Canon SX170 IS vs Sony A7R II

Here, we will be contrasting the Canon SX170 IS and Sony A7R II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Canon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and A7R II (42MP) and the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and A7R II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The SX170 IS was announced 21 months prior to the A7R II which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A7R II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SX170 IS grades against the A7R II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX170 IS & Sony Alpha A7R II. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon SX170 IS Gallery & Sony A7R II Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS has physical dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony A7R II has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") and a weight of 625 grams (1.38 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX170 IS and Sony A7R II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SX170 IS and the A7R II.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and A7R II is 88 and 68 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and A7R II.

As you can see, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX170 IS using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A7R II will deliver greater detail with its extra 26 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX170 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.