Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS
96 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37


89 Imaging
46 Features
51 Overall
48
Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
- 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
- Revealed January 2013
(Full Review)
- 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
- 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
- Introduced February 2016
- Superseded the Canon SX710 HS
- Successor is Canon SX730 HS

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Overview
Lets look a little more closely at the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SX720 HS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Canon. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and SX720 HS (20.3MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

The A3500 IS was introduced 4 years prior to the SX720 HS and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the A3500 IS scores against the SX720 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot A3500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX720 HS. The whole galleries are provided at Canon A3500 IS Gallery and Canon SX720 HS Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Canon SX720 HS
A3500 IS | SX720 HS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Canon A3500 IS
SX720 HS | A3500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2016 | ![]() | January 2013 | Fresher by 37 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+692k dot) |
Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SX720 HS
A3500 IS | SX720 HS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen |
Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Physical Comparison
If you're going to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon A3500 IS enjoys outside dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Canon SX720 HS has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).
Check out the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SX720 HS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the A3500 IS vs the SX720 HS.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3500 IS and SX720 HS is 96 and 89 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Sensor Comparison
Normally, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3500 IS and SX720 HS.
Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Canon SX720 HS to resolve more detail using its extra 4.3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older A3500 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Specifications
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS | Canon PowerShot SX720 HS | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Canon |
Model | Canon PowerShot A3500 IS | Canon PowerShot SX720 HS |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Revealed | 2013-01-07 | 2016-02-18 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | DIGIC 4 | DIGIC 6 |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
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 | 16 megapixel | 20.3 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 5184 x 3888 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 28-140mm (5.0x) | 24-960mm (40.0x) |
Max aperture | f/2.8-6.9 | f/3.3-6.9 |
Macro focus range | 3cm | 1cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Resolution of screen | 230k dots | 922k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 15 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/3200 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 5.9 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 3.00 m | 4.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, on, off, slow synchro |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 135 grams (0.30 lb) | 270 grams (0.60 lb) |
Dimensions | 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") | 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") |
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 | 200 photos | 250 photos |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-11L | NB-13L |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC card |
Card slots | One | One |
Launch pricing | $115 | $379 |