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Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A800 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon A800
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 186g - 94 x 61 x 31mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Canon A800 and 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 exists a large gap between the resolutions of the A800 (10MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A800 was manufactured 19 months before the SX500 IS which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A800 scores versus the SX500 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A800 over the Canon SX500 IS

 A800 SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A800

 SX500 IS A800 
RevealedAugust 2012January 2011Fresher by 19 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k115kClearer screen (+346k dot)

Common features in the Canon A800 and Canon SX500 IS

 A800 SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A800 offers physical measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 186 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Canon A800 and Canon SX500 IS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the A800 and the SX500 IS.

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A800 and SX500 IS is 93 and 80 respectively.

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading specifications. The visual here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A800 and SX500 IS.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Canon SX500 IS to deliver more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older A800 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A800 as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
26
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
46
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A800 as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
46
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A800 Sports photography info
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography info
29
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (300 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (195 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A800 Travel photography information
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography information
55
good battery power (300 shots)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A800 Landscape photography info
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
27
good battery power (300 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
46
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (195 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A800 Vlogging details
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging details
24
comes with face detect focusing
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone support
28
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Canon A800 vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A800 and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot A800Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A800 Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-05 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 3 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 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 115 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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 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 format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 186g (0.41 lbs) 341g (0.75 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 61 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 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 300 shots 195 shots
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $90 $299