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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
39
Overall
38

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR 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
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus SZ-30MR, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 18 months after the SZ-30MR which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX500 IS grades vs the SZ-30MR with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 SX500 IS SZ-30MR 
RevealedAugust 2012March 2011More modern by 18 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Canon SX500 IS

 SZ-30MR SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-30MR

 SX500 IS SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS provides external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-30MR has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SX500 IS and the SZ-30MR.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and SZ-30MR is 80 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specs. The pic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and SZ-30MR.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of photos but you need to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern SX500 IS should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
59
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
46
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery life (195 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery life (220 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
28
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no mic support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Olympus SZ-30MR
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $299 $279