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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 18 months later than the RS1500 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the SX500 IS scores versus the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax RS1500

 SX500 IS RS1500 
AnnouncedAugust 2012March 2011Fresher by 18 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Canon SX500 IS

 RS1500 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax RS1500

 SX500 IS RS1500 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has exterior dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS vs the RS1500.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and RS1500 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and RS1500.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to show more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern SX500 IS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
46
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/1,600 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
35
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography info
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
37
decent MP (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography features
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography features
59
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (195 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
67
environment sealing
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography information
46
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery life (195 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14MP)
environment sealing
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax RS1500
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600 secs -
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $299 $150