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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S 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
  • Released January 2016
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Later Model is Sony A7S II
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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and A7S (12MP) and the SX540 HS (1/2.3") and A7S (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX540 HS was introduced 22 months later than the A7S making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX540 HS matches up against the A7S for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Sony A7S

 SX540 HS A7S 
IntroducedJanuary 2016April 2014More recent by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Canon SX540 HS

 A7S SX540 HS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k461kCrisper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Sony A7S

 SX540 HS A7S 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX540 HS has external dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Sony A7S has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX540 HS versus the A7S.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX540 HS and A7S is 69 and 77 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX540 HS and A7S.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX540 HS with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Canon SX540 HS will result in greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger SX540 HS will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7S as a Portrait photography camera
47
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
68
focusing manually
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Street photography features
Sony A7S Street photography features
48
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than average (489g)
good ISO range (409,600)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A7S as a Sports photography camera
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
max fps very slow (5.9 fps)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (205 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (360 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
Travel photography with Sony A7S
56
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (205 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
58
lighter than average (489 grams)
environment sealing
terrible battery (360 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography factors
Sony A7S Landscape photography factors
48
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (205 shots)
no Timelapse recording
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good ISO range (409,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (360 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7S as a Vlogging camera
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
34
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic jack
lighter than average (489 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Sony A7S
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSSony Alpha A7S
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Sony Alpha A7S
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2016-01-05 2014-04-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4240 x 2832
Max native ISO 3200 409600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.9 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Mic input
Headphone input
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 442 gr (0.97 lb) 489 gr (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 3702
Other
Battery life 205 shots 360 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $399 $1,998