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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Key Specs

Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX210 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX240 HS
Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Updated by Nikon P510
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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SX230 HS (12MP) and the P500 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX230 HS was announced 6 months later than the P500 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX230 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SX230 HS scores vs the P500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Nikon P500

 SX230 HS P500 

Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Canon SX230 HS

 P500 SX230 HS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX230 HS and Nikon P500

 SX230 HS P500 
AnnouncedJuly 2011February 2011Similar age
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX230 HS has outside measurements of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Nikon P500 has measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SX230 HS vs the P500.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX230 HS and P500 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX230 HS and P500.

As you can see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution and you can expect similar quality of pictures but you should always consider the age of the products into consideration.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon P500 Portrait photography highlights
34
focusing manually
has face detect focus
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
focusing manually
comes with face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX230 HS
Street photography with Nikon P500
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (223g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Sports photography factors
Nikon P500 Sports photography factors
36
incredible zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
36
great zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Travel photography highlights
Nikon P500 Travel photography highlights
61
lighter than competition (223g)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (392mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
47
has built in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
very long reach (810mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
heavier than competition (494 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Landscape photography features
Nikon P500 Landscape photography features
41
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (210 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
38
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (220 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Vlogging factors
Nikon P500 Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (223g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
26
pretty wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
heavier than competition (494g)
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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon P500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX230 HS and Nikon P500
 Canon PowerShot SX230 HSNikon Coolpix P500
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Nikon Coolpix P500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-19 2011-02-09
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-392mm (14.0x) 23-810mm (35.2x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II TG TFT LCD TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 8.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 223 gr (0.49 lb) 494 gr (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1")
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 210 pictures 220 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $399 $399