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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 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
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Released January 2009
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX520 HS and Sony S930, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and S930 (10MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was introduced 5 years after the S930 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX520 HS matches up against the S930 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

				

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Sony S930

 SX520 HS S930 
ReleasedJuly 2014January 2009Newer by 68 months
Screen dimensions3"2.4"Bigger screen (+0.6")
Screen resolution461k112kClearer screen (+349k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Canon SX520 HS

 S930 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Sony S930

 SX520 HS S930 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX520 HS enjoys external measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Sony S930 has sizing of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX520 HS and Sony S930 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX520 HS compared to the S930.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX520 HS and S930 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and S930.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Canon SX520 HS to deliver extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent SX520 HS should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography advice
Sony S930 Portrait photography advice
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
26
focusing manually
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography features
Sony S930 Street photography features
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX520 HS
Sports photography with Sony S930
45
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography advice
Sony S930 Travel photography advice
55
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX520 HS
Landscape photography with Sony S930
45
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
31
focusing manually
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.4 inches)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX520 HS
Vlogging with Sony S930
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (320 x 240 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX520 HS vs Sony S930 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Sony S930
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-29 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 38-108mm (2.8x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/2.9-5.4
Macro focusing range 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.4 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 112 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 1/8s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 3.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash
External flash
AEB
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) 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 320x240
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 441 gr (0.97 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $219 $219