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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(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
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Successor is Nikon P510
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon P500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and P500 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 19 months after the P500 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the SX500 IS grades against the P500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon P500

 SX500 IS P500 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2011More modern by 19 months

Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Canon SX500 IS

 P500 SX500 IS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon P500

 SX500 IS P500 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS offers physical measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Nikon P500 has specifications of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon P500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS versus the P500.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and P500 is 80 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking specs. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and P500.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to resolve more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Nikon P500 Portrait photography info
46
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
34
manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography details
Nikon P500 Street photography details
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than average (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
Nikon P500 Sports photography details
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (195 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
36
great zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography factors
Nikon P500 Travel photography factors
59
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (195 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
47
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
long zoom (810mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 per charge)
more heavy than average (494g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
Nikon P500 Landscape photography advice
46
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery life (195 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
38
manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
Nikon P500 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
26
quite wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (494 grams)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Nikon P500
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISNikon Coolpix P500
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Nikon Coolpix P500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-08-21 2011-02-09
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 23-810mm (35.2x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.4-5.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 8.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341g (0.75 lbs) 494g (1.09 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1")
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 220 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $299 $399