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Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Comparison

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Canon SX510 HS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX520 HS

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon SX520 HS
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Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the SX510 HS and the SX520 HS, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Canon. Canon SX510 HS was introduced to the market in August 2013 and Canon SX520 HS was launched in July 2014. There is only 11 months difference between SX510 HS and SX520 HS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX510 HS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-08-22
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 24-720 mm F3.4-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 4.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 349g. 104 x 70 x 80 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Compare

Canon SX520 HS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-07-29
  • 16MP - 1/2.3' BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 24-1008 mm F3.4-6.0 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 441g. 120 x 82 x 92 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Compare

Canon SX520 HS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX530 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX530 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Canon PowerShot SX530 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX510 HS

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX510 HS over Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Continuous Shooting
4.0fps vs 2.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
250 shots vs 210 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Weight
349 g vs 441 g 92 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.00 faster lens at tele
CHECK SX510 HS PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX520 HS over Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Image Processor
Digic 4+ vs Digic 4 More Capable Processor
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
9 vs 1 8 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele
1008mm vs 720mm 288 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
42× vs 30x more flexible focal coverage
CHECK SX520 HS PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 1008mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
461k dots vs 461k dots Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.00 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX510 HS has external dimensions of 104 x 70 x 80 mm (4.09 x 2.76 x 3.15″) and weighs 349 g (0.77 lb / 12.31 oz) (including batteries). Canon SX520 HS has external dimensions of 120 x 82 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.23 x 3.62″) and weighs 441 g (0.97 lb / 15.56 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon SX510 HS and the Canon SX520 HS. Canon SX510 HS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 16mm narrower, 12mm shorter and 12mm thinner than Canon SX520 HS.

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon SX510 HS and the Canon SX520 HS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS.
Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Canon SX510 HS and the the Canon SX520 HS Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX510 HS is significantly lighter (92g ) than the Canon SX520 HS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS nor Canon PowerShot SX520 HS provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX510 HS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Canon SX520 HS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Digic 4+ processor.

Below you can see the SX510 HS and SX520 HS sensor size comparison.

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS Cameras


Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX510 HS features a 24-720 mm F3.4-5.8 30x zoom lens whereas Canon SX520 HS features a 24-1008 mm F3.4-6.0 42× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f3.40 at this focal length. On the tele end, Canon SX520 HS has 288mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon SX510 HS. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Canon SX510 HS is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX510 HS
SX520 HS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SX510 HS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SX520 HS for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SX520 HS for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SX520 HS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
1 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
1008 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.00
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX520 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
349g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details
Compact Body
42.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
441g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX520 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX510 HS vs Canon SX520 HS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SX510 HS and Canon SX520 HS scores compare:

Canon SX510 HS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #123 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #650 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Canon SX520 HS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #147 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #709 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Canon SX510 HS has a higher Overall Score than the Canon SX520 HS. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that SX510 HS trails behind the SX520 HS: Imaging.
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Canon SX520 HS. If not, we recommend the Canon SX510 HS.

Canon SX510 HS
Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX520 HS
Canon SX520 HS
CHECK PRICE

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Canon SX520 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Brand Canon Canon
Announced 2013-08-22 2014-07-29
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3'
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 16 Megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 1 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-720 mm (30x) 24-1008 mm (42×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.8 F3.4-6.0
Macro Focus Range 0cm 0cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 461k dots 461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1600s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.00 m 5.50 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps 2.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 349g 441g
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm 120 x 82 x 92mm
Battery Life 250 shots 210 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


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