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Canon PowerShot SX420 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX540 HS

4.11 in
2.72 in
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS
4.72 in
3.22 in
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
5
5 editorial reviews
Canon SX420 IS is a 20.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.3 sized CCD sensor and 24-1008 mm F3.5-6.6 lens. Read our SX420 IS review to find its pros and cons.Read more
Canon SX420 IS review, find out how the SX420 IS stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.Read more
Preview posted 01/05/2016 by Michael Palmer Full review posted 02/26/2016 by Eric ButterfieldQuick TakeProsVery powerful zoom lens Effective optical image stabilization Dedicated Auto mode button Strong built-in flash Built-in Wi-Fi ConsBurst mode is very slow No dial to ease operation Low light imageRead more
Read editorial reviews
9
3.3 out of 5
3 user ratings
5 stars
0 %
4 stars
66 %
3 stars
33 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
38
4.1 out of 5
38 user ratings
5 stars
36 %
4 stars
39 %
3 stars
21 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
50
3.9 out of 5
50 user ratings
5 stars
30 %
4 stars
38 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
6 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Sensor typeCCDCMOS
Sensor photo detectors21.0 Mpx21.0 Mpx
Effective pixels20.0 Mpx20.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
  • 1:1
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
Max resolution5152 x 3864 px5184 x 3888 px
ProcessorDIGIC 4+DIGIC 6

Image

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • Auto
  • 80
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum10080
ISO maximum16003200
Maximum image resolution5152 x 3864 px5184 x 3888 px
White balance presets55
White balance modes
  • Fluorescent
  • Cloudy
  • Tungsten
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent H
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formatsJPGJPEG
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Positive film
  • Sepia
  • Skin tones
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Positive film
  • Sepia
  • Skin tones
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryesyes
Image stabilization typeOpticalOptical
Supported aspect ratios
  • 1:1
  • 3:2
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
  • 1:1
  • 3:2
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatNoNo

Optics and focus

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Optical zoom42.0 x50.0 x
Digital zoom4.0 x4.0 x
Minimum aperture3.53.4
Maximum aperture3.53.4
Focal length equiv24 - 100824 - 1200
Focus adjustmentMotorised driveAuto/Manual
Contrast adjustmentyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Autofocus
  • AI Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Tracking Auto Focus
  • AI Focus
  • Face detection
Manual focusyesyes
Normal focus range1.97 in1.97 in
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Macro focus range0.0 in0.0 in
Number of focus points99
Image stabiliserOpticalOptical
Filter threadnono
Folded opticsyesno

Screen and viewfinder

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCD TFTLCD TFT
Screen dots230000461000
Touch screennono
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderNoneNone
Flip-out screennono

Photography features

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Minimum shutter speed15.0 s15.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Maximum shutter speed (electronic)1/4000 sec1/2000 sec
Shutter prioritynoyes
Aperture prioritynoyes
Manual exposure modenoyes
Exposure compensation plus22
Exposure compensation minus-2-2
Expousure compensation steps1/31/3
Self-timer delay
  • 10
  • 2sec
  • 2
  • 10
Histogramyesyes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range55.5
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Flash ON
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Flash off
  • Flash on
  • Manual
  • Slow sync
External flashnono
Continuous drive0.5 fps5.9 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
3D supportnono
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 10
  • 2
  • 10
  • custom
Face detectionyesyes

Videography features

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Maximum resolution1280 x 720 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeHDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MP4
  • MPEG-4
  • H.264
  • MP4
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 7201920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)25.0 fps60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate25.0 fps59.94 fps

Audio features

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Speaker typeMonoMono
Voice recordingyesyes
Supported audio file formatsAAC
  • LC-AAC
  • MP4

Design

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Body typeBridgeBridge
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
Black
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Weight10.86 oz15.59 oz
Width4.11 in4.72 in
Height2.72 in3.22 in
Depth3.35 in3.62 in

Storage

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Compatible memory cards
  • SD Memory Card
  • SDXC Memory Card
  • SDHC Memory Card
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots12
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3
  • DCF
  • DPOF 1.1

Power

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)195205
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Rechargeable batteryyesyes
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
HDMInoyes
USB portyesyes
USB connector typeMini-USB BMicro-USB B
USB version2.02.0
Headphone portnono
Microphone portnono
WirelessBuilt-InBuilt-In
Supported WiFi types
  • IEEE 802.11b
  • IEEE 802.11g
  • IEEE 802.11n
  • IEEE 802.11b
  • IEEE 802.11g
  • IEEE 802.11n
Remote controlNoyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCyesyes
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesyes
Bluetoothnono
AV outputyesyes

Other features

Canon PowerShot SX420 ISCanon PowerShot SX420 IS
Canon PowerShot SX540 HSCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
Timelapse recordingnono
GPSyesyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
DLNA certifiednono
Languages supportMultiMulti

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Canon PowerShot SX540 HS