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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX530 HS
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FH20, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was manufactured 4 years later than the FH20 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SX520 HS grades vs the FH20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Panasonic FH20

 SX520 HS FH20 
IntroducedJuly 2014January 2010More recent by 56 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Canon SX520 HS

 FH20 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FH20

 SX520 HS FH20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX520 HS comes with outer measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has specifications of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FH20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SX520 HS against the FH20.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX520 HS and FH20 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specs. The graphic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and FH20.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Canon SX520 HS to show extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more recent SX520 HS should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
28
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography information
Panasonic FH20 Street photography information
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography advice
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography factors
55
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (210 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
64
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography info
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery (210 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
37
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging features
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging features
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
28
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FH20
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-07-29 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 gr (0.97 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $219 $179