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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100

Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Sony Alpha a6100 front
Portability
81
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 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
  • Old Model is Canon SX510 HS
  • New Model is Canon SX530 HS
Sony A6100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Raise to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced August 2019
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Overview

Let's look closer at the Canon SX520 HS and Sony A6100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and A6100 (24MP) and the SX520 HS (1/2.3") and A6100 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The SX520 HS was announced 6 years before the A6100 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A6100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SX520 HS scores vs the A6100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Sony A6100

 SX520 HS A6100 

Reasons to pick Sony A6100 over the Canon SX520 HS

 A6100 SX520 HS 
IntroducedAugust 2019July 2014Newer by 61 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k461kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Sony A6100

 SX520 HS A6100 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX520 HS has exterior measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Sony A6100 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX520 HS and Sony A6100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SX520 HS vs the A6100.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and A6100 is 69 and 81 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The pic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and A6100.

All in all, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX520 HS using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A6100 will result in extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SX520 HS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX520 HS
Portrait photography with Sony A6100
44
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
has face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
82
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography information
Sony A6100 Street photography information
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
79
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
good high ISO (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography info
Sony A6100 Sports photography info
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (210 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
75
MP count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography information
Sony A6100 Travel photography information
55
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (210 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
86
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
MP count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Sony A6100
46
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (210 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging info
Sony A6100 Vlogging info
29
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
features face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony A6100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Sony A6100
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSSony Alpha a6100
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Sony Alpha a6100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-07-29 2019-08-28
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 425
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 -
Macro focus range 0cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Flash off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless, hi-speed
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441g (0.97 pounds) 396g (0.87 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 120 x 67 x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 420 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $219 $748