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Canon 160

 
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.2-6.9) lens
  • 127g - 95 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Other Name is IXUS 160
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
46
Features
26
Overall
38

Canon 160 summary

Canon 160 is Canon's Ultracompact camera initially released on January of 2015. It includes a 20 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 5152 x 3864. It is referred to as "IXUS 160" in some regions.

The 160 is scored #24 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and over-all #766 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please try out our Smart camera filter to get camera rankings based on your personal factors.

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The following is a chart of specific factors used in the rating system.

Canon 160 family

The Canon 160 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the full list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-160 front thumbnailCanon 16028-224mm
F3.2-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-170-IS front thumbnailCanon 170 IS
160 vs 170 IS
25-300mm
F3.6-7.0
20MP1/2.3"2015
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Canon 160 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of pros and cons of the Canon 160 based on factors which are normally regarded as crucial in a camera.

built in image stabilization (Digital)
fairly wide (28mm)
good zoom range (28-224mm 8.0 x zoom)
has built in flash
resolution is good (20MP)
supports face detection focusing
supports tracking autofocus
very good minimum ISO (100)
display isn't selfie friendly
external flash not possible
focusing manually not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of phase detect AF
lack of RAW files
lack of shutter priority mode
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
missing HDMI port
missing headphone port
missing Timelapse recording
no manual control
no moving screen
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dot)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
slow continuous shooting (0.8 fps)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
sluggish at full zoom (f6.9)
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Canon 160 Sensor information

The Canon 160 features the DIGIC 4+ processor. The measurement of the sensor on the Canon 160 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 5152 x 3864 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Digital). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 20MP and features a native ISO range of 100 to 1600. Unfortunately, RAW format is not supported therefore you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath shows the 160's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The 160 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon 160 dimensions

Canon 160 weighs around 0.28 lbs (127 gr / 4.48 oz) and features exterior measurements of 95mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9"). The weight of average Ultracompact camera is 121 gr and the Canon 160 is similar as compared to other competitors.

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Down below is a shot of the Canon 160 next to a soft drink so you can have a feel for its size.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button layout on the 160.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 topview buttons dials

Canon 160 Lens information

The 160 features a built-in lens offering a focal range of 28-224mm making it a 8.0 x zoom which is not at all exceptional nevertheless it can be invaluable in some circumstances.

At it's widest 28mm, it will have an aperture of f3.2 and that's really sluggish and not the best in low light occasions and you will probably struggle to capture good bokeh. You would also need to increase your ISO producing noisy photographs. With the long end, 224mm comes with f6.9 making it really sluggish and you may have to apply slow shutter speeds.

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Canon 160 Connectivity

The 160 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily transfer photos and sometimes adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

Several apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external screen. Virtually all cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB socket.

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Canon 160 Video information

The highest possible video resolution on the Canon 160 is 1280 x 720 and it can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 720p is terrible by today's requirements. You really should strive for a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The body does not offer a mic or headphone socket which means that you have absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably best to shop for another model should you need good audio in your video clips.

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Canon 160 Weather Sealing

Canon 160 does not have environment proofing so rainy conditions may ruin the camera.

Canon 160 Display and Viewfinder

The Canon 160 includes a 2.7 inch fixed display having a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display is not a touch screen.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 screen and viewfinder Leica to Release Innovative Hybrid Medium Format Camera in 2 Years

The View Finder specs regarding Canon 160 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are pretty useful during sunny outdoor situations which may make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Canon 160 Shutter information

Canon 160 is able to shoot continuously at 0.8 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Canon 160 Flash and Hot shoe information

Canon 160 boasts just built in flash lacking external flash support.

Canon 160 Autofocusing information

Canon 160 boasts only Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & precise as compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera includes Face detect which makes it useful for taking photos of people.

The Sensor includes 9 focus points to pick from. It also comes with Tracking AF for things that move. Canon 160 has not got manual focus. Manual focus option can be good during low light or you require more exact focusing control.

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Canon 160 Battery life

The battery life (NB-11L/LH) for the Canon 160 is designed to last for 220 photographs based on the CIPA requirements making it similar to its competitors. The average Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 has got the best (320) battery life within this group of cameras.

Below is a list of Ultracompact cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Canon 160 for varying types of photography

The following graph presents a outline of the Canon 160 for varying types of photography. To understand more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.

Canon 160 as a Portrait photography camera

The Canon 160 has a points total of 39 which is dreadful, meaning that it is not really very good to use for portrait photography. Photographing portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files in addition to the flexibility to work with external flash.

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decent sensor resolution (20MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Street photography with Canon 160

Having a reasonable rating of 59, the Canon 160 is fairly appropriate to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support

Canon 160 Sports photography advice

A dreadful sports photography points total of 44 means the Canon 160 is not really very good for shooting sports. A camera really should have very good focusing plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (0.8 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF

Canon 160 Travel photography factors

Weight is really important in selecting a camera for travel. Overall, the Canon 160 gets a nice 67 for a travelling camera which makes it a very decent option to buy for your holidays.

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good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)

Canon 160 as a Landscape photography camera

When you are planning to buy a camera for landscape photographs, the biggest aspect will be image quality. The Canon 160 with it's dreadful grade of 41 for a landscape camera is not really very good amongst its competition.

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decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording

Canon 160 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera ought to come with a moving display, microphone port and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Canon 160 is not really very good as a vlog camera as it comes to a dreadful rating of 32.

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rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
comes with face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack

Canon 160 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the 160, here is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall under the family of Ultracompact.

The line chart just below gives you a bird's eye view of the 160 versus it's top ranking rivals listed earlier.

Here are a few more cameras you may take a look at as alternate options. To see a full comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Alternative name
IXUS 160
Class
Ultracompact
Revealed
2015-01-06
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Powered by
DIGIC 4+
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
5152 x 3864
RAW images
Maximum native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
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
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture
f/3.2-6.9
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.7 inch
Resolution of display
230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
15 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
0.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
3.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
127 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions
95 x 54 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
Other
Battery life
220 images
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NB-11L/LH
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
One
Retail price
$135