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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX150 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX170 IS
Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX260 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX280 HS
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are built by Canon. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and SX270 HS (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was announced 4 months later than the SX270 HS so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX160 IS matches up against the SX270 HS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SX270 HS

 SX160 IS SX270 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SX270 HS SX160 IS 
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX270 HS

 SX160 IS SX270 HS 
ReleasedJune 2013March 2013Same generation
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX160 IS has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) and the Canon SX270 HS has sizing of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the SX160 IS compared to the SX270 HS.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and SX270 HS is 86 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and SX270 HS.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to produce greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX270 HS as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
manual focus
has face detect focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography highlights
Canon SX270 HS Street photography highlights
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (291g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX270 HS Sports photography details
51
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (380 CIPA)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX270 HS Travel photography details
69
great battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (210 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX160 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX270 HS
51
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX270 HS Vlogging advice
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (291g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (233g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX270 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX270 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISCanon PowerShot SX270 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Canon PowerShot SX270 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-06-21 2013-03-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 291g (0.64 lbs) 233g (0.51 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 380 photos 210 photos
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $199 $284