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Canon SX510 HS

 
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
 
Portability
80
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Canon SX510 HS overview

Canon SX510 HS is Canon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera first revealed on August of 2013. It features a 12 MegaPixel, CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Canon launched this model in an effort to improve the older Canon SX500 IS (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards released the newer Canon SX520 HS (Read Full Comparison) as a way to improve this model.

The SX510 HS is positioned #155 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all-around #773 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to try out our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your personal requirements.

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Here is a diagram of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon SX510 HS history

The Canon SX510 HS is part of a family of cameras. You can view the full range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SX70-HS front thumbnailCanon SX70 HS
SX510 HS vs SX70 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2018
Canon-PowerShot-SX740-HS front thumbnailCanon SX740 HS
SX510 HS vs SX740 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
21MP1/2.3"2018
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
Canon-PowerShot-SX730-HS front thumbnailCanon SX730 HS
SX510 HS vs SX730 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2017
Canon-PowerShot-SX620-HS front thumbnailCanon SX620 HS
SX510 HS vs SX620 HS
25-625mm
F3.2-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX720-HS front thumbnailCanon SX720 HS
SX510 HS vs SX720 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX420-IS front thumbnailCanon SX420 IS
SX510 HS vs SX420 IS
24-1008mm
F3.5-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
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Canon-PowerShot-SX540-HS front thumbnailCanon SX540 HS
SX510 HS vs SX540 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX410-IS front thumbnailCanon SX410 IS
SX510 HS vs SX410 IS
24-960mm
F3.5-5.6
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX610-HS front thumbnailCanon SX610 HS
SX510 HS vs SX610 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX710-HS front thumbnailCanon SX710 HS
SX510 HS vs SX710 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX530-HS front thumbnailCanon SX530 HS
SX510 HS vs SX530 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Canon-PowerShot-SX60-HS front thumbnailCanon SX60 HS
SX510 HS vs SX60 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX520-HS front thumbnailCanon SX520 HS
SX510 HS vs SX520 HS
24-1008mm
F3.4-6.0
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX400-IS front thumbnailCanon SX400 IS
SX510 HS vs SX400 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX700-HS front thumbnailCanon SX700 HS
SX510 HS vs SX700 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX600-HS front thumbnailCanon SX600 HS
SX510 HS vs SX600 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX510-HS front thumbnailCanon SX510 HS24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX170-IS front thumbnailCanon SX170 IS
SX510 HS vs SX170 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX160-IS front thumbnailCanon SX160 IS
SX510 HS vs SX160 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Canon-PowerShot-SX280-HS front thumbnailCanon SX280 HS
SX510 HS vs SX280 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX270-HS front thumbnailCanon SX270 HS
SX510 HS vs SX270 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX50-HS front thumbnailCanon SX50 HS
SX510 HS vs SX50 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX500-IS front thumbnailCanon SX500 IS
SX510 HS vs SX500 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX260-HS front thumbnailCanon SX260 HS
SX510 HS vs SX260 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX150-IS front thumbnailCanon SX150 IS
SX510 HS vs SX150 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX240-HS front thumbnailCanon SX240 HS
SX510 HS vs SX240 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX40-HS front thumbnailCanon SX40 HS
SX510 HS vs SX40 HS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX230-HS front thumbnailCanon SX230 HS
SX510 HS vs SX230 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SD4500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4500 IS
SX510 HS vs SD4500 IS
36-360mm
F3.4-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2011
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Canon-SX220-HS front thumbnailCanon SX220 HS
SX510 HS vs SX220 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX30-IS front thumbnailCanon SX30 IS
SX510 HS vs SX30 IS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX130-IS front thumbnailCanon SX130 IS
SX510 HS vs SX130 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD4000-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4000 IS
SX510 HS vs SD4000 IS
28-105mm
F2.0-5.3
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX20-IS front thumbnailCanon SX20 IS
SX510 HS vs SX20 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX210-IS front thumbnailCanon SX210 IS
SX510 HS vs SX210 IS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD3500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD3500 IS
SX510 HS vs SD3500 IS
24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD1300-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1300 IS
SX510 HS vs SD1300 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD980-IS front thumbnailCanon SD980 IS
SX510 HS vs SD980 IS
24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX200-IS front thumbnailCanon SX200 IS
SX510 HS vs SX200 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.3
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX1-IS front thumbnailCanon SX1 IS
SX510 HS vs SX1 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD970-IS front thumbnailCanon SD970 IS
SX510 HS vs SD970 IS
37-185mm
F3.2-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD960-IS front thumbnailCanon SD960 IS
SX510 HS vs SD960 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD1200-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1200 IS
SX510 HS vs SD1200 IS
35-105mm
F2.8-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX10-IS front thumbnailCanon SX10 IS
SX510 HS vs SX10 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SX510 HS Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of pluses and minuses of the Canon SX510 HS based on features which are often viewed as important in a digital camera.

comes with face detection autofocus
comes with tracking autofocus
decent sized screen (3")
does have HDMI out
focusing manually
great min ISO (80)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Optical)
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
external flash not possible
lacks phase detect autofocus
lacks RAW support
low battery (250 per charge)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.8)
no external microphone support
no headphone support
no Timelapse function
screen has low resolution (461 k dots)
screen is fixed
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Canon SX510 HS Sensor info

The Canon SX510 HS is run by the Digic 4 chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Canon SX510 HS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

Photography Glossary

The CMOS sensor has 12MP and includes a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not supported which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath displays the SX510 HS's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The SX510 HS sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.

