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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 3 years after the W290 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX500 IS scores against the W290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W290

 SX500 IS W290 
LaunchedAugust 2012February 2009Newer by 43 months
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W290 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W290

 SX500 IS W290 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS has outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Sony W290 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS versus the W290.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and W290 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The image below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and W290.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to show extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SX500 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony W290 Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
focusing manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Sony W290 Street photography factors
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (195 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
59
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (195 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
57
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography features
Sony W290 Landscape photography features
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (195 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
41
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sony W290
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
28
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W290
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341g (0.75 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery format 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
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $299 $230