Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
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54 Imaging
43 Features
43 Overall
43
Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
- 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
- Introduced August 2012
- Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
- 6MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600
- No Video
- Nikon F Mount
- 930g - 148 x 135 x 80mm
- Released March 2005
- Previous Model is Fujifilm S2 Pro
- Updated by Fujifilm S5 Pro

Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Overview
Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX500 IS and Fujifilm S3 Pro, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro DSLR by brands Canon and FujiFilm. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and Fujifilm S3 Pro (6MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and Fujifilm S3 Pro (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

The SX500 IS was revealed 7 years after the Fujifilm S3 Pro which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Fujifilm S3 Pro being a Large SLR camera.
Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SX500 IS scores vs the Fujifilm S3 Pro for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS & Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro. The full galleries are available at Canon SX500 IS Gallery & Fujifilm S3 Pro Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Fujifilm S3 Pro
SX500 IS | Fujifilm S3 Pro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | August 2012 | ![]() | March 2005 | Newer by 91 months |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2" | Bigger screen (+1") |
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 235k | Crisper screen (+226k dot) |
Reasons to pick Fujifilm S3 Pro over the Canon SX500 IS
Fujifilm S3 Pro | SX500 IS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Fujifilm S3 Pro
SX500 IS | Fujifilm S3 Pro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Absent Touch screen |
Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Physical Comparison
When you are intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX500 IS comes with outside dimensions 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 Fujifilm S3 Pro has sizing of 148mm x 135mm x 80mm (5.8" x 5.3" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 930 grams (2.05 lbs).
Analyze the Canon SX500 IS and Fujifilm S3 Pro in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the Fujifilm S3 Pro.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and Fujifilm S3 Pro is 80 and 54 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and Fujifilm S3 Pro.
As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX500 IS using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Canon SX500 IS will offer you more detail because of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more recent SX500 IS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Fujifilm S3 Pro Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Canon | FujiFilm |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Pro DSLR |
Introduced | 2012-08-21 | 2005-03-16 |
Body design | Compact | Large SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23 x 15.5mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 356.5mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 6 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4256 x 2848 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 1 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Nikon F |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | - |
Maximum aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 309 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.6 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3" | 2" |
Resolution of display | 461k dot | 235k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 94 percent |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0fps | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 15.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/1600 seconds | 1/180 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video file format | H.264 | - |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 341 grams (0.75 lb) | 930 grams (2.05 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 148 x 135 x 80mm (5.8" x 5.3" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 60 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 20.9 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.5 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 346 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 195 shots | - |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | NB-6L | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2, 5, 2 or 100 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | xD Picture Card, Compact Flash Type I or II |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at launch | $299 | $0 |