Canon Powershot
SX40
 vs
Canon PowerShot
SX20 IS

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon Powershot SX40

60

  
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

46

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot SX40

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.7
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10.3 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40
Zoom Significantly more zoom 35x vs 20x
Help
 More than 3x more zoom
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10.3 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
 More than 14.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Screen size Larger screen 2.7" vs 2.5"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest zoom, the SX40's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The SX40's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Battery life Longer battery life 380 shots vs 340 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Canon Powershot SX40 Learn more about
the Canon SX40

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS
Size Smaller 128x88x87 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Thickness Thinner 3.4" vs 4.3"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
60 vs 46
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
SX40:f/2.7
SX20 IS:f/2.8
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Battery life Great battery life Help
SX40:380 shots
SX20 IS:340 shots
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/3200 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
600 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX40:4.3"
SX20 IS:3.4"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
SX40:123x92x108 mm
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen size Very small screens Help
SX40:2.7"
SX20 IS:2.5"
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
SX40:3,200 ISO
SX20 IS:1,600 ISO

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$335 - $347
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Super zoom

$248 - $249
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$327 - $348
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$595
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$596
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$720
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Powershot SX40
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$294 - $339
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the Powershot SX40

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Super zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the PowerShot SX1 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

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