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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX240 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX270 HS
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Launched January 2016
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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are manufactured by Canon. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and SX540 HS (20MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was manufactured 4 years before the SX540 HS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX260 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SX260 HS scores versus the SX540 HS for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX260 HS SX540 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX260 HS

 SX540 HS SX260 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2016June 2012More modern by 43 months

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX260 HS SX540 HS 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution461k461kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX260 HS offers external measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Canon SX540 HS has proportions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX540 HS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX260 HS and the SX540 HS.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX260 HS and SX540 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX260 HS and SX540 HS.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Canon SX540 HS to provide greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged SX260 HS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography features
Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography features
37
has manual focus
supports face detect autofocus
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX260 HS
Street photography with Canon SX540 HS
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (231g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Sports photography features
Canon SX540 HS Sports photography features
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
max fps low (5.9 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (205 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX260 HS
Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
61
lighter than others in class (231g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (230 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
56
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (205 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography info
Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography info
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
48
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery (205 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Vlogging info
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging info
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (231 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-06-04 2016-01-05
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 DIGIC 6
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 5.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 lbs) 442 grams (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 shots 205 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $349 $399