Editors' note: The design, features, and shooting options are identical between the Canon PowerShot SX170 IS and the

The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers who want to do more than point-and-shoot; thanks to its semimanual and manual shooting modes and large; comfortable controls

Despite the switch to a rechargeable battery; the SX170 is still pretty bulky and its shooting performance is too slow for fast-moving subjects like kids and pets -- especially indoors

I have owned a Canon SX100is for many years and it is the best camera I have ever owned. It has taken a beating and been dropped, thrown, left out in the rain, and still worked as good as new until finally the LCD display began having issues.

Nice features/settings; durable; Bright LCD; Lightweight/Portable; Simple controls/menu; easy to use

Poor image quality; Poor Low-Light Performance; Short battery life; doesn't focus well when filming video

This camera is great for a starter camera. Not really what I expected. It is not ideal for snapping photos of kids, pets, or anything that moves fast. When I received the package, I noticed it felt lighter than what I thought it would be, since I was purchasing a mini tripod within the set as well.

The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS ($179.99 direct) is a bit of an odd duck in terms of design. It's not quite slim enough to fit comfortably into most pockets, its 16x zoom lens is longer than some, but can't compare with cameras of similar size, and its 16-megapixel CCD image sensor delivers images that...

Sharp lens; 16x zoom range; Good control layout

Images on the noisy side; Slow performance; So-so rear display; Video capture is limited to 720p; No Wi-Fi.

i have done lots of research and finally bought this camera as it has manual and semi manual settings.but guess what! its totally waste of money,the pictures taken are not at all sharp,it consists of lot of noise even at iso 100.

Released only a year after the SX160, the Canon PowerShot SX170 shares many of the same features but comes with a new battery and an updated design. Billed as a mid-range super zoom compact, the SX170 is aimed at regular camera users as well as novices, with the option of shooting in full manual...

Released only a year after the SX160, the Canon PowerShot SX170 shares many of the same features but comes with a new battery and an updated design. Billed as a mid-range super zoom compact, the SX170 is aimed at regular camera users as well as novices, with the option of shooting in full manual...

Dreadful move by Canon. This was a barely mid-level slightly large compact in a world where only the lowest level offerings typically feature AA batteries. Those who cherish the inconvenient Li-Ion power source are showered with options, have been for years and are more so in the last 3-4 as just...

The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS ($179.99 direct) is a bit of an odd duck in terms of design. It's not quite slim enough to fit comfortably into most pockets, its 16x zoom lens is longer than some, but can't compare with cameras of similar size, and its 16-megapixel CCD image sensor delivers images that are on the noisy side across the board, and really suffer at high sensitivities. It's not a speedy performer, and it doesn't have Wi-Fi, which has quickly become an expected feature. There are better cameras to be had at the same price if you're willing to sacrifice some zoom range, including our Editors' Choice compact Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS( at Amazon). If long zoom is a must, another top pick from Canon, the $280 20x SX280 HS($280.02 at Amazon) is a more expensive, but more versatile, camera. Design and Features The SX170 measures 2.8 by 4.25 by 1.7 inches and weighs 8.9 ounces. It's just a bit too bulky to slide into smaller pockets comfortably, but is still a good fit if you...

The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS delivers a 16x zoom range at a low price, but images are noisy and the camera is a slow performer.

Sharp lens; 16x zoom range; Good control layout

Images on the noisy side; Slow performance; So-so rear display; Video capture is limited to 720p; No Wi-Fi; Not exactly pocketable