Canon SX170 IS vs Sony WX9

Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon SX170 IS versus Sony WX9, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the WX9 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX170 IS was launched 2 years later than the WX9 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony WX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SX170 IS scores versus the WX9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX170 IS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9. The complete galleries are available at Canon SX170 IS Gallery & Sony WX9 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS features external measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony WX9 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

See the Canon SX170 IS versus Sony WX9 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SX170 IS against the WX9.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX170 IS and WX9 is 88 and 99 respectively.

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and WX9.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of files though you will need to take the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent SX170 IS provides an edge in sensor technology.