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Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Samsung ST30 front
Portability
98
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 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
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX160 IS
Samsung ST30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 0
  • 640 x 480 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • 87g - 82 x 52 x 17mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Canon and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and ST30 (10MP) and the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and ST30 (1/3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SX170 IS was announced 2 years after the ST30 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Samsung ST30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SX170 IS grades vs the ST30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Samsung ST30

 SX170 IS ST30 
ReleasedAugust 2013January 2011Newer by 32 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Samsung ST30 over the Canon SX170 IS

 ST30 SX170 IS 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Samsung ST30

 SX170 IS ST30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX170 IS has got physical measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Samsung ST30 has proportions of 82mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 87 grams (0.19 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SX170 IS against the ST30.

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and ST30 is 88 and 98 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The pic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and ST30.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX170 IS with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Canon SX170 IS will give more detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung ST30 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Samsung ST30 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
lighter than others (87 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have RAW format
low max ISO (0)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX170 IS
Sports photography with Samsung ST30
48
amazing zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
fixed focal length (()mm)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Samsung ST30 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than others (87g)
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography highlights
Samsung ST30 Landscape photography highlights
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
30
fast maximum aperture (f)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (()mm)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
low max ISO (0)
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
Samsung ST30 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
29
fast maximum aperture (f)
lighter than others (87 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Samsung ST30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Samsung ST30
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSamsung ST30
General Information
Company Canon Samsung
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Samsung ST30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2011-01-19
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 -
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) ()
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 7.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lbs) 87 gr (0.19 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 82 x 52 x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $55