Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS
92 Imaging
34 Features
20 Overall
28


80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39
Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs
(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
(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

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").

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.

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot A2100 IS & Canon PowerShot SX500 IS. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon A2100 IS Gallery & Canon SX500 IS Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | August 2012 | ![]() | February 2009 | More recent by 42 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+231k dot) |
Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Canon SX500 IS
A2100 IS | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS | Canon 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 |