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Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX520 HS

4.84 in
3.64 in
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
4.72 in
3.22 in
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
20
4.0 out of 5
9 user ratings
5 stars
22 %
4 stars
55 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
11 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
12
3.5 out of 5
11 user ratings
5 stars
0 %
4 stars
81 %
3 stars
9 %
2 stars
9 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
40
4.1 out of 5
40 user ratings
5 stars
32 %
4 stars
47 %
3 stars
20 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
34
4.0 out of 5
34 user ratings
5 stars
35 %
4 stars
35 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor size0.24 in0.24 in
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
Max resolution4000 x 3000 px4608 x 3456 px
ProcessorDIGIC 5DIGIC 4+

Image

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum32003200
Maximum image resolution4000 x 3000 px4608 x 3456 px
White balance presets65
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Tungsten
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent H
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formatsJPEGJPG
Image stabilizeryesyes
Image stabilization typeOpticalOptical
Uncompressed formatNoNo

Optics and focus

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Optical zoom35.0 x42.0 x
Digital zoom4.0 x4.0 x
Minimum aperture2.73.4
Maximum aperture2.73.4
Focal length equiv24 - 84024 - 1008
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Tracking Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Macro focus range0.0 in0.0 in
Number of focus points99
Image stabiliserOpticalOptical
Filter threadyesno

Screen and viewfinder

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Screen size2.7 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDyesno
Screen technologyLCDLCD TFT
Screen dots230000461000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderElectronicNone

Photography features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Minimum shutter speed15.0 s15.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Exposure compensation plus22
Exposure compensation minus-2-2
Expousure compensation steps1/31/3
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 10
  • 2
  • 10
Histogramyesyes
WB BracketingNoNo
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range75.5
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flashyesno
Continuous drive10.3 fps1.6 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 10
  • custom
  • 2
  • 10
  • custom

Videography features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 320 x 240
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeFull HDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • AVC
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Motion JPEG frame rate24.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoStereo

Design

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Body typeBridgeBridge
Colour of productBlackBlack
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Weight19.65 oz15.56 oz
Width4.84 in4.72 in
Height3.64 in3.22 in
Depth4.24 in3.62 in

Storage

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Power source typeBattery
  • Battery
  • USB
Battery life (CIPA)380210
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Rechargeable batteryyesyes
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
HDMIyesyes
USB version2.02.0
Remote controlNoNo
PictBridgeyesyes
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
AV outputyesyes

Other features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX520 HSCanon PowerShot SX520 HS
Timelapse recordingnono
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons