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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520

Portability
64
Imaging
36
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX50 HS
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Nikon P510
  • Updated by Nikon P530
Photography Glossary

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and P520 (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was announced 16 months before the P520 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SX40 HS matches up versus the P520 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Nikon P520

 SX40 HS P520 

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Canon SX40 HS

 P520 SX40 HS 
LaunchedJanuary 2013September 2011More recent by 16 months
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Nikon P520

 SX40 HS P520 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX40 HS has got external dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Nikon P520 has sizing of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX40 HS compared to the P520.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX40 HS and P520 is 64 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The photograph below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX40 HS and P520.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon P520 to deliver extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SX40 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography features
Nikon P520 Portrait photography features
41
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detection focusing
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
41
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography information
Nikon P520 Street photography information
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than average (600g)
51
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others (550g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography advice
Nikon P520 Sports photography advice
43
incredible zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery life (380 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
46
excellent zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography details
Nikon P520 Travel photography details
55
great battery life (380 shots)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (840mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (600 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
57
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (1000mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
heavier than others (550 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX40 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon P520
38
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery life (380 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
46
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging info
Nikon P520 Vlogging info
57
decently wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than average (600g)
57
decently wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no mic support
heavier than others (550g)
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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Nikon P520
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSNikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Nikon Coolpix P520
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-15 2013-01-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lb) 550 grams (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 images 200 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-10L EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $330 $380