Canon PowerShot SX500 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and the Canon PowerShot SX530 HS, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS was introduced in August 2012 and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS was introduced in January 2015. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
      • 80 - 1,600 Native ISO
      • 1 Focus Points (1 Cross-type)
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 461k dot Fixed Screen
      • 0.8 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 3,200 Native ISO
      • 9 Focus Points
      • 3.0" 461k dot Fixed Screen
      • 1.6 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash
      • Built-In Wi-Fi

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS.

      PROS

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      •   Video Capture
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/1600 sec
      •   Light - 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Cheap
      •   Video Capture
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Light - 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 195 shots
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.6 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 210 shots


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"

      Advantage of Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon PowerShot SX500 IS over Canon PowerShot SX530 HS.

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX530 HS
      Lower Native ISO 80 vs 100
      Maximum Aperture at Tele End f/5.8 vs f/6.5
      Image Stabilization vs
      Lighter 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz) vs 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SX500 IS.

      Advantage of Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon PowerShot SX530 HS over Canon PowerShot SX500 IS.

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX530 HS
      Higher Native ISO 1,600 vs 3,200
      More Powerful Processor DIGIC 4 vs DIGIC 4+
      More Focus Points 1 vs 9
      Continuous Autofocus vs
      Phase Detection for Autofocus vs
      Reachs More Telephoto 720 mm vs 1200 mm
      Greater Optical Zoom 30x vs 50x
      Min Macro Focus Distance 1 cm vs 0 cm
      Higher Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) 1/1600 sec vs 1/2000 sec
      Higher Max Continuous Shooting 0.8 fps vs 1.6 fps
      Higher Video Resolution 1280 x 720 vs 1920 x 1080
      HDMI Output vs Mini
      Built-In Wi-Fi Eye-Fi Connection possible vs
      Longer Battery Life 195 shots vs 210 shots

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SX530 HS.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon PowerShot SX530 HS
        Video Capture
        High Native ISO1,6003,200
        Face Detection
        Live View Autofocus
        Built-in Flash
        Light341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz)442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon PowerShot SX530 HS
        Small Sensor1/2.3-inch1/2.3-inch
        Timelapse Recording
        Few Focus Points19
        Screen TypeFixedFixed
        Low Resolution Screen461k dot461k dot
        No Viewfinder
        Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)1/1600 sec1/2000 sec
        Low Max Continuous Shooting0.8 fps1.6 fps
        No External Flash Connectivity
        Low Video Resolution1280 x 7201920 x 1080
        No Microphone Input
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Built-In Bluetooth
        No Environmental Sealing
        Short Battery Life195 shots210 shots

      Screen

      Screen

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS have 3.0" Fixed screens with 461k dot resolution.

      Sensor

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,600. Canon PowerShot SX530 HS features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 20.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 3,200.

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS has BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

      Photography Features

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS is equipped with DIGIC 4 processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. Canon PowerShot SX530 HS is equipped with DIGIC 4+ processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4:3 (3264 x 2448, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480), 16:9 (4608 x 2592, 3264 x 1832, 1920 x 1080, 640 x 360), 3:2 (4608 x 3072, 3264 x 2176, 2048 x 1368, 640 x 424), 1:1 (3456 x 3456, 2448 x 2448, 1536 x 1536, with 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.

      Image Stabilization on Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS has an image stabilization.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      Built-in Wi-Fi on Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS comes with NB-6L battery pack with battery life of 195 shots and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS comes with NB-6LH battery pack with battery life of 210 shots.


      External Storage Slots

      Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec on Canon PowerShot SX500 IS, and up to 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot SX530 HS. Canon PowerShot SX500 IS can shoot continuously up to 0.8 fps. Canon PowerShot SX530 HS can shoot continuously up to 1.6 fps.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 5.00 m on Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and 5.50 m on Canon PowerShot SX530 HS. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/1600 sec on Canon PowerShot SX500 IS.

      Physical Parameters

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS body has dimensions of 104 x 70 x 80 mm (4.09 x 2.76 x 3.15") and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS body has dimensions of 120 x 82 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.23 x 3.62"). Canon PowerShot SX500 IS weighs 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz) and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS weighs 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz).

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      104 mm

      70 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      120 mm

      82 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      70 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      82 mm

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      Size comparisons of Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      49
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      POOR
      49
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      AVERAGE
      65
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 195 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      66
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.6 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 210 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      AVERAGE
      63
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 195 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      64
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.6 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 210 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      GOOD
      71
      •   Small Sensor
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/1600 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      65
      •   Small Sensor
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      GOOD
      80
      •   Small Sensor
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz)
      GOOD
      76
      •   Small Sensor
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      GOOD
      83
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 195 shots
      GOOD
      80
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 210 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS and give them scores of 52 and 57 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      OVERALL
      52
      OVERALL
      57

      Sensor

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      47
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      AVERAGE
      65
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO

      Photo

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      AVERAGE
      61
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.8 fps
      •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/1600 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      BAD
      31
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.6 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity

      Video

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      43
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      BAD
      14
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080

      Focusing

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      AVERAGE
      66
      •   1 Focus Points
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      GOOD
      84
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
      •   No Viewfinder

      Connectivity

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      44
      •   No HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      GOOD
      75
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

      Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

      POOR
      42
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 195 shots
      POOR
      41
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 210 shots


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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