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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX30 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX50 HS
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both designed by Canon. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was unveiled 11 months earlier than the SX500 IS which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SX40 HS matches up vs the SX500 IS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX40 HS SX500 IS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX500 IS SX40 HS 
AnnouncedAugust 2012September 2011More recent by 11 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX500 IS

 SX40 HS SX500 IS 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX40 HS has got outside measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX40 HS versus the SX500 IS.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX40 HS and SX500 IS is 64 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out specifications. The photograph underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX40 HS and SX500 IS.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Canon SX500 IS to show more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older SX40 HS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
41
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detect focus
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
46
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
49
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than competitors (600 grams)
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography information
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography information
42
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (195 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Travel photography camera
54
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (600g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
59
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (195 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
38
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
46
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery life (195 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
57
really wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
missing mic jack
heavier than competitors (600g)
28
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-09-15 2012-08-21
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Digic 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 341 gr (0.75 pounds)
Physical dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
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 380 images 195 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-10L NB-6L
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
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $330 $299