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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus 1s front
Portability
79
Imaging
38
Features
66
Overall
49

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s 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
  • Released August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Olympus 1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-300mm (F2.8) lens
  • 402g - 116 x 87 x 57mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus 1
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and 1s (12MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and 1s (1/1.7") have different sensor sizes.

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The SX500 IS was released 3 years earlier than the 1s which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus 1s being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the SX500 IS grades against the 1s for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus 1s

 SX500 IS 1s 

Reasons to pick Olympus 1s over the Canon SX500 IS

 1s SX500 IS 
IntroducedApril 2015August 2012More modern by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k461kCrisper display (+579k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus 1s

 SX500 IS 1s 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS has outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Olympus 1s has dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

See the Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX500 IS vs the 1s.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and 1s is 80 and 79 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The picture here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and 1s.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX500 IS due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Canon SX500 IS will show more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detect focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
46
has manual focus
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Olympus 1s
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography features
Olympus 1s Sports photography features
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus 1s as a Travel photography camera
59
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
64
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
comes with touch focus
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great zoom (300mm)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus 1s Landscape photography factors
46
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
53
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging details
Olympus 1s Vlogging details
28
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus 1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus 1s
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus Stylus 1s
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Olympus Stylus 1s
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2015-04-13
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 1 35
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 10.30 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 402 grams (0.89 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2")
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 450 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $299 $699