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Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
37
Overall
41

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon SX30 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX50 HS
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was launched 4 years earlier than the QX30 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SX40 HS matches up against the QX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Sony QX30

 SX40 HS QX30 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension2.7""Bigger screen (+2.7")
Screen resolution230k0kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Canon SX40 HS

 QX30 SX40 HS 
LaunchedSeptember 2014September 2011Newer by 36 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Sony QX30

 SX40 HS QX30 

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX40 HS offers outer dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX40 HS versus the QX30.

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX40 HS and QX30 is 64 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specifications. The pic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX40 HS and QX30.

To sum up, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony QX30 to produce extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged SX40 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
includes face detection focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
37
good resolution (20 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Street photography highlights
Sony QX30 Street photography highlights
49
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition (600g)
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Sports photography highlights
Sony QX30 Sports photography highlights
42
incredible zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery (380 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
54
better than average battery (380 shots)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (840mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (600g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
65
supports focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Landscape photography camera
38
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery (380 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
39
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
57
pretty wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
35
decently wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
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Canon SX40 HS vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Sony QX30
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Announced 2011-09-15 2014-09-03
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12MP 20MP
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 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" -
Resolution of display 230k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in None
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 secs -
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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lb) 193 grams (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 photos 200 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $330 $348