Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Below is a detailed comparison of the Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX520 HS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Canon. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the A1100 IS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The A1100 IS was brought out 6 years earlier than the SX520 HS and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A1100 IS scores vs the SX520 HS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot A1100 IS and Canon PowerShot SX520 HS. The entire galleries are available at Canon A1100 IS Gallery and Canon SX520 HS Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon A1100 IS has got exterior measurements of 95mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Canon SX520 HS has proportions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Compare the Canon A1100 IS vs Canon SX520 HS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A1100 IS vs the SX520 HS.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A1100 IS and SX520 HS is 93 and 69 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A1100 IS and SX520 HS.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Canon SX520 HS to show greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older A1100 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.