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Overview
In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and the Canon PowerShot ELPH 160, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.
Both cameras were introduced in January 2015. Let us first list highlights of the models.
Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.
Pros and Cons
In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160.
PROS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Cheap
Video Capture
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Light - 141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz)
Orientation Sensor
Cheap
Video Capture
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Built-in Flash
Light - 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz)
Orientation Sensor
CONS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Small Sensor
Timelapse Recording
9 Focus Points
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 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 - 200 shots
Small Sensor
Timelapse Recording
9 Focus Points
No Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 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 - 220 shots
And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:
We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.
STRENGTHS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Cheap
$149/£149/£189
$119/£99/€129
Video Capture
High Native ISO
1,600
1,600
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Built-in Flash
Light
141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz)
127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz)
Orientation Sensor
WEAKNESSES
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Small Sensor
1/2.3-inch
1/2.3-inch
Timelapse Recording
Few Focus Points
9
9
Screen Type
Fixed
Fixed
Low Resolution Screen
230k dot
230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)
1/2000 sec
1/2000 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting
0.8 fps
0.8 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution
1280 x 720
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
200 shots
220 shots
Screen
Screen
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 have 2.70" Fixed screens with 230k dot resolution.
Sensor
Both models feature a 20 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Their native ISO range is 100 - 1,600
Photography Features
Cameras are equipped with DIGIC 4+ processor and can take pictures up to 5152 x 3864 resolution. They can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 5152 x 2896 (16:9), 3648 x 2736, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480 with 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratios.
Image Stabilization on Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS has an image stabilization.
Connectivity, Battery and Storage
USB Inputs
Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer.
Battery
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 come with NB-11L/LH battery pack with battery life of 200 shots on Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and with battery life of 220 shots on Canon PowerShot ELPH 160.
External Storage Slots
Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
Other Features
Shutter
Shutter speed can go up to 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS, and up to 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot ELPH 160. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 0.8 fps.
Flash
Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 4.00 m on Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and 3.00 m on Canon PowerShot ELPH 160..
Physical Parameters
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS body has dimensions of 100 x 58 x 23 mm (3.94 x 2.28 x 0.91") and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 body has dimensions of 95 x 54 x 22 mm (3.74 x 2.13 x 0.87"). Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS weighs 141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz) and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 weighs 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz).
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
100 mm
58 mm
95 mm
54 mm
58 mm
54 mm
23 mm
22 mm
Size comparisons of Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 for Different Types of Photography
We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.
Landscape Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
POOR
50
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
POOR
50
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Sports Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
GOOD
71
1,600 Highest Native ISO
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
Short Battery Life - 200 shots
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
66
1,600 Highest Native ISO
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
No Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
Short Battery Life - 220 shots
Orientation Sensor
Wildlife Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
GOOD
71
1,600 Highest Native ISO
9 Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 200 shots
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
66
1,600 Highest Native ISO
9 Focus Points
No Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 220 shots
Orientation Sensor
Portrait Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
GOOD
71
Small Sensor
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
65
Small Sensor
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
No Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
Street Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
GOOD
84
Small Sensor
9 Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz)
GOOD
81
Small Sensor
9 Focus Points
No Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz)
Travel Photography
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
EXCELLENT
87
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz)
Short Battery Life - 200 shots
EXCELLENT
85
No Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz)
Short Battery Life - 220 shots
Evaluations
We evaluate Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 and give them scores of 51 and 45 out of 100 recpectively. 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.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
OVERALL
51
OVERALL
45
Sensor
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
POOR
47
Small Sensor
Sensor Resolution - 20 Megapixel
100 Lowest Native ISO
1,600 Highest Native ISO
POOR
47
Small Sensor
Sensor Resolution - 20 Megapixel
100 Lowest Native ISO
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Photo
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
AVERAGE
61
Timelapse Recording
Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
BAD
34
Timelapse Recording
No Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
Video
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
POOR
43
Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
BAD
7
No Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
Focusing
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
AVERAGE
69
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
AVERAGE
69
9 Focus Points
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Screen and Viewfinder
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
POOR
50
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
POOR
50
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Connectivity
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
BAD
36
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
POOR
44
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
Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
POOR
45
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 141 g (0.31 lb / 4.97 oz)
Short Battery Life - 200 shots
POOR
45
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz)
Short Battery Life - 220 shots
For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:
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