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Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Launched September 2010
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX20 IS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX40 HS
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
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are produced by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the SX500 IS (16MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was announced 23 months before the SX500 IS making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX30 IS grades vs the SX500 IS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX30 IS SX500 IS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX30 IS

 SX500 IS SX30 IS 
RevealedAugust 2012September 2010Fresher by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SX30 IS SX500 IS 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX30 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS in our brand 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 at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SX30 IS compared to the SX500 IS.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX30 IS and SX500 IS is 64 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The photograph here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX30 IS and SX500 IS.

To sum up, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to give you extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older SX30 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Portrait photography information
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography information
42
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
46
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
49
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than others in class (601 grams)
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX30 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
43
amazing zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (195 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Travel photography features
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography features
58
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (840mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (601 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
60
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (195 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography information
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
41
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
46
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery life (195 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
50
decently wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (601g)
28
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
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Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-09-14 2012-08-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/1600s
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 601 grams (1.32 lbs) 341 grams (0.75 lbs)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 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
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $400 $299