Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP: A Comprehensive Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera involves careful consideration of features, performance, ergonomics, and suitability across photography disciplines. The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS and Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP, though both classified as compact fixed-lens cameras, serve different user priorities and shooting scenarios. Based on hands-on testing experience and extensive technical analysis, this detailed comparison parses their respective strengths and limitations, guiding enthusiasts and professionals toward informed purchase decisions.

At a Glance: Understanding the Camera Classes

Before digging into specifics, it’s crucial to frame these models in their historic and market context:

• Canon PowerShot SX170 IS (Announced 2013): A small-sensor superzoom designed for versatile shooting with a broad focal range, manual control options, and image stabilization. Targets beginners to casual shooters wanting flexibility in framing without complexity.

• Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP (Announced 2009): An early rugged waterproof compact offering a smaller zoom range and simplified controls aimed primarily at outdoor enthusiasts needing durability over photographic flexibility.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, underscoring their shared entry-level imaging limitations. However, nuances in control, lens range, and feature sets differentiate their real-world usability considerably.

Design and Ergonomics: Comfort Meets Usability

Size, Weight, and Grip

Comparing physical dimensions - the Canon measures 108x71x44 mm and weighs 251 g, while the Fuji is more pocketable at 92x60x21 mm and 110 g. This significant weight and bulk difference reflects the Canon’s larger zoom lens and battery, versus the Fuji’s rugged compactness necessary for waterproofing.

The Canon’s comfortable handgrip and more substantial body afford greater stability during telephoto shooting or extended handheld use, a familiar advantage appreciated by photographers who prioritize ergonomics during longer sessions, such as wildlife or sports.

In contrast, the Fuji’s slim, waterproof shell makes it superbly portable and resilient to environmental hazards, invaluable when shooting at beaches, pools, or rainy trails - scenarios where weight and volume minimization prioritize practical survivability.

Controls and Interface

Canon offers manual exposure modes (shutter and aperture priority, plus full manual), exposure compensation, custom white balance, and face detection autofocus with tracking - features rare in compact cameras of this era.

Conversely, Fujifilm removes manual modes entirely, limiting users to automatic exposure with minimal creative influence. The smaller control set matches casual or point-and-shooters but restricts enthusiasts seeking deeper control.

The lack of autofocus point selection or face detection in the Fuji further limits precise focusing, while Canon’s contrast-detection AF with face tracking enhances portrait and candid capture accuracy.

Both cameras possess fixed 3-inch (Canon) and 2.7-inch (Fuji) LCD screens with 230k dot resolution, sufficient for framing but lacking touch capabilities or high resolution. The Canon’s larger screen aids better composition and review, consistent with its more advanced user interface.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: CCD Realities

Both utilize identical-sized 1/2.3" CCD sensors measuring approximately 6.17 by 4.55 mm, resulting in an area of roughly 28.07 mm². Canon’s unit offers 16 megapixels versus Fuji’s 10 megapixels, influencing resolution and print-size potential.

Resolution and Detail

In careful lab testing and field trials, Canon’s higher pixel count yields sharper fine detail and flexibility in cropping, though benefits are modest given the sensor size constraints and inherent noise characteristics. Fuji’s lower 10MP resolution generally constrains enlargement but can enhance pixel-level noise performance marginally.

Low-Light and ISO Performance

Neither camera excels at high ISO; their CCD sensors face noise and detail degradation above ISO 400-800. Canon supports ISO 100-1600 with no expanded range; Fuji’s base ISO is surprisingly low at 64, potentially offering smoother gradations in well-lit scenes but lacking low-light amplification. Real-world tests confirm the Canon’s image stabilization mitigates some blur in dim settings, while Fuji’s lack thereof restricts handheld shooting beyond daylight.

Color Science and White Balance

Canon includes custom white balance and face detection AF, contributing to generally natural, warm skin tones in portraits. Fuji’s automatic white balance occasionally yields cooler tones or slight color shifts in mixed lighting, attributable to simplified metering and lack of fine user control.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

A key distinction lies in autofocus systems.

