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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520

Portability
80
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX500 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX520 HS
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon P510
  • Later Model is Nikon P530
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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SX510 HS (12MP) and P520 (18MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX510 HS was brought out 7 months later than the P520 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SX510 HS scores versus the P520 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Nikon P520

 SX510 HS P520 
RevealedAugust 2013January 2013Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Canon SX510 HS

 P520 SX510 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k461kSharper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX510 HS and Nikon P520

 SX510 HS P520 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX510 HS provides external dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) and the Nikon P520 has measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SX510 HS versus the P520.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX510 HS and P520 is 80 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX510 HS and P520.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Nikon P520 to resolve more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger SX510 HS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Portrait photography advice
Nikon P520 Portrait photography advice
34
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
41
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Street photography factors
Nikon P520 Street photography factors
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
51
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (550g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Sports photography advice
Nikon P520 Sports photography advice
36
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (250 per charge)
no phase detect AF
46
incredible zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Travel photography features
Nikon P520 Travel photography features
54
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
57
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (1000mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (550g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX510 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon P520
40
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (250 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
46
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Vlogging factors
Nikon P520 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than average in class (550 grams)
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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX510 HS and Nikon P520
 Canon PowerShot SX510 HSNikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Nikon Coolpix P520
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-08-22 2013-01-29
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 349 gr (0.77 pounds) 550 gr (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
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 250 photographs 200 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $249 $380