Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Pentax Optio WG-1

Canon Powershot SX40

75

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot SX40

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.7
Zoom
Great zoom
35x
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Pentax Optio W90

35

Runner-up

Pentax Optio W90

Reasons to buy the Pentax Optio W90

Size
Really small
Compact 108x59x25 mm
Thickness
Thin
1"
Weight
Light-weight
164 g
Waterproof
Waterproof
Great at the beach

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40

Zoom Much more zoom 35x vs 5x
Help
49x more zoom
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the SX40's lens captures slightly more light (0.7 f-stops)
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10.3 fps vs 1.3 fps
Help
More than 8x faster continuous shooting
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/1500s
Help
2.1x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 4s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Canon Powershot SX40 Learn more about
the Canon SX40

Advantages of the Pentax W90

Size Much smaller 108x59x25 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
7.7x smaller
Thickness Much thinner 1" vs 4.3"
Help
4.3x thinner
Weight Much lighter 164 g vs 600 g
Help
3.7x lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The W90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Waterproof Waterproof Yes vs No
Help
Great for vacations and holidays at the beach, or around the pool
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Pentax Optio W90 Learn more about
the Pentax W90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
75 vs 35
Explain scores
Pentax Optio W90 Pentax Optio W90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a waterproof.

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX40:0 cm
W90:1 cm
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
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has much more zoom
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon Coolpix L810

Super zoom

$250 - $265

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom Much less zoom
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

True resolution Slightly higher true resolution
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
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

Pentax Optio W90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax Optio WG-1

Pentax Optio WG-1

Waterproof

$244 - $328

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Waterproof

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Aperture Wider aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Pentax Optio WG-2

Pentax Optio WG-2

Waterproof

$324

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Slightly larger
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Waterproof

$179

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Aperture Narrower aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Pentax Optio W80

Pentax Optio W80

Waterproof

Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Pentax Optio W90
Canon Powershot SX40 Pentax Optio W90
Canon Powershot SX40 Pentax Optio W90

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