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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 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
  • Revealed July 2014
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced September 2010
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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S8100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and S8100 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was brought out 3 years later than the S8100 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SX520 HS matches up against the S8100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Nikon S8100

 SX520 HS S8100 
AnnouncedJuly 2014September 2010More recent by 48 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Canon SX520 HS

 S8100 SX520 HS 
Display resolution921k461kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S8100

 SX520 HS S8100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX520 HS features exterior measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Nikon S8100 has specifications of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Check the Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S8100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SX520 HS against the S8100.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and S8100 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and S8100.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to offer more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent SX520 HS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX520 HS
Portrait photography with Nikon S8100
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
26
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography features
Nikon S8100 Street photography features
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S8100 as a Sports photography camera
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
38
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography highlights
Nikon S8100 Travel photography highlights
55
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (210 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
55
flash built-in
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon S8100
45
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery life (210 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
32
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX520 HS
Vlogging with Nikon S8100
29
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
30
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
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Canon SX520 HS vs Nikon S8100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Nikon S8100
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSNikon Coolpix S8100
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Nikon Coolpix S8100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-29 2010-09-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4+ Expeed C2
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 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 30-300mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lbs) 180 grams (0.40 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $219 $299