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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Introduced March 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX270 HS
Canon SX40 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 600g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Superseded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX50 HS
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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both created by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the SX40 HS (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was revealed 19 months later than the SX40 HS making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SX280 HS matches up versus the SX40 HS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX280 HS SX40 HS 
IntroducedMarch 2013September 2011Fresher by 19 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX40 HS SX280 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX40 HS

 SX280 HS SX40 HS 
Manually focus More precise focus
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX280 HS provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Canon SX40 HS has specifications 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 the Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS in the latest Camera with 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 choose at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX280 HS against the SX40 HS.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX280 HS and SX40 HS is 91 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and SX40 HS.

Clearly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP and you should expect comparable quality of pictures although you will want to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The younger SX280 HS should have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX40 HS as a Portrait photography camera
34
focusing manually
features face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
41
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detection focus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography highlights
Canon SX40 HS Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (233 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than average (600 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX40 HS as a Sports photography camera
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (210 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
great battery power (380 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography information
Canon SX40 HS Travel photography information
61
lighter than average (233 grams)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
great battery power (380 per charge)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (840mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (600 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography details
Canon SX40 HS Landscape photography details
41
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery life (210 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
38
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
great battery power (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging info
Canon SX40 HS Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
57
rather wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than average (600g)
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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX40 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX40 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-03-21 2011-09-15
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip 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 12MP 12MP
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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.7-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - PureColor II VA TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 233 gr (0.51 lbs) 600 gr (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3")
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 210 photographs 380 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-10L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $325 $330