Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510
64 Imaging
35 Features
50 Overall
41


66 Imaging
39 Features
55 Overall
45
Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Key Specs
(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
- Announced September 2011
- Succeeded the Canon SX30 IS
- Later Model is Canon SX50 HS
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
- 555g - 120 x 83 x 102mm
- Revealed July 2012
- Earlier Model is Nikon P500
- Updated by Nikon P520

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Overview
On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and P510 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

The SX40 HS was launched 9 months before the P510 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).
Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SX40 HS matches up vs the P510 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX40 HS & Nikon Coolpix P510. The complete galleries are viewable at Canon SX40 HS Gallery & Nikon P510 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Nikon P510
SX40 HS | P510 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Nikon P510 over the Canon SX40 HS
P510 | SX40 HS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | July 2012 | ![]() | September 2011 | More recent by 9 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Nikon P510
SX40 HS | P510 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lacking Touch friendly display |
Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX40 HS has outer 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) while the Nikon P510 has dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") having a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs).
Check the Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX40 HS against the P510.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX40 HS and P510 is 64 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The visual here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX40 HS and P510.
Clearly, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon P510 to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SX40 HS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P510 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS | Nikon Coolpix P510 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Nikon |
Model | Canon PowerShot SX40 HS | Nikon Coolpix P510 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Announced | 2011-09-15 | 2012-07-05 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | SLR-like (bridge) |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Expeed C2 |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface 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 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | - |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 24-840mm (35.0x) | 24-1000mm (41.7x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.7-5.8 | f/3.0-5.9 |
Macro focus range | 0cm | 2cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Screen size | 2.7 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen tech | PureColor II VA TFT LCD | TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/3200s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 10.0 frames per sec | 7.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 7.00 m | - |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/2000s | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
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 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 600g (1.32 pounds) | 555g (1.22 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") | 120 x 83 x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") |
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 pictures | 200 pictures |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-10L | EN-EL5 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at release | $330 | $600 |