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Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520

Portability
88
Imaging
47
Features
59
Overall
51
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Canon SX730 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 300g - 110 x 64 x 40mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Succeeded the Canon SX720 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX740 HS
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Replaced the Nikon P510
  • Later Model is Nikon P530
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Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SX730 HS and Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SX730 HS (20.3MP) and the P520 (18MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX730 HS was released 4 years later than the P520 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX730 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX730 HS matches up against the P520 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX730 HS over the Nikon P520

 SX730 HS P520 
IntroducedApril 2017January 2013Fresher by 51 months
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Canon SX730 HS

 P520 SX730 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SX730 HS and Nikon P520

 SX730 HS P520 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX730 HS features outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 300 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Nikon P520 has sizing of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX730 HS and Nikon P520 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SX730 HS vs the P520.

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX730 HS and P520 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX730 HS and P520.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX730 HS to offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2.3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher SX730 HS will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Portrait photography details
Nikon P520 Portrait photography details
48
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20.3 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
41
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Street photography features
Nikon P520 Street photography features
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (300 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
51
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Sports photography advice
Nikon P520 Sports photography advice
48
long zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.9 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (250 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Travel photography advice
Nikon P520 Travel photography advice
72
lighter than competition in class (300 grams)
connects via bluetooth
megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (960mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (250 per charge)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
57
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1000mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (200 shots)
heavier than competition (550g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Landscape photography advice
Nikon P520 Landscape photography advice
50
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20.3 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (250 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
46
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX730 HS Vlogging advice
Nikon P520 Vlogging advice
74
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (300g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of external mic socket
57
really wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
missing mic port
heavier than competition (550 grams)
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Canon SX730 HS vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX730 HS and Nikon P520
 Canon PowerShot SX730 HSNikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX730 HS Nikon Coolpix P520
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2017-04-06 2013-01-29
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20.3 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-960mm (40.0x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.9 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.9 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (with Auto ISO) -
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 300g (0.66 lb) 550g (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
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 250 images 200 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, self-timer) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $380