Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Canon Powershot SX40

98

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot SX40

Zoom
Great zoom
35x
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Nikon Coolpix P100

67

Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix P100

"It has a composite body with some strategically positioned tacky material in the handgrip and thumb rest areas"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's feel
"The overall control layout is simple and straightforward."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Weight
Light-weight
481 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40

Zoom Much more zoom 35x vs 26.1x
Help
More than 80% more zoom
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 26 mm
Help
Around 10% better wide angle
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
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)
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly 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 P100

Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Size Smaller 114x83x99 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 600 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.9" vs 4.3"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
98 vs 67
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Incredible zoom Help
SX40:35x
P100:26.1x
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
SX40:1080p @ 24fps
P100:1080p @ 30fps
Aperture Wide aperture Help
SX40:f/2.7
P100:f/2.8
High-speed framerate Very high speed movies Help
240 fps
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
SX40:10.3 fps
P100:10 fps
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX40:0 cm
P100:1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX40:4.3"
P100:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
SX40:600 g
P100:481 g
Size Large Help
SX40:123x92x108 mm
P100:114x83x99 mm
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
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

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

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has much more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499

Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Size Is significantly smaller
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $219

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Much smaller
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen size Much smaller screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355

Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Zoom Less zoom
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569

High-speed framerate Higher speed movies
Zoom More zoom
Size Significantly larger
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix P100
Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix P100
Canon Powershot SX40 Nikon Coolpix P100

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