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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
64
Imaging
33
Features
53
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX1 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 615g - 128 x 88 x 88mm
  • Launched March 2009
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
  • Revealed July 2014
  • Previous Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Later Model is Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Canon. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX1 IS (10MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX1 IS was launched 6 years earlier than the SX520 HS which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX1 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SX1 IS scores against the SX520 HS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX1 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX1 IS SX520 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX1 IS

 SX520 HS SX1 IS 
RevealedJuly 2014March 2009Newer by 65 months
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX1 IS SX520 HS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX1 IS features exterior dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 615 grams (1.36 lbs) and 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).

Check the Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX1 IS versus the SX520 HS.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX1 IS and SX520 HS is 64 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The image here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX1 IS and SX520 HS.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to resolve more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX1 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography advice
46
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX1 IS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
56
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than others (615 grams)
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX1 IS Sports photography info
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography info
33
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
45
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (210 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX1 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
52
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
really wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others (615g)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (210 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX1 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
44
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery power (210 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX1 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
57
really wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no mic socket
heavier than others (615g)
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX1 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX1 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-03-27 2014-07-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Digic 4+
Sensor type CMOS 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 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focusing distance 0cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 5.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 615 gr (1.36 pounds) 441 gr (0.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 88mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.5") 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 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $600 $219