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Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Older Model is Canon SX210 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX240 HS
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
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Canon SX230 HS and Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both produced by Canon. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the SX230 HS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX230 HS was launched 4 years before the SX520 HS which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the SX230 HS grades against the SX520 HS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX230 HS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX230 HS

 SX520 HS SX230 HS 
RevealedJuly 2014July 2011Newer by 36 months

Common features in the Canon SX230 HS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX230 HS SX520 HS 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution461k461kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX230 HS has got external measurements of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Canon SX520 HS has sizing of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX230 HS and Canon SX520 HS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the SX230 HS and the SX520 HS.

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX230 HS and SX520 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX230 HS and SX520 HS.

Plainly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Canon SX520 HS to give you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SX230 HS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
34
manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (223g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
36
amazing zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography highlights
61
lighter than others (223g)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
great zoom (392mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (210 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
55
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Landscape photography camera
41
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
46
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (210 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Vlogging features
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging features
34
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (223g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
29
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
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Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX230 HS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX230 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-07-19 2014-07-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Digic 4+
Sensor type BSI-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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-392mm (14.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focusing range 5cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology PureColor II TG TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 223 gr (0.49 lbs) 441 gr (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 210 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-5L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $399 $219