Canon Releases The 20MP PowerShot SX540 and SX420 Cameras
Canon has refreshed its midrange superzoom lineup with its PowerShot SX540 HS and SX420 IS. The SX540 HS takes the design and 24-1200mm equivalent F3.4-6.5 lens from the SX530 and adds a new 20MP BSI CMOS sensor, faster DIGIC 6 processor and 1080/60p video capture. Two additional features include a 3" LCD and Wi-Fi with NFC.
The SX540 offers Auto Zoom, which keeps your subject in the frame as the move toward or away from the camera, and Zoom Framing Assist, which zooms out so you can locate your subject and then zooms right back in. A new feature, known as Zoom Framing Assist Lock, uses the camera's image stabilization system to keep the subject centered while the lens is at full telephoto.
The PowerShot SX420 IS is the follow-up to the SX410 and retains the same 20MP CCD sensor and DIGIC 4+ processor but increases the lens' total zoom power to 42X (24-1008mm equivalent). While it doesn't have either of the 'Assist' features described above, the SX420 does have Auto Zoom. The camera also has a 3" LCD and can capture 720p video.
The PowerShot SX530 HS will be available in March for $399.99. The SX420 IS, available in both black and red, will ship in February for $299.99.
| Canon PowerShot SX540 HS | Canon PowerShot SX420 IS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| MSRP | $399.99 | $299 |
| Body type | ||
| Body type | SLR-like (bridge) | |
| Body material | Composite | |
| Sensor | ||
| Max resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 5152 x 3864 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 | |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels | |
| Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels | |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) | |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
| Processor | DIGIC 6 | DIGIC 4+ |
| Color space | sRGB | |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter | |
| Image | ||
| ISO | Auto, ISO 80-3200 | Auto, 100-1600 |
| White balance presets | 5 | |
| Custom white balance | Yes | |
| Image stabilization | Optical | |
| Uncompressed format | No | |
| JPEG quality levels | Superfine, fine | |
| File format |
|
|
| Optics & Focus | ||
| Focal length (equiv.) | 241200 mm | 241008 mm |
| Optical zoom | 50Χ | 42Χ |
| Maximum aperture | F3.4 - F6.5 | F3.5 - F6.6 |
| Autofocus |
|
|
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes | |
| Digital zoom | Yes (4X) | Yes (4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes | |
| Normal focus range | 5 cm (1.97″) | |
| Macro focus range | 0 cm (0″) | |
| Screen / viewfinder | ||
| Articulated LCD | Fixed | |
| Screen size | 3″ | |
| Screen dots | 461,000 | 230,000 |
| Touch screen | No | |
| Screen type | TFT LCD | |
| Live view | Yes | |
| Viewfinder type | None | |
| Photography features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 15 sec | |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 sec | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes |
|
|
| Scene modes |
|
|
| Built-in flash | Yes | |
| Flash range | 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) | 5.00 m |
| External flash | No | |
| Flash modes | Auto, on, off, slow synchro | Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off |
| Drive modes |
|
|
| Continuous drive | 5.9 fps | 0.5 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 secs) |
| Metering modes |
|
|
| Exposure compensation | ±2 (at 1/3 EV steps) | |
| Videography features | ||
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) | 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 | |
| Microphone | Stereo | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono | |
| Storage | ||
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC | |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | |
| HDMI | Yes (mini-HDMI) | No |
| Microphone port | No | |
| Headphone port | No | |
| Wireless | Built-In | |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n with NFC | |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) | No |
| Physical | ||
| Environmentally sealed | No | |
| Battery | Battery Pack | |
| Battery description | NB-6LH lithium-ion battery & charger | NB-11LH |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 205 | 195 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz) | 325 g (0.72 lb / 11.46 oz) |
| Dimensions | 120 x 82 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.23 x 3.62″) | 104 x 69 x 85 mm (4.09 x 2.72 x 3.35″) |
| Other features | ||
| Orientation sensor | Yes | |
| Timelapse recording | No | |
| GPS | None | |
