Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
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92 Imaging
40 Features
45 Overall
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 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
- Launched August 2012
- Newer Model is Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
- 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
- Introduced February 2014
- Previous Model is Nikon AW110
- Successor is Nikon AW130

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Overview
Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon AW120, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by companies Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the AW120 (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The SX500 IS was brought out 17 months prior to the AW120 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX500 IS scores vs the AW120 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS & Nikon Coolpix AW120. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon SX500 IS Gallery & Nikon AW120 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon AW120
SX500 IS | AW120 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing |
Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Canon SX500 IS
AW120 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2014 | ![]() | August 2012 | Newer by 17 months |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 461k | Crisper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon AW120
SX500 IS | AW120 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch display |
Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has got physical 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 Nikon AW120 has measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs).
Compare the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon AW120 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SX500 IS and the AW120.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and AW120 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing technical specs. The pic below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and AW120.
As you can tell, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP so you can expect similar quality of photographs however you need to factor the age of the products into consideration. The more aged SX500 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon AW120 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix AW120 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Nikon |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix AW120 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Waterproof |
Launched | 2012-08-21 | 2014-02-07 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | - |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 125 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 1 | - |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | 24-120mm (5.0x) |
Maximum aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | f/2.8-4.9 |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | 1cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 461k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD | OLED monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15s | 4s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0fps | 7.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 5.20 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | - |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/1600s | - |
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 |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data 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 | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 341g (0.75 pounds) | 213g (0.47 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") |
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 shots | 350 shots |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-6L | EN-EL12 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | - |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD / SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail price | $299 | $350 |