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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 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
  • Launched August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SZ-15 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 10 months before the SZ-15 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX500 IS grades versus the SZ-15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus SZ-15

 SX500 IS SZ-15 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Canon SX500 IS

 SZ-15 SX500 IS 
IntroducedJune 2013August 2012Newer by 10 months

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-15

 SX500 IS SZ-15 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS has exterior 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 Olympus SZ-15 has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the SZ-15.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and SZ-15 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and SZ-15.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of images but you might want to take the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged SX500 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
46
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
44
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography factors
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (195 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography features
60
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery (195 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography details
46
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (195 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
49
focusing manually
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
28
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-15
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus SZ-15
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Olympus SZ-15
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-08-21 2013-06-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 pounds) 250 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $299 $200