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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX160 IS
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Replaced the Nikon P510
  • Renewed by Nikon P530
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the P520 (18MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was revealed 7 months after the P520 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX170 IS matches up vs the P520 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Nikon P520

 SX170 IS P520 
IntroducedAugust 2013January 2013Newer by 7 months

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Canon SX170 IS

 P520 SX170 IS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P520

 SX170 IS P520 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX170 IS has got outside measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Nikon P520 has measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX170 IS versus the P520.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and P520 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The pic here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX170 IS and P520.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Nikon P520 to produce more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern SX170 IS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography factors
Nikon P520 Portrait photography factors
44
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
41
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon P520 Street photography highlights
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (251 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
51
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon P520 as a Sports photography camera
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
46
amazing zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon P520 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others in class (251g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (1000mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 per charge)
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography advice
Nikon P520 Landscape photography advice
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon P520 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (251 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
57
quite wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Nikon P520
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISNikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Nikon Coolpix P520
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-08-22 2013-01-29
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 lbs) 550g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
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 300 pictures 200 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $0 $380