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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot A3200 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon A3200 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F) lens
  • 149g - 95 x 57 x 24mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Newer Model is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX500 IS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Canon. The image resolution of the A3200 IS (14MP) and the SX500 IS (16MP) is fairly close and they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The A3200 IS was brought out 19 months earlier than the SX500 IS making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the A3200 IS scores vs the SX500 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3200 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 A3200 IS SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A3200 IS

 SX500 IS A3200 IS 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011Newer by 19 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 A3200 IS SX500 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Canon A3200 IS provides outer measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has sizing of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Examine the Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX500 IS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the A3200 IS against the SX500 IS.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3200 IS and SX500 IS is 95 and 80 respectively.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3200 IS and SX500 IS.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to render greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged A3200 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/1,600s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Street photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Sports photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A3200 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
72
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
42
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3200 IS Vlogging factors
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon A3200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3200 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot A3200 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3200 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-05 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Smart Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/1600 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 149 gr (0.33 lb) 341 gr (0.75 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-8L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $230 $299