Canon SX520 HS vs Sony a5000

Below, we are looking at the Canon SX520 HS and Sony a5000, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the a5000 (20MP) is fairly similar but the SX520 HS (1/2.3") and a5000 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SX520 HS was manufactured 7 months later than the a5000 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the SX520 HS grades vs the a5000 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX520 HS and Sony Alpha a5000. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX520 HS Gallery and Sony a5000 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS comes with physical 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) whilst the Sony a5000 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Canon SX520 HS and Sony a5000 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX520 HS versus the a5000.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and a5000 is 69 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing only by going over specifications. The visual below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and a5000.

Plainly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SX520 HS because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony a5000 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more recent SX520 HS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.