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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS 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
  • Additionally referred to as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Released December 2012
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is very close but the ELPH 500 HS (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") possess different sensor measurements.

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The ELPH 500 HS was released 22 months prior to the XZ-2 iHS making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the ELPH 500 HS matches up against the XZ-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 ELPH 500 HS XZ-2 iHS 
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 XZ-2 iHS ELPH 500 HS 
ReleasedDecember 2012February 2011More recent by 22 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k461kClearer display (+459k dot)

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 ELPH 500 HS XZ-2 iHS 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon ELPH 500 HS provides physical measurements of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check out the Canon ELPH 500 HS versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the ELPH 500 HS vs the XZ-2 iHS.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 500 HS and XZ-2 iHS is 94 and 85 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ELPH 500 HS and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same megapixels but different sensor measurements. The ELPH 500 HS contains the smaller sensor which should make obtaining bokeh trickier. The older ELPH 500 HS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Portrait photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
27
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
focusing manually
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
62
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
26
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (180 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (340 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Travel photography features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography features
64
offers focus by touch
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (180 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
61
good battery (340 shots)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (346 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
40
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (180 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
55
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
37
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
36
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (346g)
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Canon ELPH 500 HSOlympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model Canon ELPH 500 HS Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Alternate name IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-07 2012-12-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 35
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-105mm (4.4x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech PureColor II Touch TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 346g (0.76 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 216
Other
Battery life 180 pictures 340 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $175 $450