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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 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
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and G3 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 3 years after the G3 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the G3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony G3

 SX500 IS G3 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2009Newer by 45 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Canon SX500 IS

 G3 SX500 IS 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony G3

 SX500 IS G3 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS has got external 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 Sony G3 has specifications of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the G3.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and G3 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and G3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to offer you greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern SX500 IS should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Sony G3 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
26
you can focus manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography information
Sony G3 Street photography information
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony G3 Sports photography highlights
45
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (195 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography information
Sony G3 Travel photography information
60
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (195 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony G3 as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (195 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
36
you can focus manually
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sony G3
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
27
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony G3
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.5 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 pounds) 185 grams (0.41 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $299 $200