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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SD960 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 145g - 98 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 110 IS
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
  • Launched August 2012
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Canon. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SD960 IS (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD960 IS was revealed 4 years prior to the SX500 IS which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SD960 IS matches up vs the SX500 IS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD960 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SD960 IS SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SD960 IS

 SX500 IS SD960 IS 
LaunchedAugust 2012February 2009Newer by 42 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SD960 IS SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SD960 IS features external measurements of 98mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SD960 IS versus the SX500 IS.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD960 IS and SX500 IS is 95 and 80 respectively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SD960 IS and SX500 IS.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Canon SX500 IS to give more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged SD960 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
26
comes with face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
46
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD960 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (195 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Travel photography factors
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography factors
58
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (195 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Landscape photography details
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
37
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
46
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery (195 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
28
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD960 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Also called Digital IXUS 110 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
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 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 2cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/1600s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 145 grams (0.32 lb) 341 grams (0.75 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 54 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 - 195 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-4L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch - $299