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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 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
  • Announced July 2014
  • Previous Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are produced by Canon. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SX520 HS (16MP) is relatively close and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was brought out 23 months prior to the SX520 HS which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX500 IS scores versus the SX520 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX500 IS SX520 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX520 HS SX500 IS 
AnnouncedJuly 2014August 2012Newer by 23 months

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX500 IS SX520 HS 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution461k461kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS has external dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 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).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX500 IS and the SX520 HS.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and SX520 HS is 80 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and SX520 HS.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution and you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you need to take the age of the cameras into account. The more aged SX500 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography advice
46
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
47
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (195 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography advice
60
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
55
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (210 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography factors
46
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
46
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Canon SX520 HS
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
29
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2014-07-29
Body design Compact 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus distance 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 341g (0.75 lbs) 441g (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 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 pictures 210 pictures
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $299 $219