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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 3 years later than the FH20 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SX170 IS matches up against the FH20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Panasonic FH20

 SX170 IS FH20 
AnnouncedAugust 2013January 2010More recent by 45 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Canon SX170 IS

 FH20 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH20

 SX170 IS FH20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS has exterior dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SX170 IS vs the FH20.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and FH20 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The photograph here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX170 IS and FH20.

All in all, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Canon SX170 IS to give you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger SX170 IS provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography details
Panasonic FH20 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography highlights
48
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition (251 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
64
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX170 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
49
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging advice
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition (251 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH20
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2010-01-06
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $179