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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
10
Overall
24

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 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
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Introduced September 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and E85 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was brought out 2 years after the E85 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX500 IS matches up against the E85 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax E85

 SX500 IS E85 
IntroducedAugust 2012September 2009Newer by 36 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Canon SX500 IS

 E85 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax E85

 SX500 IS E85 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys outside dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Pentax E85 has measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX500 IS versus the E85.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and E85 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching specifications. The picture below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and E85.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon SX500 IS to provide you with greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SX500 IS provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/1,600s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography info
Pentax E85 Street photography info
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography factors
Pentax E85 Sports photography factors
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (195 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography factors
Pentax E85 Travel photography factors
59
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
Pentax E85 Landscape photography factors
46
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery power (195 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
23
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Pentax E85
28
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
22
wide angle not the best (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax E85
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax Optio E85
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax Optio E85
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2009-09-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 32-96mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" 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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $299 $0