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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Released January 2016
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
  • Launched July 2014
  • Previous Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are created by Canon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was announced 18 months after the SX520 HS which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SX420 IS scores vs the SX520 HS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX420 IS SX520 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2014Newer by 18 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX420 IS

 SX520 HS SX420 IS 
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX420 IS SX520 HS 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX420 IS features physical measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Canon SX520 HS has proportions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX520 HS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the SX420 IS versus the SX520 HS.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX420 IS and SX520 HS is 80 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specifications. The pic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX420 IS and SX520 HS.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Canon SX420 IS to resolve more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern SX420 IS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography features
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
44
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Street photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Street photography advice
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography features
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography features
41
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (0.5 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (195 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography features
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography features
61
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery (195 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery (210 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography advice
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (195 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
46
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (210 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging info
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging info
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Canon SX420 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-05 2014-07-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus range 0cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 0.5fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 441 gr (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 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 195 images 210 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $299 $219