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Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX260 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX280 HS
Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Revealed February 2016
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Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Canon SX270 HS versus Nikon B500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX270 HS (12MP) and B500 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX270 HS was launched 3 years earlier than the B500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX270 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX270 HS matches up vs the B500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Nikon B500

 SX270 HS B500 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Canon SX270 HS

 B500 SX270 HS 
RevealedFebruary 2016March 2013More recent by 35 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Nikon B500

 SX270 HS B500 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX270 HS provides exterior dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon B500 has dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX270 HS versus Nikon B500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SX270 HS versus the B500.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and B500 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX270 HS and B500.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Nikon B500 to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older SX270 HS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography advice
Nikon B500 Portrait photography advice
34
focusing manually
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
37
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon B500 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (233g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
52
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition (541g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Sports photography features
Nikon B500 Sports photography features
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (210 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
51
long zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery (600 shots)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography details
Nikon B500 Travel photography details
61
lighter than average in class (233g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
better than average battery (600 per charge)
supports bluetooth
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (23mm)
very long reach (900mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (541g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX270 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon B500
41
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
45
decently wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (600 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX270 HS
Vlogging with Nikon B500
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (233g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
27
decently wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (541 grams)
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Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon B500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Nikon B500
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSNikon Coolpix B500
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Nikon Coolpix B500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-03-21 2016-02-23
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 23-900mm (39.1x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 7.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 233g (0.51 pounds) 541g (1.19 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 600 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID NB-6L 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $284 $300