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Customer Reviews for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Now, opening a new era of ELPH design, the PowerShot ELPH 520 HS digital camera is both homage to the original ELPH and astonishing synthesis of Canon's leadership in technical advancements.
Average Customer Rating:
(9 Reviews) 9
Rating Snapshot (9 reviews)
5 stars
1
4 stars
4
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
2
6 out of 9(67%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Review 1 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: Henweigh
Location: Sacramento, CA
Used this product for: more than 1 year
Expertise Level: Professional or Expert
Mostly used for: Travel
Canon Enthusiast: 6 to 10 years
Product replacement: No
Disappointed But Has Potential
Overall Rating
Features
3
out of
5
Performance
1
out of
5
Price/Value
3
out of
5
Quality
2
out of
5
Satisfaction
2
out of
5
Date:April 13, 2013
Pros: excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, Difficult to use, Short battery life, Complicated controls/menu, auto macro, auto focus
I'm a long time Canon camera enthusiast and enjoy both their DSLR cameras and their digital ELPH series for the most part. This camera looks great on paper and has some very impressive specs. However in practice this camera suffers from some bad firmware compared to other cameras I've used. I use this camera a lot at concerts and vacations and the "auto" mode seems to have a difficult time focusing and determining whether to shoot in macro mode or standard. This can become quite annoying when you're trying to take a picture of a mountain and it can't focus because it thinks the mountain is .4 inches away. I've had even worse luck when trying to zoom in and then auto-focus. Sometimes the camera just "gives up" and can't focus on the subject.
The same thing happens in movie mode where the camera can lose focus so easily and then the only way to regain focus is to zoom all the way out again and then slowly zoom back in.
I believe the hardware is actually really good in this camera because when you get a clear shot the quality is superb (and moderately superb in a concert setting) and I'm pretty sure that the issues could be fixed with a software/firmware update. However unfortunately it doesn't look like Canon will update the firmware any time soon as it's been over a year since we've seen any update.
I'd recommend skipping this camera until they've been able to correct for these issues. It's frustrating when the guy taking a picture with his iPhone can get clearer/better pictures than you with a dedicated piece of camera hardware.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: Nightflyer
Location: Lakewood, CO
Used this product for: 3 to 6 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Mostly used for: Family & Friends
Canon Enthusiast: more than 20 years
Product replacement: No
A great camera in a small package
Overall Rating
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
4
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
4
out of
5
Date:December 18, 2012
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu
Cons: Short battery life
This is a great camera in a very small package. I purchased it because of its size and portability. I use it in the intelligent auto mode most of the time and I have been pleased with the results. It has a sophisticated operating system which takes a little study at first. I like the menus as they are similar to other Canon cameras that I own. I have the instruction book on my smart phone and on my tablet for ease of reference. It is a good camera for social and family events. I use the tracking auto focus. The switch buttons are small for large fingers.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: Tomah Cheesehead
Location: Wisconsin, Arizona
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Mostly used for: Landscape/Nature
Canon Enthusiast: 11 to 20 years
Product replacement: Yes
Excellent Pocket Camera
Overall Rating
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
4
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Date:October 9, 2012
Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Lightweight/Portable, easy to use
Cons: Short battery life
After my wife lost our SD1200, I purchased this ELPH 520 for both of us. She uses it on auto because of the simplicity. I use it on program for the features, including selecting spot focus, fill flash, telephoto stabilization, and "tricking it" to use a wide aperture for narrow depth of field. My wife expected a "touch screen," which it does NOT have.. We are both pleased with the quality of photos. However, there are two things I do not like. The battery is more bulky and takes fewer shots than the NB-6L in the SD1200. And my SDHC memory cards to not fit this camera. There is no viewfinder when bright sunlight obscures the LCD. Altho functions are similar to the SD1200, instructions for more advanced features and for decreasing battery drain could be more clear.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: HamNut
Location: Texas
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Hobbyist/Enthusiast
Canon Enthusiast: 11 to 20 years
Product replacement: No
Totally satisfied
Overall Rating
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
4
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
4
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Date:September 2, 2012
Pros: Lightweight/Portable, easy to use, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu
Great Camera for the money. It doesn't have a touch screen as someone else said. The controls are intuitive and the instruction manual's overview is quite adequate to get you going. This is not meant to replace your Rebel. Its a shirt pocket camera with great Macro picture capabilities and very good standard or Hi-Res pictures. This camera runs circles around my other waterproof camera and is now my primary carry. Yes you can see fingerprint smudges on the main screen but that doesn't impact taking a picture. IMO overall I don't think you can go wrong and I have had no issues with this model.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: Shutterbug
Location: Florida
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Mostly used for: Landscape/Nature
Canon Enthusiast: 1 to 5 years
Product replacement: Yes
It's Not The Product: It's The Instructions!
Overall Rating
Features
4
out of
5
Performance
4
out of
5
Price/Value
4
out of
5
Quality
4
out of
5
Satisfaction
4
out of
5
Date:August 11, 2012
Pros: good battery life, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Difficult to use, Complicated controls/menu
Great camera and great upgrade to my previous Canon "Point and Shoot". Drawback is confused and non-explicit operating (and feature) instructions ANYWHERE: on installation disk, in Manual - or camera itself that I can see. Much fumbling and trial-and-error for something that ought to be simple, crystal clear first time around!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: Mark W.
