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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Pentax Optio RZ10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 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
  • Announced July 2014
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Later Model is Canon SX530 HS
Pentax RZ10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax RZ10, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the RZ10 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was brought out 3 years after the RZ10 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SX520 HS scores versus the RZ10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Pentax RZ10

 SX520 HS RZ10 
AnnouncedJuly 2014July 2011More modern by 37 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ10 over the Canon SX520 HS

 RZ10 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax RZ10

 SX520 HS RZ10 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS offers outside measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Pentax RZ10 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax RZ10 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX520 HS against the RZ10.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and RZ10 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and RZ10.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to give you extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger SX520 HS should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography highlights
Pentax RZ10 Street photography highlights
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Sports photography camera
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (178 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Travel photography camera
55
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (210 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
66
environment proofing
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (280mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (178 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (210 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
43
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
environment proofing
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery power (178 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Vlogging camera
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax RZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Pentax RZ10
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPentax Optio RZ10
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Pentax Optio RZ10
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-07-29 2011-07-19
Physical type 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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-280mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.2-5.9
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 178 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $219 $200