Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120
94 Imaging
35 Features
40 Overall
37
92 Imaging
37 Features
57 Overall
45
Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-105mm (F2.0-5.8) lens
- 185g - 101 x 56 x 25mm
- Introduced February 2011
- Additionally Known as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 12800
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
- 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
- Launched November 2013
- Previous Model is Canon S110
Photography Glossary Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Overview
The following is a comprehensive review of the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Canon S120, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are created by Canon. The image resolution of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and the S120 (12MP) is relatively similar but the ELPH 500 HS (1/2.3") and S120 (1/1.7") provide different sensor dimensions.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe ELPH 500 HS was announced 3 years before the S120 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ELPH 500 HS grades vs the S120 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon ELPH 500 HS & Canon PowerShot S120. The whole galleries are provided at Canon ELPH 500 HS Gallery & Canon S120 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Canon S120
| ELPH 500 HS | S120 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen dimensions | 3.2" | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS
| S120 | ELPH 500 HS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | November 2013 | February 2011 | Newer by 34 months | |
| Manual focus | Dial accurate focus | |||
| Screen resolution | 922k | 461k | Clearer screen (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Canon S120
| ELPH 500 HS | S120 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Neither has selfie screen | |||
| Touch screen | Quickly navigate |
Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon ELPH 500 HS has outside dimensions of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Canon S120 has measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs).
Analyze the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Canon S120 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the ELPH 500 HS compared to the S120.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 500 HS and S120 is 94 and 92 respectively.
Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Sensor Comparison
Often, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The pic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ELPH 500 HS and S120.
Plainly, both of the cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The ELPH 500 HS provides the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The more aged ELPH 500 HS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.
Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Screen and ViewFinder
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Specifications
| Canon ELPH 500 HS | Canon PowerShot S120 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Canon | Canon |
| Model type | Canon ELPH 500 HS | Canon PowerShot S120 |
| Otherwise known as | IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S | - |
| Type | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
| Introduced | 2011-02-07 | 2013-11-26 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology | Digic 6 |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/1.7" |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 7.44 x 5.58mm |
| Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 41.5mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Peak resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Highest native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | 24-105mm (4.4x) | 24-120mm (5.0x) |
| Highest aperture | f/2.0-5.8 | f/1.8-5.7 |
| Macro focusing range | 3cm | 3cm |
| Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 4.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen sizing | 3.2" | 3" |
| Resolution of screen | 461 thousand dots | 922 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Screen technology | PureColor II Touch TFT LCD | TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 15 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/1600 secs | 1/2000 secs |
| Continuous shutter rate | 3.0 frames per second | 12.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 5.00 m | 7.00 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, on, slow synchro, off |
| External flash | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video data format | H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Optional |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 185 gr (0.41 lb) | 217 gr (0.48 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | not tested | 56 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.3 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.9 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 246 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 180 photographs | 230 photographs |
| Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | NB-6L | NB-6LH |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Card slots | Single | Single |
| Launch pricing | $175 | $449 |