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Canon SD940 IS

 
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 120g - 89 x 55 x 20mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 120 IS
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Canon SD940 IS summary

Canon SD940 IS is Canon's Ultracompact digital camera originally announced on August of 2009. It has a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is referred to as "Digital IXUS 120 IS" in some countries.

The SD940 IS is ranked #107 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras & overall #1142 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try out our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your custom criteria.

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Here is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Canon SD940 IS history

The Canon SD940 IS has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all earlier and most recent models as well as key specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SD1400-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1400 IS
SD940 IS vs SD1400 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD940-IS front thumbnailCanon SD940 IS28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
Canon-PowerShot-SD780-IS front thumbnailCanon SD780 IS
SD940 IS vs SD780 IS
33-100mm
F3.2-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SD940 IS Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of benefits and drawbacks of the Canon SD940 IS based on features which are typically considered essential in a digital camera.

built-in flash
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good zoom range (28-112mm 4.0 x zoom)
great minimum ISO (80)
has HDMI out
reasonably wide (28mm)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
does not have headphone support
does not have microphone support
does not have phase detect auto focus
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
focusing manually not possible
low MP (12MP)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.9)
no aperture priority
no manual exposure
no shutter priority mode
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (230 k dots)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Canon SD940 IS Sensor details

The Canon SD940 IS houses the Digic 4 processor. The specification of the sensor in the Canon SD940 IS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 12MP and has a standard ISO range of 80 - 1600. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved so the user has less margin for error.

The picture underneath displays the SD940 IS's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The SD940 IS sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

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To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon SD940 IS dimensions

Canon SD940 IS weighs 0.26 lbs (120 gr or 4.23 ounces) & the sizing of the camera is 89mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8"). The weight of typical Ultracompact camera is 121 gr so the Canon SD940 IS is very much the same in comparison with various competitors.

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Here is a shot of the Canon SD940 IS with a soda so you can get a sense of its scale.

Canon PowerShot SD940 IS dimensions scale

The top view under will illustrate the button layout on the SD940 IS.

Canon PowerShot SD940 IS topview buttons dials

Canon SD940 IS Lens specs

The SD940 IS has a built-in lens providing a focal range of 28-112mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which isn't very good nevertheless it will be handy in some situations.

At the widest 28mm, the lens has an aperture of f2.8 and that's somewhat slow and not great for low light conditions and you will find it hard to get good bokeh. You might also need to raise the ISO which causes noisy images. At the tele end, 112mm comes to f5.9 which is very slow and you might need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Canon SD940 IS Connectivity

The SD940 IS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that have NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily copy files and oftentimes adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.

A few applications even enable a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external screen. Almost all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Canon SD940 IS Video specs

The max video resolution in the Canon SD940 IS is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in H.264 file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You should strive for at least 1080p resolution for video recording. The camera does not have a microphone and / or headphone socket so you get no control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to buy a different model in case you want better audio for your videos.

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Canon SD940 IS Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing in the Canon SD940 IS so you need to be careful in wet or dusty situations.

Canon SD940 IS Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon SD940 IS has a 2.7" fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen.

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The View Finder specifications for Canon SD940 IS are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be very helpful for sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Canon SD940 IS Shutter specs

Canon SD940 IS is able to shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1500s.

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Canon SD940 IS Flash and Hot shoe specs

Canon SD940 IS has only built-in flash with no external flash support.

Canon SD940 IS Autofocus specs

Canon SD940 IS has just Contrast Detect Autofocus & is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot snappier and exact when compared with Contrast Detect focusing.

The AF system has 9 focus points to pick from. Canon SD940 IS doesn't have manual focus. Manual focus mode is useful for low light scenarios or you need more precise control on focusing.

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Canon SD940 IS Battery life

The usual Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 comes with the maximum (320) battery life for this type of cameras.

Here is a number of Ultracompact cameras which have the highest battery life:

Canon SD940 IS for specific types of photography

The following illustration displays a outline of the Canon SD940 IS for specific types of photography. To check out more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Portrait photography with Canon SD940 IS

The Canon SD940 IS receives a points tally of 21 which is really bad, and means the camera is just not good to use for portrait photos. Photographing portraits leans greatly towards sensor size, RAW support & flexibility to use external flash.

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manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Street photography with Canon SD940 IS

With a decent score of 57, the Canon SD940 IS is somewhat acceptable to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Canon SD940 IS as a Sports photography camera

A really bad sports photography rating of 25 suggests the Canon SD940 IS is just not good for taking photos of sports. A camera needs fantastic focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus

Canon SD940 IS as a Travel photography camera

Portability is pretty important when getting a travel camera. In general, the Canon SD940 IS gets a moderate 58 as a travelling camera which is fairly acceptable to take with you on your travels.

Photography Glossary
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)

Canon SD940 IS Landscape photography factors

In case you're looking to buy a camera for landscape photography, the most essential aspect is going to be image quality. The Canon SD940 IS at it's really bad score of 32 as a landscape camera is just not good within the current market.

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fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording

Canon SD940 IS as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera should offer a moving display, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything in to account, the Canon SD940 IS is just not good as a vlog camera as it gets a really bad rating of 29.

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really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket

Canon SD940 IS Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the SD940 IS, below is a number of the top placed cameras that fall in to the category of Ultracompact.

The diagram listed below will give you an overview of the SD940 IS compared to it's highest scoring competitors listed previously.

These are various other cameras you may regard as alternate options. To look at a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Also Known as
Digital IXUS 120 IS
Class
Ultracompact
Introduced
2009-08-19
Physical type
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor Chip
Digic 4
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW data
Highest native ISO
1600
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture
f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
2.7 inches
Screen resolution
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
15 secs
Max shutter speed
1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
4.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
120 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions
89 x 55 x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8")
Other
Battery model
NB-4L
Self timer
Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Card slots
Single
Pricing at release
$299