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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly close and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 20 months later than the S3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the SX500 IS scores vs the S3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic S3

 SX500 IS S3 
RevealedAugust 2012January 2011Fresher by 20 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon SX500 IS

 S3 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic S3

 SX500 IS S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS provides exterior dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS vs the S3.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and S3 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The visual underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and S3.

As you can tell, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to render extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Panasonic S3
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
Panasonic S3 Sports photography details
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Travel photography highlights
59
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competitors (117g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
46
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (195 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
37
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
Panasonic S3 Vlogging information
28
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-08-21 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 1 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 photos 250 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $299 $110