Clicky

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 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
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Sony W220
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-7.1) lens
  • 147g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony W220, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and W220 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The SX500 IS was brought out 3 years after the W220 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the W220 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W220

 SX500 IS W220 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2009More modern by 45 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W220 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W220 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W220

 SX500 IS W220 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS has got outside 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) while the Sony W220 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony W220 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SX500 IS and the W220.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and W220 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The image below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and W220.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon SX500 IS to resolve extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Sony W220 Portrait photography details
46
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Sony W220 Street photography factors
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Sony W220
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (195 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Sony W220
59
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (195 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
Sony W220 Landscape photography factors
46
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery power (195 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
32
focusing manually
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W220 as a Vlogging camera
28
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic socket
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W220 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W220
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W220
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
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) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-7.1
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 7.10 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Flash On, Slow Syncro, Red-eye, Flash Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (8 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) 147 gr (0.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 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 One One
Price at release $299 $160