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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Refreshed by Canon SX510 HS
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the H55 (14MP) is relatively close and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 2 years later than the H55 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SX500 IS scores against the H55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony H55

 SX500 IS H55 
LaunchedAugust 2012June 2010Fresher by 27 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Canon SX500 IS

 H55 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony H55

 SX500 IS H55 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS features exterior dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony H55 has measurements of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SX500 IS against the H55.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and H55 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and H55.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Canon SX500 IS to result in more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern SX500 IS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony H55 Portrait photography factors
46
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
Sony H55 Street photography advice
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography info
Sony H55 Sports photography info
45
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography factors
Sony H55 Travel photography factors
60
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
67
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
Sony H55 Landscape photography information
46
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
Sony H55 Vlogging advice
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
28
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony H55
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Bionz
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $299 $235