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Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX50 HS
Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Canon SX40 HS versus Pentax X90, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the X90 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was introduced 15 months later than the X90 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX40 HS grades vs the X90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Pentax X90

 SX40 HS X90 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2010Fresher by 15 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Canon SX40 HS

 X90 SX40 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Pentax X90

 SX40 HS X90 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX40 HS has got physical dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Pentax X90 has proportions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX40 HS versus Pentax X90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX40 HS vs the X90.

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and X90 is 64 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX40 HS and X90.

All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you really should consider the production date of the cameras into account. The younger SX40 HS will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Portrait photography info
Pentax X90 Portrait photography info
41
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detection autofocus
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
29
focusing manually
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography details
Pentax X90 Street photography details
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX40 HS
Sports photography with Pentax X90
42
incredible zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
42
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Travel photography camera
54
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
51
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Landscape photography camera
38
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
35
focusing manually
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging advice
Pentax X90 Vlogging advice
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (600g)
23
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Canon SX40 HS vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Pentax X90
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSPentax X90
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Pentax X90
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-09-15 2010-07-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lbs) 428 grams (0.94 lbs)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-10L D-L106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $330 $350