Clicky

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX160 IS
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Canon SX170 IS versus Panasonic S3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The SX170 IS was brought out 2 years after the S3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX170 IS grades against the S3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Panasonic S3

 SX170 IS S3 
ReleasedAugust 2013January 2011More modern by 32 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon SX170 IS

 S3 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic S3

 SX170 IS S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS comes with physical measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX170 IS versus Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the S3.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and S3 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading specs. The image below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and S3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Canon SX170 IS to deliver greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images way more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography details
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography details
Panasonic S3 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
68
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX170 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
49
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
38
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging info
Panasonic S3 Vlogging info
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (251g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
31
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
Photography Glossary

Canon SX170 IS vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-08-22 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Venus Engine IV
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 250 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 Single Single
Price at launch $0 $110