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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
73
Features
76
Overall
74

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R 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
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7R II
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7R, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Canon and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and A7R (36MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and A7R (Full frame) feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SX500 IS was manufactured 18 months prior to the A7R making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SX500 IS matches up vs the A7R in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony A7R

 SX500 IS A7R 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Canon SX500 IS

 A7R SX500 IS 
ReleasedFebruary 2014August 2012More modern by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k461kClearer display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7R

 SX500 IS A7R 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS comes with outside dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Sony A7R has proportions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

See the Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7R in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SX500 IS and the A7R.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and A7R is 80 and 78 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and A7R.

As you can see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SX500 IS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A7R will produce greater detail due to its extra 20MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged SX500 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Sony A7R Portrait photography info
46
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
83
manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Sony A7R
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
79
tilting screen
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (465 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony A7R Sports photography highlights
44
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (340 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Sony A7R Travel photography details
59
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (195 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
69
lighter than competition in class (465 grams)
environment proof
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
terrible battery pack (340 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7R as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
pretty 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)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery power (195 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
77
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count fantastic (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging details
Sony A7R Vlogging details
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
36
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
lighter than competition in class (465g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony A7R
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Alpha A7R
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Alpha A7R
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-21 2014-02-13
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 1 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/1600s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 gr (0.75 lbs) 465 gr (1.03 lbs)
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 Overall rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 2746
Other
Battery life 195 images 340 images
Style of battery 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $299 $1,898