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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P90 front
Portability
70
Imaging
35
Features
37
Overall
35

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Nikon P90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 400g - 114 x 99 x 83mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Older Model is Nikon P80
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and P90 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 3 years later than the P90 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the P90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon P90

 SX500 IS P90 
IntroducedAugust 2012February 2009Fresher by 44 months
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon P90 over the Canon SX500 IS

 P90 SX500 IS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon P90

 SX500 IS P90 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS has got outer measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Nikon P90 has specifications of 114mm x 99mm x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") and a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS and the P90.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and P90 is 80 and 70 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and P90.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to offer extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Nikon P90 Portrait photography info
46
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detect focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
29
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
Nikon P90 Street photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
55
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography features
Nikon P90 Sports photography features
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
amazing zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
Nikon P90 Travel photography advice
60
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (195 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
55
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
low resolution (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
Nikon P90 Landscape photography advice
46
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
43
has manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Nikon P90
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
24
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon P90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Nikon P90
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISNikon Coolpix P90
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Nikon Coolpix P90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-21 2009-02-03
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/1600s -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lbs) 400 gr (0.88 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 114 x 99 x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3")
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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $299 $700