best Camera for low light situations without a flash?...

I want to know if the Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full HD  is better for low light photo's than the Power Shot sx500 is? witch is what I have is the last one I mentioned!, and just witch Camera is the best for low light concert situations, thanks

I agree 100% with rpm40 to go for the G7X. I have a few P&S cameras with 1/2.3 sensors and bought the G7X specifically for low light work. But I now find I am using it more and more for daylight as well.

G1X mark 1 or 2 will both significantly outperform all the current line up for low light performance and at reasonable cost though not as good zoom.

ghce wrote:

G1X mark 1 or 2 will both significantly outperform all the current line up for low light performance and at reasonable cost though not as good zoom.

I agree with ghce re: the G1X re: the original. I have used it a lot on trips in cathedrals and museums and can't fault the IQ in low light. Here are a couple of links to images shot with it, both in museums and outdoors  in Paris, and in  Rome museums, churches and some outdoors.

http://www.pbase.com/chammett/paris_may_2012

and here are some shot in St. Peters and a few other interiors in Rome, and outdoors at night:

http://www.pbase.com/chammett/rome_october_2012

Hope this helps!

cheers --- carolyn

Shanedog95 wrote:

I want to know if the Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full HD is better for low light photo's than the Power Shot sx500 is? witch is what I have is the last one I mentioned!, and just witch Camera is the best for low light concert situations, thanks

Maximum Apertures: The Elph 500 HS has an f/2 lens whereas the sx500 has a very long zoom but has an f/3.5 aperture.
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For this reason, the Elph 500 HS has the faster lens which would be much better in low light.  But it has a small sensor and this is what will limit your photography in low light situations.
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5x Vs 30x optical zoom shows that these are two very different cameras.
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If you are serious about lowlight photography, you will find that a larger sensor size will result in far more sensitivity to light.  For this reason you should really consider a 1" or 1.5" sensor instead.  For ultimate non-DSLR sensitivity, an APS-C sized sensor is the way to go.
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Without going to a DSLR, your best results in low light will be from these Canon cameras:

• Canon EOSM Mirrorless + f/2 pancake lens with APS-C sized sensor.
• Canon PowerShot G1X (any version) with 1.5" sensor.
• Canon Powershot G7X or G9X with 1" Sensor.
  

I shoot in low light almost exclusively and use an EOS-M, a G1X and am about to buy the G9X.  I wrote the list above without even realizing that this was not just the best lowlight alternatives for you but for me also.  Like you, I don't like to shoot with a flash but prefer natural light whenever possible.
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If budget is a deciding factor, I would try to obtain the camera with the fastest lens out of the two you mentioned.  However, a 30x optical zoom is quite a desirable thing in itself.  Of course the size of that camera is much larger as well.