Canon SD4000 IS vs Canon 520 HS

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SD4000 IS vs Canon 520 HS

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
10.0 megapixels
28.00mm - 105.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SD4000 IS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SD4000 IS.

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.

Buy From

Differences

Canon SD4000 IS advantages over Canon 520 HS

Larger lens aperture
f/2.0 vs f/3.4
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
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

250 vs 190 shots
Capture more photos
Faster JPEG shooting
3.7 fps vs 2.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Canon 520 HS advantages over Canon SD4000 IS

Less expensive
$300 vs $350 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
More telephoto lens reach
336 mm vs 105 mm
Capture objects farther away
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
461k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Less shutter lag
0.34 vs 0.62 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2500 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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 Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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 SD4000 IS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 520 HS

Canon ELPH 520 HS

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon SD4000 IS Express Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FX75

Canon SD4000 IS

Panasonic DMC-FX75

$288
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Faster JPEG shooting

$210
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon SD4000 IS vs Panasonic DMC-FX75

Canon 520 HS

Panasonic DMC-FX75

$441
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
More telephoto lens reach

$210
1/2.33 inch

Larger lens aperture
Fast startup

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Panasonic DMC-FX75

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FX700

Canon SD4000 IS

Panasonic DMC-FX700

$288
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Slow-motion videos

$204
1/2.33 inch

Longer stills battery life
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon SD4000 IS vs Panasonic DMC-FX700

Canon 520 HS

Panasonic DMC-FX700

$441
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$204
1/2.33 inch

Larger lens aperture
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Panasonic DMC-FX700

Compared to Canon ELPH 500 HS

Canon SD4000 IS

Canon ELPH 500 HS

$288
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$246
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon SD4000 IS vs Canon ELPH 500 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon ELPH 500 HS

$441
1/2.3 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Thinner

$246
1/2.3 inch

Larger lens aperture
Fast startup

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon ELPH 500 HS

Compared to Canon 510 HS

Canon SD4000 IS

Canon 510 HS

$288
1/2.3 inch

Larger lens aperture
Longer stills battery life

$318
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon SD4000 IS vs Canon 510 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 510 HS

$441
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$318
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
More pixels

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 510 HS

Compared to Canon 530 HS

Canon SD4000 IS

Canon 530 HS

$288
1/2.3 inch

Larger lens aperture
Longer stills battery life

$300
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon SD4000 IS vs Canon 530 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 530 HS

$441
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$300
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 530 HS

Compare Other Cameras?