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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX150 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX170 IS
Canon SX40 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 600g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX50 HS
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Overview

Lets look closer at the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX40 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are produced by Canon. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and SX40 HS (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was revealed 22 months later than the SX40 HS which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX160 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SX160 IS matches up versus the SX40 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX160 IS SX40 HS 
LaunchedJune 2013September 2011More recent by 22 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SX40 HS SX160 IS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX40 HS

 SX160 IS SX40 HS 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS has got outer measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Canon SX40 HS has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX40 HS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SX160 IS against the SX40 HS.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX160 IS and SX40 HS is 86 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX160 IS and SX40 HS.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Canon SX160 IS to give greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher SX160 IS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography advice
46
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
41
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect autofocus
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography information
Canon SX40 HS Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (291g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
49
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than others in class (600 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX40 HS as a Sports photography camera
51
incredible zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
excellent zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography advice
Canon SX40 HS Travel photography advice
69
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (291g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (448mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
55
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (840mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (600g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX40 HS as a Landscape photography camera
51
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
38
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging info
Canon SX40 HS Vlogging info
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (291 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others in class (600 grams)
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Canon SX160 IS vs Canon SX40 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Canon SX40 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-06-21 2011-09-15
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/2.7-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD PureColor II VA TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 7.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 291g (0.64 lb) 600g (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 380 shots
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-10L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $199 $330