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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
64 Imaging
35 Features
50 Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Older Model is Canon SX30 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX50 HS
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

The following is a extensive analysis of the Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was unveiled 3 months before the SZ-12 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SX40 HS grades against the SZ-12 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Olympus SZ-12

		

		

			
 SX40 HS SZ-12 
Manually focus  Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen  Easy selfies
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon SX40 HS

		

		

			
 SZ-12 SX40 HS 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SZ-12

		

		

			
 SX40 HS SZ-12 
LaunchedSeptember 2011January 2012Similar age
Touch friendly display  Neither contains Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX40 HS has got external dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).
Analyze the Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX40 HS vs the SZ-12.
Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison
Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and SZ-12 is 64 and 89 respectively.
Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Oftentimes, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specs. The pic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX40 HS and SZ-12.
All in all, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to give extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively.
	
			Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Canon SX40 HS as a Portrait photography camera
 Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
41
 you can focus manually
 high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
 features face detection autofocus
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
33
 MP count decent (14MP)
 features face detection autofocus
 manual focus not available
 lack of manual mode
 cannot use external flash
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary
Street Comparison
 Canon SX40 HS as a Street photography camera
 Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
49
 screen can move to multiple angles
 image stabilization (Optical)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 heavier than competition (600g)
60
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 lighter than competitors in class (226g)
 no articulating screen
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Canon SX40 HS
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
42
 amazing zoom range (24-840mm  35.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lacks phase detect autofocus
40
 long zoom range (25-600mm  24.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 MP count decent (14MP)
 features tracking autofocus
 slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority mode
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 low battery pack (220 shots)
 lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Canon SX40 HS Travel photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
54
 better than average battery power (380 shots)
 has built in flash
 screen is selfie friendly
 really wide (24mm)
 great reach (840mm)
 doesn't have Time Lapse function
 heavier than competition (600g)
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
65
 lighter than competitors in class (226g)
 MP count decent (14MP)
 flash built-in
 pretty wide (25mm)
 long reach (600mm)
 missing Time Lapse recording
 low battery pack (220 per charge)
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Canon SX40 HS
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
38
 you can focus manually
 really wide (24mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 better than average battery power (380 per charge)
 can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
 small screen (2.7 inches)
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 doesn't have Time Lapse function
40
 pretty wide (25mm)
 nice screen size (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 MP count decent (14MP)
 manual focus not available
 can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
 lack of manual mode
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW files
 low battery pack (220 per charge)
 missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Canon SX40 HS
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
57
 really wide (24mm)
 screen is selfie friendly
 image stabilization (Optical)
 features face detection autofocus
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
 doesn't have external mic port
 heavier than competition (600g)
31
 pretty wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detection autofocus
 lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
 low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
 missing external mic socket
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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Olympus SZ-12
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-09-15 2012-01-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 -
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detection focusing    
Contract detection focusing    
Phase detection focusing    
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Screen technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual mode    
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Max flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
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 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port    
Headphone port    
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
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 220 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-10L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $330 $350