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Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3400 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

Canon A3400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 126g - 94 x 56 x 21mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed January 2016
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Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Canon A3400 IS and Canon SX540 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Canon. The resolution of the A3400 IS (16MP) and the SX540 HS (20MP) is very close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A3400 IS was manufactured 4 years before the SX540 HS and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon A3400 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the A3400 IS grades vs the SX540 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3400 IS over the Canon SX540 HS

 A3400 IS SX540 HS 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon A3400 IS

 SX540 HS A3400 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2016February 2012More recent by 47 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3400 IS and Canon SX540 HS

 A3400 IS SX540 HS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon A3400 IS comes with exterior dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Canon SX540 HS has measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Compare the Canon A3400 IS and Canon SX540 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A3400 IS against the SX540 HS.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A3400 IS and SX540 HS is 96 and 69 respectively.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specifications. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A3400 IS and SX540 HS.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon SX540 HS to render greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older A3400 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3400 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX540 HS
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
47
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3400 IS
Street photography with Canon SX540 HS
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
48
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A3400 IS
Sports photography with Canon SX540 HS
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (180 shots)
has no phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (205 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A3400 IS
Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
68
lighter than competition in class (126g)
comes with focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery life (180 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (205 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3400 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX540 HS as a Landscape photography camera
41
relatively wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (180 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
48
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery pack (205 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A3400 IS
Vlogging with Canon SX540 HS
34
relatively wide (28mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
29
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone port
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Canon A3400 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3400 IS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot A3400 ISCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A3400 IS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-02-07 2016-01-05
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - DIGIC 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.9fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126g (0.28 lb) 442g (0.97 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 pictures 205 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $230 $399