Canon SX170 IS vs Sony a1

On this page, we will be contrasting the Canon SX170 IS vs Sony a1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) offer different sensor sizes.

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The SX170 IS was brought out 8 years prior to the a1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX170 IS matches up versus the a1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot SX170 IS & Sony Alpha a1. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX170 IS Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS has 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) whilst the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check the Canon SX170 IS vs Sony a1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SX170 IS versus the a1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and a1 is 88 and 61 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and a1.

To sum up, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SX170 IS due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony a1 will provide you with extra detail having its extra 34 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SX170 IS will be behind in sensor technology.