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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
28
Overall
32

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was manufactured 14 months later than the W550 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SX500 IS grades vs the W550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W550

 SX500 IS W550 
LaunchedAugust 2012July 2011Fresher by 14 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W550 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W550

 SX500 IS W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has got outer 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) whilst the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the W550.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and W550 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and W550.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX500 IS to offer more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
46
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/1,600s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
28
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography advice
Sony W550 Street photography advice
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
59
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Sony W550
46
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
42
really wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
28
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
29
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2012-08-21 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 BIONZ
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 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) 110 gr (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single -
Pricing at release $299 $119