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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 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
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX150 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX170 IS
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Canon SX160 IS versus Sony W230, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was manufactured 4 years after the W230 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SX160 IS scores vs the W230 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Sony W230

 SX160 IS W230 
LaunchedJune 2013February 2009More modern by 53 months

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Canon SX160 IS

 W230 SX160 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Sony W230

 SX160 IS W230 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX160 IS comes with outside measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") and a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX160 IS versus Sony W230 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX160 IS and the W230.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and W230 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by going over specifications. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX160 IS and W230.

Plainly, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX160 IS to offer you extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern SX160 IS provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX160 IS
Portrait photography with Sony W230
46
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX160 IS
Street photography with Sony W230
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (291g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
51
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
69
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lighter than competition (291 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography features
Sony W230 Landscape photography features
51
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging details
Sony W230 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition (291g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic support
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Sony W230
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000s -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
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 gr (0.64 lbs) 156 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery style AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $199 $180