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Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 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
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon SX540 HS versus Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX540 HS was launched 4 years later than the RZ18 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX540 HS grades against the RZ18 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Pentax RZ18

 SX540 HS RZ18 
IntroducedJanuary 2016September 2011More recent by 53 months
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Canon SX540 HS

 RZ18 SX540 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Pentax RZ18

 SX540 HS RZ18 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX540 HS has got outside measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX540 HS versus Pentax RZ18 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX540 HS compared to the RZ18.

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX540 HS and RZ18 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX540 HS and RZ18.

To sum up, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX540 HS to provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent SX540 HS should have an edge in sensor tech.

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
47
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Street photography features
Pentax RZ18 Street photography features
48
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (178g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Sports photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography advice
44
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
max fps very slow (5.9 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (205 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
56
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (205 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX540 HS
Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
48
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery (205 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (178 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Canon SX540 HS vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Pentax RZ18
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-05 2011-09-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.9 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442 gr (0.97 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 205 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $210