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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Announced August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX160 IS
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SZ-12, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was announced 20 months later than the SZ-12 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the SX170 IS grades versus the SZ-12 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Olympus SZ-12

 SX170 IS SZ-12 
RevealedAugust 2013January 2012Fresher by 20 months
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon SX170 IS

 SZ-12 SX170 IS 
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SZ-12

 SX170 IS SZ-12 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS has got outside measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SZ-12 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX170 IS against the SZ-12.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and SZ-12 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the gap in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The photograph here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and SZ-12.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX170 IS to show more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger SX170 IS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition (251 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
long zoom (448mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
49
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
31
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (251 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-08-22 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $350