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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot S120 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Key Specs

Canon ELPH 500 HS
(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
Canon S120
(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
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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.

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The 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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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Canon S120

 ELPH 500 HS S120 
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 S120 ELPH 500 HS 
LaunchedNovember 2013February 2011Newer by 34 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Canon S120

 ELPH 500 HS S120 
Screen typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Portrait photography highlights
Canon S120 Portrait photography highlights
26
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
42
manual focus
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography advice
Canon S120 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
65
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (217g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Sports photography info
Canon S120 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (180 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Travel photography advice
Canon S120 Travel photography advice
64
provides focus via touch
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (180 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
heavier than others in class (217g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Landscape photography with Canon S120
40
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (180 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
57
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Vlogging highlights
Canon S120 Vlogging highlights
37
rather wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
heavier than others in class (217g)
Photography Glossary

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon S120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Canon S120
 Canon ELPH 500 HSCanon 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