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Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.4-6.0) lens
  • 441g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2014
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Other Name is WB550
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Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Canon SX520 HS and Samsung HZ15W, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Samsung. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was brought out 5 years after the HZ15W which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX520 HS grades vs the HZ15W with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Samsung HZ15W

 SX520 HS HZ15W 
AnnouncedJuly 2014February 2009Newer by 67 months
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Canon SX520 HS

 HZ15W SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Samsung HZ15W

 SX520 HS HZ15W 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS enjoys 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) whilst the Samsung HZ15W has dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX520 HS and Samsung HZ15W in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX520 HS and the HZ15W.

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and HZ15W is 69 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over specifications. The pic here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX520 HS and HZ15W.

To sum up, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to deliver extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively. The newer SX520 HS will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography details
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
31
focusing manually
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX520 HS
Street photography with Samsung HZ15W
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Sports photography camera
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
Travel photography with Samsung HZ15W
55
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (210 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
54
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (249 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography info
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography info
45
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (210 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging highlights
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging highlights
29
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
heavier than others (249 grams)
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Canon SX520 HS vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Samsung HZ15W
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSSamsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Canon Samsung
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Samsung HZ15W
Alternate name - WB550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-07-29 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 16 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441g (0.97 pounds) 249g (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $219 $330