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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Key Specs

Canon SX170 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
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX160 IS
Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Older Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX30 IS
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX20 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are produced by Canon. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and SX20 IS (12MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was launched 3 years later than the SX20 IS and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX170 IS scores vs the SX20 IS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX170 IS SX20 IS 
LaunchedAugust 2013July 2010Fresher by 39 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SX20 IS SX170 IS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX20 IS

 SX170 IS SX20 IS 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS comes with exterior dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Canon SX20 IS has dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX20 IS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS versus the SX20 IS.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and SX20 IS is 88 and 65 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and SX20 IS.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Canon SX170 IS to deliver more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The more recent SX170 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
37
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Canon SX20 IS Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
49
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX170 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX20 IS
48
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX20 IS
68
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
53
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
resolution not great (12MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX170 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
35
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
31
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
50
quite wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX20 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISCanon PowerShot SX20 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-08-22 2010-07-06
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/500s
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lb) 600 gr (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4")
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 300 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $500