Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon D7100

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Canon SX160 IS and Nikon D7100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and D7100 (24MP) and the SX160 IS (1/2.3") and D7100 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The SX160 IS was revealed 2 months after the D7100 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX160 IS being a Compact camera and the Nikon D7100 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SX160 IS grades versus the D7100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX160 IS and Nikon D7100. The full galleries are available at Canon SX160 IS Gallery and Nikon D7100 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS provides physical 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 Nikon D7100 has measurements of 136mm x 107mm x 76mm (5.4" x 4.2" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 765 grams (1.69 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX160 IS and Nikon D7100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SX160 IS compared to the D7100.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and D7100 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX160 IS and D7100.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX160 IS having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Nikon D7100 will give extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively.