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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Released July 2014
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
Photography Glossary

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX78, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and FX78 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was released 3 years after the FX78 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX520 HS matches up versus the FX78 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Panasonic FX78

 SX520 HS FX78 
IntroducedJuly 2014January 2011More modern by 43 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Canon SX520 HS

 FX78 SX520 HS 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX78

 SX520 HS FX78 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX520 HS enjoys physical 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) whilst the Panasonic FX78 has specifications of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX78 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX520 HS versus the FX78.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX520 HS and FX78 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by going over specifications. The pic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and FX78.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should count on the Canon SX520 HS to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern SX520 HS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography info
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography info
44
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography details
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (210 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
28
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,400s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography factors
55
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (210 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
56
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography highlights
45
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery power (210 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FX78 Vlogging advice
29
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX78
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FX77
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-07-29 2011-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4+ Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lbs) 142 grams (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $219 $210