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Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Canon SX280 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
  • Introduced March 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX270 HS
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Canon SX280 HS versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was launched 3 years earlier than the WX500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SX280 HS grades versus the WX500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Sony WX500

 SX280 HS WX500 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Canon SX280 HS

 WX500 SX280 HS 
AnnouncedApril 2015March 2013Newer by 25 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k461kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX500

 SX280 HS WX500 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX280 HS has got physical 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) while the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX280 HS versus Sony WX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SX280 HS versus the WX500.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and WX500 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by viewing specs. The image below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and WX500.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony WX500 to provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX280 HS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography factors
Sony WX500 Portrait photography factors
34
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focusing
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
39
good resolution (18MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX280 HS
Street photography with Sony WX500
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (233g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography advice
Sony WX500 Sports photography advice
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery pack (360 shots)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography advice
Sony WX500 Travel photography advice
61
lighter than competition in class (233g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
good battery pack (360 shots)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography information
Sony WX500 Landscape photography information
41
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
good battery pack (360 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (233g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
35
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX500
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-03-21 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 Bionz X
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 236g (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 210 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $325 $348