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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P950 front
Portability
52
Imaging
43
Features
70
Overall
53

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Announced January 2016
Nikon P950
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-2000mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 1005g - 140 x 110 x 150mm
  • Announced January 2020
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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Canon SX420 IS versus Nikon P950, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and P950 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was introduced 5 years earlier than the P950 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SX420 IS grades against the P950 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Nikon P950

 SX420 IS P950 

Reasons to pick Nikon P950 over the Canon SX420 IS

 P950 SX420 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2020January 2016More modern by 48 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Nikon P950

 SX420 IS P950 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX420 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Nikon P950 has proportions of 140mm x 110mm x 150mm (5.5" x 4.3" x 5.9") accompanied by a weight of 1005 grams (2.22 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX420 IS versus Nikon P950 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 have at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SX420 IS and the P950.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX420 IS and P950 is 80 and 52 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX420 IS and P950.

As you can see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Canon SX420 IS to provide you with more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX420 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon P950 Portrait photography highlights
44
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX420 IS
Street photography with Nikon P950
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
53
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (1,005g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon P950 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
low fps (0.5 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (195 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
54
excellent zoom range (24-2000mm 83.3 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography highlights
Nikon P950 Travel photography highlights
61
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (195 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
connects via bluetooth
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (2000mm)
heavier than average in class (1,005 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon P950 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (195 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.2")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging factors
Nikon P950 Vlogging factors
29
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
59
really wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than average in class (1,005g)
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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon P950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Nikon P950
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISNikon Coolpix P950
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Nikon Coolpix P950
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-05 2020-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD 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 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-2000mm (83.3x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 90%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 300s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 0.5 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 11.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) EN-EL20a lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 1005g (2.22 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 140 x 110 x 150mm (5.5" x 4.3" x 5.9")
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 photos 290 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $299 $797