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Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170

Portability
88
Imaging
46
Features
59
Overall
51
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS front
 
Samsung PL170 front
Portability
99
Imaging
38
Features
20
Overall
30

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Key Specs

Canon SX730 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 300g - 110 x 64 x 40mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX720 HS
  • Later Model is Canon SX740 HS
Samsung PL170
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon SX730 HS and Samsung PL170, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Canon and Samsung. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the SX730 HS (20.3MP) and PL170 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX730 HS was unveiled 6 years after the PL170 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX730 HS being a Compact camera and the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SX730 HS grades vs the PL170 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX730 HS over the Samsung PL170

 SX730 HS PL170 
LaunchedApril 2017January 2011Newer by 77 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Samsung PL170 over the Canon SX730 HS

 PL170 SX730 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX730 HS and Samsung PL170

 SX730 HS PL170 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch display No Touch display

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX730 HS has got exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 300 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Samsung PL170 has measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX730 HS and Samsung PL170 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX730 HS compared to the PL170.

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX730 HS and PL170 is 88 and 99 respectively.

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The image underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX730 HS and PL170.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX730 HS to deliver greater detail having an extra 4.3MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern SX730 HS is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 sensor size comparison

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Portrait photography advice
Samsung PL170 Portrait photography advice
47
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20.3 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
29
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Street photography information
Samsung PL170 Street photography information
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (300 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
50
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX730 HS
Sports photography with Samsung PL170
48
incredible zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20.3 megapixels)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (5.9 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (250 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
27
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Travel photography info
Samsung PL170 Travel photography info
72
lighter than competition in class (300 grams)
supports bluetooth
good megapixels (20.3 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (960mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (250 CIPA)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
71
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Landscape photography information
Samsung PL170 Landscape photography information
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20.3MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery life (250 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
38
great maximum aperture (f)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Vlogging features
Samsung PL170 Vlogging features
74
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (300 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have mic socket
27
great maximum aperture (f)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Canon SX730 HS vs Samsung PL170 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX730 HS and Samsung PL170
 Canon PowerShot SX730 HSSamsung PL170
General Information
Make Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SX730 HS Samsung PL170
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2017-04-06 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20.3 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 -
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-960mm (40.0x) ()
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.9fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (with Auto ISO) -
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 300g (0.66 lbs) -
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6") 95 x 57 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 250 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, self-timer) -
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $399 $175