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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 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
  • Revealed July 2014
  • Previous Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX530 HS
Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and S30 (10MP) and the SX520 HS (1/2.3") and S30 (1/3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The SX520 HS was brought out 2 years after the S30 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX520 HS grades versus the S30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Nikon S30

 SX520 HS S30 
RevealedJuly 2014February 2012More modern by 31 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Canon SX520 HS

 S30 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S30

 SX520 HS S30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and size. The Canon SX520 HS has external measurements 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 Nikon S30 has specifications of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SX520 HS compared to the S30.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and S30 is 69 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and S30.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX520 HS featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Canon SX520 HS will offer you greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern SX520 HS provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon S30 Portrait photography highlights
44
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
24
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography info
Nikon S30 Street photography info
46
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
environment sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (214 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Nikon S30 Sports photography details
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (210 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
28
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S30 as a Travel photography camera
55
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (210 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
52
environment sealing
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (214 grams)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography factors
Nikon S30 Landscape photography factors
45
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery power (210 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
25
environment sealing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S30 as a Vlogging camera
29
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
23
supports face detection autofocus
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (214g)
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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S30
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSNikon Coolpix S30
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Nikon Coolpix S30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-29 2012-02-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 29-87mm (3.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 7.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 1.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m -
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (0.97 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 240 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $219 $119