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Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Comparison

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Nikon P500

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

Nikon P500
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Canon SX40 HS

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

Canon SX40 HS
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Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and SX40 HS, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Canon. Both Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS cameras have 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensors. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Canon SX40 HS was launched in September 2011. There is only 7 months difference between P500 and SX40 HS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon P500 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-02-09
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 494g. 116 x 84 x 103 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

Nikon P500 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix P510. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Nikon Coolpix P500
Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

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 Nikon Coolpix P500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Weight
494 g vs 600 g 106 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm 1 mm wider coverage
Optical Zoom
36× vs 35× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 7.0m 1m longer range


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX40 HS over Nikon Coolpix P500
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Battery Life
380 shots vs 220 shots 160 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 810mm 30 mm longer tele reach
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fully Articulated Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 840mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" Small display
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.80 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon P500 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 Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon P500 has external dimensions of 116 x 84 x 10 mm (4.57 x 3.31 x 4.06″) and weighs 494 g (1.09 lb / 17.43 oz) (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 Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS. Nikon P500 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 7mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 5mm thinner than Canon SX40 HS.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS.
Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 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. Nikon P500 is significantly lighter (106g ) than the Canon SX40 HS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 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

Nikon P500's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX40 HS's 2.7" screen.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS have 1/2.3-inch sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the P500 and SX40 HS sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS Cameras


Nikon P500 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.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX40 HS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Canon SX40 HS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 1mm wider coverage than the Canon SX40 HS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.70, Canon SX40 HS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX40 HS has 30mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon P500. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Nikon P500 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
SX40 HS
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 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.

Nikon P500 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
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
No External Flash Shoe
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

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SX40 HS for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
23 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
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

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
810 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
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

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX40 HS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
35.2X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
494g
Body Thickness 103mm
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

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX40 HS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
23 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
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

Nikon P500 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 Nikon P500 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 Nikon P500 and Canon SX40 HS scores compare:

Nikon P500
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #50 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #556 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 Nikon P500 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Canon SX40 HS
Canon SX40 HS
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Canon SX40 HS vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2011-02-09 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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 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 9 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 24-840 mm (35×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F2.7-5.8
Macro Focus Range 1cm 0cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fully Articulated
Size 3" 2.7"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/3200s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m 7.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 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 MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 600g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 123 x 92 x 108mm
Battery Life 220 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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