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Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
85
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX130 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-336mm (F3.4-5.6) lens
  • 308g - 113 x 73 x 46mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Replacement is Canon SX150 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
  • Revealed July 2014
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Canon SX130 IS and Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are built by Canon. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SX130 IS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX130 IS was revealed 4 years before the SX520 HS and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX130 IS scores vs the SX520 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX130 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX130 IS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX130 IS

 SX520 HS SX130 IS 
RevealedJuly 2014August 2010More recent by 48 months
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX130 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX130 IS SX520 HS 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX130 IS features exterior dimensions of 113mm x 73mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.8") having a weight of 308 grams (0.68 lbs) whilst the Canon SX520 HS has dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Canon SX130 IS and Canon SX520 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX130 IS versus the SX520 HS.

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX130 IS and SX520 HS is 85 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX130 IS and SX520 HS.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Canon SX520 HS to result in more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SX130 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX130 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX520 HS
29
focusing manually
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX130 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Street photography factors
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (308 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX130 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX520 HS
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX130 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
61
lighter than competitors (308g)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (336mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
55
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX130 IS Landscape photography information
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography information
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse function
45
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (210 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX130 IS Vlogging factors
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging factors
29
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (308 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
29
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
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Canon SX130 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX130 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX130 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX130 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-08-19 2014-07-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-336mm (12.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.6 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus range 1cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2500s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 308 gr (0.68 pounds) 441 gr (0.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 73 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.8") 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 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $250 $219