Clicky

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V 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  • Superseded the Canon SX160 IS
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX30V
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The SX170 IS was brought out 14 months after the HX20V making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX170 IS matches up against the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony HX20V

 SX170 IS HX20V 
LaunchedAugust 2013July 2012More modern by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Canon SX170 IS

 HX20V SX170 IS 
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX20V

 SX170 IS HX20V 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX170 IS has external dimensions 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 HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX20V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the SX170 IS against the HX20V.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and HX20V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX170 IS and HX20V.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony HX20V to offer more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography info
Sony HX20V Portrait photography info
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography factors
Sony HX20V Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (251g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography information
Sony HX20V Sports photography information
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
68
lighter than average in class (251g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX20V Landscape photography highlights
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
50
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (251 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX20V
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-08-22 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 320 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $397