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Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
86
Imaging
37
Features
58
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 352g - 107 x 76 x 40mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Old Model is Canon G12
  • Newer Model is Canon G16
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
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon G15 versus Canon SX500 IS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Canon. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the G15 (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) and the G15 (1/1.7") and SX500 IS (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The G15 was released at a similar time to the SX500 IS so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the G15 scores versus the SX500 IS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Canon SX500 IS

 G15 SX500 IS 
Screen resolution922k461kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon G15

 SX500 IS G15 

Common features in the Canon G15 and Canon SX500 IS

 G15 SX500 IS 
RevealedSeptember 2012August 2012Similar age
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon G15 offers outside dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Canon SX500 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Canon G15 versus Canon SX500 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the G15 vs the SX500 IS.

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G15 and SX500 IS is 86 and 80 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the G15 and SX500 IS.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The G15 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Canon SX500 IS will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon G15
Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
48
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon G15 as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (352 grams)
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G15
Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery (350 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (195 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G15 as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
61
better than average battery (350 per charge)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (352g)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
59
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (195 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography features
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (350 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
46
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery life (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
33
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
heavier than competition (352g)
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
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Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot G15Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot G15 Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT PureColor II G LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 352g (0.78 lb) 341g (0.75 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 165 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 195 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $499 $299