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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SD980 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Canon. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was launched 6 years before the SX520 HS and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SD980 IS scores against the SX520 HS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SD980 IS SX520 HS 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SD980 IS

 SX520 HS SD980 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014August 2009More recent by 60 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SD980 IS SX520 HS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SD980 IS enjoys external dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Canon SX520 HS has sizing of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SD980 IS against the SX520 HS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and SX520 HS is 95 and 69 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through specifications. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SD980 IS and SX520 HS.

To sum up, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to give you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX520 HS
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD980 IS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD980 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
38
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
45
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (210 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging information
31
really wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
29
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-08-19 2014-07-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus distance 3cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lbs) 441g (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" 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 - 210 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release - $219