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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100

Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
44
Overall
44
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 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 S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and S2100 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX540 HS was launched 6 years after the S2100 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX540 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SX540 HS matches up against the S2100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Sony S2100

 SX540 HS S2100 
RevealedJanuary 2016January 2010More modern by 73 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Canon SX540 HS

 S2100 SX540 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Sony S2100

 SX540 HS S2100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX540 HS offers outer measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Sony S2100 has dimensions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX540 HS versus the S2100.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SX540 HS and S2100 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through specifications. The image below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX540 HS and S2100.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon SX540 HS to give extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The younger SX540 HS is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX540 HS
Portrait photography with Sony S2100
47
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
offers face detection focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Street photography highlights
Sony S2100 Street photography highlights
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Sports photography highlights
Sony S2100 Sports photography highlights
43
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (205 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Travel photography advice
Sony S2100 Travel photography advice
56
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery power (205 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
50
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography info
Sony S2100 Landscape photography info
47
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (205 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
27
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Vlogging highlights
Sony S2100 Vlogging highlights
29
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Canon SX540 HS vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Sony S2100
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-01-05 2010-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 6 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 1 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.9fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
WB 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442 gr (0.97 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $399 $0