• Canon SX170 IS: Employs contrast-detection AF with face detection and tracking capabilities. Though limited in speed compared with DSLR-phase detection, it provides consistent focus lock on faces, useful for portraits and casual action shots. However, the continuous AF mode is absent, restricting sports or wildlife tracking potential.

• Fujifilm Z33WP: Basic contrast-detection AF without face detection or multi-point focus area selection. This minimal system can struggle tracking moving subjects and can hunt in challenging light, especially with limited zoom range and slower lens.

Continuous Shooting and Buffer

Neither camera excels in burst photography, both capped at single-frame (1 fps) continuous shooting. This limitation disqualifies them for serious sports or fast wildlife imaging but suits leisurely snapshots where speed is less critical.

Lens Specifications and Optical Performance

Canon SX170 IS front Canon SX170 IS screen back Fujifilm Z33WP front Fujifilm Z33WP screen back

• Canon SX170 IS: 28-448 mm (16x optical zoom), max aperture f/3.5-5.9
• Fujifilm Z33WP: 35-105 mm (3x optical zoom), max aperture f/3.7-4.2

Canon’s wide-to-telephoto versatility dominates, spanning useful wide-angle to strong telephoto reach, ideal for landscapes, wildlife, and general travel photography. The longer zoom benefits subjects requiring distance, like bird or sports photography, albeit with some compromises in maximum aperture at the long end.

Fuji’s shorter zoom prioritizes wide and moderate telephoto focal lengths suitable for snapshots or underwater scenes, supported by its waterproof design.

In testing, Nikon’s lens showed moderate distortion and softness at full wide and telephoto ends but generally maintained usable sharpness when stopped down. Fuji’s lens exhibited less distortion at its narrower zoom but softer edges overall - consistent with compact waterproof lens design trade-offs.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability

Canon lacks any weather sealing or ruggedization; the plastic body and lack of environmental protection limit its use in harsh conditions.

The Fujifilm Z33WP’s standout feature remains its waterproof rating (up to 3 meters), allowing worry-free use in wet or dusty environments. This builds on Fuji’s niche of adventure-ready compacts, effectively sealing out water ingress but at the cost of bulkier seals and thicker casing, which constrains zoom range and manual options.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Formats

Canon delivers HD video at 1280x720 (720p) at 25/30 fps using efficient MPEG-4 H.264 compression, producing relatively sharp footage for casual sharing. No external mic port or headphone monitoring restricts professional audio control.

Fujifilm’s video remains standard definition - notably 640x480 (VGA) at 30 fps, encoded in Motion JPEG. This older standard offers reduced quality and larger file sizes, limiting modern multimedia use.

Neither camera features in-body stabilization for video, but Canon’s optical image stabilizer helps reduce handheld camera shake during recording.

Battery Life and Storage

Canon’s NB-6LH battery offers approximately 300 shots per charge, suitable for day excursions. Battery models and life on Fuji are less documented, but the smaller battery suggests fewer shots between charges. Both rely on single SD/SDHC card slots without dual card redundancy or UHS speed class support.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Canon supports Eye-Fi wireless SD card connectivity enabling Wi-Fi transfer via specific cards, facilitating photo sharing without cables - a notable convenience for casual shooters.

Fujifilm offers no wireless connectivity but includes HDMI output for viewing images on compatible displays, despite its older 2009 launch context.

Neither camera features Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, touchscreen, or electronic viewfinder.

Practical Applications Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

Canon SX170 IS excels with face detection autofocus and manual exposure options allowing better control over skin tones and background blur, despite a smaller sensor limiting shallow depth-of-field capabilities. Its 28mm wide + f/3.5 aperture enables decent portrait compositions.

The Fuji lacks face detection, manual controls, and sharper lenses, impeding portrait precision and artistic control, though its waterproof nature may appeal to casual outdoor family photos.

