - | $90 |