Both Olympus SH-3 and Canon SX500 IS have 16.0 MP resolution sensors but Olympus SH-3's sensor is 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Canon SX500 IS's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ).
Since Canon SX500 IS's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Olympus SH-3.
Below you can see the SH-3 and SX500 IS sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus SH-3 and Canon SX500 IS Cameras
Olympus SH-3 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.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Olympus SH-3
or the
Canon SX500 IS ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3' versus 1/2.3-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
