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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 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
  • Other Name is IXUS 500 HS
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-2
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and SH-3 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was brought out 5 years prior to the SH-3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon ELPH 520 HS being a Ultracompact camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the ELPH 520 HS matches up vs the SH-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Olympus SH-3

 ELPH 520 HS SH-3 
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 SH-3 ELPH 520 HS 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2012More recent by 49 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus SH-3

 ELPH 520 HS SH-3 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon ELPH 520 HS enjoys outer dimensions of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the ELPH 520 HS against the SH-3.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 520 HS and SH-3 is 96 and 88 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The photograph below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ELPH 520 HS and SH-3.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus SH-3 to render more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The older ELPH 520 HS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Portrait photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography factors
26
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
44
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Street photography features
Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average in class (155 grams)
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (190 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
58
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (336mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (190 per charge)
more heavy than average in class (155 grams)
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
74
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
offers touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography information
35
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery power (190 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
55
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging information
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging information
32
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than average in class (155g)
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus SH-3
 Canon ELPH 520 HSOlympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Olympus Stylus SH-3
Otherwise known as IXUS 500 HS -
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-09 2016-02-08
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 5 TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.50 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 pounds) 271g (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
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 pictures 380 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-9L LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $279 $579