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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX160 IS
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Canon SX170 IS and Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is fairly similar and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 20 months before the WX500 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SX170 IS grades versus the WX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Sony WX500

 SX170 IS WX500 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Canon SX170 IS

 WX500 SX170 IS 
LaunchedApril 2015August 2013Newer by 20 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Sony WX500

 SX170 IS WX500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX170 IS has got outside dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX170 IS and Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SX170 IS against the WX500.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and WX500 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The image below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX170 IS and WX500.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony WX500 to offer more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged SX170 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
43
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
39
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX170 IS
Street photography with Sony WX500
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (251g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX170 IS
Sports photography with Sony WX500
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
68
lighter than average (251 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
good MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography information
Sony WX500 Landscape photography information
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
better than average battery (360 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging factors
Sony WX500 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average (251 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
35
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Sony WX500
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-08-22 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251 gr (0.55 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 360 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $348