Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon IXUS 165: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Classics

As someone who has spent over 15 years testing thousands of cameras in diverse genres - from intimate portrait shoots to demanding wildlife expeditions - I’m excited to share my hands-on comparison of two small-factor Canon compacts: the Canon ELPH 500 HS (also known as IXUS 310 HS or IXY 31S) and the Canon IXUS 165. Despite their similar compact categories, these two cameras target distinct user needs and come from different technological eras. This article explores every facet - from sensor tech and handling to real-world image quality, video features, and suitability across photographic disciplines. Whether you’re a casual snapper, a budding enthusiast, or a seasoned pro looking for a forced-everywhere travel companion, I’ll provide the nuanced insights you need to decide which fits your shooting style and budget.

Let’s get started.

Compact Dimensions and Ergonomics: The First Impression that Matters

Handling and size often make or break a compact camera’s appeal. The ELPH 500 HS, released in 2011, is a relatively chunky compact for its class, with dimensions of 101 x 56 x 25 mm and weighing about 185g. The IXUS 165, announced in 2015, is marginally smaller and lighter: 95 x 54 x 22 mm and 128g. This difference, while seemingly slight, translates into a noticeably more pocketable and lightweight experience favoring the IXUS 165 for those prioritizing minimalism.

Here you can see side-by-side how these two cameras compare in physical size. The IXUS 165’s sleeker silhouette and lower weight make it easier to slip into a jacket pocket or purse for quick grabs.

The ELPH 500 HS offers a more substantial grip surface and slightly larger buttons, which I appreciated when using gloves or when shooting in colder weather. The IXUS 165’s smaller forms means a tighter grip and buttons that require a bit more precision press - fine for most users but perhaps less ideal for those with larger hands or in active, fast-paced situations.

Ergonomic takeaway: If you want the lightest and most pocket-friendly compact for casual everyday snaps, the IXUS 165 leads here. If you prefer a more confident feel in hand and slightly more tactile controls, the ELPH 500 HS is a better bet.

Controls and Top-Panel Design: Crafting the Shooting Experience

Although both cameras run straightforward fixed-lens designs with mostly automatic operation, I test camera ergonomics by spending several hours shooting across varied light and motion conditions to judge how intuitive and satisfying the control placement is.

Notice the top control layouts: the ELPH 500 HS offers a clear power switch button with dedicated zoom rocker and mode dial access, whereas the IXUS 165 keeps it minimal - no dedicated mode dial and smaller buttons.

The ELPH 500 HS sports a modest zoom rocker and a more responsive shutter release button, plus a dedicated mode dial enabling shutter priority and aperture priority shooting - features missing on the IXUS 165, which sticks to purely automatic modes with no manual exposure control. This gives the ELPH 500 HS an edge for enthusiasts wanting just a touch more creative control without moving to a larger camera.

The IXUS 165’s simpler design leads to less distraction during casual shooting but sacrifices flexibility. It’s a straightforward grab-and-go camera ideal for snapshots but limiting for photographers looking to engage more deeply with exposure settings.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: The Heart of Any Camera

The most crucial technical comparison lies in sensor technology and resulting image quality. Both cameras use the common 1/2.3" sensor size (28.07 mm²), but with different sensor types and resolutions:

• Canon ELPH 500 HS: 12MP BSI CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor with iSAPS technology.
• Canon IXUS 165: 20MP CCD sensor, DIGIC 4+ processor.

Both share a similar sensor footprint - notice how the 1/2.3" sensor size is standard in compact cameras - but their technology generations and sensor types differ.

The BSI CMOS sensor in the ELPH 500 HS is more modern with better light-gathering ability due to backside illumination, which generally improves performance in low light and dynamic range. Meanwhile, the IXUS 165’s CCD sensor traditionally offers crisper color rendition and less rolling shutter distortion, but at the cost of higher noise at elevated ISO.

In practice, I found:

• The ELPH 500 HS delivered cleaner images at ISO 400 and above, rendering subtle shadow details and gradations better, especially in tricky lighting like sunsets or dim interiors. Dynamic range, while limited by sensor size, was marginally superior in the ELPH 500 HS.
• The IXUS 165 produced sharper-looking images at base ISO in good daylight, thanks to the higher resolution (20MP vs 12MP). However, the images quickly showed noise and softening when pushing ISO beyond 800, making low-light shooting more challenging.

The maximum ISO native values reinforce this: ISO 3200 max native in ELPH 500 HS vs 1600 in IXUS 165.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Framing Your Shots Easily

When composing your shot on the go, the rear screen quality and interface responsiveness play vital roles.

The ELPH 500 HS has a larger 3.2" touchscreen with 461k dots resolution; the IXUS 165, smaller at 2.7" with 230k dots and no touch support.

Here, the ELPH 500 HS is a clear winner. I appreciated the bright, highly responsive touch LCD, which not only allows for easy menu navigation but also touch autofocus - which is a rare feature on compact cameras from its era. The smaller IXUS 165 screen is acceptable for daylight framing but can feel cramped, and its lack of touchscreen slows menu interactions.

For users who enjoy composing using the LCD, the ELPH 500 HS enhances the experience tremendously, especially in live view situations. The lack of any electronic viewfinder on both cameras, however, limits their usability in bright daylight environments.

Zoom Range and Lens Performance: Flexibility in Focal Lengths

The lens specs reveal differentiations:

• ELPH 500 HS: 24-105 mm equivalent, f/2.0-5.8 aperture range.
• IXUS 165: 28-224 mm equivalent, f/3.2-6.9 aperture range.

The IXUS 165 shines with an 8x optical zoom reaching almost 225mm equivalent, nearly double the reach of the ELPH 500 HS. This makes it potentially better suited for distant subjects - think casual wildlife or event snapshots where you need more zoom.

However, the ELPH 500 HS’s wider and faster lens (f/2.0 at wide end) offers brighter aperture ideal for low light, portraits with background blur, and sharper images at standard focal lengths.

In my field tests:

• The ELPH 500 HS produced more pleasing background bokeh at wide angles due to its f/2.0 aperture.
• The IXUS 165’s longer zoom lens showed increased image softness and more noticeable chromatic aberrations at the telephoto end, a common caveat in such extended zooms on tiny sensors.

Autofocus, Shooting Speed, and Responsiveness

AF system specs:

• ELPH 500 HS has 9 contrast-detection AF points with face detection, touch AF.
• IXUS 165 has 9 AF points with face detection, but no touch focus.

Continuous shooting differs substantially:

• ELPH 500 HS can shoot 3 fps.
• IXUS 165 is limited to 0.8 fps.

In practical shooting scenarios such as candid street photography or casual sports snaps, the ELPH 500 HS offers a more responsive experience with quicker lock-on and burst speed. The IXUS 165 feels sluggish in comparison, making it less suitable for moving subjects.

Video Capabilities: Capturing Moments in Motion

Video recording quality remains a niche aspect for both:

• ELPH 500 HS shoots Full HD 1080p at 24fps, 720p at 30fps, slow motion clips up to 240fps at lower resolutions.
• IXUS 165 is limited to 720p at 25fps, 480p at 30fps.

Neither supports 4K video or external mic input, but the ELPH 500 HS’s Full HD at 24fps plus optical image stabilization offers noticeably smoother footage. The IXUS 165’s video tends to feel softer and more artifact-prone.

Battery Life and Storage

The IXUS 165 has an edge here with approximately 220 shots per charge vs 180 on the ELPH 500 HS. Both rely on proprietary battery packs (NB-11L for IXUS 165, NB-6L for ELPH 500 HS) and single SD card slots.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

I tested these cameras in multiple realistic scenarios to judge suitability for popular types of photography:

Portraits

The ELPH 500 HS’s brighter aperture at 24mm f/2.0 combined with face detection gives it an advantage in capturing well-exposed skin tones with some background blur. The IXUS 165’s narrower max aperture and longer zoom reduce bokeh charm and can struggle with subject isolation.

Landscapes

Both cameras have limited dynamic range typical of small sensor compacts. The ELPH 500 HS slightly outperforms due to its BSI CMOS sensor’s better shadow retention. Neither offers weather sealing, limiting harsh environment shooting. Neither is a high-res champion here (12MP vs 20MP favors IXUS 165 for fine detail, but IQ at base ISO differs).

Wildlife

The IXUS 165’s 224mm zoom is valuable for distant subjects but the slow autofocus and burst rate (0.8 fps) hinder successful wildlife capture. The ELPH 500 HS is more responsive but is restricted by shorter zoom.

Sports

Fast autofocus and decent continuous shooting make the ELPH 500 HS marginally better, though neither are ideal for serious sports photography.

Street Photography

The IXUS 165’s smaller size and quiet operation suit discreet shooting, but the slower AF and limited video reduce flexibility. The ELPH 500 HS is slightly larger but offers better responsiveness.

Macro

The IXUS 165’s minimum focusing distance of 1 cm edges out the ELPH 500 HS’s 3 cm, allowing closer detail captures.

Night and Astro

The ELPH 500 HS’s higher max ISO and better noise control make it preferable for low-light night scenes. Neither excels for astro work due to small sensor size.

Video

The ELPH 500 HS clearly dominates with Full HD video, image stabilization, and slow-motion options.

Travel

IXUS 165 wins for pocketability and battery life; ELPH 500 HS wins for image quality and more video flexibility.

Professional Work

Neither camera suits professional output files - both lack RAW support and advanced connectivity. They serve best as backup travel cameras or casual shooters.

Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

Canon ELPH 500 HS front Canon ELPH 500 HS screen back Canon IXUS 165 front

Overall Performance Ratings

Based on technical metrics and hands-on experience, here’s my summary rating score on a 10-point scale:

Performance in Key Photography Disciplines

A focused zoom on how each performs by genres:

Which One Should You Choose?

Go with the Canon ELPH 500 HS if:

• You want a compact camera with better image quality in low light.
• Manual control options like shutter and aperture priority matter to you.
• You desire Full HD video and effective image stabilization.
• Portrait photography and casual video creation are priorities.
• You tolerate slightly bulkier size for improved handling.

Choose the Canon IXUS 165 if:

• You prioritize extreme portability and lightweight design above all.
• Zoom reach (8x) matters and you often shoot distant scenes casually.
• Battery life is a key factor on long trips.
• You prefer simplicity with fewer manual options.
• Your budget is tight and you want a straightforward snap-and-go compact.

Final Words

While neither the Canon ELPH 500 HS nor the IXUS 165 offers the image quality or versatility of modern mirrorless or advanced compact cameras, they meet distinct niches in the compact market. The ELPH 500 HS stands out for better exposure control, low-light shooting, and video, making it a balanced pocket-size camera for enthusiasts. The IXUS 165 is a pure, lightweight point-and-shoot optimized for portability and casual travel use.

As a professional reviewer who relies on thousands of hands-on shooting hours, I can confidently say these cameras reflect their release era’s design philosophies well - offering me flexible daily cameras if you understand their strengths and limitations.

For those considering these models today, I recommend hunting for used or refurbished deals to maximize value. New cameras offer more sophisticated options and image quality improvements, but these classics remain charming and capable in their own right.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I have no current financial affiliations with Canon but have tested numerous Canon models extensively. This review is based on firsthand experience and comprehensive lab and real-world testing protocols over years.