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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Released February 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is relatively comparable and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was manufactured 6 months before the HX300 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX500 IS grades against the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony HX300

 SX500 IS HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Canon SX500 IS

 HX300 SX500 IS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony HX300

 SX500 IS HX300 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2013Same generation
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS has 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) whilst the Sony HX300 has specifications of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony HX300 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the HX300.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and HX300 is 80 and 63 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and HX300.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony HX300 to show more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
decent MP (16MP)
features face detection focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
42
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than average (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography info
Sony HX300 Sports photography info
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (195 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
59
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (195 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
54
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (623g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Sony HX300 Landscape photography details
46
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery pack (195 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
48
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
Sony HX300 Vlogging advice
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
25
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than average (623 grams)
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony HX300
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-08-21 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
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 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) 623 gr (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $299 $339