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Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WS80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
20
Overall
27

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 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
  • Launched August 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX160 IS
Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX170 IS and Pentax WS80, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was brought out 4 years later than the WS80 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the SX170 IS matches up vs the WS80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Pentax WS80

 SX170 IS WS80 
AnnouncedAugust 2013August 2009More recent by 50 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Canon SX170 IS

 WS80 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Pentax WS80

 SX170 IS WS80 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX170 IS provides outside dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Pentax WS80 has proportions of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX170 IS and Pentax WS80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the WS80.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and WS80 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX170 IS and WS80.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon SX170 IS to result in more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern SX170 IS should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WS80 Portrait photography highlights
43
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
25
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
59
environment proof
lighter than others (125 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography highlights
Pentax WS80 Sports photography highlights
48
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
23
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Pentax WS80
68
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than others (125g)
environment proof
has built in flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
31
focusing manually
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX170 IS
Vlogging with Pentax WS80
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
25
lighter than others (125 grams)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Pentax WS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Pentax WS80
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISPentax Optio WS80
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Pentax Optio WS80
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2013-08-22 2009-08-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Prime
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 35-175mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.8-4.7
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
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") 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $220