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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S630 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Nikon S630
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-260mm (F3.5-5.3) lens
  • 140g - 97 x 58 x 26mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and S630 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 3 years later than the S630 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SX500 IS matches up against the S630 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon S630

 SX500 IS S630 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2009More recent by 44 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon S630 over the Canon SX500 IS

 S630 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S630

 SX500 IS S630 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys external dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Nikon S630 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the S630.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and S630 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The graphic here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and S630.

All in all, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to render more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger SX500 IS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Nikon S630 Portrait photography details
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Nikon S630
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S630 as a Sports photography camera
45
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (195 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Nikon S630 Travel photography details
60
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (195 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
56
has built in flash
great zoom (260mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Nikon S630 Landscape photography details
46
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery (195 shots)
missing Timelapse function
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging highlights
Nikon S630 Vlogging highlights
28
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S630 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S630
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISNikon Coolpix S630
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Nikon Coolpix S630
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2009-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 37-260mm (7.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.3
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On, Slow sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 file format H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 140 gr (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 97 x 58 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L EN-L12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (3 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $299 $240