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Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2016
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • New Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
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Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Canon SX540 HS and Olympus SP-820UZ, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and SP-820UZ (14MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX540 HS was unveiled 3 years after the SP-820UZ which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX540 HS matches up versus the SP-820UZ with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 SX540 HS SP-820UZ 
ReleasedJanuary 2016August 2012More modern by 42 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Canon SX540 HS

 SP-820UZ SX540 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Olympus SP-820UZ

 SX540 HS SP-820UZ 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX540 HS has got exterior measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Olympus SP-820UZ has specifications of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX540 HS and Olympus SP-820UZ 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 change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX540 HS compared to the SP-820UZ.

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX540 HS and SP-820UZ is 69 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX540 HS and SP-820UZ.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX540 HS to give extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent SX540 HS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography factors
Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography factors
47
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
48
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
37
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
44
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
low fps (5.9 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (205 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
resolution is good (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Travel photography info
Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography info
56
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (205 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
55
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (22mm)
great zoom (896mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (485 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography highlights
48
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (205 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
35
decently wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Vlogging advice
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging advice
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
25
decently wide (22mm)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than others (485g)
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Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSOlympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-05 2012-08-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 22-896mm (40.7x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.4-5.7
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.9fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 15.00 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442 grams (0.97 lbs) 485 grams (1.07 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 205 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $399 $299