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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9900 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Alternate Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Nikon S9900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 289g - 112 x 66 x 40mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Superseded the Nikon S9700
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon S9900, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and S9900 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 500 HS was launched 5 years before the S9900 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the ELPH 500 HS grades against the S9900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Nikon S9900

 ELPH 500 HS S9900 
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon S9900 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 S9900 ELPH 500 HS 
ReleasedFebruary 2015February 2011More recent by 48 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon S9900

 ELPH 500 HS S9900 
Manually focus No manual focusing

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon ELPH 500 HS has got external dimensions of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Nikon S9900 has dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon S9900 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the ELPH 500 HS vs the S9900.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 500 HS and S9900 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The graphic below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ELPH 500 HS and S9900.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Nikon S9900 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older ELPH 500 HS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Portrait photography with Nikon S9900
26
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon S9900 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (289 grams)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Sports photography factors
Nikon S9900 Sports photography factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (180 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
53
excellent zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S9900 as a Travel photography camera
64
comes with touch to focus
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (180 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
77
lighter than others in class (289g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (750mm)
slow max aperture (f3.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Landscape photography advice
Nikon S9900 Landscape photography advice
40
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (180 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
47
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.7)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Vlogging features
Nikon S9900 Vlogging features
37
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
73
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (289 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.7)
missing mic support
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Nikon S9900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Nikon S9900
 Canon ELPH 500 HSNikon Coolpix S9900
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon ELPH 500 HS Nikon Coolpix S9900
Also called as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-07 2015-02-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-105mm (4.4x) 25-750mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/3.7-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology PureColor II Touch TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 289g (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 112 x 66 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 shots 300 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $175 $300