Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39
96 Imaging
36 Features
24 Overall
31
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs
(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
(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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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").
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe 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 Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The full galleries are provided at Canon SX500 IS Gallery and Panasonic S3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic S3
| SX500 IS | S3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | August 2012 | January 2011 | Fresher by 20 months | |
| Manual focus | More precise focus | |||
| Display sizing | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
| Display resolution | 461k | 230k | Clearer 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 type | Fixed | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic S3 Specifications
| Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Panasonic 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 |