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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
Portability
75
Imaging
36
Features
38
Overall
36

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Superseded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX50 HS
Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon L110
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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Canon SX40 HS versus Nikon L120, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the L120 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was revealed 8 months later than the L120 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon L120 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SX40 HS grades versus the L120 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Nikon L120

 SX40 HS L120 
RevealedSeptember 2011February 2011More recent by 8 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Canon SX40 HS

 L120 SX40 HS 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Nikon L120

 SX40 HS L120 
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX40 HS enjoys outer 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) whilst the Nikon L120 has measurements of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX40 HS versus Nikon L120 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX40 HS vs the L120.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and L120 is 64 and 75 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX40 HS and L120.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Nikon L120 to produce extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher SX40 HS is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX40 HS
Portrait photography with Nikon L120
41
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
offers face detection focus
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX40 HS
Street photography with Nikon L120
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than average in class (600g)
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography advice
Nikon L120 Sports photography advice
42
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good battery pack (380 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
43
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX40 HS
Travel photography with Nikon L120
54
good battery pack (380 shots)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (840mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (600 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
60
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (525mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Landscape photography features
Nikon L120 Landscape photography features
38
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
40
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon L120 as a Vlogging camera
57
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than average in class (600g)
27
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon L120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Nikon L120
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSNikon Coolpix L120
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Nikon Coolpix L120
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-15 2011-02-09
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed C2
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lb) 431 gr (0.95 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" 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 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model NB-10L 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $330 $300