The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS is a bit unusual in design. It is not thin enough to fit comfortably in your pocket, and its 16x zoom lens is longer than others. In terms of photo quality, the camera cannot compare with devices of similar sizes, its 16-megapixel CCD sensor makes noisy pictures, especially those that suffer at high sensitivity. According to user reviews, the camera is not fast enough, it does not have Wi-Fi, which has already become a mandatory feature. For $ 180 you can buy better cameras if the buyer is willing to sacrifice a certain range of focal lengths - for example, the compact PowerShot Elph 330 HS. If a long zoom is necessary, then it is better to purchase the same Canon - 20x SX280 HS for $ 280.
Design
The SX170 measures 71 x 108 x 43.9 mm and weighs 251 g. This is a little more than you need to put the camera in your trouser pocket, but still enough to fit in your jacket pocket. The 196-gram Samsung WB250F is thinner than 61 x 107 x 23 mm, and its 24-432 mm 18x lens covers a wider angle. At SX170 the range is not so wide (28-448 mm), but the difference in magnification is negligible.
Governing bodies
The camera leaves enough room for manual control. On the top panel is a mode dial, shutter button, zoom switch and power switch. On the back there is a flat navigation panel with four keys, with which you can also set the ISO, adjust the flash, self-timer and focus mode. It is surrounded by four large buttons - exposure compensation, playback and menu call. There is also a special record button located in the upper right corner.
Menu
Additional shooting options can be adjusted using a menu familiar to anyone who has used the latest PowerShot cameras. It is called up by pressing the Func Set button in the center of the rear panel. The menu on the left side of the LCD provides quick access to the settings for the parameters, color balance, white balance, exposure compensation, motion mode, image aspect, quality parameters and video resolution.
Screen
Three-inch display Canon PowerShot SX170 IS user reviews are called large, but not clear enough. Its resolution of 230 thousand points lags noticeably behind 461 thousand points of the next model of the SX510 HS long-zoom line. This, as well as high noise photos do not make the camera honor. The image transmitted to the rear screen is grainy and lacking in detail.
Wifi
Lack of Wi-Fi was not a problem before. But today it is a mandatory attribute of every camera. The manufacturer has other long-focus cameras with built-in Wi-Fi, including the SX280 HS and SX510 HS, and the entire Samsung model range allows you to copy images to your phone via Wi-Fi.
Performance
Canon Powershot SX170 IS camera user reviews are called relatively slow. In order to turn on and be ready to take a picture, he will need 2 seconds, and in the continuous shooting mode, the camera’s photographing speed is 2.1 seconds. per frame and the shutter lag is 0.2 s. with wide-angle shooting and 2 s. at full zoom. Canon SX510 is a little faster - it turns on in 1.6 seconds, takes pictures at a speed of 1 fps, and focuses in 0.1 seconds in wide-angle and 1.7 seconds in telephoto mode.
Image Quality
The clarity of the Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Black optics did not disappoint users. The lens captures 2349 lines in height. True, the quality of the pictures is imperfect. When zoomed in, colored fringes are visible at the edges of the frame. Not every camera with a long zoom is able to surpass such a sharpness. For example, users of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 are content with the 1661 line.
With noise at this camera, things are much worse. Even at a minimum sensitivity of ISO 100, its level reaches 1.6%. With ISO growth, noise also rises, reaching 2.2% at ISO 400 and 2.9% at a maximum value of ISO 1600. Canon PowerShot SX170 IS details of images up to ISO 400 are considered by owners to be good, but at ISO 800 the image elements begin to blur and practically absent at ISO 1600.
Video
The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Red camera records 720p video in QuickTime format. The frames are quite sharp, but very grainy even in bright studio light. The lens can zoom in and out while recording, but noise from it drowns out the recorded sound. Digital zoom allows you to expand the optical range, but image quality is rapidly deteriorating. To view the video on an HDTV, you will have to rewrite it to another device, since the camera does not have an HDMI port. There is a standard mini-USB connector, as well as an external charger. SD memory cards are supported, including SDHC and SDXC.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Canon Powershot SX170 IS
A review of the products on the camera market in this price segment allows us to conclude that this model is facing fierce competition from both other Canon cameras and products from other manufacturers. The SX170 has a low speed, relatively large sizes, excessive noise, insufficiently clear display, no Wi-Fi and limited video shooting capabilities. Although outwardly the camera resembles SLR cameras, the images obtained with its help are very far from perfect. However, the pictures are clear, and the 16x zoom is more than enough for most photographers, but some feel limited by a 28-mm focal length.
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS owner reviews are considered almost ideal as the first digital or primary family camera. It will be a good choice for those travelers who need a multifunctional, reliable and relatively inexpensive camera that would consistently take high-quality pictures. One of the main drawbacks of the previous SX150 was the short battery life. This could be fixed by installing a 2500 mAh nickel-metal hydride battery. The camera looks very stylish and fits well in the hand, which is already a big achievement for budget cameras.