Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Comparison

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Canon SX510 HS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon SX500 IS

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

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Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Canon SX510 HS with the camera that it replaced, the Canon SX500 IS, list out what is new, its advantages over its predecessor and finally try to conclude if the SX510 HS is a worthy upgrade to the SX500 IS. Canon SX510 HS was introduced to the market in August 2013 and Canon SX500 IS was launched in August 2012 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 12 months between the two cameras make.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX510 HS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-08-22

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

24-720 mm F3.4-5.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

4.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

349g. 104 x 70 x 80 mm

Replaced Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Compare

Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-08-21

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

24-720 mm F3.4-5.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

341g. 104 x 70 x 80 mm

Canon SX510 HS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX520 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX510 HS over Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected	Better connectivity
Max ISO	3.200 vs 1.600	100% higher Max ISO
Continuous Shooting	4.0fps vs 1.0fps	3 fps faster
Battery Life	250 shots vs 195 shots	55 more frames with a single charge
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

CHECK SX510 HS PRICE

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX500 IS over Canon PowerShot SX510 HS

Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Weight	341 g vs 349 g	8 g lighter

CHECK SX500 IS PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele	720mm vs 720mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution	461k dots vs 461k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.80	Slow lenses at tele

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX510 HS has external dimensions of 104 x 70 x 80 mm (4.09 x 2.76 x 3.15″) and weighs 349 g (0.77 lb / 12.31 oz) (including batteries). Canon SX500 IS has external dimensions of 104 x 70 x 80 mm (4.09 x 2.76 x 3.15″) and weighs 341 g (0.75 lb / 12.03 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon SX510 HS and the Canon SX500 IS. In this case, we can see that Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Comparison image of the Canon SX510 HS and the Canon SX500 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS.

Top View Comparison image of the Canon SX510 HS and the the Canon SX500 IS Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX500 IS is 8g lighter than the Canon SX510 HS but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS nor Canon PowerShot SX500 IS provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX510 HS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Canon SX500 IS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor.

Below you can see the SX510 HS and SX500 IS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS Cameras

Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS features 24-720 mm F3.4-5.8 30x zoom lenses so they have the same focal range and light collecting ability.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f3.40 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 720mm and have the same max aperture of f5.80 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS

SX500 IS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SX510 HS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SX500 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SX500 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SX500 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
1 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
720 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
1 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 195 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX500 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
349g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details

Compact Body
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
341g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX500 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX500 IS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX500 IS scores compare:

Canon SX510 HS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #123 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #650 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon SX500 IS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #191 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #800 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon SX510 HS has a higher Overall Score than the Canon SX500 IS and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Canon PowerShot SX510 HS	Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Brand	Canon	Canon
Announced	2013-08-22	2012-08-21
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	1	1
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-720 mm (30x)	24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture	F3.4-5.8	F3.4-5.8
Macro Focus Range	0cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	461k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/1600s	1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m	5.00 m
Max Flash Sync	n/a	1/1600s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	4.0 fps	1.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1280 x 720
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	349g	341g
Dimensions	104 x 70 x 80mm	104 x 70 x 80mm
Battery Life	250 shots	195 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction