Reasons to choose PowerShot A300
Released in 2003, PowerShot A300 has about 21 mm² of sensor area, 3.1 MP effective resolution, and a 175 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon PowerShot A300
vs Canon PowerShot A520
VS
Sensor area
21 mm²
PowerShot A30025 mm²
PowerShot A520- Area ratio
- 1.17:1
- Absolute difference
- 4 mm²
- Relative difference
- 16.5%
The PowerShot A520 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
PowerShot A300MetricPowerShot A520
3.1 MPEffective pixels3.9 MP
5.33 × 4Sensor5.75 × 4.32
2.62 µmPixel pitch2.52 µm
6.88 µm²Pixel area6.37 µm²
14.54 MP/cm²Pixel density15.7 MP/cm²
6.49Crop factor6.02
—Maximum video—
175 gWeight180 g
CompactFlash type IStorageMultiMedia, Secure Digital
AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)BatteryAA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The PowerShot A520 has the larger sensor area. The PowerShot A300 has the lighter body. The PowerShot A520 has the higher effective resolution. The PowerShot A520 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PowerShot A520
Released in 2005, PowerShot A520 has about 25 mm² of sensor area, 3.9 MP effective resolution, and a 180 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.