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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 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
  • Old Model is Canon SX150 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX170 IS
Canon SX280 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
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX270 HS
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both designed by Canon. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and SX280 HS (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was revealed 4 months after the SX280 HS and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SX160 IS matches up against the SX280 HS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX160 IS SX280 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SX280 HS SX160 IS 
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX280 HS

 SX160 IS SX280 HS 
RevealedJune 2013March 2013Similar age
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS enjoys outer measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Canon SX280 HS has measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SX160 IS and the SX280 HS.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and SX280 HS is 86 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX160 IS and SX280 HS.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to give extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX160 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX280 HS
46
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
decent MP (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
you can focus manually
offers face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX160 IS
Street photography with Canon SX280 HS
59
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX160 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX280 HS
51
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low fps (4.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (210 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX280 HS Travel photography details
69
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
long zoom (448mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than competition (233g)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery power (210 shots)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX160 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
51
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
41
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery power (210 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX160 IS
Vlogging with Canon SX280 HS
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (291 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (233g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX280 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISCanon PowerShot SX280 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Canon PowerShot SX280 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-06-21 2013-03-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 291g (0.64 lb) 233g (0.51 lb)
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 score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 210 shots
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $199 $325