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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 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  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS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 FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was brought out 3 years later than the FH3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX170 IS grades against the FH3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Panasonic FH3

 SX170 IS FH3 
ReleasedAugust 2013January 2010More recent by 45 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Canon SX170 IS

 FH3 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH3

 SX170 IS FH3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS enjoys physical measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX170 IS vs the FH3.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and FH3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and FH3.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to give you extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SX170 IS should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography details
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography info
Panasonic FH3 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Sports photography camera
48
amazing zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (251 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography highlights
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
37
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging info
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging info
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (251g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
29
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic FH3
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS11
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 grams (0.55 lb) 165 grams (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $160