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Overview
In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and the Canon PowerShot SX160 IS, 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.
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS was introduced in August 2009 and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS was introduced in June 2013. 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 SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS.
PROS
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Video Capture
80 Lowest Native ISO
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
Internal Storage
Orientation Sensor
Video Capture
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec
Light - 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
Orientation Sensor
CONS
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
Timelapse Recording
No Face Detection
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2500 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
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
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 - 380 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 SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Video Capture
High Native ISO
1,600
1,600
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
High Flash Sync Speed
1/500 sec
1/2000 sec
Light
285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
Orientation Sensor
WEAKNESSES
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Small Sensor
1/2.5-inch
1/2.3-inch
Timelapse Recording
Screen Type
Fixed
Fixed
Low Resolution Screen
230k dot
230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)
1/2500 sec
1/3200 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting
0.9 fps
0.8 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution
640 x 480
1280 x 720
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
Eye-Fi Connection possible
No Built-In Bluetooth
No Environmental Sealing
Screen
Screen
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS have 3.0" Fixed screens with 230k dot resolution.
Sensor
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS features a 10.0 megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 5.744 x 4.308 mm and a total area of 24.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,600. Canon PowerShot SX160 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 20.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 1,600.
Photography Features
Cameras are equipped with DIGIC 4 processor.
Image Stabilization
The cameras have a built-in [y] image stabilization.
Connectivity, Battery and Storage
USB Inputs
Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer.
Battery
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS come with 2 x AA battery pack with battery life of 380 shots on Canon PowerShot SX160 IS.
External Storage Slots
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS has a single SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus card slot. Canon PowerShot SX160 IS has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
Other Features
Shutter
Shutter speed can go up to 1/2500 sec on Canon PowerShot SX120 IS, and up to 1/3200 sec on Canon PowerShot SX160 IS. Canon PowerShot SX120 IS can shoot continuously up to 0.9 fps. Canon PowerShot SX160 IS can shoot continuously up to 0.8 fps.
Flash
Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 3.00 m.. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/500 sec on Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot SX160 IS.
Physical Parameters
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS body has dimensions of 111 x 71 x 45 mm (4.37 x 2.8 x 1.77") and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS body has dimensions of 111 x 73 x 44 mm (4.37 x 2.87 x 1.73"). Canon PowerShot SX120 IS weighs 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz) and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS weighs 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz).
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
111 mm
71 mm
111 mm
73 mm
71 mm
73 mm
Size comparisons of Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS 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 SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
POOR
41
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
POOR
48
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Sports Photography
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
AVERAGE
55
1,600 Highest Native ISO
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
67
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 - 380 shots
Orientation Sensor
Wildlife Photography
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
AVERAGE
61
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
No Environmental Sealing
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
65
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 - 380 shots
Orientation Sensor
Portrait Photography
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
AVERAGE
60
Small Sensor
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 3.0"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
GOOD
73
Small Sensor
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 3.0"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
Street Photography
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
GOOD
82
Small Sensor
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
GOOD
82
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 - 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
Travel Photography
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
EXCELLENT
85
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
GOOD
84
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
Short Battery Life - 380 shots
Evaluations
We evaluate Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS and give them scores of 47 and 53 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 SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
OVERALL
47
OVERALL
53
Sensor
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
BAD
39
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
80 Lowest Native ISO
1,600 Highest Native ISO
POOR
46
Small Sensor
Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
100 Lowest Native ISO
1,600 Highest Native ISO
Photo
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
AVERAGE
58
Timelapse Recording
Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2500 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
AVERAGE
63
Timelapse Recording
Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/3200 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
High Flash Sync Speed - 1/2000 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Video
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
POOR
41
Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
POOR
43
Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
Focusing
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
AVERAGE
59
No Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
GOOD
70
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Screen and Viewfinder
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
POOR
52
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 3.0"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
POOR
52
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 3.0"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Connectivity
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
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 SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
POOR
47
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
Internal Storage
POOR
45
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 291 g (0.64 lb / 10.26 oz)
Short Battery Life - 380 shots
For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:
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