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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS

Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
Portability
80
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Key Specs

Canon SX40 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 600g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon SX30 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX50 HS
Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX500 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX520 HS
Photography Glossary

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SX40 HS versus Canon SX510 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both designed by Canon. The resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the SX510 HS (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was announced 23 months earlier than the SX510 HS making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX40 HS scores versus the SX510 HS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX510 HS

 SX40 HS SX510 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX510 HS SX40 HS 
ReleasedAugust 2013September 2011Fresher by 23 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX510 HS

 SX40 HS SX510 HS 
Focus manually More precise focus
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX40 HS offers exterior measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Canon SX510 HS has measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX40 HS versus Canon SX510 HS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SX40 HS against the SX510 HS.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and SX510 HS is 64 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX40 HS and SX510 HS.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same megapixels and you should expect similar quality of pictures but you should really consider the release date of the products into consideration. The older SX40 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Portrait photography camera
41
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect autofocus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
34
focusing manually
has face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography info
Canon SX510 HS Street photography info
49
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX40 HS
Sports photography with Canon SX510 HS
43
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
36
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (250 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography factors
Canon SX510 HS Travel photography factors
55
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (840mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
54
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (250 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Landscape photography information
Canon SX510 HS Landscape photography information
38
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
40
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery power (250 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging information
Canon SX510 HS Vlogging information
57
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
31
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX510 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX510 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX510 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-09-15 2013-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Digic 4
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 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
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
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 1
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 0cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, slow synchro, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lb) 349 grams (0.77 lb)
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 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 380 shots 250 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $330 $249