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Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W 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
Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Other Name is WB550
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Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Below, we are matching up the Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Samsung. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was introduced 3 years after the HZ15W which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX500 IS grades versus the HZ15W with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Samsung HZ15W

 SX500 IS HZ15W 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2009Newer by 43 months
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Canon SX500 IS

 HZ15W SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Samsung HZ15W

 SX500 IS HZ15W 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has got outer measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Samsung HZ15W has measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SX500 IS and the HZ15W.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and HZ15W is 80 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and HZ15W.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to render more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SX500 IS provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
31
has manual focus
offers face detect focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Street photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography factors
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography factors
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
59
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
54
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (249 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography details
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery power (195 per charge)
no Timelapse function
40
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging info
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging info
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (249 grams)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Samsung HZ15W
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSamsung HZ15W
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Samsung HZ15W
Otherwise known as - WB550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 16 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 341g (0.75 lbs) 249g (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $299 $330