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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Sony Alpha A7 II front
Portability
69
Imaging
70
Features
84
Overall
75

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 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
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX160 IS
Sony A7 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 599g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Introduced November 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony A7
  • New Model is Sony A7 III
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Canon SX170 IS versus Sony A7 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and A7 II (24MP) and the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and A7 II (Full frame) offer totally different sensor size.

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The SX170 IS was brought out 15 months prior to the A7 II which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A7 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX170 IS grades vs the A7 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony A7 II

 SX170 IS A7 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 II over the Canon SX170 IS

 A7 II SX170 IS 
IntroducedNovember 2014August 2013Newer by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1230k230kSharper screen (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Sony A7 II

 SX170 IS A7 II 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX170 IS comes with outside 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) and the Sony A7 II has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX170 IS versus Sony A7 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the A7 II.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and A7 II is 88 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The picture below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and A7 II.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX170 IS featuring a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony A7 II will offer you extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged SX170 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7 II as a Portrait photography camera
43
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
82
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony A7 II as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
80
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography info
Sony A7 II Sports photography info
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
73
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
bad battery (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony A7 II Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition in class (251g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
61
environment proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
bad battery (350 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7 II as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
bad battery (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging info
Sony A7 II Vlogging info
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
36
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Sony A7 II
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSony Alpha A7 II
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Sony Alpha A7 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-08-22 2014-11-20
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 117
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 pounds) 599g (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 90
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 2449
Other
Battery life 300 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $1,456