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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Leica M8 front
Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 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
  • Announced January 2012
  • Additionally Known as IXUS 500 HS
Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Released July 2007
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Leica M8, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Canon and Leica. The image resolution of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and the M8 (10MP) is very comparable but the ELPH 520 HS (1/2.3") and M8 (APS-H) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The ELPH 520 HS was brought out 4 years later than the M8 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon ELPH 520 HS being a Ultracompact camera and the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ELPH 520 HS grades versus the M8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Leica M8

 ELPH 520 HS M8 
ReleasedJanuary 2012July 2007Fresher by 55 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 M8 ELPH 520 HS 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Leica M8

 ELPH 520 HS M8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and size. The Canon ELPH 520 HS comes with external dimensions of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Leica M8 has specifications of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs).

See the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Leica M8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the ELPH 520 HS versus the M8.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 520 HS and M8 is 96 and 79 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The visual here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ELPH 520 HS and M8.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The ELPH 520 HS has got the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier. The younger ELPH 520 HS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Portrait photography with Leica M8
26
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Street photography features
Leica M8 Street photography features
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (155g)
62
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Sports photography details
Leica M8 Sports photography details
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (190 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
better than average battery pack (550 CIPA)
doesn't have liveview
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography highlights
Leica M8 Travel photography highlights
58
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (336mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (190 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (155 grams)
low MP (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
51
better than average battery pack (550 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography advice
Leica M8 Landscape photography advice
35
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (190 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-H)
no low pass filter
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (550 per charge)
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging features
Leica M8 Vlogging features
32
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
heavier than competition in class (155g)
9
no video shooting
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Leica M8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Leica M8
 Canon ELPH 520 HSLeica M8
General Information
Make Canon Leica
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Leica M8
Also called as IXUS 500 HS -
Class Ultracompact Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-09 2007-07-31
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-H
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 27 x 18mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 486.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3936 x 2630
Highest native ISO 3200 2500
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Leica M
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 59
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (rangefinder)
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 155 gr (0.34 lb) 591 gr (1.30 lb)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 59
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 663
Other
Battery life 190 pictures 550 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-9L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $279 $4,400