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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Introduced January 2016
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Let's look much closer at the Canon SX420 IS versus Canon SX500 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both built by Canon. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX420 IS was released 3 years later than the SX500 IS and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX420 IS scores vs the SX500 IS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX420 IS SX500 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2012More recent by 42 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX420 IS

 SX500 IS SX420 IS 
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SX420 IS SX500 IS 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX420 IS comes with exterior dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX420 IS versus Canon SX500 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX420 IS against the SX500 IS.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX420 IS and SX500 IS is 80 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The visual underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX420 IS and SX500 IS.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Canon SX420 IS to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger SX420 IS will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX420 IS
Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography information
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography information
41
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
max fps low (0.5 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
61
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
46
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery (195 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
29
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
28
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-05 2012-08-21
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4+ Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 1
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 0.5fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/1600 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 341g (0.75 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
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 195 images 195 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-11LH NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $299 $299