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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon SX520 HS and Sony HX7V, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is fairly close and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was launched 3 years later than the HX7V and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SX520 HS matches up against the HX7V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Sony HX7V

 SX520 HS HX7V 
LaunchedJuly 2014July 2011More recent by 37 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Canon SX520 HS

 HX7V SX520 HS 
Display resolution921k461kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Sony HX7V

 SX520 HS HX7V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX520 HS features 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 Sony HX7V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Canon SX520 HS and Sony HX7V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SX520 HS versus the HX7V.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and HX7V is 69 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX520 HS and HX7V.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of images though you should take the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern SX520 HS provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography advice
Sony HX7V Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
29
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography advice
Sony HX7V Street photography advice
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography highlights
Sony HX7V Sports photography highlights
45
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (210 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography information
Sony HX7V Travel photography information
55
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Sony HX7V
45
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX7V as a Vlogging camera
29
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Sony HX7V
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-29 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4+ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lb) 208 grams (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $219 $499