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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P90 front
Portability
70
Imaging
34
Features
37
Overall
35

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 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
  • Succeeded the Canon SX160 IS
Nikon P90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 400g - 114 x 99 x 83mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Earlier Model is Nikon P80
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P90, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and P90 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was released 4 years later than the P90 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX170 IS scores vs the P90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Nikon P90

 SX170 IS P90 
AnnouncedAugust 2013February 2009More recent by 56 months

Reasons to pick Nikon P90 over the Canon SX170 IS

 P90 SX170 IS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P90

 SX170 IS P90 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX170 IS enjoys outside dimensions 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 Nikon P90 has proportions of 114mm x 99mm x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P90 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 vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS against the P90.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and P90 is 88 and 70 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The graphic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and P90.

To sum up, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to offer more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern SX170 IS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography factors
Nikon P90 Portrait photography factors
44
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
has manual focus
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Nikon P90 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (251g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
55
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon P90 as a Sports photography camera
48
amazing zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
37
amazing zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography factors
Nikon P90 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than average (251 grams)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX170 IS
Landscape photography with Nikon P90
49
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
42
has manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging info
Nikon P90 Vlogging info
31
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than average (251 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P90
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISNikon Coolpix P90
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Nikon Coolpix P90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-08-22 2009-02-03
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
External flash
AEB
White balance 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 lbs) 400g (0.88 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 114 x 99 x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $700