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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
69 Imaging
40 Features
44 Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
38

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-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
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is relatively similar and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was unveiled about the same time to the XG-1 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SX520 HS matches up vs the XG-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

          

          

            
 SX520 HS XG-1 
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)
          

        


        

          

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

          

          

            
 XG-1 SX520 HS 
          

        


        

          

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

          

          

            
 SX520 HS XG-1 
LaunchedJuly 2014July 2014Similar generation
Manual focus  Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen  Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Neither includes Touch friendly screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX520 HS features outer dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Pentax XG-1 has proportions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).
Look at the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax XG-1 in the latest Camera and 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 have at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SX520 HS vs the XG-1.
Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX520 HS and XG-1 is 69 and 66 respectively.
Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Typically, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The image underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX520 HS and XG-1.
All in all, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of images although you should always take the production date  of the products into consideration.

            Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography features
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography features
44
 you can focus manually
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 comes with face detection autofocus
 no external flash support
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
40
 has manual focus
 good MP (16MP)
 no external flash support
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison
 Canon SX520 HS as a Street photography camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Street photography camera
46
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 screen is fixed
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
43
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 no moving screen
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 heavier than average in class (567g)
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Sports Comparison
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography info
Pentax XG-1 Sports photography info
45
 long zoom range (24-1008mm  42.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 terrible battery power (210 per charge)
 lack of phase detect autofocus
45
 incredible zoom range (24-1248mm  52.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good MP (16 megapixels)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 low battery (240 per charge)
 lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
55
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 rather wide (24mm)
 long zoom (1008mm)
 no Time Lapse recording
 terrible battery power (210 shots)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
52
 good MP (16MP)
 has built in flash
 relatively wide (24mm)
 very long reach (1248mm)
 no Time Lapse recording
 low battery (240 shots)
 heavier than average in class (567g)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly display
 slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Pentax XG-1
45
 you can focus manually
 rather wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
 terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
 no Time Lapse recording
45
 has manual focus
 relatively wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good MP (16MP)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 low battery (240 shots)
 no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Canon SX520 HS Vlogging information
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging information
29
 rather wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 comes with face detection autofocus
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
 no external mic port
25
 relatively wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly display
 no external mic jack
 heavier than average in class (567 grams)
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Pentax XG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Pentax XG-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-07-29 2014-07-15
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
Tracking AF    
Selective AF    
Center weighted AF    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect AF    
Contract detect AF    
Phase detect AF    
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 5.50 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
Hot shoe    
AEB    
White balance bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input    
Headphone input    
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 seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lb) 567 grams (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 shots 240 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $219 $599