Canon SX510 vs Fujifilm X-Pro1

The Canon PowerShot SX510 HS and the Fujifilm X-Pro1 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in August 2013 and January 2012. The SX510 is a fixed lens compact, while the X-Pro1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX510) and an APS-C (X-Pro1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 16 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon SX510		Fujifilm X-Pro1
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
24-720mm f/3.4-5.8		Fujifilm X mount lenses
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		16 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/24p Video		1080/24p Video
ISO 80-3,200		ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 461k dots		3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.8 shutter flaps per second		6 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
104 x 70 x 80 mm, 349 g		140 x 82 x 43 mm, 450 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 Fujifilm X-Pro1? 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.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon SX510 and the Fujifilm X-Pro1 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Fujifilm X-Pro1 is considerably larger (58 percent) than the Canon SX510. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX510 nor the X-Pro1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX510 has a lens built in, whereas the X-Pro1 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the X-Pro1 and their specifications in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX510 gets 250 shots out of its Canon NB-6LH battery, while the X-Pro1 can take 300 images on a single charge of its Fujifilm NP-W126 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

Body Specifications

		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	249	ebay.com
2.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	140 mm	82 mm	43 mm	450 g	300	n	Jan 2012	1,699	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX400	104 mm	69 mm	80 mm	313 g	190	n	Jul 2014	249	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
6.		Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX430	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	323 g	195	n	Jan 2017	299	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX500	104 mm	70 mm	80 mm	341 g	195	n	Aug 2012	329	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX520	120 mm	82 mm	92 mm	441 g	210	n	Jul 2014	399	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX600	104 mm	61 mm	26 mm	188 g	290	n	Jan 2014	249	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX700	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	250	n	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-E2	129 mm	75 mm	37 mm	350 g	350	n	Oct 2013	999	ebay.com
13.		Fujifilm X-M1	117 mm	67 mm	39 mm	330 g	350	n	Jun 2013	699	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	495 g	350	Y	Jan 2016	1,699	ebay.com
15.		Fujifilm X-T1	129 mm	90 mm	47 mm	440 g	350	Y	Jan 2014	1,299	ebay.com
16.		Fujifilm X100S	127 mm	74 mm	54 mm	445 g	330	n	Jan 2013	1,299	ebay.com
17.		Sony H200	123 mm	83 mm	87 mm	530 g	240	n	Jan 2013	249	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. 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 lower price than the X-Pro1, despite having a lens built in. 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 size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX510 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Fujifilm X-Pro1 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the X-Pro1 is 1214 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the SX510 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the X-Pro1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 16MP, the X-Pro1 offers a higher resolution than the SX510 (15.9MP), but the X-Pro1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.80μm versus 1.33μm for the SX510) due to its larger sensor. However, the SX510 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the X-Pro1, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. 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 Canon PowerShot SX510 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 are ISO 200 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Like most digital cameras, the SX510 uses a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. In contrast, the X-Pro1 employs a more randomized X-Trans layout of photosites, which according to Fujifilm helps to minimize moiré.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		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	3456	1080/24p	20.0	11.3	586	45
2.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/24p	23.1	12.3	1238	74
3.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
4.		Canon SX400	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	720/30p	20.1	11.5	672	46
5.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
6.		Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.3	11.7	806	48
7.		Canon SX430	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.5	11.9	900	49
8.		Canon SX500	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	720/30p	19.8	11.1	494	43
9.		Canon SX520	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.1	11.5	672	46
10.		Canon SX600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.0	11.4	620	45
11.		Canon SX700	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
12.		Fujifilm X-E2	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.4	12.6	1400	77
13.		Fujifilm X-M1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	23.4	12.6	1371	76
14.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
15.		Fujifilm X-T1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.5	12.7	1426	77
16.		Fujifilm X100S	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.3	12.5	1329	75
17.		Sony H200	1/2.3	15.2	5184	2930	720/30p	19.9	11.2	529	44
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/24p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-Pro1 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX510 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX510 and Fujifilm X-Pro1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		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 SX510	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/1600s	3.8/s	Y	Y
2.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	1440	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX400	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/1600s	0.8/s	Y	Y
5.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon SX420	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX430	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX500	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/1600s	0.8/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX520	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/2000s	1.6/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX600	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.9/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX700	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	8.5/s	Y	Y
12.		Fujifilm X-E2	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
13.		Fujifilm X-M1	none	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6/s	Y	n
14.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
15.		Fujifilm X-T1	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	n
16.		Fujifilm X100S	2360	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
17.		Sony H200	none	n	3.0 / 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.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The SX510 has one, while the X-Pro1 does not. While the built-in flash of the SX510 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX510 and the X-Pro1 write their files to SDXC cards. The X-Pro1 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the SX510 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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 Fujifilm X-Pro1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		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	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon SX400	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon SX420	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon SX430	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon SX500	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX520	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon SX600	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon SX700	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Fujifilm X-E2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Fujifilm X-M1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Fujifilm X-T1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Fujifilm X100S	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony H200	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the SX510 offers wifi support, while the X-Pro1 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm X-Pro1 (unlike the SX510) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the SX510 and the X-Pro1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The X-Pro1 was replaced by the Fujifilm X-Pro2, while the SX510 was followed by the Canon SX520. Further information on the features and operation of the SX510 and X-Pro1 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX510 Manual (free pdf) or the online Fujifilm X-Pro1 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon SX510 and the Fujifilm X-Pro1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS:

• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the X-Pro1 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (104x70mm vs 140x82mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the X-Pro1).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 7 months after the X-Pro1).

Advantages of the Fujifilm X-Pro1:

• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1230k vs 461k dots).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/1600s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 3.8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (300 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in January 2012).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the X-Pro1 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX510 and the Fujifilm X-Pro1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX510 or the X-Pro1. 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 hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX510	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2013	249	ebay.com
2.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	1,699	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX400	..	+	..	..	..	..	Jul 2014	249	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
6.		Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX430	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2017	299	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX500	..	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Aug 2012	329	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX520	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2014	399	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX600	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2014	249	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX700	..	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-E2	4/5	..	..	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	999	ebay.com
13.		Fujifilm X-M1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	699	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	..	+	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	1,699	ebay.com
15.		Fujifilm X-T1	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	1,299	ebay.com
16.		Fujifilm X100S	5/5	+ +	..	81/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	1,299	ebay.com
17.		Sony H200	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2013	249	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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