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Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981

Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX30 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX50 HS
Kodak Z981
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 85 x 105mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Canon SX40 HS versus Kodak Z981, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Kodak. The sensor resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the Z981 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was released 15 months after the Z981 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the SX40 HS scores vs the Z981 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Kodak Z981

 SX40 HS Z981 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2010Newer by 15 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution230k201kClearer display (+29k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Canon SX40 HS

 Z981 SX40 HS 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Kodak Z981

 SX40 HS Z981 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX40 HS enjoys 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 Kodak Z981 has dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX40 HS versus Kodak Z981 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX40 HS against the Z981.

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and Z981 is 64 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX40 HS and Z981.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Kodak Z981 to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent SX40 HS provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography factors
Kodak Z981 Portrait photography factors
41
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
features face detect focusing
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography factors
Kodak Z981 Street photography factors
49
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than others in class (600g)
50
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (540 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography info
Kodak Z981 Sports photography info
43
incredible zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good battery (380 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography info
Kodak Z981 Travel photography info
55
good battery (380 per charge)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (840mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (600g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
53
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (540 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX40 HS
Landscape photography with Kodak Z981
38
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good battery (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
51
you can focus manually
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging info
Kodak Z981 Vlogging info
57
quite wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (600 grams)
22
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (540 grams)
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Canon SX40 HS vs Kodak Z981 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Kodak Z981
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSKodak EasyShare Z981
General Information
Company Canon Kodak
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Kodak EasyShare Z981
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-15 2010-07-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 0cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 201 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 16s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 6.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 pounds) 540g (1.19 pounds)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-10L 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $330 $299