Nikon P520 has a
18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.16 x 4.62 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, 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.
Nikon P520's sensor provides 6MP more than Canon SX510 HS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the P520 and SX510 HS sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P520 and Canon SX510 HS Cameras
Nikon P520 and Canon SX510 HS have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon P520
or the
Canon SX510 HS ,
including hyperfocal distance.
