Clicky

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170

Portability
80
Imaging
38
Features
40
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Samsung PL170 front
Portability
99
Imaging
38
Features
20
Overall
30

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 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
  • Launched August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Samsung PL170
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Canon and Samsung. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the PL170 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope Camera

The SX500 IS was introduced 20 months after the PL170 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SX500 IS scores versus the PL170 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Samsung PL170

 SX500 IS PL170 
LaunchedAugust 2012January 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung PL170 over the Canon SX500 IS

 PL170 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Samsung PL170

 SX500 IS PL170 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS offers outer dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Samsung PL170 has specifications of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX500 IS against the PL170.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and PL170 is 80 and 99 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The pic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and PL170.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels so you can expect similar quality of files but you should always factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The newer SX500 IS will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
Portrait photography with Samsung PL170
45
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
29
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Samsung PL170 Street photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
50
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Samsung PL170 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 shots)
no phase detect AF
27
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
can't change focal length (()mm)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Samsung PL170 Travel photography details
59
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (195 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
71
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
good max aperture (f)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
Samsung PL170 Landscape photography factors
45
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
38
good max aperture (f)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (()mm)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
Samsung PL170 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
27
good max aperture (f)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX500 IS vs Samsung PL170 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Samsung PL170
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSamsung PL170
General Information
Brand Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Samsung PL170
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2012-08-21 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Ultracompact
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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 -
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) ()
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600s -
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
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lbs) -
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 95 x 57 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $299 $175