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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500

Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Old Model is Canon SX20 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX40 HS
Nikon S9500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-550mm (F) lens
  • 205g - 110 x 60 x 31mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon S9300
  • New Model is Nikon S9700
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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Canon SX30 IS and Nikon S9500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the SX30 IS (14MP) and S9500 (18MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was introduced 3 years before the S9500 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S9500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SX30 IS matches up vs the S9500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Nikon S9500

 SX30 IS S9500 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Canon SX30 IS

 S9500 SX30 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2013September 2010Fresher by 28 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Nikon S9500

 SX30 IS S9500 
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX30 IS comes with external dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") with a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Nikon S9500 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SX30 IS vs the S9500.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX30 IS and S9500 is 64 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX30 IS and S9500.

As you have seen, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Nikon S9500 to give more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older SX30 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX30 IS
Portrait photography with Nikon S9500
41
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
31
resolution is good (18MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Street photography information
Nikon S9500 Street photography information
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition (601 grams)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (205g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX30 IS
Sports photography with Nikon S9500
43
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
41
incredible zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S9500 as a Travel photography camera
57
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (601g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
71
lighter than competition in class (205g)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (550mm)
very good max aperture (f)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (230 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon S9500 as a Landscape photography camera
40
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
46
decently wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX30 IS
Vlogging with Nikon S9500
49
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition (601g)
36
decently wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (205 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon S9500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Nikon S9500
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISNikon Coolpix S9500
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon Coolpix S9500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-09-14 2013-01-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 99
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 25-550mm (22.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 -
Macro focus range 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 601 grams (1.32 pounds) 205 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 - 230 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-7L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $400 $230