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Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Announced February 2009
Canon SX500 IS
(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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Canon A2100 IS versus Canon SX500 IS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Canon. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the A2100 IS (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A2100 IS was brought out 4 years before the SX500 IS and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A2100 IS grades against the SX500 IS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 A2100 IS SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A2100 IS

 SX500 IS A2100 IS 
AnnouncedAugust 2012February 2009More recent by 42 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 A2100 IS SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Canon A2100 IS provides outside measurements of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has specifications of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A2100 IS versus Canon SX500 IS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A2100 IS vs the SX500 IS.

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A2100 IS and SX500 IS is 92 and 80 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A2100 IS and SX500 IS.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The older A2100 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Portrait photography info
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
26
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
46
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/1,600 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Street photography details
Canon SX500 IS Street photography details
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
60
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Landscape photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography highlights
32
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
46
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Vlogging features
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging features
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
28
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
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Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing 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
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-216mm (6.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/1600s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lb) 341 grams (0.75 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 195 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $220 $299