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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • Later Model is Panasonic LX7
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SX500 IS was revealed 9 months later than the LX5 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SX500 IS matches up against the LX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic LX5

 SX500 IS LX5 
RevealedAugust 2012December 2011Fresher by 9 months
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Canon SX500 IS

 LX5 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LX5

 SX500 IS LX5 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS comes with 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) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the LX5.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and LX5 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and LX5.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SX500 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Canon SX500 IS will offer you more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
41
you can focus manually
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography information
Panasonic LX5 Street photography information
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than average (271g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography advice
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Travel photography camera
59
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
59
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (271g)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography info
46
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
52
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
29
quite wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than average (271 grams)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic LX5
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2011-12-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 1 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 7.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lb) 271g (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 41
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 132
Other
Battery life 195 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $299 $294