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Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
38
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot D30 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon D30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 218g - 109 x 68 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2014
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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Canon. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the D30 (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The D30 was manufactured 18 months later than the SX500 IS making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the D30 matches up vs the SX500 IS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon D30 over the Canon SX500 IS

 D30 SX500 IS 
RevealedFebruary 2014August 2012More recent by 18 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon D30

 SX500 IS D30 

Common features in the Canon D30 and Canon SX500 IS

 D30 SX500 IS 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution461k461kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Canon D30 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 68mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.7" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Look at the Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the D30 compared to the SX500 IS.

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the D30 and SX500 IS is 91 and 80 respectively.

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D30 and SX500 IS.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern D30 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon D30 Portrait photography features
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography features
33
you can focus manually
features face detect focusing
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
46
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon D30 Street photography info
Canon SX500 IS Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon D30 Sports photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography advice
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (195 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon D30 Travel photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
60
environment proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.9)
59
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (195 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon D30 as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
44
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
46
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery (195 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon D30 Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
28
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Canon D30 vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon D30 and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot D30Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot D30 Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-02-12 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 Digic 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/1600 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lbs) 341 grams (0.75 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 68 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.7" x 1.1") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 195 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom, face, wink) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $329 $299