Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
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78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74
Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Key Specs
(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
- Released August 2012
- Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 50 - 25600
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
- Revealed January 2014
- Newer Model is Sony A7 II

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Overview
The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and A7 (24MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and A7 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

The SX500 IS was revealed 17 months earlier than the A7 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX500 IS scores vs the A7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Sony Alpha A7. The full galleries are provided at Canon SX500 IS Gallery and Sony A7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony A7
SX500 IS | A7 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Canon SX500 IS
A7 | SX500 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | January 2014 | ![]() | August 2012 | Newer by 17 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 1230k | ![]() | 461k | Clearer screen (+769k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7
SX500 IS | A7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither features Touch screen |
Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys external 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 Sony A7 has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).
Check the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS vs the A7.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and A7 is 80 and 78 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and A7.
As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SX500 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony A7 will provide greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Sony Alpha A7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Sony Alpha A7 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Pro Mirrorless |
Released | 2012-08-21 | 2014-01-22 |
Body design | Compact | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 4 | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.8 x 23.9mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 855.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 24MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 50 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 1 | 117 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Display resolution | 461 thousand dot | 1,230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD | Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames/s | 5.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | no built-in flash |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/1600s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Built-In |
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 grams (0.75 pounds) | 474 grams (1.04 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 90 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 24.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 14.2 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 2248 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 195 photos | 340 photos |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-6L | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Pricing at launch | $299 | $798 |