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Canon SX530 vs SX60

The Canon PowerShot SX530 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2015 and September 2014. Both the SX530 and the SX60 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The SX530 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the SX60 provides 14.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon SX530
versus
Canon SX60
Canon SX530   Canon SX60
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
24-1200mm f/3.4-6.5 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 14.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (922k dots)
3.0" LCD – 461k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
1.6 shutter flaps per second 6.4 shutter flaps per second
210 shots per battery charge340 shots per battery charge
120 x 82 x 92 mm, 442 g 128 x 93 x 114 mm, 650 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX530 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX60 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX530 and the Canon SX60. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon SX530 vs Canon SX60
Compare SX530 versus SX60 top
Comparison SX530 or SX60 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon SX60 is notably larger (21 percent) than the Canon SX530. Moreover, the SX60 is substantially heavier (47 percent) than the SX530. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX530 nor the SX60 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX530 gets 210 shots out of its Canon NB-6LH battery, while the SX60 can take 340 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-10L power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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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 SX530 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 210 n Jan 2015 429ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX70 127 mm 91 mm 117 mm 608 g 325 n Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon T6 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX540 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 205 n Jan 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 379ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX520 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 441 g 210 n Jul 2014 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX700 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 250 n Feb 2014 349ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 449ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G16 109 mm 76 mm 40 mm 356 g 360 n Aug 2013 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX50 123 mm 87 mm 106 mm 595 g 315 n Sep 2012 429ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon L840 113 mm 78 mm 96 mm 538 g 590 n Feb 2015 299ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ300 132 mm 92 mm 117 mm 691 g 380 Y Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ100 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 540 g 410 n Jul 2010 499ebay.com
16.
 
Sony HX90V 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 360 n Apr 2015 429ebay.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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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The SX530 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 22 percent) than the SX60, 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 more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras 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 SX60 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 6) than the SX530 (DIGIC 4+), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon SX530 and Canon SX60 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX530 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 14.2 MP of the SX60. This megapixels advantage translates into a 0 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX530 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 1.40μm for the SX60). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the SX530 is a somewhat more recent model (by 3 months) than the SX60, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly 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 Canon PowerShot SX530 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

SX530 versus SX60 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 SX530 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.211.671247
2.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
3.
 
Canon SX70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1106351
4.
 
Canon T6 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
5.
 
Canon SX540 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.780648
6.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
7.
 
Canon SX520 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.111.567246
8.
 
Canon SX700 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.111.462945
9.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
10.
 
Canon T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
11.
 
Canon G16 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.011.723054
12.
 
Canon SX50 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/24p20.311.217947
13.
 
Nikon L840 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.211.672147
14.
 
Panasonic FZ300 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30004K/30p19.311.09738
15.
 
Panasonic FZ100 1/2.3 14.0 4320 32401080/60i19.410.730639
16.
 
Sony HX90V 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.211.673847
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the SX60 provides a faster frame rate than the SX530. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the SX530 is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the SX60 has an electronic viewfinder (922k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX530 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX530 and Canon SX60 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 SX530none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX702360 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon T6optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon SX540none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX520none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon SX700none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 8.5/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon G16optical n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 2.2/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon SX50202 n3.0 / 461 swivel n 1/2000s 2.2/s Y Y
13.
 
Nikon L840none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic FZ3001440 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic FZ100202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 11.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony HX90V638 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The SX60 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the SX530 does not have a selfie-screen.

Both the SX530 and the SX60 have zoom lenses built in. The SX530 has a 24-1200mm f/3.4-6.5 optic and the SX60 offers a 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX60 provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the SX530. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX530 and the SX60 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 SX530 HS and Canon PowerShot SX60 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 SX530-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
2.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX70-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon T6Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon SX540-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon SX520-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon SX700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon G16Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
12.
 
Canon SX50Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Nikon L840-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Panasonic FZ300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
15.
 
Panasonic FZ100Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
16.
 
Sony HX90V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the SX60 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The SX530 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the SX530 and the SX60 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX60 was replaced by the Canon SX70, while the SX530 was followed by the Canon SX540. Further information on the features and operation of the SX530 and SX60 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX530 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX60 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon SX530 better than the Canon SX60 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX530 HS:

  • More compact: Is smaller (120x82mm vs 128x93mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 208g or 32 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (22 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 3 months after the SX60).


Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 6 vs DIGIC 4+).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 461k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6.4 vs 1.6 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.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (340 versus 210) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2014).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX60 is the clear winner of the contest (13 : 4 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.

SX530 04:13 SX60

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX530 and the Canon SX60 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX530 or the SX60 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts 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 SX530..+ +....4/54/5 Jan 2015 429ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX70..+ +3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon T64/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX540............ Jan 2016 399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 379ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX520..+....3.5/53.5/5 Jul 2014 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX700..+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 349ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 449ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G164/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX503/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 429ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon L840..+ +....3.5/54/5 Feb 2015 299ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ300..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ100..+....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 499ebay.com
16.
 
Sony HX90V4/5+ +....4/54.5/5 Apr 2015 429ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon SX530 vs Canon SX60

    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 SX530 Canon SX60
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-1200mm f/3.4-6.5 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5
    Launch Date January 2015 September 2014
    Launch Price USD 429 USD 549
    Sensor Specs Canon SX530 Canon SX60
    Sensor Technology BSI-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 14.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 4608 x 3072 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.33 μm 1.40 μm
    Pixel Density 56.73 MP/cm2 50.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 3,200 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4+ DIGIC 6
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 39
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 19.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 10.8
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 127
    Screen Specs Canon SX530 Canon SX60
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 922k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 461k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX530 Canon SX60
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/2000s 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 1.6 shutter flaps/s 6.4 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 SX530 Canon SX60
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX530 Canon SX60
    Battery Type Canon NB-6LH Canon NB-10L
    Battery Life (CIPA)210 shots per charge340 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92 mm
    (4.7 x 3.2 x 3.6 in)
    128 x 93 x 114 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 4.5 in)
    Camera Weight 442 g (15.6 oz) 650 g (22.9 oz)
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