• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 18.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 1000.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Canon N advantages over Nikon P520

  • Less expensive
    $300 vs $450 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 1.54 vs 1.26 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Thinner
    29 mm vs 101 mm
    Thinner
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    195g vs 550g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    15 vs 8 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Nikon P520 advantages over Canon N

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • More telephoto lens reach
    1,000 mm vs 224 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 461k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More pixels
    18.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.0 fps vs 2.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • 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

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Buy the Canon N
Canon N

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon P520

Review Excerpt

  • Head-turning (funky, but cool) design and solid build; 8x optical zoom lens with 28-224m-equivalent reach; Built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing (Facebook Ready version posts directly to the social site); Full HD 1080p video at 24fps.

  • Unintuitive (almost clumsy) physical controls; Inconsistent exposure and decision-making in Auto mode; Image quality not that much better than good smartphone cameras; Poor battery life (just 200 shots); Only uses microSD cards; Weak LED flash.

  • Read our Canon N Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon P510

Canon N
Nikon P510
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $649
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon N vs Nikon P510

Nikon P520
Nikon P510
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
  • $649
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Higher extended ISO

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P510

Compared to Nikon S6500

Canon N
Nikon S6500
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Touchscreen
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon N vs Nikon S6500

Nikon P520
Nikon S6500
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon S6500

Compared to Canon 330 HS

Canon N
Canon 330 HS
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Canon N vs Canon 330 HS

Nikon P520
Canon 330 HS
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compare Nikon P520 vs Canon 330 HS

Compared to Nikon P530

Canon N
Nikon P530
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon N vs Nikon P530

Nikon P520
Nikon P530
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P530

Compared to Canon N2

Canon N
Canon N2
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon N vs Canon N2

Nikon P520
Canon N2
  • $427
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compare Nikon P520 vs Canon N2

Compare Other Cameras?