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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(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
Sony HX5
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony HX5

 SX170 IS HX5 
ReleasedAugust 2013June 2010Newer 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 typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution230k230kSame 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography features
Sony HX5 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (251g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony HX5 Sports photography highlights
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others in class (251g)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
long zoom (448mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography factors
Sony HX5 Landscape photography factors
49
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
37
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging advice
Sony HX5 Vlogging advice
31
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (251g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Sony HX5
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSony 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