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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Canon SX500 IS versus Pentax WG-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 19 months after the WG-1 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SX500 IS scores vs the WG-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax WG-1

 SX500 IS WG-1 
IntroducedAugust 2012February 2011Newer by 19 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Canon SX500 IS

 WG-1 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1

 SX500 IS WG-1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS offers outside measurements 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 Pentax WG-1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX500 IS versus Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS vs the WG-1.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and WG-1 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and WG-1.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to produce more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The younger SX500 IS will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
46
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
35
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography information
Pentax WG-1 Street photography information
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
45
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
60
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (195 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
71
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery (195 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
42
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
environment proof
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging info
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-08-21 2011-02-07
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 341g (0.75 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
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 All around 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 shots 260 shots
Form of battery 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $299 $350