Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX510 HS

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SX510 HS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Canon. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and SX510 HS (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The A3500 IS was revealed 7 months earlier than the SX510 HS so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the A3500 IS matches up vs the SX510 HS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot A3500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX510 HS. The full galleries are provided at Canon A3500 IS Gallery and Canon SX510 HS Gallery.

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon A3500 IS provides exterior dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Canon SX510 HS has measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs).

Compare the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SX510 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A3500 IS and the SX510 HS.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A3500 IS and SX510 HS is 96 and 80 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3500 IS and SX510 HS.

To sum up, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Canon A3500 IS to produce greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A3500 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.