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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Olympus TG-310 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus TG-310, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the TG-310 (14MP) is relatively similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was launched 20 months after the TG-310 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX500 IS grades against the TG-310 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Olympus TG-310

 SX500 IS TG-310 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011Newer by 20 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Canon SX500 IS

 TG-310 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Olympus TG-310

 SX500 IS TG-310 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, 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") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Olympus TG-310 has measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Olympus TG-310 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS vs the TG-310.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and TG-310 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and TG-310.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Canon SX500 IS to offer greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
33
good resolution (14MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-310 as a Street photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors in class (155g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
44
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (150 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-310 Travel photography advice
59
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (195 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
lighter than competitors in class (155 grams)
environment proof
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery life (150 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-310
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (195 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
39
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
environment proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery life (150 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Olympus TG-310 Vlogging info
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
32
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (155 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Olympus TG-310
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISOlympus TG-310
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Olympus TG-310
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-08-21 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-102mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 4.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 pounds) 155g (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 150 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $299 $0