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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX150 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX170 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are built by Canon. The resolution of the SX160 IS (16MP) and the SX500 IS (16MP) is pretty comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was announced 11 months later than the SX500 IS and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX160 IS grades against the SX500 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX160 IS SX500 IS 
IntroducedJune 2013August 2012More recent by 11 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SX500 IS SX160 IS 
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SX160 IS SX500 IS 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX160 IS has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) and the Canon SX500 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SX160 IS compared to the SX500 IS.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX160 IS and SX500 IS is 86 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The photograph below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and SX500 IS.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of pictures but you should take the production date of the cameras into account. The younger SX160 IS is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX160 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
46
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (291 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
51
incredible zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography info
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography info
69
better than average battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition (291 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (195 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography information
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
51
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
46
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
31
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competition (291 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 1
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/1600s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 291 gr (0.64 lbs) 341 gr (0.75 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 images 195 images
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $199 $299