Clicky

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 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
  • Alternate Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2010
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and L21 (8MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The ELPH 500 HS was released 13 months later than the L21 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the ELPH 500 HS matches up vs the L21 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Nikon L21

 ELPH 500 HS L21 
IntroducedFebruary 2011February 2010More recent by 13 months
Screen sizing3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 L21 ELPH 500 HS 

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon L21

 ELPH 500 HS L21 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon ELPH 500 HS comes with physical measurements of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has dimensions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon L21 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the ELPH 500 HS vs the L21.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ELPH 500 HS and L21 is 94 and 93 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The visual underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ELPH 500 HS and L21.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Canon ELPH 500 HS to provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger ELPH 500 HS provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Portrait photography factors
Nikon L21 Portrait photography factors
26
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography features
Nikon L21 Street photography features
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Sports photography info
Nikon L21 Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (180 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
64
supports focus by touch
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (180 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
50
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Landscape photography details
Nikon L21 Landscape photography details
40
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery life (180 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
22
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon L21
 Canon ELPH 500 HSNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon ELPH 500 HS Nikon Coolpix L21
Otherwise known as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-07 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-105mm (4.4x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech PureColor II Touch TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 169 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $175 $180