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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Newer Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Replaced the Sony WX350
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Canon SX500 IS and Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is relatively well matched and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was revealed 3 years earlier than the WX500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SX500 IS grades versus the WX500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony WX500

 SX500 IS WX500 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Canon SX500 IS

 WX500 SX500 IS 
IntroducedApril 2015August 2012Fresher by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony WX500

 SX500 IS WX500 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS offers outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS and Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS vs the WX500.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and WX500 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The visual underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and WX500.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Sony WX500 to give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older SX500 IS is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX500 Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
39
good resolution (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Sony WX500
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
offers tracking focus
good battery life (360 shots)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
59
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery life (195 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
good battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
49
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
good battery life (360 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sony WX500
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
35
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony WX500
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-08-21 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 360 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $299 $348