Canon PowerShot SX510 HS sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon SX510 HS dimensions

Canon SX510 HS weighs 0.77 lb (349 grams or 12.31 ounces) & has external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Canon SX510 HS is on par when compared to various competitors.

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Here is a shot of the Canon SX510 HS besides a soft drink so you can get a feel for its scale.

Canon PowerShot SX510 HS dimensions scale

The top view underneath will highlight the button layout on the SX510 HS.

Canon PowerShot SX510 HS topview buttons dials

Canon SX510 HS Lens info

The SX510 HS is equipped with a built-in lens providing a focal range of 24-720mm giving it a 30.0 x zoom which is very good and would let you zoom all the way in.

At the widest 24mm, the lens features an aperture of f3.4 making it fairly slow and not ideal for low light circumstances and you might find it hard to get good bokeh. You would also have to up the ISO setting causing noisy images. At the tele end, 720mm is excellent zoom and comes at f5.8 making it really sluggish and you would need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Canon SX510 HS Connectivity

The SX510 HS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily transfer files and at times alter camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Several applications even provide a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external monitor. Almost all cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB port.

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Canon SX510 HS Video info

The maximum video resolution in the Canon SX510 HS is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution gives a great balance between video quality vs file sizes but FULL HD won't give you any room to downsample. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and headphone socket which means you have no control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to consider a different model if you want decent audio for your videos.

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Canon SX510 HS Weather Sealing

Canon SX510 HS doesn't include weather proofing so rainy conditions might damage the camera.

Canon SX510 HS Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon SX510 HS features a 3" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 461k dots.

Sadly the screen isn't a touch screen.

Canon PowerShot SX510 HS screen and viewfinder Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The View Finder specs for Canon SX510 HS are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be pretty helpful during sunny outdoor situations which might make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Canon SX510 HS Shutter info

Canon SX510 HS continuous shooting rate is 4.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.

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Canon SX510 HS Flash and Hot shoe info

Canon SX510 HS features only in-built flash without external flash ability.

Canon SX510 HS Autofocusing info

Canon SX510 HS features just Contrast Detect Auto Focus & does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker and accurate when compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera features Face detection which can be useful for portrait photography.

The AF system features 1 focus points to choose from. It also has Tracking Auto Focus for things that move. Canon SX510 HS features manual focus if needed during low light occasions or you require more accurate focus control.

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Canon SX510 HS Battery life

The battery (NB-6LH) for the Canon SX510 HS is fashioned to last for 250 images based on the CIPA measurements making it less compared to it's rivals. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has the highest possible (600) battery life within this class of cameras.

Below is a number of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras having the strongest battery life:

Canon SX510 HS for various kinds of photography

The following bar chart displays a overview of the Canon SX510 HS for various kinds of photography. To check out more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Canon SX510 HS Portrait photography info

The Canon SX510 HS has a points total of 35 which is horrible, meaning that it is simply not appropriate to use for portrait photos. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimension, RAW support in addition to the flexibility to utilize off-camera flash.

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has manual focus
features face detection focusing
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Canon SX510 HS as a Street photography camera

Coming in at a average score of 51, the Canon SX510 HS is fairly acceptable to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Canon SX510 HS as a Sports photography camera

A horrible sports photography score of 37 indicates the Canon SX510 HS is simply not appropriate for shooting sports. A camera needs to have very good tracking plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (250 shots)
no phase detect AF

Canon SX510 HS Travel photography highlights

Weight is very crucial in getting a travel camera. Over-all, the Canon SX510 HS gets a decent 54 for a travelling camera which makes it somewhat acceptable to take with you on your journeys.

Photography Glossary
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery (250 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)

Canon SX510 HS as a Landscape photography camera

When you're planning to pick a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most critical factor will be image quality. The Canon SX510 HS with it's horrible grade of 40 as a landscape camera is simply not appropriate within the current marketplace.

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has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode

Canon SX510 HS Vlogging factors

A vlogging camera should really have a articulating display, mic port and if possible IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Canon SX510 HS is simply not appropriate for vlogging as it receives a horrible score of 31.

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fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port

Canon SX510 HS Alternatives

If you are looking for alternatives to the SX510 HS, here is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall into the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart down below shows you a summary of the SX510 HS vs it's highest scoring rivals mentioned previously.

There are more cameras you may take into account as alternative options. To go through a extensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2013-08-22
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Digic 4
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
1
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range
0cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Resolution of screen
461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech
TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
15 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate
4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
5.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, on, slow synchro, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
349 gr (0.77 lbs)
Dimensions
104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
Other
Battery life
250 photographs
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NB-6LH
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
One
Launch pricing
$249