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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
Portability
89
Imaging
47
Features
51
Overall
48

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 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
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX160 IS
Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX710 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX730 HS
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX720 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are built by Canon. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and SX720 HS (20.3MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 3 years prior to the SX720 HS and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SX170 IS scores against the SX720 HS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SX720 HS

 SX170 IS SX720 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SX720 HS SX170 IS 
RevealedFebruary 2016August 2013More recent by 30 months
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX720 HS

 SX170 IS SX720 HS 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS has exterior dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Canon SX720 HS has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX720 HS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS vs the SX720 HS.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and SX720 HS is 88 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and SX720 HS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX720 HS to provide extra detail using its extra 4.3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older SX170 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX720 HS
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
48
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20.3MP)
comes with face detect focusing
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (251g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (270 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Sports photography camera
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
48
excellent zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20.3 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 fps)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography factors
Canon SX720 HS Travel photography factors
68
lighter than others in class (251 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
lighter than others in class (270 grams)
good megapixels (20.3 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (960mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX720 HS Landscape photography info
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20.3MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery (250 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (251 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
35
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (270g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX720 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISCanon PowerShot SX720 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-08-22 2016-02-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 DIGIC 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20.3MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
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) 24-960mm (40.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-6.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 5.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AEB
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 gr (0.55 pounds) 270 gr (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 250 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NB-13L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $379