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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 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
  • Released February 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Canon SD970 IS and Sony WX50, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and WX50 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was introduced 3 years before the WX50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SD970 IS scores versus the WX50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Sony WX50

 SD970 IS WX50 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Canon SD970 IS

 WX50 SD970 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2009More recent by 35 months

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Sony WX50

 SD970 IS WX50 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution461k461kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SD970 IS provides exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony WX50 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD970 IS and Sony WX50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the SD970 IS against the WX50.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD970 IS and WX50 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD970 IS and WX50.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony WX50 to resolve greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Portrait photography camera
26
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography info
Sony WX50 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Sports photography factors
Sony WX50 Sports photography factors
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
69
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography information
Sony WX50 Landscape photography information
32
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
38
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Vlogging information
Sony WX50 Vlogging information
27
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
wide angle not great (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
35
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (117g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Sony WX50
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Also called as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-18 2012-01-30
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-185mm (5.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 461k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 - 240 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price - $250