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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

Canon SX280 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
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX270 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
  • Introduced January 2016
Photography Glossary

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both created by Canon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and SX540 HS (20MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was released 3 years earlier than the SX540 HS which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SX280 HS scores vs the SX540 HS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX280 HS SX540 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX540 HS SX280 HS 
IntroducedJanuary 2016March 2013More modern by 34 months

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX280 HS SX540 HS 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution461k461kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX280 HS enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Canon SX540 HS has specifications of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX540 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the SX280 HS versus the SX540 HS.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and SX540 HS is 91 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specs. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX280 HS and SX540 HS.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX540 HS to offer greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX280 HS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX540 HS as a Portrait photography camera
34
manual focus
supports face detection focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
47
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography advice
Canon SX540 HS Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography highlights
Canon SX540 HS Sports photography highlights
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (210 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
max fps very slow (5.9 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (205 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX280 HS
Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
61
lighter than competition (233g)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (210 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
56
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (205 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX540 HS as a Landscape photography camera
41
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
48
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (205 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging features
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging features
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
29
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-03-21 2016-01-05
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 5.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 gr (0.51 lbs) 442 gr (0.97 lbs)
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 rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 shots 205 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $325 $399