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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Canon SX220 HS front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 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
  • Newer Model is Canon SX510 HS
Canon SX220 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • n/ag - 106 x 59 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX220 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are designed by Canon. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and SX220 HS (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 19 months after the SX220 HS making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SX500 IS scores versus the SX220 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX220 HS

 SX500 IS SX220 HS 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2011More modern by 19 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX220 HS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX220 HS SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX220 HS

 SX500 IS SX220 HS 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution461k461kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS comes with physical measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Canon SX220 HS has specifications of 106mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX220 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 dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the SX220 HS.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and SX220 HS is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The picture underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and SX220 HS.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX220 HS Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
38
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography features
Canon SX220 HS Street photography features
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX220 HS
45
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
36
incredible zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX220 HS as a Travel photography camera
60
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
60
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very long reach (392mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX220 HS Landscape photography info
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery power (195 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
42
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Canon SX220 HS
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
34
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX220 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISCanon SX220 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon SX220 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-21 2011-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
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 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-392mm (14.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD PureColor II TG TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30,120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) -
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 106 x 59 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 photographs 210 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/ MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $299 $399