Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39


91 Imaging
36 Features
31 Overall
34
Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- 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)
- 13MP - 1/3.1" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 1600
- Digital Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 221g - 110 x 66 x 27mm
- Revealed February 2015

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Overview
Here, we are analyzing the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S33, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and S33 (13MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and S33 (1/3.1") offer totally different sensor sizes.

The SX500 IS was manufactured 3 years earlier than the S33 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).
Before going into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX500 IS scores vs the S33 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Nikon Coolpix S33. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX500 IS Gallery and Nikon S33 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon S33
SX500 IS | S33 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Nikon S33 over the Canon SX500 IS
S33 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | February 2015 | ![]() | August 2012 | More modern by 30 months |
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S33
SX500 IS | S33 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly display |
Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS offers outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Nikon S33 has dimensions of 110mm x 66mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).
See the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S33 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SX500 IS against the S33.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and S33 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and S33.
As you can see, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX500 IS featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Canon SX500 IS will provide more detail due to its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S33 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix S33 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Canon | Nikon |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Nikon Coolpix S33 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2012-08-21 | 2015-02-10 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/3.1" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 4.7 x 3.5mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 16.5mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4160 x 3120 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 1 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | 30-90mm (3.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | f/3.3-5.9 |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | 5cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 7.7 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Screen resolution | 461 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 4 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0fps | 4.7fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 3.10 m (at Auto ISO) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | - |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/1600 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p), 320 x 240 (30p, 25p) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic 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 | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 341 grams (0.75 lbs) | 221 grams (0.49 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 110 x 66 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") |
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 images | 220 images |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-6L | EN-EL19 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (10 sec, smile timer) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Launch cost | $299 | $150 |