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Canon SX520 Comparison Review

The Canon PowerShot SX520 HS is a fixed lens compact camera that was announced in July 2014 and is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 15.9 megapixel.

camera

Is the Canon SX520 a good camera? The SX520 has a Camera Elo of 1048. This rating puts the SX520 below average of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the SX520 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Canon SX520 is more than 10 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2014.

Headline Specifications
Canon SX520
Fixed lens compact camera
24-1008mm f/3.4-6
15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
1080/30p Video
ISO 100 - 3 200
no viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 461k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
1.6 shutter flaps per second
210 shots per battery charge
120 x 82 x 92 mm, 441 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Canon SX520 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Canon SX520 vs credit card front
SX520 versus credit card top view
SX520 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon SX520 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
    Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX520 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 441 g 210 n Jul 2014 US$ 399ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 US$ 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX510 104 mm 70 mm 80 mm 349 g 250 n Aug 2013 US$ 249ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX530 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 210 n Jan 2015 US$ 429ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX540 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 205 n Jan 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX700 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 250 n Feb 2014 US$ 349ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 US$ 349ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon B600 122 mm 82 mm 99 mm 500 g 280 n Jan 2019 US$ 349ebay.com
10.
 
Sony H200 123 mm 83 mm 87 mm 530 g 240 n Jan 2013 US$ 249ebay.com
11.
 
Sony HX90V 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 360 n Apr 2015 US$ 429ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon SX520 was launched in the US market at a price of $399. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Canon SX520 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon SX520 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

Canon SX520 sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
    Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX520 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.111.567246
2.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
3.
 
Canon SX510 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/24p20.011.358645
4.
 
Canon SX530 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.211.671247
5.
 
Canon SX540 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.780648
6.
 
Canon SX700 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.111.462945
7.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
8.
 
Canon T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
9.
 
Nikon B600 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.712.2109552
10.
 
Sony H200 1/2.3 15.2 5184 2930720/30p19.911.252944
11.
 
Sony HX90V 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.211.673847
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The SX520 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the SX520 can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Canon SX520 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
    Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon SX520none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX510none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/1600s 3.8/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX530none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon SX540none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX700none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 8.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon B600none n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
10.
 
Sony H200none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony HX90V638 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One convenient feature of the SX520 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX520 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
    Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX520-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX510-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
4.
 
Canon SX530-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon SX540-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon B600-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
10.
 
Sony H200-mono / mono---2.0---
11.
 
Sony HX90V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-

The SX520 has a zoom lens built in (4.3-180.6mm f/3.4-6), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 1008mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the SX520 can be found in the free online Canon SX520 Manual or on the Canon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX520. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
     Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX520..+....3.5/53.5/5 Jul 2014 US$ 399ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 US$ 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX510..+ +....4.5/54/5 Aug 2013 US$ 249ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX530..+ +....4/54/5 Jan 2015 US$ 429ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX540............ Jan 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX700..+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 US$ 349ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 US$ 349ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon B600..+....3.5/53/5 Jan 2019 US$ 349ebay.com
10.
 
Sony H200........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2013 US$ 249ebay.com
11.
 
Sony HX90V4/5+ +....4/54.5/5 Apr 2015 US$ 429ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Canon SX520 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the SX520.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Canon SX520?

The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon SX520 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the SX520 with the DIGIC 4+ image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon SX520?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200.

Does the Canon SX520 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

Which battery does the Canon SX520 use?

The camera gets its power from the Canon NB-6LH (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon SX520
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-1008mm f/3.4-6
    Launch Date July 2014
    Launch Price USD 399
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 608 x 3 456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.33 μm
    Pixel Density 56.73 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3 200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4+
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type No viewfinder
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 461k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 1.6 shutter flaps/s
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Battery Type Canon NB-6LH power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)210 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92 mm
    (4.7 x 3.2 x 3.6 in)
    Camera Weight 441 g (15.6 oz)

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