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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") provide different sensor sizes.

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 2 years after the HX5 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SX500 IS scores versus the HX5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony HX5

 SX500 IS HX5 
IntroducedAugust 2012June 2010Newer by 27 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Canon SX500 IS

 HX5 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony HX5

 SX500 IS HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS offers external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS versus the HX5.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and HX5 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through specifications. The image here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and HX5.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX500 IS using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Canon SX500 IS will provide more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
46
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography info
Sony HX5 Street photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony HX5 Travel photography highlights
59
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (195 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
60
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
Sony HX5 Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging features
Sony HX5 Vlogging features
28
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony HX5
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" 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 images -
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $299 $275