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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Key Specs

Canon SX240 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 224g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Old Model is Canon SX230 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX260 HS
Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX420 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are offered by Canon. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SX240 HS (12MP) and SX420 IS (20MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX240 HS was brought out 4 years earlier than the SX420 IS and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX240 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX240 HS matches up against the SX420 IS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Canon SX420 IS

 SX240 HS SX420 IS 
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Canon SX240 HS

 SX420 IS SX240 HS 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2012More recent by 47 months

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX420 IS

 SX240 HS SX420 IS 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX240 HS features exterior measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Canon SX420 IS has dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Check the Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX420 IS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SX240 HS versus the SX420 IS.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX240 HS and SX420 IS is 91 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX240 HS and SX420 IS.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Canon SX420 IS to provide more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SX240 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography factors
37
has manual focus
has face detection focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
44
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX420 IS as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (224 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
52
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Sports photography advice
Canon SX420 IS Sports photography advice
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
41
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
max fps low (0.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX420 IS as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition in class (224g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (230 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
61
MP count good (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (195 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX240 HS
Landscape photography with Canon SX420 IS
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery power (195 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX420 IS Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (224g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
29
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
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Canon SX240 HS vs Canon SX420 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Canon SX420 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Canon PowerShot SX420 IS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-02-07 2016-01-05
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 DIGIC 4+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5152 x 3864
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.5-6.6
Macro focus distance 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 0.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 lbs) 325 gr (0.72 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 230 images 195 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-11LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $299