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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
96 Imaging
34 Features
33 Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91 Imaging
41 Features
46 Overall
43

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Alternate Name is IXUS 500 HS
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
Photography Glossary

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus TG-870, both Ultracompact cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and TG-870 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was brought out 5 years before the TG-870 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the ELPH 520 HS grades versus the TG-870 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Olympus TG-870

		

		

			
 ELPH 520 HS TG-870 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

		

		

			
 TG-870 ELPH 520 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2012Newer by 48 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k461kCrisper display (+460k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus TG-870

		

		

			
 ELPH 520 HS TG-870 
Manual focus  No manual focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen  Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Missing Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon ELPH 520 HS provides outside 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) whilst the Olympus TG-870 has sizing of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).
Check out the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus TG-870 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the ELPH 520 HS and the TG-870.
Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 520 HS and TG-870 is 96 and 91 respectively.
Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Quite often, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ELPH 520 HS and TG-870.
Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-870 to show more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged ELPH 520 HS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.
	
			Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
 Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
26
 includes face detection focus
 no manual focus
 no manual exposure
 no external flash support
 sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
36
 MP count decent (16MP)
 includes face detect focus
 focusing manually not possible
 lack of manual exposure
 no external flash support
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison
Street photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Street photography with Olympus TG-870
55
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
 more heavy than competition in class (155g)
65
 has a tilting screen
 image stabilization (Optical)
 weather proof
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 more heavy than competitors in class (221g)
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Sports Comparison
Canon ELPH 520 HS Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography factors
29
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 includes tracking autofocus
 slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 sensor resolution low (10MP)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 terrible battery power (190 shots)
 has no phase detect auto focus
51
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16 megapixels)
 includes tracking focus
 weather proof
 good battery life (300 per charge)
 no shutter priority
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography highlights
58
 flash built-in
 rather wide (28mm)
 long reach (336mm)
 doesn't have Timelapse function
 terrible battery power (190 shots)
 more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
 sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
 doesn't have selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
69
 good battery life (300 shots)
 weather proof
 MP count decent (16MP)
 built-in flash
 rather wide (21mm)
 more heavy than competitors in class (221g)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison
Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography information
35
 rather wide (28mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 no manual focus
 can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
 no manual exposure
 sensor resolution low (10MP)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
 terrible battery power (190 shots)
 doesn't have Timelapse function
50
 rather wide (21mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (16MP)
 weather proof
 good battery life (300 CIPA)
 focusing manually not possible
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 lack of manual exposure
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison
 Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Vlogging camera
 Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
32
 rather wide (28mm)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 includes face detection focus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
 doesn't have selfie friendly screen
 doesn't have external microphone jack
 more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
32
 rather wide (21mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 includes face detect focus
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
 no microphone socket
 more heavy than competitors in class (221 grams)
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Olympus TG-870
 Canon ELPH 520 HSOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Alternative name IXUS 500 HS -
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-01-09 2016-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
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
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
Single AF    
Tracking AF    
Selective AF    
Center weighted AF    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detection focusing    
Contract detection focusing    
Phase detection focusing    
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch functionality    
Screen tech PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Set WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 2.50 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lb) 221 gr (0.49 lb)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 300 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-9L Li-50B
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, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $279 $280