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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S6900 front
Portability
93
Imaging
41
Features
43
Overall
41

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 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
  • Also referred to as IXUS 500 HS
Nikon S6900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 181g - 99 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2015
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Nikon S6900, both Ultracompact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and S6900 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was unveiled 4 years earlier than the S6900 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the ELPH 520 HS grades against the S6900 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Nikon S6900

 ELPH 520 HS S6900 
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon S6900 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 S6900 ELPH 520 HS 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2012More modern by 37 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Nikon S6900

 ELPH 520 HS S6900 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon ELPH 520 HS features exterior measurements of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Nikon S6900 has measurements of 99mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 181 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Canon ELPH 520 HS versus Nikon S6900 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the ELPH 520 HS vs the S6900.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 520 HS and S6900 is 96 and 93 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ELPH 520 HS and S6900.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon S6900 to give more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged ELPH 520 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S6900 as a Portrait photography camera
26
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Street photography with Nikon S6900
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
62
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others (181g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Sports photography highlights
Nikon S6900 Sports photography highlights
29
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (190 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (180 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography advice
Nikon S6900 Travel photography advice
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long zoom (336mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (190 shots)
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (180 CIPA)
more heavy than others (181g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon S6900 as a Landscape photography camera
35
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (190 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (180 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging information
Nikon S6900 Vlogging information
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
70
reasonably wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than others (181g)
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Nikon S6900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Nikon S6900
 Canon ELPH 520 HSNikon Coolpix S6900
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon ELPH 520 HS Nikon Coolpix S6900
Also called IXUS 500 HS -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Announced 2012-01-09 2015-02-10
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-336mm (12.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.50 m 2.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 grams (0.34 lb) 181 grams (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 99 x 58 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 190 photos 180 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-9L EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $279 $190