Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A550

Here is a in depth assessment of the Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very similar but the SX520 HS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SX520 HS was revealed 4 years later than the A550 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX520 HS matches up against the A550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX520 HS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are available at Canon SX520 HS Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS features outer measurements 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 Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SX520 HS vs the A550.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and A550 is 69 and 63 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and A550.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SX520 HS with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Canon SX520 HS will offer greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent SX520 HS will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.