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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
82
Features
93
Overall
86

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 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
  • Revealed July 2014
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX530 HS
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched January 2021
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Canon SX520 HS versus Sony a1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the SX520 HS (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The SX520 HS was released 7 years before the a1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the SX520 HS scores versus the a1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Sony a1

 SX520 HS a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Canon SX520 HS

 a1 SX520 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2021July 2014More recent by 79 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k461kClearer display (+979k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Sony a1

 SX520 HS a1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX520 HS enjoys physical measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Sony a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX520 HS versus Sony a1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SX520 HS vs the a1.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and a1 is 69 and 61 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and a1.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX520 HS featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony a1 will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 34 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SX520 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
89
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/400s)
high megapixels (50 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography highlights
Sony a1 Street photography highlights
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Sony a1 Sports photography details
45
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
91
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high megapixels (50MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery pack (530 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography information
Sony a1 Travel photography information
55
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1008mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (210 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
74
good battery pack (530 shots)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
high megapixels (50MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography advice
Sony a1 Landscape photography advice
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
88
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high megapixels (50MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery pack (530 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony a1 as a Vlogging camera
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
37
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (7680 x 4320 pixels)
comes with mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Sony a1
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSSony Alpha a1
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Sony Alpha a1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-07-29 2021-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 50 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 8640 x 5760
Max native ISO 3200 32000
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 759
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.0 -
Macro focusing range 0cm -
Available lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/400s
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) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 7680x4320
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 gr (0.97 lb) 737 gr (1.62 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 530 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch cost $219 $6,498