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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
Portability
89
Imaging
46
Features
51
Overall
48

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Key Specs

Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Renewed by Canon SX530 HS
Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Superseded the Canon SX710 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX730 HS
Photography Glossary

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Overview

Below, we are looking at the Canon SX520 HS versus Canon SX720 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are designed by Canon. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and SX720 HS (20.3MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was manufactured 18 months prior to the SX720 HS making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX520 HS matches up versus the SX720 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX720 HS

 SX520 HS SX720 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX720 HS SX520 HS 
ReleasedFebruary 2016July 2014More recent by 18 months
Display resolution922k461kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX720 HS

 SX520 HS SX720 HS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS has got outer measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Canon SX720 HS has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX520 HS versus Canon SX720 HS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the SX520 HS vs the SX720 HS.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and SX720 HS is 69 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The photograph here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and SX720 HS.

All in all, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX720 HS to resolve extra detail due to its extra 4.3MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SX520 HS is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography details
Canon SX720 HS Portrait photography details
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
47
focusing manually
MP count good (20.3MP)
includes face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Street photography camera
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (270g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Canon SX720 HS Sports photography details
45
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
48
amazing zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (5.9 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (250 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography advice
Canon SX720 HS Travel photography advice
55
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (1008mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
67
lighter than competitors (270 grams)
MP count good (20.3 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (960mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (250 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography info
Canon SX720 HS Landscape photography info
45
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (210 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
50
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery power (250 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging info
Canon SX720 HS Vlogging info
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
34
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (270g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX720 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Canon SX720 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX720 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-07-29 2016-02-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4+ DIGIC 6
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 16 megapixel 20.3 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 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-960mm (40.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.3-6.9
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 5.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AE 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441g (0.97 lb) 270g (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
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 210 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NB-13L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $219 $379