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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 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
  • Additionally referred to as IXUS 500 HS
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Photography Glossary

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

The following is a complete review of the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Panasonic FZ40, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and FZ40 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was launched 18 months after the FZ40 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon ELPH 520 HS being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the ELPH 520 HS scores vs the FZ40 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Panasonic FZ40

 ELPH 520 HS FZ40 
ReleasedJanuary 2012July 2010Newer by 18 months
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 FZ40 ELPH 520 HS 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Panasonic FZ40

 ELPH 520 HS FZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Canon ELPH 520 HS offers 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) and the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Examine the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Panasonic FZ40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the ELPH 520 HS against the FZ40.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ELPH 520 HS and FZ40 is 96 and 68 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching specifications. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ELPH 520 HS and FZ40.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic FZ40 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher ELPH 520 HS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography advice
26
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Street photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography info
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than average (155g)
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery (190 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography features
58
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (336mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery (190 per charge)
more heavy than average (155g)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
54
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (494 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography factors
35
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery (190 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
51
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
32
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than average (155g)
23
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
heavier than others in class (494g)
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Panasonic FZ40
 Canon ELPH 520 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model Canon ELPH 520 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as IXUS 500 HS Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-09 2010-07-21
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 5 Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-336mm (12.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.50 m 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 grams (0.34 lbs) 494 grams (1.09 lbs)
Physical dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-9L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $279 $420