Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5
88 Imaging
40 Features
41 Overall
40


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced August 2013
- Previous Model is Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
- Released June 2010

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Overview
Its time to examine more closely at the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SX170 IS (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") come with different sensor size.

The SX170 IS was manufactured 3 years after the HX5 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the SX170 IS scores vs the HX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX170 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX170 IS Gallery and Sony HX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony HX5
SX170 IS | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | August 2013 | ![]() | June 2010 | Newer by 39 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focusing |
Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Canon SX170 IS
HX5 | SX170 IS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX5
SX170 IS | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display size |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch friendly display |
Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX170 IS comes with exterior 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) while the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Check out the Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the HX5.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and HX5 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The picture below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and HX5.
All in all, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX170 IS due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Canon SX170 IS will resolve more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer SX170 IS should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Canon | Sony |
Model | Canon PowerShot SX170 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Introduced | 2013-08-22 | 2010-06-16 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Digic 4 | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.4" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.104 x 4.578mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 27.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3456 x 2592 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 125 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 28-448mm (16.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Max aperture | f/3.5-5.9 | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/3200s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shutter rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 3.00 m | 3.80 m |
Flash settings | Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off | Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | AVCHD |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 251 grams (0.55 lbs) | 200 grams (0.44 lbs) |
Dimensions | 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | NB-6LH | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at release | $0 | $275 |