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Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Nikon D3100

4.84 in
3.64 in
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
4.88 in
2.93 in
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
Nikon D3100
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
33
4.0 out of 5
19 user ratings
5 stars
47 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
10 %
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 %
72
3.8 out of 5
72 user ratings
5 stars
34 %
4 stars
23 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
15 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor size0.24 in0.91 in
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx14.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
3:2
Max resolution4000 x 3000 px4608 x 3072 px
Other resolutions
  • 4000x2248
  • 4000x2664
  • 2992x2992
  • 2816x2112
  • 2816x1880
  • 2816x1584
  • 2112x2112
  • 1920x1080
  • 1600x1200
  • 1600x1064
  • 1200x1200
  • 640x480
  • 640x424
  • 640x360
  • 480x480
  • 3456x2304
  • 2304x1536
ProcessorDIGIC 5Expeed 2

Image

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • Auto
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum320012800
Maximum image resolution4000 x 3000 px4608 x 3072 px
White balance presets612
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Tungsten
  • Auto
  • Manual
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formatsJPEG
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Positive film
  • Sepia
  • Skin tones
  • Vivid
Black&White
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeOpticalNo
Supported aspect ratios
  • 3:2
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
16:9
Uncompressed formatNoRAW

Optics and focus

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Optical zoom35.0 x3.0 x
Minimum aperture2.73.5
Maximum aperture2.73.5
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Single Auto Focus
Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points911
Image stabiliserOpticalLens based only
Filter diameter2.64 in2.05 in

Screen and viewfinder

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Screen size2.7 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDyesno
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots230000230000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %95.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderElectronicOptical

Photography features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Camera shutter type
  • Electronic
  • Mechanical
  • Electronic
  • Mechanical
Minimum shutter speed15.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Exposure compensation plus25
Exposure compensation minus-2-5
Expousure compensation steps1/31/3
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 10
10.0 s
Histogramyesyes
WB BracketingNoNo
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range712
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive10.3 fps3.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Fireworks
  • Night
  • Portrait
  • Self-portrait
  • Snow
  • Landscape
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Portrait
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
Manual settingsyesyes

Videography features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 320 x 240
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
1280.0 px
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
Camera playback
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps24.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate24.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Built-in microphoneyesno
Microphone typeStereoMono

Design

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Body typeBridgeSLR
Colour of productBlack
  • Black
  • Red
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Weight19.65 oz16.05 oz
Width4.84 in4.88 in
Height3.64 in2.93 in
Depth4.24 in3.78 in

Storage

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21

Power

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
Power source typeBattery
  • AC
  • Battery
Battery life (CIPA)380550
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
USB version2.02.0
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedEye-Fi Connected
Remote controlNoyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Bluetoothnono

Other features

Canon PowerShot SX40 HSCanon PowerShot SX40 HS
Nikon D3100Nikon D3100
GPSnoyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • ARA
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUM
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
  • UKR
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Image editing modes
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
  • Rotating
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3100