Canon 520 HS vs Nikon AW120

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Canon 520 HS vs Nikon AW120

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
10.1 megapixels
28.00mm - 336.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon 520 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 520 HS.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon AW120 Review.

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Differences

Canon 520 HS advantages over Nikon AW120

Less expensive
$300 vs $350 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 1.69 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
More telephoto lens reach
336 mm vs 120 mm
Capture objects farther away
Thinner
19 mm vs 25 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
155g vs 213g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
15 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Nikon AW120 advantages over Canon 520 HS

Waterproof
Yes vs No
Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
Larger lens aperture
f/2.8 vs f/3.4
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 190 shots
Capture more photos
More dots on screen
921k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
16.0 vs 10.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Wider angle lens
24 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene
Faster JPEG shooting
6.9 fps vs 2.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Neither provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Manual focus
Neither provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 520 HS

Canon ELPH 520 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon AW120

Nikon AW120

Review Excerpt

Compact 12x zoom; Optical image stabilization; Full HD movies; Handheld Night Scene mode; Good shutter lag time.
Uses microSD media; Short battery life; Flash is weak; Soft at telephoto; Tiny buttons.
Read our Canon 520 HS Express Review

We haven’t reviewed the Nikon AW120.
Read our Nikon AW120 Preview

The Competition

Compared to Canon 510 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 510 HS

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$318
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
More pixels

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 510 HS

Nikon AW120

Canon 510 HS

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Larger lens aperture

$318
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon 510 HS

Compared to Canon 530 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 530 HS

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$300
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 530 HS

Nikon AW120

Canon 530 HS

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Larger lens aperture

$300
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon 530 HS

Compared to Sony W690

Canon 520 HS

Sony W690

$372
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
More telephoto lens reach

$257
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More pixels

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Sony W690

Nikon AW120

Sony W690

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Larger lens aperture

$257
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Sony W690

Compared to Canon A1400

Canon 520 HS

Canon A1400

$372
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

$300
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon A1400

Nikon AW120

Canon A1400

$219
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$300
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Canon A1400

Compared to Nikon AW130

Canon 520 HS

Nikon AW130

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

$299
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Nikon AW130

Nikon AW120

Nikon AW130

$219
1/2.3 inch

$299
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Slow-motion videos

Compare Nikon AW120 vs Nikon AW130

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