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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
41
Features
44
Overall
42

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon SX30 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX50 HS
Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.4-6.0) lens
  • 441g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Released July 2014
  • Superseded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX530 HS
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX520 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both created by Canon. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and SX520 HS (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was manufactured 3 years earlier than the SX520 HS which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX520 HS being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the SX40 HS scores versus the SX520 HS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX520 HS

 SX40 HS SX520 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX520 HS SX40 HS 
ReleasedJuly 2014September 2011Newer by 34 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX520 HS

 SX40 HS SX520 HS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX40 HS features outside dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX520 HS has sizing of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX520 HS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX40 HS vs the SX520 HS.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX40 HS and SX520 HS is 64 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX40 HS and SX520 HS.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Canon SX520 HS to offer you more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged SX40 HS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography factors
41
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
supports face detection autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
44
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography details
Canon SX520 HS Street photography details
49
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competition in class (600 grams)
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography details
Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
43
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX520 HS Travel photography highlights
55
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (840mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (600g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
55
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (210 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography advice
38
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
46
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery life (210 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX520 HS as a Vlogging camera
57
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
no external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (600g)
29
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX520 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX520 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-15 2014-07-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Digic 4+
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-1008mm (42.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.4-6.0
Macro focus range 0cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 441 gr (0.97 pounds)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 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 380 images 210 images
Battery format 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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $330 $219