Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39


90 Imaging
33 Features
18 Overall
27
Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 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
- Revealed August 2012
- Successor is Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.9" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- 1280 x 720 video
- 29-87mm (F) lens
- 185g - 105 x 65 x 42mm
- Announced June 2013

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Overview
The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon S31, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and S31 (10MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and S31 (1/2.9") posses different sensor measurements.

The SX500 IS was released 10 months earlier than the S31 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SX500 IS matches up vs the S31 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS & Nikon Coolpix S31. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SX500 IS Gallery & Nikon S31 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon S31
SX500 IS | S31 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More accurate focusing | ||
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Nikon S31 over the Canon SX500 IS
S31 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | June 2013 | ![]() | August 2012 | Newer by 10 months |
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S31
SX500 IS | S31 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither includes selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither includes Touch display |
Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS features outer 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) and the Nikon S31 has measurements of 105mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.1" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).
Check the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon S31 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS and the S31.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and S31 is 80 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing specifications. The pic underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and S31.
Plainly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX500 IS featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Canon SX500 IS will produce more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S31 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix S31 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Nikon |
Model | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix S31 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Waterproof |
Revealed | 2012-08-21 | 2013-06-21 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.9" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 4.96 x 3.72mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 18.5mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | - |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
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 | ||
Number of focus points | 1 | - |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | 29-87mm (3.0x) |
Maximum aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | - |
Macro focus range | 1cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 7.3 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of display | 461 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 4 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/1600 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 1.0fps | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 5.00 m | - |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | - |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/1600 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | H.264 | - |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 341 gr (0.75 lbs) | 185 gr (0.41 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 105 x 65 x 42mm (4.1" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
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 photos | 260 photos |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-6L | EN-EL12 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | - |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD / SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Price at release | $299 | $90 |