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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 6 months after the W690 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX500 IS scores vs the W690 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W690

 SX500 IS W690 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W690 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W690

 SX500 IS W690 
AnnouncedAugust 2012February 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS has got outside dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony W690 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS against the W690.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and W690 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The pic below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and W690.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you would want to take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
good MP (16MP)
features face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
Sony W690 Street photography factors
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony W690 Sports photography highlights
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Sony W690
59
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
68
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
Sony W690 Landscape photography advice
46
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (195 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
43
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
28
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W690
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
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/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone 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 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 94 x 56 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 images 220 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BN
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 Single
Launch pricing $299 $297