Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99
66 Imaging
42 Features
51 Overall
45


91 Imaging
45 Features
67 Overall
53
Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs
(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
- Announced January 2013
- Succeeded the Nikon P510
- Replacement is Nikon P530
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
- 3.00" Tilting Display
- ISO 80 - 12800
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
- 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
- Released September 2018

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Overview
Its time to look more in depth at the Nikon P520 and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the HX99 (18MP) is fairly close but the P520 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) provide totally different sensor measurements.

The P520 was unveiled 6 years before the HX99 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.
Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the P520 grades vs the HX99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon Coolpix P520 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. The full galleries are provided at Nikon P520 Gallery & Sony HX99 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Sony HX99
P520 | HX99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Display size | 3.2" | ![]() | 3.00" | Larger display (+0.2") |
Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Nikon P520
HX99 | P520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | September 2018 | ![]() | January 2013 | More recent by 68 months |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Nikon P520 and Sony HX99
P520 | HX99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 921k | Identical display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Both good for selfies |
Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison
If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon P520 has outside dimensions of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony HX99 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).
Check the Nikon P520 and Sony HX99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the P520 compared to the HX99.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and HX99 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching specifications. The graphic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the P520 and HX99.
Plainly, both of the cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The P520 has the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier. The older P520 will be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix P520 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Nikon | Sony |
Model | Nikon Coolpix P520 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Announced | 2013-01-29 | 2018-09-01 |
Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3-inch |
Sensor dimensions | 6.16 x 4.62mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.5mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixel | 18 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4896 x 3672 | 4896 x 3672 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 24-1000mm (41.7x) | 24-720mm (30.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.0-5.9 | f/3.5-6.4 |
Macro focus range | 1cm | 5cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3.2 inch | 3.00 inch |
Resolution of display | 921k dot | 921k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display technology | TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 638k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.5x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 8 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 7.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | - | 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) |
Flash settings | - | Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 3840x2160 |
Video data format | - | AVCHD, XAVC S |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Optional | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | none | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 550g (1.21 pounds) | 242g (0.53 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") | 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 | 200 shots | 360 shots |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | EN-EL5 | NP-BX1 |
Self timer | - | Yes |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $380 | $469 |