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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot A480 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
13
Overall
25

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Key Specs

Canon ELPH 520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-336mm (F3.4-5.6) lens
  • 155g - 87 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Alternate Name is IXUS 500 HS
Canon A480
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 140g - 92 x 62 x 31mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480, both Ultracompact digital cameras and both are sold by Canon. The image resolution of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and the A480 (10MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was released 3 years after the A480 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the ELPH 520 HS grades versus the A480 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Canon A480

 ELPH 520 HS A480 
LaunchedJanuary 2012January 2009More modern by 37 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k115kClearer screen (+346k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon A480 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 A480 ELPH 520 HS 

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Canon A480

 ELPH 520 HS A480 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon ELPH 520 HS comes with external measurements of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Canon A480 has proportions of 92mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the ELPH 520 HS vs the A480.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the ELPH 520 HS and A480 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ELPH 520 HS and A480.

Clearly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP and you can expect similar quality of images though you should consider the age of the products into consideration. The more recent ELPH 520 HS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Portrait photography info
Canon A480 Portrait photography info
26
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
25
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Street photography details
Canon A480 Street photography details
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competition (155 grams)
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Sports photography features
Canon A480 Sports photography features
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (190 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
16
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography advice
Canon A480 Travel photography advice
58
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
long zoom (336mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (190 per charge)
more heavy than competition (155g)
low resolution (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
50
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography advice
Canon A480 Landscape photography advice
35
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (190 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging highlights
Canon A480 Vlogging highlights
32
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
no microphone port
more heavy than competition (155 grams)
22
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic socket
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon A480 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Canon A480
 Canon ELPH 520 HSCanon PowerShot A480
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Canon PowerShot A480
Alternate name IXUS 500 HS -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-01-09 2009-01-15
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 5
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) 37-122mm (3.3x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.0-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 461k dots 115k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.50 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/500 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 lb) 140g (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 92 x 62 x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 190 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-9L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $279 $210