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Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P950 front
Portability
52
Imaging
43
Features
70
Overall
53

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Key Specs

Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Launched 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
  • Released January 2020
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Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Canon SX540 HS versus Nikon P950, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and P950 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX540 HS was manufactured 5 years prior to the P950 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SX540 HS matches up versus the P950 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Nikon P950

 SX540 HS P950 

Reasons to pick Nikon P950 over the Canon SX540 HS

 P950 SX540 HS 
ReleasedJanuary 2020January 2016More recent by 48 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k461kClearer display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Nikon P950

 SX540 HS P950 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX540 HS comes with outside dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Nikon P950 has sizing of 140mm x 110mm x 150mm (5.5" x 4.3" x 5.9") having a weight of 1005 grams (2.22 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX540 HS versus Nikon P950 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SX540 HS vs the P950.

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX540 HS and P950 is 69 and 52 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX540 HS and P950.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX540 HS to offer you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older SX540 HS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon P950 Portrait photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
57
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon P950 as a Street photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
53
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (1,005 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Sports photography features
Nikon P950 Sports photography features
44
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (205 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
54
amazing zoom range (24-2000mm 83.3 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
Travel photography with Nikon P950
56
decent megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (205 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
59
supports bluetooth
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (2000mm)
more heavy than competitors (1,005 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX540 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon P950
48
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (205 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Vlogging advice
Nikon P950 Vlogging advice
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
59
pretty wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competitors (1,005g)
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Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon P950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Nikon P950
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSNikon Coolpix P950
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Nikon Coolpix P950
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-05 2020-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 24-2000mm (83.3x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 90%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 300 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.9 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 11.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 gr (0.97 pounds) 1005 gr (2.22 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 140 x 110 x 150mm (5.5" x 4.3" x 5.9")
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 205 images 290 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $399 $797