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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Sony W620
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 116g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the W620 (14MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was manufactured 8 months after the W620 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the W620 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W620

 SX500 IS W620 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2012More modern by 8 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W620 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W620 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W620

 SX500 IS W620 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. 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 W620 has proportions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 116 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the W620.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and W620 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The picture below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and W620.

All in all, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Canon SX500 IS to deliver extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W620 as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony W620 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
56
lighter than competition in class (116g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography advice
Sony W620 Sports photography advice
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery (195 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
32
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Sony W620
59
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (195 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competition in class (116 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography info
Sony W620 Landscape photography info
46
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery (195 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
33
really wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sony W620
28
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
30
really wide (28mm)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (116 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W620 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W620
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W620
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 1 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600s -
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 file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lbs) 116 grams (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 images 220 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $299 $102