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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot ELPH 160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
46
Features
26
Overall
38

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Key Specs

Canon ELPH 520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Also Known as IXUS 500 HS
Canon 160
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.2-6.9) lens
  • 127g - 95 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Additionally Known as IXUS 160
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Canon 160, both Ultracompact cameras and they are both built by Canon. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and 160 (20MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was introduced 4 years before the 160 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the ELPH 520 HS matches up vs the 160 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Canon 160

 ELPH 520 HS 160 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon 160 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 160 ELPH 520 HS 
RevealedJanuary 2015January 2012Fresher by 36 months

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Canon 160

 ELPH 520 HS 160 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon ELPH 520 HS comes with outside dimensions of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Canon 160 has dimensions of 95mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 127 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Canon 160 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the ELPH 520 HS versus the 160.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the ELPH 520 HS and 160 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ELPH 520 HS and 160.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Canon 160 to result in more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older ELPH 520 HS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Portrait photography features
Canon 160 Portrait photography features
26
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
MP count decent (20MP)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Street photography details
Canon 160 Street photography details
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than others (155g)
59
image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Sports photography with Canon 160
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (190 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
44
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count decent (20MP)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (0.8 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography info
Canon 160 Travel photography info
58
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (336mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (190 shots)
more heavy than others (155 grams)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography information
Canon 160 Landscape photography information
35
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (190 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
41
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Vlogging with Canon 160
32
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than others (155 grams)
32
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
offers face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Canon 160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Canon 160
 Canon ELPH 520 HSCanon PowerShot ELPH 160
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Canon PowerShot ELPH 160
Also referred to as IXUS 500 HS IXUS 160
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-01-09 2015-01-06
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 5 DIGIC 4+
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 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 5152 x 3864
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.2-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 0.8 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.50 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155 gr (0.34 pounds) 127 gr (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 95 x 54 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-9L NB-11L/LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $279 $135