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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX260 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
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Previous Model is Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 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
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • New Model is Canon SX530 HS
Photography Glossary

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX260 HS versus Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both built by Canon. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was unveiled 3 years prior to the SX520 HS and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX260 HS matches up against the SX520 HS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX260 HS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX260 HS

 SX520 HS SX260 HS 
ReleasedJuly 2014June 2012More recent by 26 months

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX260 HS SX520 HS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution461k461kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX260 HS features outside dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Canon SX520 HS has sizing of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check the Canon SX260 HS versus Canon SX520 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the SX260 HS versus the SX520 HS.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX260 HS and SX520 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The visual below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX260 HS and SX520 HS.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Canon SX520 HS to provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older SX260 HS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX260 HS
Portrait photography with Canon SX520 HS
37
manual focus
provides face detect focusing
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
44
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX260 HS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (231g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX260 HS
Sports photography with Canon SX520 HS
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
45
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery pack (230 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (210 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography highlights
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography highlights
41
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
45
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery life (210 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (231g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-06-04 2014-07-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus range 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest 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
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
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
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 lb) 441 grams (0.97 lb)
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 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 230 photos 210 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L 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 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $349 $219