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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SD980 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
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
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX500 IS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Canon. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was introduced 4 years before the SX500 IS which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SD980 IS scores versus the SX500 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SD980 IS SX500 IS 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SD980 IS

 SX500 IS SD980 IS 
RevealedAugust 2012August 2009Newer by 36 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SD980 IS SX500 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SD980 IS has exterior measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Compare the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX500 IS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the SX500 IS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and SX500 IS is 95 and 80 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The picture underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SD980 IS and SX500 IS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to provide you with extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600s)
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography info
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (195 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
58
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography factors
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
38
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging info
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
31
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/1600 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 gr (0.33 lb) 341 gr (0.75 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 195 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost - $299