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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Other Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Photography Glossary

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Olympus TG-4, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Olympus. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 500 HS was introduced 5 years earlier than the TG-4 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the ELPH 500 HS scores against the TG-4 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Olympus TG-4

 ELPH 500 HS TG-4 
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 TG-4 ELPH 500 HS 
LaunchedApril 2015February 2011More modern by 50 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Olympus TG-4

 ELPH 500 HS TG-4 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon ELPH 500 HS has got 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 Olympus TG-4 has measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Olympus TG-4 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the ELPH 500 HS versus the TG-4.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 500 HS and TG-4 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ELPH 500 HS and TG-4.

As you can see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus TG-4 to result in extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged ELPH 500 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography features
26
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography details
Olympus TG-4 Street photography details
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Sports photography details
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (180 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
64
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery life (180 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
74
better than average battery (380 per charge)
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors (247g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography information
40
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3.2")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery life (180 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
62
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Vlogging details
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging details
37
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
34
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Olympus TG-4
 Canon ELPH 500 HSOlympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon ELPH 500 HS Olympus Tough TG-4
Alternative name IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2011-02-07 2015-04-13
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-105mm (4.4x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech PureColor II Touch TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
AEB
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 247 grams (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $175 $379