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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix A900 front
Portability
88
Imaging
46
Features
58
Overall
50

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 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
  • Released July 2014
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX530 HS
Nikon A900
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-840mm (F3.4-6.9) lens
  • 289g - 113 x 67 x 40mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Successor is Nikon A1000
Photography Glossary

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the A900 (20MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was introduced 19 months prior to the A900 which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX520 HS grades vs the A900 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Nikon A900

 SX520 HS A900 
Manual focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Nikon A900 over the Canon SX520 HS

 A900 SX520 HS 
RevealedFebruary 2016July 2014More recent by 19 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon A900

 SX520 HS A900 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX520 HS features outside dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Nikon A900 has specifications of 113mm x 67mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") and a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs).

See the Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SX520 HS compared to the A900.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and A900 is 69 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX520 HS and A900.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon A900 to give you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older SX520 HS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon A900 as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
40
good MP (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
Street photography with Nikon A900
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (289 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography info
Nikon A900 Sports photography info
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
56
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
Travel photography with Nikon A900
55
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (210 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
74
lighter than competition (289g)
connects via bluetooth
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (840mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon A900
45
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery life (210 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging details
Nikon A900 Vlogging details
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic support
34
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (289 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Nikon A900
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSNikon Coolpix A900
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Nikon Coolpix A900
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-07-29 2016-02-23
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.4-6.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.50 m 6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 gr (0.97 lbs) 289 gr (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 113 x 67 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 210 shots 300 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $219 $400