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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Released January 2016
Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-855mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 538g - 114 x 89 x 96mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Succeeded the Nikon L830
Photography Glossary

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and L840 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was launched 11 months after the L840 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SX420 IS scores vs the L840 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Nikon L840

 SX420 IS L840 
ReleasedJanuary 2016February 2015More modern by 11 months
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Canon SX420 IS

 L840 SX420 IS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Nikon L840

 SX420 IS L840 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX420 IS has got outside dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Nikon L840 has specifications of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") and a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs).

See the Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SX420 IS and the L840.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX420 IS and L840 is 80 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The pic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX420 IS and L840.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX420 IS to render extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent SX420 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon L840 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
36
good MP (16MP)
has face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Street photography camera
Nikon L840 as a Street photography camera
52
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
51
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average (538 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX420 IS
Sports photography with Nikon L840
41
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
slow frames per second (0.5 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
amazing zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
good battery life (590 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX420 IS
Travel photography with Nikon L840
61
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (195 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
good battery life (590 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
great zoom (855mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (538 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Landscape photography factors
Nikon L840 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery life (195 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
43
quite wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
good battery life (590 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX420 IS
Vlogging with Nikon L840
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
27
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
more heavy than average (538 grams)
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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon L840 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Nikon L840
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISNikon Coolpix L840
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Nikon Coolpix L840
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-05 2015-02-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD 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 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 23-855mm (37.2x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 0.5 frames per sec 7.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 325g (0.72 lbs) 538g (1.19 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8")
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 195 pictures 590 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model NB-11LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $299 $400