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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
27
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SD960 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 145g - 98 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 110 IS
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
  • Announced July 2014
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Photography Glossary

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX520 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Canon. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SD960 IS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD960 IS was brought out 6 years prior to the SX520 HS and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the SD960 IS matches up against the SX520 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD960 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SD960 IS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SD960 IS

 SX520 HS SD960 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014February 2009More recent by 66 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SD960 IS SX520 HS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Canon SD960 IS has exterior dimensions of 98mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX520 HS has specifications of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX520 HS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SD960 IS and the SX520 HS.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SD960 IS and SX520 HS is 95 and 69 respectively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD960 IS and SX520 HS.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX520 HS to result in extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older SD960 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography factors
26
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
44
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD960 IS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
46
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
45
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (210 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD960 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
58
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (210 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Landscape photography information
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography information
36
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
45
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery (210 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
29
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
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Canon SD960 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD960 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD960 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 110 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-02-18 2014-07-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 4+
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focusing range 2cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.8" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 145g (0.32 lb) 441g (0.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 54 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 - 210 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-4L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch - $219