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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P300 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Nikon P300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 189g - 103 x 58 x 32mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon P310
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and P300 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was manufactured 2 years after the P300 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX170 IS matches up versus the P300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Nikon P300

 SX170 IS P300 
RevealedAugust 2013May 2011Newer by 28 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon P300 over the Canon SX170 IS

 P300 SX170 IS 
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P300

 SX170 IS P300 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS offers physical dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Nikon P300 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 189 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS vs the P300.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and P300 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading specifications. The picture underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and P300.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Canon SX170 IS to offer greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent SX170 IS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography info
Nikon P300 Portrait photography info
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Nikon P300 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography info
Nikon P300 Sports photography info
48
incredible zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography information
Nikon P300 Travel photography information
68
lighter than competition in class (251g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
63
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography factors
Nikon P300 Landscape photography factors
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
43
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging features
Nikon P300 Vlogging features
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (251g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
36
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P300
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISNikon Coolpix P300
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Nikon Coolpix P300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-08-22 2011-05-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
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 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-100mm (4.2x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD with anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
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 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (15, 30, 60 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251g (0.55 lbs) 189g (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 103 x 58 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 shots 240 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $500