Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS
93 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27


80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39
Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
- 150g - 95 x 62 x 31mm
- Introduced February 2009
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
- 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
- Revealed August 2012
- Successor is Canon SX510 HS

Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview
The following is a detailed comparison of the Canon A1100 IS and Canon SX500 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Canon. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the A1100 IS (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The A1100 IS was revealed 4 years prior to the SX500 IS which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A1100 IS matches up against the SX500 IS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot A1100 IS & Canon PowerShot SX500 IS. The full galleries are available at Canon A1100 IS Gallery & Canon SX500 IS Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon A1100 IS over the Canon SX500 IS
A1100 IS | SX500 IS |
---|
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A1100 IS
SX500 IS | A1100 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | August 2012 | ![]() | February 2009 | Newer by 42 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 115k | Clearer screen (+346k dot) |
Common features in the Canon A1100 IS and Canon SX500 IS
A1100 IS | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Absent Touch friendly screen |
Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon A1100 IS comes with outer dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).
Analyze the Canon A1100 IS and Canon SX500 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the A1100 IS against the SX500 IS.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A1100 IS and SX500 IS is 93 and 80 respectively.

Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A1100 IS and SX500 IS.
Clearly, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to offer you greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged A1100 IS is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications
Canon PowerShot A1100 IS | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Canon |
Model type | Canon PowerShot A1100 IS | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Introduced | 2009-02-18 | 2012-08-21 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Digic 4 | Digic 4 |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 1 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 35-140mm (4.0x) | 24-720mm (30.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.7-5.6 | f/3.4-5.8 |
Macro focusing range | 3cm | 1cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 115 thousand dots | 461 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display technology | - | TFT Color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (tunnel) | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 15 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.00 m | 5.00 m |
Flash settings | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | - | 1/1600 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | H.264 |
Mic 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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 150g (0.33 pounds) | 341g (0.75 pounds) |
Dimensions | 95 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 | - | 195 images |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 2 x AA | NB-6L |
Self timer | Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail price | $160 | $299 |