Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS Comparison

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Fujifilm S8500

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Canon SX40 HS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S8500 and SX40 HS, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Fujifilm and Canon. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Fujifilm S8500 has a 16.0 MP and Canon SX40 HS has a 12.0 MP resolution. Fujifilm S8500 was introduced to market in January 2013 and Canon SX40 HS was launched in September 2011. There is 16 months difference between S8500 and SX40 HS so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger S8500, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Fujifilm S8500 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-01-07

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 64 - 12800

24-1104 mm F2.9-6.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

200k dot Electronic viewfinder

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

480fps High-Speed Video

670g. 123 x 87 x 116 mm mm

Canon SX40 HS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-09-15

12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7" Fully Articulated Screen

Electronic viewfinder

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

600g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm

Replaced Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Compare

Canon SX40 HS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS vs Fujifilm FinePix S8500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Fujifilm FinePix S8500 over Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Max ISO	12.800 vs 3.200	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/7000s vs 1/3200s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele	1104mm vs 840mm	264 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	46× vs 35×	more flexible focal coverage

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX40 HS over Fujifilm FinePix S8500

LCD Screen	Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Weight	600 g vs 670 g	70 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.70 vs 2.90	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 6.50	faster lens at tele
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies

Common Strengths of Fujifilm FinePix S8500 and Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 10.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele	1104mm vs 840mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Fujifilm FinePix S8500 and Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	6.50 vs 5.80	Slow lenses at tele

Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Fujifilm S8500 has external dimensions of and weighs 670 g (including batteries). Canon SX40 HS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS.

Comparison image of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS.

Comparison image of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS.

Top View Comparison image of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX40 HS is 70g lighter than the Fujifilm S8500 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Fujifilm FinePix S8500 nor Canon PowerShot SX40 HS provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Fujifilm S8500's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX40 HS's 2.7" screen.

On the other hand, Canon SX40 HS sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Fujifilm S8500 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX40 HS.

Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS: Sensor Comparison

Fujifilm S8500 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Canon SX40 HS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S8500 and SX40 HS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS Cameras

Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS Lens Specs Comparison

Fujifilm S8500 features a 24-1104 mm F2.9-6.5 46× zoom lens whereas Canon SX40 HS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.70, Canon SX40 HS is faster than Fujifilm S8500 at this focal length. On the tele end, Fujifilm S8500 has 264mm longer reach than the Canon SX40 HS. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Canon SX40 HS is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

S8500

SX40 HS

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

What types of Photography are Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Fujifilm S8500 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SX40 HS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Fujifilm S8500 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Fujifilm S8500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/7000s
1104 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details

Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Fujifilm S8500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

46.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
670g
Body Thickness 116mm
Read the details

35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
600g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details

Fujifilm S8500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX40 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Fujifilm S8500 vs Canon SX40 HS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Fujifilm S8500 and Canon SX40 HS scores compare:

Fujifilm S8500

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #87 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #708 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX40 HS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #46 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #529 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX40 HS has a higher Overall Score than the Fujifilm S8500. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that SX40 HS trails behind the S8500: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Fujifilm S8500. If not, we recommend the Canon SX40 HS.

Canon SX40 HS vs Fujifilm S8500 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Fujifilm FinePix S8500	Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Brand	Fujifilm	Canon
Announced	2013-01-07	2011-09-15
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)	SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	64 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	n/a	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-1104 mm (46×)	24-840 mm (35×)
Max Aperture	F2.9-6.5	F2.7-5.8
Macro Focus Range	0cm	0cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fully Articulated
Size	3"	2.7"
Resolution	460k dots	230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	200k dots	n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/7000s	1/3200s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	n/a	7.00 m
Max Flash Sync	s	1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	670g	600g
Dimensions	123 x 87 x 116 mmmm	123 x 92 x 108mm
Battery Life	n/a	380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction