Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800
69 Imaging
40 Features
44 Overall
41


96 Imaging
45 Features
29 Overall
38
Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Key Specs
(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
- Released July 2014
- Older Model is Canon SX510 HS
- New Model is Canon SX530 HS
(Full Review)
- 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F3.2-6.4) lens
- 125g - 97 x 55 x 21mm
- Introduced February 2014

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Overview
Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the W800 (20MP) is very comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The SX520 HS was announced 6 months after the W800 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SX520 HS scores vs the W800 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX520 HS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon SX520 HS Gallery and Sony W800 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Sony W800
SX520 HS | W800 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony W800 over the Canon SX520 HS
W800 | SX520 HS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Sony W800
SX520 HS | W800 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | July 2014 | ![]() | February 2014 | Same generation |
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch display |
Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX520 HS has got 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) and the Sony W800 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).
See the Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SX520 HS against the W800.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX520 HS and W800 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The pic below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and W800.
As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony W800 to provide extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Sony W800 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX520 HS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2014-07-29 | 2014-02-13 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | 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 | 16MP | 20MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 5152 x 3864 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 9 | - |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-1008mm (42.0x) | 26-130mm (5.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/3.4-6.0 | f/3.2-6.4 |
Macro focusing distance | 0cm | - |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Display resolution | 461 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | - | TFT LCD display |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 2 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/1500 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 2.0 frames per second | 1.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.50 m | 3.50 m |
Flash options | Auto, on, off, slow synchro | Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | AVI MPEG4 |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 441 grams (0.97 pounds) | 125 grams (0.28 pounds) |
Dimensions | 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") | 97 x 55 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") |
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 photos | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | NB-6LH | NP-BN |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Pricing at release | $219 | $90 |