Canon PowerShot SX170 IS

    51
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    Highlights

    • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • 100 - 1,600 Native ISO
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 230k dot Fixed Screen
    • 0.8 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS was announced in 2013 and is a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) Standard Compact camera with 16 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 1,600. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 230k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS can capture video up to 1280 x 720 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Predecessor
    4. Screen
    5. Sensor
    6. Photography Features
    7. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    8. Other Features
    9. Physical Parameters
    10. For Different Types of Photography
    11. Evaluation
    12. Specifications  

    Here is the Canon PowerShot SX1xx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot SX1xx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon SX170 IS August
    2013    		 16 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX160 IS
    Compare
    		June
    2013    		 16 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX150 IS
    Compare
    		May
    2012    		 14.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX130 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2010    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX120 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2009    		 10.0 MP
    1/2.5-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs PowerShot SX160 IS vs PowerShot SX150 IS vs PowerShot SX130 IS vs PowerShot SX120 IS.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SX170 IS.

    PROS

    •   Cheap
    •   Video Capture
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   Light - 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/3200 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 300 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Canon PowerShot SX170 IS to its predecessor PowerShot SX160 IS and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
    Lighter 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz) vs 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
    DOWNGRADES Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
    Built-in Microphone Mono vs Stereo
    Shorter Battery Life 300 shots vs 380 shots

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs PowerShot SX160 IS.

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 1,600.

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with DIGIC 4 processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SX170 IS.

    Canon SX120 IS
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    1/2.5-inch

    10.0 MP

    Canon SX150 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    14.1 MP

    Canon SX130 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SX160 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16 MP

    Nikon Z30
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.9 MP

    Sony DSLR-A900
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.6 MP

    Canon R100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.1 MP

    Nikon D4
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    16.2 MP

    Canon G15
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    12.1 MP

    Sony a7S III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    12.1 MP

    Sony a6100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R8
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS comes with NB-6LH battery pack with battery life of 300 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS's shutter speed can go up to 1/3200 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 0.8 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS has a built-in flash with maximum range of 3.00 m.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS has dimensions of 108 x 71 x 44 mm (4.25 x 2.8 x 1.73"). It weighs 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    108 mm (4.25")

    71 mm (2.8")

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    71 mm (2.8")

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    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS dimensions

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Canon PowerShot SX170 IS is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    48

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 48 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    66

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 66 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 300 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    65

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 65 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 300 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    72

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 72 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 300 shots

    Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot SX170 IS and give score of 51 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    51

    Sensor

    POOR
    46

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 46 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    61

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 61 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/3200 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    43

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 43 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

    Focusing

    GOOD
    70

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 70 for Focusing parameters.

    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    52

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 52 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    BAD
    36

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 36 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    45

    We give Canon PowerShot SX170 IS a score of 45 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 251 g (0.55 lb / 8.85 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 300 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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