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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS

Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
76
Overall
61
Canon PowerShot G3 X front
 
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
Portability
81
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Key Specs

Canon G3 X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 733g - 123 x 77 x 105mm
  • Announced June 2015
Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Introduced July 2014
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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS, former is a Large Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Canon. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the G3 X (20MP) and SX400 IS (16MP) and the G3 X (1") and SX400 IS (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G3 X was revealed 11 months after the SX400 IS and they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon G3 X being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX400 IS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the G3 X scores vs the SX400 IS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G3 X over the Canon SX400 IS

 G3 X SX400 IS 
IntroducedJune 2015July 2014More modern by 11 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k230kClearer screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Canon G3 X

 SX400 IS G3 X 

Common features in the Canon G3 X and Canon SX400 IS

 G3 X SX400 IS 

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon G3 X has got outside dimensions of 123mm x 77mm x 105mm (4.8" x 3.0" x 4.1") along with a weight of 733 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Canon SX400 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the G3 X versus the SX400 IS.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G3 X and SX400 IS is 60 and 81 respectively.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 X and SX400 IS.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The G3 X using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Canon G3 X will result in greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent G3 X should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS sensor size comparison

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G3 X as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX400 IS as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
36
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon G3 X Street photography features
Canon SX400 IS Street photography features
73
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
environment sealing
52
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G3 X
Sports photography with Canon SX400 IS
59
long zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (5.9 frames per second)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
42
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (190 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon G3 X as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX400 IS as a Travel photography camera
65
environment sealing
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
low battery life (300 per charge)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery (190 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G3 X Landscape photography details
Canon SX400 IS Landscape photography details
63
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low battery life (300 per charge)
41
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery (190 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G3 X Vlogging features
Canon SX400 IS Vlogging features
69
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX400 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G3 X and Canon SX400 IS
 Canon PowerShot G3 XCanon PowerShot SX400 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot G3 X Canon PowerShot SX400 IS
Class Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-06-18 2014-07-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 Digic 4+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 31 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-600mm (25.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,620k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.9 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m (with Auto ISO) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 733 grams (1.62 lbs) 313 grams (0.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 123 x 77 x 105mm (4.8" x 3.0" x 4.1") 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 521 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 190 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L NB-11LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $849 $229