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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
33
Overall
36

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 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
  • Newer Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W730, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the W730 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 4 months earlier than the W730 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SX500 IS matches up vs the W730 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony W730

 SX500 IS W730 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Canon SX500 IS

 W730 SX500 IS 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W730

 SX500 IS W730 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2013Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Sony W730 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS and Sony W730 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS versus the W730.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and W730 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and W730.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact resolution so you should expect comparable quality of files but you really should factor the production date of the cameras into account.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W730 as a Portrait photography camera
46
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Sony W730
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competitors (122 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography factors
Sony W730 Sports photography factors
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (195 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony W730 Travel photography highlights
59
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
lighter than competitors (122 grams)
comes with touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W730 as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery pack (195 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
38
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sony W730
28
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competitors (122 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony W730
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-08-21 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-224mm (9.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341g (0.75 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" 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 shots 240 shots
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $299 $138