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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS

Portability
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
Portability
89 Imaging
46 Features
51 Overall
48

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 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
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Superseded the Canon SX710 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX730 HS
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both sold by Canon. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and SX720 HS (20.3MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 4 years before the SX720 HS which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SX500 IS scores against the SX720 HS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX720 HS

		

		

			
 SX500 IS SX720 HS 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Canon SX500 IS

		

		

			
 SX720 HS SX500 IS 
ReleasedFebruary 2016August 2012More modern by 42 months
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX720 HS

		

		

			
 SX500 IS SX720 HS 
Manually focus  Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen  Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Neither comes with Touch friendly screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS comes with outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Canon SX720 HS has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).
Look at the Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS vs the SX720 HS.
Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS size comparison
Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and SX720 HS is 80 and 89 respectively.
Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and SX720 HS.
As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Canon SX720 HS to give greater detail because of its extra 4.3MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.
	
			Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
 Canon SX720 HS as a Portrait photography camera
46
 has manual focus
 high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 offers face detect focusing
 cannot use external flash
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
47
 has manual focus
 megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
 comes with face detect focusing
 can't use external flash
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison
Canon SX500 IS Street photography information
Canon SX720 HS Street photography information
51
 image stabilization (Optical)
 fixed screen
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
62
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors (270 grams)
 screen is fixed
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX720 HS
44
 great zoom range (24-720mm  30.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 offers tracking focus
 slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
 no phase detect AF
48
 great zoom range (24-960mm  40.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
 comes with tracking focus
 max frames per second very slow (5.9 frames/s)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 low battery power (250 per charge)
 does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX720 HS
59
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 pretty wide (24mm)
 great zoom (720mm)
 does not have Timelapse function
 not so great battery pack (195 shots)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
 slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
 lighter than competitors (270 grams)
 megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
 built-in flash
 pretty wide (24mm)
 long reach (960mm)
 doesn't have Time Lapse recording
 low battery power (250 per charge)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX720 HS
46
 has manual focus
 pretty wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16MP)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.4)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW files
 not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
 does not have Timelapse function
50
 has manual focus
 pretty wide (24mm)
 pretty good screen size (3 inch)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (20.3 megapixels)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW support
 low battery power (250 per charge)
 doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Canon SX720 HS
28
 pretty wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 offers face detect focusing
 slow max aperture (f3.4)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
 does not have microphone port
34
 pretty wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 comes with face detect focusing
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 lighter than competitors (270g)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
 doesn't have mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX720 HS Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX720 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISCanon PowerShot SX720 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-21 2016-02-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 DIGIC 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixel 20.3 megapixel
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 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Center weighted autofocus    
Autofocus multi area    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-960mm (40.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-6.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 5.9 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 5.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port    
Headphone port    
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
Environment sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lbs) 270 gr (0.60 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
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 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-13L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Launch price $299 $379