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Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Nikon P510
  • Replacement is Nikon P530
Sony HX99
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Sony HX99

 P520 HX99 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3.00"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Nikon P520

 HX99 P520 
ReleasedSeptember 2018January 2013More 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 resolution921k921kIdentical 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

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

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography details
Sony HX99 Portrait photography details
41
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
53
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
51
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition (550g)
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 Sports photography information
Sony HX99 Sports photography information
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P520
Travel photography with Sony HX99
57
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (1000mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery (200 per charge)
heavier than competition (550 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
76
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX99 Landscape photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.2")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
58
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3.00")
has image stabilization
resolution is good (18MP)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (360 shots)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 Vlogging information
Sony HX99 Vlogging information
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition (550g)
76
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon P520 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Sony HX99
 Nikon Coolpix P520Sony 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