Location: Tulsa, OK
Used this product for: Less than 1 month
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Mostly used for: Family & Friends
Canon Enthusiast: 11 to 20 years
Product replacement: Yes
Very Disappointing
Overall Rating
Features
4
out of
5
Performance
1
out of
5
Price/Value
1
out of
5
Quality
2
out of
5
Satisfaction
1
out of
5
Date:May 24, 2012
Pros: Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Missing features/settings, Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, Flimsy Construction
Really looking forward to a small size camera with big zoom to replace my sx230. This camera is not good. It rarely fires the flash inside on shots that i know my other canon cameras would. There's no setting to make it fire flash every time. Most of my pictures of pets or kids inside come out all blurry. The shutter lag is the worst I've seen on a canon since 2001. From the time I push the button to the time it finally takes the picture (no flash) it's not only blurry, but the kids stop smiling or the dog moved so it's not the shot I wanted. I've only had it a week and i've missed so many cute shots that come out all blurry it makes me want to throw it against the wall! Not super zoom, just regular living room 5 -10 ft away shots - blurry. Outside shots come out all right - not spectacular or even very sharp, just ok. The camera has a cheap, flimsy feel to it and the black paint shows fingerprints like crazy. I'm disappointed in the micro sd card and another funky battery size. The touch screen is not good at all. It doesn't pick up my finger most times. I still don't know if the gps works or not - I couldn't get the menu to go where i wanted with the crummy touchscreen. Please, Canon - give us some buttons or make the screen at least as good as a cellphone. I'm not even going to buy a big micro sd card for this - I will stick with my good old sd780 or sx230 and take pictures I will want to look at again.
16 of 50 people found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: grr
Location: Willmar, Minnesota
Used this product for: Less than 1 month
Expertise Level: Hobbyist/Enthusiast
Mostly used for: Landscape/Nature
Canon Enthusiast: 6 to 10 years
Product replacement: Yes
good, but not great
Overall Rating
Features
3
out of
5
Performance
2
out of
5
Price/Value
3
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
3
out of
5
Date:May 23, 2012
Pros: Nice features/settings, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, Short battery life
I took this camera back after discovering that the manual control had been eliminated. I talked to the camera shop about the camera and tried it again. I kept the camera and have found ways to operate it almost like using the manual setting. I keep the cameras switch on top set to program instead of auto. This makes it possible to shoot using the ISO setting that I want and not what the camera selects. I set the color mode and the lighting while the camera selects the shutter and aperture. I also make sure that I use the +/- button located just below the video button. I usually shoot in a negative setting to avoid over exposure. This is a very workable solution for me as my pictures are much better this way than what the camera would do on auto. The image quality is not the best, but it's acceptable as long as you don't enlarge the photos because there is a considerable amount of grain and noise. The color is very good except while taking shots indoors without flash. There is a yellow overcast on all the settings. This can easily be corrected in Photoshop or iphoto. The program setting that I do enjoy is the handheld night scene. Using this program I can get a clear shot that would otherwise be difficult without a tripod. The camera does boost the ISO up in this mode, but it's not too bad. What really makes this camera special is the powerful lens and the small size. This camera is almost exactly the same size as my old SD1000. If you're looking for a very small camera that will fit in your pocket and has a 12X zoom this one will fit the bill, just don't expect photos with good detail.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: 520 fan
Location: California
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Hobbyist/Enthusiast
Canon Enthusiast: 11 to 20 years
Product replacement: Yes
Fantastic little camera!
Overall Rating
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Date:May 12, 2012
Pros: great face detection., handles difficult lighting situations.., easy to use., very small & light.
I also came from the canon SD1000. The camera description never said it had manual controls. I use the camera on Automatic and have taken action pictures, pictures of children, and scenery. I love the camera. Its face detection and ability to follow a moving person is impressive. The Digic 5 processor handles difficult lighting situations very well. I think the pictures I have taken are great. Remember, it is not a DSLR. You can see pictures I posted in my Amazon review.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for PowerShot ELPH 520 HS
Nickname: grr
Location: Willmar , MN
Used this product for: Less than 1 month
Expertise Level: Hobbyist/Enthusiast
Canon Enthusiast: 6 to 10 years
Product replacement: Yes
follow up
Overall Rating
Features
1
out of
5
Performance
1
out of
5
Price/Value
1
out of
5
Quality
3
out of
5
Satisfaction
1
out of
5
Date:May 1, 2012
Pros: small size
Cons: no control
I need to clarify my original review. I owned a elph SD1000 and it was my favorite camera that I have used. I wished that Canon would produce a camera as small as that one with a good zoom and better processing. When I saw the 520 and 530 cameras I thought that my dreams had come true. I was shocked when I discovered that there is no manual control on these cameras. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I called the store where I ordered the camera from and said that I can not use this camera and they were good enough to put it in their store to sell it some other unlucky person. My dream camera quickly became a night mare and I am not sure if I will buy another Canon.
21 of 83 people found this review helpful.
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