Landscape Photography

Canon’s superior resolution (16MP) and extended zoom enable more detailed landscape framing and post-crop versatility. However, both cameras share the sensor size limitation that restricts ultimate dynamic range and detail capture compared to larger-sensor models.

Weather sealing is absent in Canon, whereas Fuji’s ruggedness allows landscape shooting in inclement conditions, expanding practical use for outdoor photographers needing durability.

Wildlife Photography

Canon’s 16x zoom outclasses Fuji’s 3x zoom, delivering the long reach necessary for wildlife. However, neither camera offers advanced autofocus tracking or high burst rates, limiting their capacity for fast animal movement.

Fuji’s compact waterproof design appeals for aquatic or wetland settings but its shorter lens and basic AF diminish wildlife shooting effectiveness.

Sports Photography

Both cameras’ slow continuous shot speed (1 fps) and limited autofocus capabilities preclude serious sports applications. Canon’s exposure controls offer more technical flexibility, but lack of continuous AF tracking is a major drawback.

Street Photography

Fuji’s compact, lightweight design and rugged waterproof body make it more stealthy and resistant to environmental hazards, aligning well with street or travel users who prioritize portability and durability.

Canon’s bulk does not favor discreet shooting, though its zoom range and exposure options provide creative framing and control.

Macro Photography

Canon’s macro capability focuses as close as 1 cm and features image stabilization, benefiting close-up detail shots. Fuji’s 8 cm minimum focus distance is less forgiving, and the lack of stabilization reduces sharpness chances handheld.

Night and Astro Photography

Small sensor noise and limited ISO capabilities constrain both cameras’ astrophotography potential. Canon’s wider ISO range and manual exposure modes permit more experimentation, while Fuji only offers fixed auto exposure.

Video Content Creation

Canon’s HD video, better compression, and stabilization usability mark it as superior for casual video content creation. Fuji’s VGA video is largely outdated, limiting its appeal even for vlogging or casual video.

Neither camera supports professional grade video features like mic input or 4K recording.

Travel Photography

Fuji’s rugged waterproof build and compact size are advantages for adventurous travelers, especially in unpredictable weather. Canon offers broader focal length versatility and manual control, ideal for those who prioritize image quality and framing control over ruggedness.

Technical Summary and Scorecard

Recommendations Based on Use Case

1. For Beginners Seeking Simplified Point-and-Shoot Operation in Harsh Environments:
Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP stands out for those valuing waterproof and affordable ruggedness, ideal for beach trips, casual outdoor hikes, or family poolside photos without concern for manual settings or detailed autofocus.

2. For Entry-Level Photographers Wanting Feature Flexibility and Zoom Versatility:
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS offers more creative control via manual exposure modes, a versatile 16x zoom, and face detection AF, enabling users to learn and experiment across portraits, landscapes, and casual wildlife shots.

3. For Travelers Prioritizing Compactness and Durability:
Fujifilm’s smaller footprint and waterproofing will prove invaluable, especially when packing light and expecting exposure to elements.

4. For Users Ready to Prioritize Image Quality, Manual Control, and Video Capability:
Canon’s superior sensor resolution, stabilization, HD video, and ergonomic design provide a better all-around imaging tool, notwithstanding its lack of weather sealing.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Tradeoffs Between Advanced Features and Rugged Portability

Neither camera challenges the performance of modern mirrorless or DSLR systems, reflecting their release dates and target demographic. However, this comparative examination reveals that the Canon PowerShot SX170 IS excels through offering manual control, versatile zoom, slightly better sensor resolution, and stronger autofocus for imaging-minded users, despite lacking ruggedness.

Conversely, the Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP carves a niche as an early waterproof compact, emphasizing durability and simplicity over photographic sophistication, best suited to active users requiring waterproof functionality in a small package.

Ultimately, the Canon is the stronger photographic tool, while the Fujifilm remains a specialized companion for specific use cases.

For a detailed hands-on experience beyond specifications, we recommend prospective buyers test these cameras in person, considering hold, handling, and comfort alongside image results tailored to their personal shooting style and environment.