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Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX260 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX280 HS
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Canon SX270 HS versus Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are created by Canon. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SX270 HS (12MP) and SX540 HS (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX270 HS was brought out 3 years before the SX540 HS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX270 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX270 HS scores versus the SX540 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX270 HS SX540 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX270 HS

 SX540 HS SX270 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2016March 2013More recent by 34 months

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX270 HS SX540 HS 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution461k461kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX270 HS provides external measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Canon SX540 HS has measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Canon SX270 HS versus Canon SX540 HS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SX270 HS versus the SX540 HS.

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and SX540 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX270 HS and SX540 HS.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon SX540 HS to show extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older SX270 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography factors
34
focusing manually
features face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
47
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
provides face detection focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX540 HS as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (233g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX540 HS as a Sports photography camera
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (210 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (205 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography details
Canon SX540 HS Travel photography details
61
lighter than average (233 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (210 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
56
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (205 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Landscape photography info
Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography info
41
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (210 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
48
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery pack (205 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Vlogging information
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging information
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
29
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Canon SX270 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-03-21 2016-01-05
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 DIGIC 6
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 5.9fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
AEB
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 (60, 30 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233 gr (0.51 pounds) 442 gr (0.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 210 pictures 205 pictures
Style of battery 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
Retail cost $284 $399