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Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SD3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 160g - 99 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Also Known as IXUS 210 / IXY 10S
Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.4-6.0) lens
  • 441g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Released July 2014
  • Older Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Let's look closer at the Canon SD3500 IS and Canon SX520 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Canon. The resolution of the SD3500 IS (14MP) and the SX520 HS (16MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SD3500 IS was unveiled 5 years earlier than the SX520 HS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SD3500 IS grades versus the SX520 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD3500 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SD3500 IS SX520 HS 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SD3500 IS

 SX520 HS SD3500 IS 
ReleasedJuly 2014February 2010Fresher by 54 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD3500 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SD3500 IS SX520 HS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SD3500 IS enjoys physical measurements of 99mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Canon SX520 HS has sizing of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD3500 IS and Canon SX520 HS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SD3500 IS vs the SX520 HS.

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SD3500 IS and SX520 HS is 95 and 69 respectively.

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SD3500 IS and SX520 HS.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Canon SX520 HS to provide more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older SD3500 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD3500 IS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography factors
28
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD3500 IS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD3500 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX520 HS
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD3500 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
65
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (210 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD3500 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography info
42
relatively wide (24mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (210 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD3500 IS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
29
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Canon SD3500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD3500 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD3500 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Also referred to as IXUS 210 / IXY 10S -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-02-08 2014-07-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 4+
Sensor type CCD 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
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 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focusing range 3cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.5" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 grams (0.35 lb) 441 grams (0.97 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 56 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 - 210 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/MMCplus HC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price - $219