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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Canon ELPH 520 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 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
  • Released January 2012
  • Other Name is IXUS 500 HS
Sony W380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 117g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380, both Ultracompact digital cameras by companies Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ELPH 520 HS (10MP) and W380 (14MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 520 HS was brought out 2 years later than the W380 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the ELPH 520 HS grades against the W380 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 520 HS over the Sony W380

 ELPH 520 HS W380 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012January 2010More recent by 25 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W380 over the Canon ELPH 520 HS

 W380 ELPH 520 HS 

Common features in the Canon ELPH 520 HS and Sony W380

 ELPH 520 HS W380 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon ELPH 520 HS provides physical dimensions of 87mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony W380 has measurements of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the ELPH 520 HS versus the W380.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 520 HS and W380 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ELPH 520 HS and W380.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony W380 to give more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern ELPH 520 HS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Portrait photography highlights
Sony W380 Portrait photography highlights
26
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon ELPH 520 HS
Street photography with Sony W380
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Sports photography advice
Sony W380 Sports photography advice
29
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (190 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W380 as a Travel photography camera
58
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (336mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (190 shots)
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
65
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Landscape photography advice
Sony W380 Landscape photography advice
35
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (190 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 520 HS Vlogging highlights
Sony W380 Vlogging highlights
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Canon ELPH 520 HS vs Sony W380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 520 HS and Sony W380
 Canon ELPH 520 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon ELPH 520 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380
Otherwise known as IXUS 500 HS -
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Released 2012-01-09 2010-01-07
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 5 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II G TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.50 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 87 x 54 x 19mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.7") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-9L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $279 $44