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Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Canon PowerShot A3000 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon A3000 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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
  • Launched August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Canon. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the A3000 IS (10MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A3000 IS was revealed 3 years prior to the SX500 IS which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the A3000 IS scores against the SX500 IS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3000 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 A3000 IS SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A3000 IS

 SX500 IS A3000 IS 
LaunchedAugust 2012January 2010More modern by 31 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3000 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 A3000 IS SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A3000 IS has physical measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Check the Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS in our newest Camera plus 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 at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A3000 IS and the SX500 IS.

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A3000 IS and SX500 IS is 94 and 80 respectively.

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The pic underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A3000 IS and SX500 IS.

All in all, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to result in extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A3000 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3000 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography advice
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focusing
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3000 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3000 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3000 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
50
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
59
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3000 IS Landscape photography details
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (195 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3000 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Canon A3000 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3000 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot A3000 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3000 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-01-05 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/1600 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 165 gr (0.36 pounds) 341 gr (0.75 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
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 - 195 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-8L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $240 $299