Canon Powershot
SX40
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
L120

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Nikon Coolpix L810

Canon Powershot SX40

60

  
Nikon Coolpix L120

50

  

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
 
Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix L120

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix L120

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 110x77x78 mm
Thickness
 Thin
3.1"
Weight
 Light-weight
406 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40
Zoom Significantly more zoom 35x vs 21x
Help
 Around 3x more zoom
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Aperture Wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/3.1
Help
 At its widest zoom, the SX40's lens captures marginally more light (0.4 f-stops)
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
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
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
 Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
 Around 90% longer exposures
Canon Powershot SX40 Learn more about
the Canon SX40

Advantages of the Nikon L120
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 110x77x78 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Weight Lighter 406 g vs 600 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 4.3"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Nikon Coolpix L120 Learn more about
the Nikon L120
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
60 vs 50
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix L120 Nikon Coolpix L120
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX40:0 cm
L120:1 cm
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX40:4.3"
L120:3.1"
Weight Heavy Help
SX40:600 g
L120:406 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
SX40:123x92x108 mm
L120:110x77x78 mm

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
L120:1,600 ISO

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix L120
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Super zoom

$248 - $249
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$185 - $249
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Coolpix L810 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix L810 vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix L820

Nikon Coolpix L820

Super zoom

$277
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
3D Captures 3D images
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the Coolpix L120
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$595
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$596
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 Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix P520

Nikon Coolpix P520

Super zoom

$427
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the Coolpix L120

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Much more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Powershot SX40
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$327 - $348
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Powershot SX40
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

$299 - $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

Nikon Coolpix L120 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$91 - $119
Size Smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the Coolpix L120
Nikon Coolpix L310

Nikon Coolpix L310

Super zoom

$194
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Compare the Coolpix L310 vs the Coolpix L120
Fujifilm FinePix S3300

Fujifilm FinePix S3300

Super zoom
Zoom More zoom
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Size Larger
Compare the FinePix S3300 vs the Coolpix L120
Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Super zoom

$129
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the FinePix S2950 vs the Coolpix L120

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix L120
Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix L120
Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix L120

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