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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 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
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Old Model is Canon SX240 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX270 HS
Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-855mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 538g - 114 x 89 x 96mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L830
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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Canon SX260 HS and Nikon L840, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and L840 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was unveiled 3 years earlier than the L840 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX260 HS being a Compact camera and the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the SX260 HS matches up against the L840 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Nikon L840

 SX260 HS L840 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Canon SX260 HS

 L840 SX260 HS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015June 2012More recent by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Nikon L840

 SX260 HS L840 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX260 HS features outer dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Nikon L840 has dimensions of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") with a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX260 HS and Nikon L840 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SX260 HS against the L840.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX260 HS and L840 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The photograph here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX260 HS and L840.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Nikon L840 to give you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SX260 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography advice
Nikon L840 Portrait photography advice
37
manual focus
includes face detection focusing
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
36
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX260 HS
Street photography with Nikon L840
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (231g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
51
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (538 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L840 as a Sports photography camera
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
51
amazing zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery pack (590 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX260 HS
Travel photography with Nikon L840
61
lighter than others (231 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
better than average battery pack (590 CIPA)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (23mm)
great zoom (855mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (538g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography highlights
Nikon L840 Landscape photography highlights
41
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
43
really wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (590 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Vlogging info
Nikon L840 Vlogging info
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (231 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
27
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competition (538 grams)
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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon L840 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Nikon L840
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSNikon Coolpix L840
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Nikon Coolpix L840
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-06-04 2015-02-10
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 23-855mm (37.2x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 7.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 lb) 538 grams (1.19 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8")
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 230 photos 590 photos
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $349 $400