• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 37.00mm - 185.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
  • Nikon Coolpix AW120
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: SD970 IS AW120
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Ultra Compact Compact
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $379.99 $349.95
Street Price: $169.95 $219.00
Date Available: 2009-04-15 2014-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 6.7 oz (189 g)
includes batteries
7.5 oz (213 g)
includes batteries
Size: 3.7 x 2.2 x 1.0 in.
(95 x 57 x 26 mm)
4.3 x 2.6 x 1.0 in.
(110 x 66 x 26 mm)
Waterproof: No Yes
Waterproof Depth: n/a  
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 16.0
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 1.34 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:    
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.0 6.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
640x480 (30p/​25p)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio: LPCM stereo)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens (8 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical) Zoom-Nikkor VR ED lens; 12 elements in 10 groups with 2 ED elements
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 37 - 185mm 24 - 120mm
Focal Length (actual): 6.6 - 33mm 4.3 - 21.5mm
Zoom Ratio: 5.00x 5.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.2 or f/9.2 (W) / f/5.8 or f/16.6 (T) f/2.8 (wide) / f/4.9 (tele); Electronically-controlled small aperture (-1 AV), ND filter (-2 AV) selection
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 2 - 50 cm
0.8 - 19.7 in
1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x; up to 2x Dynamic Fine Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection Contrast Detection: Face priority, manual with 99 focus areas, center, subject tracking, Target Finding AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: No No
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD No / OLED
Viewfinder Type:    
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 461,000 dots 921,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x  
Top Deck Display:
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   1600
Minimum ISO (native):   125
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*special scene mode) Auto ISO, 125-1600; 3200 and 6400 available in Auto mode
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash, Manual (Custom)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/1600 - 15 sec 1/2000 - 4 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detect AE 256-segment Matrix, Center-weighted (when digital zoom is below 2x), Spot (when digital zoom is 2x or higher)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No No
Shutter Priority: No No
Full Manual Exposure: No No
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Creative Light Effect, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Long Shutter, Exposure Zoom, Stitch Assist Backlighting, Beach, Black and White Copy, Close-up, Dusk/Dawn, Panorama assist, Fireworks Show, Food, Landscape, Museum, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Scene Auto Selector, Snow, Sports, Sunset, Underwater
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Flash off, Fill flash, Slow sync
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 1-11 ft./30cm-3.5m (W), 1-6.6 ft./30cm-2.0m (T) Auto ISO: [W]: 0.5 to 5.2 m (1 ft. 8 in. to 17 ft.) [T]: 0.5 to 4.5 m (1 ft. 8 in. to 14 ft.)
Max Flash Sync:    
Flash Exposure Compensation:    
External Flash Connection: n/a n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No No
Uncompressed Format:    
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) MOV (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio: LPCM stereo)
Included Memory: No memory included 329.0 MB
Included Memory Type:   Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No Yes
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): Multipurpose USB/AV connector, HDMI output Built-in GPS, Micro (Type D) HDMI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.98  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.0 6.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 5
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.40 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.45 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.078 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.9 seconds  
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power: 8.0 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 270 shots 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-5L Proprietary EN-EL12
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-5L Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL12 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Canon Software Suite CD-ROM Nikon ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Motion Detection, 720p HD video. Waterproof (up to 59 feet, 18m), shockproof (up to 6.6 feet, 2m) and freezeproof (down to 14F, -10C); Built-in GPS with maps, built-in Wi-Fi, Full HD 1080i movies. Available in Orange, Blue, Black or Camouflage.