Aside from simply feeling more solid that the cheaper model, the SX500 also offers up features like Zoom Framing Assist, which can be accessed via a devoted button on the front of the camera, letting you zoomout to help find your shooting subject -- a function it performs quite quickly.
By simply pressing the Zoom Framing Assist button located on the lower front left of the camera, the lens will quickly zoomout to help you re-locate and frame your subject.
If they wanted to make Superman appear to be flying, they would film Reeve against blue screens and zoom the camera in and out around him to simulate the actor in motion.