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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Released September 2010
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon S8100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and S8100 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was released 24 months after the S8100 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX500 IS grades versus the S8100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon S8100

 SX500 IS S8100 
ReleasedAugust 2012September 2010Newer by 24 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Canon SX500 IS

 S8100 SX500 IS 
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S8100

 SX500 IS S8100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys outer measurements 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 S8100 has dimensions of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon S8100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS against the S8100.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and S8100 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and S8100.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Canon SX500 IS to give you greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography advice
Nikon S8100 Portrait photography advice
46
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
26
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Nikon S8100 Street photography factors
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography features
Nikon S8100 Sports photography features
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
38
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography factors
Nikon S8100 Travel photography factors
59
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (195 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
55
has built in flash
great reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Nikon S8100 Landscape photography details
46
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery (195 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
32
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging factors
Nikon S8100 Vlogging factors
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
30
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon S8100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Nikon S8100
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISNikon Coolpix S8100
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Nikon Coolpix S8100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2010-09-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 30-300mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lbs) 180 gr (0.40 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 photos 220 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $299 $299