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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are manufactured by Canon. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was launched 5 years before the SX520 HS and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX20 IS scores vs the SX520 HS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX20 IS SX520 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX520 HS SX20 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014July 2010More recent by 49 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX20 IS SX520 HS 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS has external measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX520 HS has specifications of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SX20 IS vs the SX520 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and SX520 HS is 65 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The visual below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and SX520 HS.

All in all, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX520 HS to render extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography details
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography details
37
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
44
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detect focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Street photography factors
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than average in class (600 grams)
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography factors
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (210 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
53
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (600g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (210 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography advice
35
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
45
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (210 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging advice
50
quite wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than average in class (600g)
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2014-07-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus range 0cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 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 Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file 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 600g (1.32 lbs) 441g (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA 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 / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $500 $219