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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS front
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
55
Overall
43

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 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
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX150 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX170 IS
Canon SX50 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 595g - 123 x 87 x 106mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX40 HS
  • Later Model is Canon SX60 HS
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Overview

Lets look much closer at the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are created by Canon. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and SX50 HS (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was revealed 6 months later than the SX50 HS and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX160 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX50 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SX160 IS grades against the SX50 HS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SX50 HS

 SX160 IS SX50 HS 
Display size3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Canon SX50 HS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SX50 HS SX160 IS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX50 HS

 SX160 IS SX50 HS 
LaunchedJune 2013January 2013Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX160 IS has got outside dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") with a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Canon SX50 HS has sizing of 123mm x 87mm x 106mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.2") along with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SX160 IS compared to the SX50 HS.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX160 IS and SX50 HS is 86 and 65 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and SX50 HS.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SX160 IS to offer you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX50 HS Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
48
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography info
Canon SX50 HS Street photography info
59
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (291 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors (595g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX160 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX50 HS
51
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography advice
Canon SX50 HS Travel photography advice
69
good battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competition (291g)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
53
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (595 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX50 HS Landscape photography advice
51
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
good battery pack (380 per charge)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
45
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX50 HS as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition (291g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
58
quite wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
missing mic support
heavier than competitors (595g)
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX50 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX50 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISCanon PowerShot SX50 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-06-21 2013-01-15
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 5
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.8 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 202k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 291 grams (0.64 lb) 595 grams (1.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 123 x 87 x 106mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 179
Other
Battery life 380 images 315 images
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-10L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $199 $429