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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

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
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2016
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

Here is a complete review of the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both produced by Canon. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SX540 HS (20MP) is pretty close and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 4 years earlier than the SX540 HS and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX500 IS grades against the SX540 HS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX500 IS SX540 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX540 HS SX500 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2012Fresher by 41 months

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX500 IS SX540 HS 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution461k461kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Canon SX540 HS has specifications of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX540 HS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS vs the SX540 HS.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and SX540 HS is 80 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and SX540 HS.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX540 HS to render extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older SX500 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography details
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
47
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Canon SX540 HS
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
48
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography advice
Canon SX540 HS Sports photography advice
45
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (205 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
60
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (195 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
56
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (205 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography highlights
Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography highlights
46
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery power (195 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
48
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery pack (205 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging advice
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
29
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-21 2016-01-05
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 DIGIC 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.9fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 442 gr (0.97 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 195 photographs 205 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $299 $399