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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released August 2011
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and FX90 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was announced 2 years later than the FX90 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SX520 HS scores versus the FX90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Panasonic FX90

 SX520 HS FX90 
ReleasedJuly 2014August 2011More recent by 36 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Canon SX520 HS

 FX90 SX520 HS 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX90

 SX520 HS FX90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS has got outside dimensions 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 FX90 has dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX520 HS vs the FX90.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and FX90 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The visual below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX520 HS and FX90.

As you have seen, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to render more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern SX520 HS is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography features
Panasonic FX90 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography details
Panasonic FX90 Street photography details
47
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Sports photography camera
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Travel photography camera
55
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (210 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
60
boasts focus via touch
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (200 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography highlights
46
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (210 shots)
no Timelapse function
36
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery life (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging info
Panasonic FX90 Vlogging info
29
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic FX90
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-07-29 2011-08-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.50 m 5.90 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 gr (0.97 pounds) 149 gr (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos 200 photos
Battery style Battery Pack 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
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $219 $227