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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS 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
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Previous Model is Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 HS
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX170 IS versus Canon SX260 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are designed by Canon. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and SX260 HS (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 15 months after the SX260 HS making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX170 IS matches up vs the SX260 HS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SX260 HS

 SX170 IS SX260 HS 
ReleasedAugust 2013June 2012Newer by 15 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SX260 HS SX170 IS 
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX260 HS

 SX170 IS SX260 HS 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX170 IS provides outer measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Canon SX260 HS has proportions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX170 IS versus Canon SX260 HS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the SX260 HS.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and SX260 HS is 88 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and SX260 HS.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to result in more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX260 HS
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
37
has manual focus
has face detection autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography details
Canon SX260 HS Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (231 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX260 HS Sports photography details
48
amazing zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (230 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX260 HS
68
lighter than competition (251g)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than others in class (231 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX260 HS as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX260 HS Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (251 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (231g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX260 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISCanon PowerShot SX260 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-08-22 2012-06-04
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount 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 distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD PureColor II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 lb) 231g (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 300 images 230 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $0 $349