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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS front
Portability
63
Imaging
47
Features
67
Overall
55

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Key Specs

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
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX530 HS
Canon SX70 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 21-1365mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 608g - 127 x 91 x 117mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX70 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both manufactured by Canon. The resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the SX70 HS (20MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was introduced 5 years before the SX70 HS which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX70 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the SX520 HS grades against the SX70 HS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX70 HS

 SX520 HS SX70 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX70 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX70 HS SX520 HS 
RevealedSeptember 2018July 2014More modern by 50 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX70 HS

 SX520 HS SX70 HS 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX520 HS offers exterior dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Canon SX70 HS has sizing of 127mm x 91mm x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 608 grams (1.34 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX70 HS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SX520 HS versus the SX70 HS.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and SX70 HS is 69 and 63 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing specifications. The image here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX520 HS and SX70 HS.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Canon SX70 HS to show more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX520 HS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography info
Canon SX70 HS Portrait photography info
44
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography info
Canon SX70 HS Street photography info
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
58
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (608g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX70 HS as a Sports photography camera
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
56
incredible zoom range (21-1365mm 65.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
provides tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography factors
Canon SX70 HS Travel photography factors
55
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
64
has bluetooth
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (21mm)
long reach (1365mm)
more heavy than competition (608g)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography info
Canon SX70 HS Landscape photography info
45
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
58
has manual focus
pretty wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX70 HS Vlogging highlights
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
64
pretty wide (21mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone jack
slow max aperture (f3.4)
more heavy than competition (608 grams)
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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX70 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX70 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX70 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-07-29 2018-09-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ Digic 8
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 21-1365mm (65.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focusing distance 0cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 5.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, on, slow sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 120 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lbs) 608 grams (1.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 127 x 91 x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6")
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 210 shots 325 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Built-in
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $219 $550