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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 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
  • Launched August 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX160 IS
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus VG-160, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the VG-160 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was manufactured 20 months after the VG-160 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the SX170 IS matches up versus the VG-160 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Olympus VG-160

 SX170 IS VG-160 
RevealedAugust 2013January 2012Newer by 20 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Canon SX170 IS

 VG-160 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus VG-160

 SX170 IS VG-160 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS enjoys exterior measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Olympus VG-160 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus VG-160 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX170 IS and the VG-160.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and VG-160 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over specs. The picture below will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and VG-160.

All in all, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger SX170 IS should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
43
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
33
MP count good (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX170 IS
Street photography with Olympus VG-160
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (251g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
lighter than competition (125g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
48
incredible zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
26
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (165 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
68
lighter than competitors (251g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than competition (125 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (165 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography factors
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery pack (165 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging details
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (251 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
30
quite wide (26mm)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Olympus VG-160
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISOlympus VG-160
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Olympus VG-160
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-08-22 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 7cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE 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 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 gr (0.55 pounds) 125 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots 165 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $0 $90