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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 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
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX160 IS
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Photography Glossary

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Canon SX170 IS and Sony W290, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 4 years later than the W290 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SX170 IS matches up vs the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony W290

 SX170 IS W290 
RevealedAugust 2013February 2009Fresher by 55 months

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon SX170 IS

 W290 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Sony W290

 SX170 IS W290 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS enjoys outside dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX170 IS and Sony W290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SX170 IS against the W290.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and W290 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and W290.

As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Canon SX170 IS to resolve greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger SX170 IS should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W290 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX170 IS
Street photography with Sony W290
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Sports photography information
Sony W290 Sports photography information
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX170 IS
Travel photography with Sony W290
68
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
long zoom (448mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W290 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse function
41
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony W290 Vlogging highlights
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (251g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $230