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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 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
  • Previous Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX520 HS was manufactured 3 years later than the WG-1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX520 HS grades against the WG-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Pentax WG-1

 SX520 HS WG-1 
IntroducedJuly 2014February 2011Fresher by 43 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Canon SX520 HS

 WG-1 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-1

 SX520 HS WG-1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX520 HS provides exterior dimensions 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 Pentax WG-1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SX520 HS and the WG-1.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and WG-1 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX520 HS and WG-1.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX520 HS to deliver more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The newer SX520 HS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography advice
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
35
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography details
45
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (210 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
37
MP count good (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography info
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography info
55
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery power (210 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
weather proofing
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography highlights
45
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (210 per charge)
no Timelapse function
42
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging features
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging features
29
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2014-07-29 2011-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $219 $350