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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
Portability
80
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Older Model is Canon SX160 IS
Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX500 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX520 HS
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX510 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are built by Canon. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and SX510 HS (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX170 IS was revealed within a month of the SX510 HS so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SX170 IS scores versus the SX510 HS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SX510 HS

 SX170 IS SX510 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SX510 HS SX170 IS 
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX510 HS

 SX170 IS SX510 HS 
AnnouncedAugust 2013August 2013Similar generation
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS offers physical dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Canon SX510 HS has sizing of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX510 HS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX170 IS vs the SX510 HS.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and SX510 HS is 88 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The pic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and SX510 HS.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon SX170 IS to give more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography details
Canon SX510 HS Portrait photography details
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
35
manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX170 IS
Street photography with Canon SX510 HS
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX510 HS Sports photography details
48
incredible zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
37
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (250 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX510 HS Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition (251 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (250 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography factors
Canon SX510 HS Landscape photography factors
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
40
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (250 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX510 HS Vlogging information
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides 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 microphone port
31
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX510 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISCanon PowerShot SX510 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-08-22 2013-08-22
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD 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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 1
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, on, slow synchro, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251g (0.55 pounds) 349g (0.77 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 250 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $249