Clicky

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2016
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
  • Released April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon SX540 HS and Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX540 HS (20MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The SX540 HS was revealed 9 months later than the WX500 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX540 HS grades against the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Sony WX500

 SX540 HS WX500 
ReleasedJanuary 2016April 2015More recent by 9 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Canon SX540 HS

 WX500 SX540 HS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Sony WX500

 SX540 HS WX500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX540 HS features external dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Canon SX540 HS and Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SX540 HS compared to the WX500.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX540 HS and WX500 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over specifications. The visual below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX540 HS and WX500.

To sum up, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX540 HS to deliver more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more recent SX540 HS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography advice
Sony WX500 Portrait photography advice
47
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
supports face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
39
decent MP (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (236g)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
44
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
continuous shooting slow (5.9 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (205 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (360 shots)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Travel photography advice
Sony WX500 Travel photography advice
56
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (205 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
71
great battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than competitors (236g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography information
Sony WX500 Landscape photography information
48
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (205 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
49
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
great battery life (360 shots)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX540 HS
Vlogging with Sony WX500
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (236g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Sony WX500
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-05 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 20MP 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 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.9fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 442 gr (0.97 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 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 205 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $399 $348