Canon ELPH 160 Review

Name: Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Brand: Canon

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Main Features

20MP - 1/2.3' CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600

28-224 mm F3.2-6.9 Zoom Lens

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

0.8fps continuous shooting

and HD at 25fps Video Recording

127g. 95 x 54 x 22 mm

Also known as IXUS 160

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Canon 160 Overview

First introduced in January 2015 , Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 is a 20.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and 8.0x zoom 28-224 mm F3.2-6.9 lens. ELPH 160 is also sold as IXUS 160 in some countries.

Canon 160 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Canon 160 is a member of Canon's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Canon Ultracompact Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Canon ELPH 360 HS Compare	2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3'	2.5 fps	100 x 58 x 23mm	147g
Canon ELPH 190 IS Compare	2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3'	0.8 fps	95 x 57 x 24mm	138g
Canon ELPH 180 Compare	2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	0.8 fps	95 x 54 x 22mm	126g
Canon ELPH 350 HS Compare	2015	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	2.5 fps	100 x 58 x 23mm	147g
Canon 170 IS Compare	2015	20.0MP - 1/2.3'	0.8 fps	100 x 58 x 23mm	141g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
Canon 360 HS vs 190 IS vs ELPH 180 vs 350 HS vs 170 IS

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Canon 160 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Canon 160 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Face Detection Focusing

20.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

127g Light Body

224mm Good Tele Lens

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CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Only 9 Focus Points

Small LCD Screen ( 2.70")

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 0.8fps

Low Battery Life: 220 shots

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.20

Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90

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Canon 160 Physical Specs

Canon 160 weighs 127 g (0.28 lb / 4.48 oz) and has external dimensions of 95 x 54 x 22 mm (3.74 x 2.13 x 0.87″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Canon 160 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 22mm, it is also quite small, 6mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon 160

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon 160

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Canon 160 with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Canon 160 Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon 160, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Canon 160 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Canon 160 with its main competitors:

Canon 160 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs ELPH 160	Thickness	vs ELPH 160
Canon ELPH 180 Compare	126g	1g lighter	22mm	equal thickness
Canon ELPH 190 IS Compare	138g	11g heavier	24mm	2mm thicker
Canon ELPH 360 HS Compare	147g	20g heavier	23mm	1mm thicker
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	128g	1g heavier	22mm	equal thickness
Canon 170 IS Compare	141g	14g heavier	23mm	1mm thicker
Sony W830 Compare	122g	5g lighter	23mm	1mm thicker
Canon ELPH 150 IS Compare	142g	15g heavier	24mm	2mm thicker
Canon ELPH 130 Compare	133g	6g heavier	21mm	1mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Canon 160 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Canon 160 Lens

Canon 160 features a 28-224 mm F3.2-6.9 8× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm and 224mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ELPH 160

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ELPH 160

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.20 at 28mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f6.90.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ELPH 160

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ELPH 160

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Canon 160 Sensor and Photography Features

Canon 160 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features DIGIC 4+ processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5152 x 3864 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. ELPH 160 has a native ISO range of 100 - 1600 but unfortunately, Canon 160 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7000 or Canon PowerShot S100 in the same price range.

Canon 160 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Canon SX740 HS with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Canon 160 vs Canon SX740 HS or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Canon 160's 1/2.3' sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Canon 160 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Canon 160 LCD

Canon 160 has a Fixed Type 2.70-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.70", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

Unfortunately Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

ELPH 160 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

Canon 160 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Canon 160 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Canon 160 Battery

Canon 160 is powered by NB-11L/LH battery which provides a battery life of 220 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 256 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Ultracompact Cameras

Canon 160

Min

Average

Max

Nikon L32 with its 320shots is the model with longest battery life among Ultracompact cameras. Check the comparison of Canon 160 vs Nikon L32 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Canon 160 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Canon ELPH 180 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Canon ELPH 190 IS Compare	1280 x 720	190shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon ELPH 360 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	180shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Canon 170 IS Compare	1280 x 720	200shots	No	No	No
Sony W830 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Canon ELPH 150 IS Compare	1280 x 720	230shots	No	No	No
Canon ELPH 130 Compare	1280 x 720	190shots	Yes	No	No

Canon 160 Video Features

With Canon 160, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 25p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Canon 160 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7000 or in a similar price range.

Canon 160 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Canon 160 can shoot continuously at max speed of 0.8 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately ELPH 160 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Canon 160 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

Canon 160 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Canon 160 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Canon 160 in 5 different photography areas.

Canon 160 for Portrait Photography

Canon 160 has a score of 17 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theELPH 160.

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Canon 160 for Portrait Photography

Canon 160 for Street Photography

Canon 160 has a score of 36 for Street Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Street We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list and consider these alternatives over theELPH 160.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body
No Built-in Viewfinder

No Manual Focus Mode
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Canon 160 for Street Photography

Canon 160 for Sports Photography

Canon 160 has a score of 15 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theELPH 160.

224 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Slow Continuous Shooting: 0.8fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
No Image Stabilization
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon 160 for Sports Photography

Canon 160 for Daily Photography

Canon 160 has a score of 48 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
127g
Body Thickness 22mm

8.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon 160 for Daily Photography

Canon 160 for Landscape Photography

Canon 160 has a score of 20 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theELPH 160.

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode

No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Canon 160 for Landscape Photography

Canon 160 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Canon 160 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Canon 160 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Canon 160

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Canon 160 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Canon 160 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Canon 160 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Canon 160's price range.

Canon 160 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Canon 160 has an Overall Score of 31/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 is ranked #477 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1111 out of 1268 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#1111 out of 1268 in Top Ranking Cameras
#477 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#87 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
#577 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#97 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(127g)
#755 out of 920 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Canon 160

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Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Canon 160

Does the Canon 160 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Canon 160 have RAW support?
Does the Canon 160 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Canon 160 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Canon 160?
What is the Sensor Size of Canon 160?
is the Canon 160 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Canon 160 have Touch Screen?
Does the Canon 160 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon 160?
What is the Weight of Canon 160?
What are the Dimensions of Canon 160?

Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Also known as	IXUS 160
Announced	2015-01-06
Body Type	Ultracompact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-224 mm (8×)
Max Aperture	F3.2-6.9
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	2.70"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	15s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Max Continuous Shooting	0.8 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.00 m
Flash Modes	Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.3'
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	20 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	5152 x 3864
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	127g
Physical Dimensions	95 x 54 x 22mm
Battery Life	220 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	NB-11L/LH
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage Slots	1