Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus 1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and 1 (12MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and 1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor sizes.

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 15 months prior to the 1 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SX500 IS scores versus the 1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Olympus Stylus 1. The full galleries are available at Canon SX500 IS Gallery and Olympus 1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has physical measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Olympus 1 has measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus 1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS and the 1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and 1 is 80 and 79 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The picture below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and 1.

To sum up, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX500 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Canon SX500 IS will offer you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.