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Canon SX510 vs SX620

The Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2013 and May 2016. Both the SX510 and the SX620 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The SX510 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the SX620 provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon SX510
versus
Canon SX620
Canon SX510   Canon SX620
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
24-720mm f/3.4-5.8 25-625mm f/3.2-6.6
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/24p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 80-3,200 ISO 80-3,200
No viewfinder, LCD framing No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 461k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.8 shutter flaps per second 2.5 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge295 shots per battery charge
104 x 70 x 80 mm, 349 g 97 x 57 x 28 mm, 182 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon SX510 and the Canon SX620 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX620 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, red), while the SX510 is only available in black.

Size Canon SX510 vs Canon SX620
Compare SX510 versus SX620 top
Comparison SX510 or SX620 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon SX620 is notably smaller (24 percent) than the Canon SX510. Moreover, the SX620 is substantially lighter (48 percent) than the SX510. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX510 nor the SX620 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX510 gets 250 shots out of its Canon NB-6LH battery, while the SX620 can take 295 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-13L power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX510 104 mm 70 mm 80 mm 349 g 250 n Aug 2013 249ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX620 97 mm 57 mm 28 mm 182 g 295 n May 2016 279ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX430 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 323 g 195 n Jan 2017 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX420 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 195 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX410 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 185 n Feb 2015 279ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX610 105 mm 61 mm 27 mm 191 g 270 n Jan 2015 249ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX520 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 441 g 210 n Jul 2014 399ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX700 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 250 n Feb 2014 349ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX600 104 mm 61 mm 26 mm 188 g 290 n Jan 2014 249ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX400 104 mm 69 mm 80 mm 313 g 190 n Jul 2014 249ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Canon SX500 104 mm 70 mm 80 mm 341 g 195 n Aug 2012 329ebay.com
14.
 
Sony H200 123 mm 83 mm 87 mm 530 g 240 n Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX510 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the SX620, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, the SX620 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 4+) than the SX510 (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon SX510 and Canon SX620 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX620 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the SX510. This megapixels advantage translates into a 13 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX620 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.33μm for the SX510). However, it should be noted that the SX620 is much more recent (by 2 years and 8 months) than the SX510, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX620 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX620 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX510 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX510 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200. The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS offers exactly the same ISO settings.

In terms of underlying technology, the SX510 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the SX620 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

SX510 versus SX620 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX510 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/24p20.011.358645
2.
 
Canon SX620 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.411.883849
3.
 
Canon SX430 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.511.990049
4.
 
Canon SX420 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.311.780648
5.
 
Canon G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
6.
 
Canon SX410 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.211.672047
7.
 
Canon SX610 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.211.671247
8.
 
Canon SX520 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.111.567246
9.
 
Canon SX700 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.111.462945
10.
 
Canon SX600 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.011.462045
11.
 
Canon SX400 1/2.3 15.9 4608 3456720/30p20.111.567246
12.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
13.
 
Canon SX500 1/2.3 15.9 4608 3456720/30p19.811.149443
14.
 
Sony H200 1/2.3 15.2 5184 2930720/30p19.911.252944
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the SX620 provides a faster frame rate than the SX510. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/30p, while the SX510 is limited to 1080/24p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The SX510 and the SX620 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX510 and Canon SX620 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon SX510none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/1600s 3.8/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX620none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/2000s 2.5/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX430none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX420none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX410none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX610none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/2000s 2.5/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon SX520none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX700none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 8.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon SX600none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 3.9/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon SX400none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/1600s 0.8/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
13.
 
Canon SX500none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/1600s 0.8/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony H200none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

Both the SX510 and the SX620 have zoom lenses built in. The SX510 has a 24-720mm f/3.4-5.8 optic and the SX620 offers a 25-625mm f/3.2-6.6 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX510 provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the SX620. The SX620 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX510 and the SX620 write their files to SDXC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and Canon PowerShot SX620 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX510-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
2.
 
Canon SX620-mono / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX430-mono / mono---2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon SX420-mono / mono---2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX410-stereo / mono---2.0---
7.
 
Canon SX610-- / ---micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon SX520-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon SX700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon SX600-mono / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon SX400-stereo / mono---2.0---
12.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Canon SX500-stereo / mono---2.0---
14.
 
Sony H200-mono / mono---2.0---
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Both the SX510 and the SX620 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX510 was replaced by the Canon SX520, while the SX620 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the SX510 and SX620 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX510 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX620 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX510 or the Canon SX620 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS:

  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.8 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2013).


Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 13%.
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 4+ vs DIGIC 4).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/30p versus 1080/24p).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 461k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/2000s vs 1/1600s) to freeze action.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.2 vs f/3.4).
  • More compact: Is smaller (97x57mm vs 104x70mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 167g or 48 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (295 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 8 months of technical progress since the SX510 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the SX620 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

SX510 05:11 SX620

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX510 and the Canon SX620 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the SX510 and the SX620 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX510..+ +....4.5/54/5 Aug 2013 249ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX620..........4/5 May 2016 279ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX430........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2017 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX420..........3/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX410..o........ Feb 2015 279ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX610........4/54/5 Jan 2015 249ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX520..+....3.5/53.5/5 Jul 2014 399ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX700..+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 349ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX600..+....4/54/5 Jan 2014 249ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX400..+........ Jul 2014 249ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Canon SX500..+ +....4/54/5 Aug 2012 329ebay.com
14.
 
Sony H200........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon SX510 vs Canon SX620

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-720mm f/3.4-5.8 25-625mm f/3.2-6.6
    Launch Date August 2013 May 2016
    Launch Price USD 249 USD 279
    Sensor Specs Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 5184 x 3888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.33 μm 1.18 μm
    Pixel Density 56.73 MP/cm2 71.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/24p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 80 - 3,200 ISO 80 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4 DIGIC 4+
    Screen Specs Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder no viewfinder
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 461k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3.8 shutter flaps/s 2.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX510 Canon SX620
    Battery Type Canon NB-6LH Canon NB-13L
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge295 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80 mm
    (4.1 x 2.8 x 3.1 in)
    97 x 57 x 28 mm
    (3.8 x 2.2 x 1.1 in)
    Camera Weight 349 g (12.3 oz) 182 g (6.4 oz)
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