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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX240 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 224g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX230 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX260 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
  • Released July 2014
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are manufactured by Canon. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX240 HS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX240 HS was unveiled 3 years earlier than the SX520 HS which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the SX240 HS scores against the SX520 HS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX240 HS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX240 HS

 SX520 HS SX240 HS 
ReleasedJuly 2014February 2012More modern by 30 months

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX240 HS SX520 HS 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution461k461kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX240 HS enjoys external measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Canon SX520 HS has measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX240 HS and 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 differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the SX240 HS against the SX520 HS.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX240 HS and SX520 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX240 HS and SX520 HS.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Canon SX520 HS to deliver more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SX240 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography highlights
37
you can focus manually
supports face detection focus
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Street photography info
Canon SX520 HS Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (224 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Travel photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography factors
61
lighter than competitors in class (224g)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
55
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography advice
41
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
45
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX240 HS
Vlogging with Canon SX520 HS
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (224g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
29
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-02-07 2014-07-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Digic 4+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
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
AF single
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 mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.8 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 operation
Display tech PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (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
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 grams (0.49 lbs) 441 grams (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 61 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 230 pictures 210 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $0 $219