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Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Ricoh GR II front
Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II 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
  • Announced August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Ricoh GR II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16.0) lens
  • 251g - 117 x 63 x 35mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Succeeded the Ricoh GR
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Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the GR II (16MP) is relatively similar but the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and GR II (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX170 IS was launched 22 months before the GR II which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX170 IS matches up against the GR II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Ricoh GR II

 SX170 IS GR II 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Canon SX170 IS

 GR II SX170 IS 
AnnouncedJune 2015August 2013Fresher by 22 months
Screen resolution1230k230kCrisper screen (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Ricoh GR II

 SX170 IS GR II 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS features outside dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Ricoh GR II has sizing of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the GR II.

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and GR II is 88 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and GR II.

All in all, both of these cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The SX170 IS contains the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF more challenging. The older SX170 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX170 IS
Portrait photography with Ricoh GR II
44
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
Ricoh GR II as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (251g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography factors
Ricoh GR II Sports photography factors
48
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
50
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (28mm)
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Ricoh GR II
68
lighter than others (251g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
67
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography information
Ricoh GR II Landscape photography information
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
59
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh GR II as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than others (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
32
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (251 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Ricoh GR II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Ricoh GR II
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISRicoh GR II
General Information
Brand Canon Ricoh
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Ricoh GR II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-08-22 2015-06-17
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 GR Engine V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.8-16.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 300 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lb) 251 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1078
Other
Battery life 300 photos 320 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH DB-65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $599