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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the TG-850 iHS (16MP) is relatively similar and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX500 IS was unveiled 17 months prior to the TG-850 iHS which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX500 IS matches up against the TG-850 iHS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SX500 IS TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Canon SX500 IS

 TG-850 iHS SX500 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014August 2012Newer by 17 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SX500 IS TG-850 iHS 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys outer measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Olympus TG-850 iHS has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS vs the TG-850 iHS.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and TG-850 iHS is 80 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The pic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and TG-850 iHS.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact resolution so you can expect similar quality of images although you might want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged SX500 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
35
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography factors
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography advice
45
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery power (330 CIPA)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography features
Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography features
60
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
72
good battery power (330 CIPA)
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (21mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography features
46
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery life (195 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
50
really wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
weather proofing
good battery power (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Vlogging camera
28
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
33
really wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2012-08-21 2014-01-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4616 x 3464
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 1/2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Yes
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) 218g (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 shots 330 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Price at launch $299 $250