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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
Olympus SH-2
(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
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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").

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus SH-2

 SX500 IS SH-2 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Canon SX500 IS

 SH-2 SX500 IS 
LaunchedMarch 2015August 2012More recent by 31 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SH-2

 SX500 IS SH-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography highlights
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
44
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Street photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
lighter than others (271 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery (380 shots)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
59
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
74
great battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than others (271g)
offers touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
46
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery pack (195 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
54
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
great battery (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging details
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging details
28
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
34
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus SH-2
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus 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