Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS
86 Imaging
37 Features
58 Overall
45


80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39
Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs
(Full Review)
(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

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.

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.

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot G15 & Canon PowerShot SX500 IS. The complete galleries are available at Canon G15 Gallery & Canon SX500 IS Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Canon SX500 IS
G15 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 461k | Crisper 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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | September 2012 | ![]() | August 2012 | Similar age |
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications
Canon PowerShot G15 | Canon 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 |