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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX50 HS
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2016
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Canon SX40 HS versus Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are built by Canon. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and SX540 HS (20MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was unveiled 5 years before the SX540 HS and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SX40 HS matches up versus the SX540 HS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX40 HS SX540 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX40 HS

 SX540 HS SX40 HS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016September 2011Fresher by 52 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX40 HS SX540 HS 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX40 HS offers physical 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 SX540 HS has dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX40 HS versus Canon SX540 HS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the SX40 HS and the SX540 HS.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and SX540 HS is 64 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX40 HS and SX540 HS.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Canon SX540 HS to deliver more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SX40 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography features
Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography features
41
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
offers face detection focusing
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
47
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography info
Canon SX540 HS Street photography info
49
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
48
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography highlights
Canon SX540 HS Sports photography highlights
42
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery (205 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX540 HS Travel photography highlights
54
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
56
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery (205 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX40 HS
Landscape photography with Canon SX540 HS
38
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
48
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery (205 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging features
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging features
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
no external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
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Canon SX40 HS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Brand Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-09-15 2016-01-05
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 12MP 20MP
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 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus distance 0cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 5.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, off, slow synchro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lbs) 442 grams (0.97 lbs)
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 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 photos 205 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $330 $399