Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
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88 Imaging
40 Features
51 Overall
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed August 2012
- Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 6400
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
- 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
- Launched March 2015
- Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
- Newer Model is Olympus SH-3

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Overview
In this write-up, we are looking at the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus SH-2, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SH-2 (16MP) is very similar and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The SX500 IS was manufactured 3 years before the SH-2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SX500 IS grades vs the SH-2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS & Olympus Stylus SH-2. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX500 IS Gallery & Olympus SH-2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus SH-2
SX500 IS | SH-2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial precise focusing | ||
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+1k dot) |
Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Canon SX500 IS
SH-2 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | March 2015 | ![]() | August 2012 | More recent by 31 months |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SH-2
SX500 IS | SH-2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen |
Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison
When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS has physical dimensions 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 SH-2 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).
Examine the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus SH-2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS against the SH-2.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and SH-2 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The graphic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and SH-2.
As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you can expect similar quality of photographs however you should take the age of the products into consideration. The older SX500 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Olympus Stylus SH-2 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Olympus |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Olympus Stylus SH-2 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Revealed | 2012-08-21 | 2015-03-11 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 4 | TruePic VII |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 125 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 1 | - |
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 | 3cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 461k dots | 460k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 11.5 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/1600 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | H.264 | H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 341g (0.75 lbs) | 271g (0.60 lbs) |
Dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") |
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 pictures | 380 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-6L | LI-92B |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $299 | $399 |