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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX530 HS
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Here is a extended review of the Canon SX520 HS versus Pentax WG-2 GPS, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is relatively close and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was manufactured 2 years later than the WG-2 GPS and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX520 HS grades vs the WG-2 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 SX520 HS WG-2 GPS 
LaunchedJuly 2014February 2012Fresher by 31 months
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Canon SX520 HS

 WG-2 GPS SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 SX520 HS WG-2 GPS 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX520 HS has outside measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX520 HS versus Pentax WG-2 GPS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SX520 HS against the WG-2 GPS.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and WG-2 GPS is 69 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and WG-2 GPS.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution so you should expect comparable quality of photographs however you may want to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The fresher SX520 HS will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography details
44
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
40
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detect focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography highlights
46
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Sports photography camera
45
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (210 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
38
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography highlights
55
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1008mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (210 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
70
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography highlights
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery (210 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging advice
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
30
decently wide (28mm)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic socket
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2014-07-29 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.50 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lbs) 198 grams (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $219 $300