Canon SX40 vs Nikon D70

The Canon PowerShot SX40 HS and the Nikon D70 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2011 and January 2004. The SX40 is a fixed lens compact, while the D70 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX40) and an APS-C (D70) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 6 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX40		Nikon D70
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
24-840mm f/2.7-5.8		Nikon F mount lenses
12 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		6 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/24p Video		no Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 200-1,600
Electronic viewfinder (202k dots)		Optical viewfinder
2.7" LCD – 230k dots		1.8" LCD – 130k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10.3 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
380 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
123 x 92 x 108 mm, 600 g		140 x 111 x 78 mm, 679 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS and the Nikon D70? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon SX40 and the Nikon D70 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D70 is notably larger (37 percent) than the Canon SX40. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX40 nor the D70 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX40 has a lens built in, whereas the D70 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D70 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX40 gets 380 shots out of its Canon NB-10L battery, while the D70 can take 400 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL3 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX40	123 mm	92 mm	108 mm	600 g	380	n	Sep 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D70	140 mm	111 mm	78 mm	679 g	400	n	Jan 2004	EUR 999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 300D	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	EUR 1 095	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	EUR 399	ebay.com
5.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
6.		Canon G12	112 mm	76 mm	48 mm	401 g	370	n	Sep 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
7.		Canon G15	107 mm	76 mm	40 mm	352 g	350	n	Sep 2012	EUR 579	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX10	123 mm	88 mm	87 mm	600 g	..	n	Sep 2008	EUR 379	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX20	123 mm	88 mm	87 mm	600 g	..	n	Aug 2009	EUR 379	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX30	123 mm	92 mm	108 mm	601 g	370	n	Sep 2010	EUR 469	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	EUR 529	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D50	133 mm	102 mm	76 mm	620 g	400	n	Apr 2005	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D70s	140 mm	111 mm	78 mm	679 g	500	n	Apr 2005	EUR 949	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D80	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	668 g	600	n	Aug 2006	EUR 969	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D100	144 mm	116 mm	81 mm	780 g	370	n	Feb 2002	EUR 2 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic FZ100	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	540 g	410	n	Jul 2010	EUR 529	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic FZ150	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	528 g	410	n	Aug 2011	EUR 529	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX40 was launched at a lower price than the D70, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX40 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Nikon D70 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D70 is 1221 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the SX40 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the D70 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon SX40 offers a higher resolution of 12 megapixels, compared with 6 MP of the Nikon D70. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.53μm versus 7.85μm for the D70). However, it should be noted that the SX40 is much more recent (by 7 years and 7 months) than the D70, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX40 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX40 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX40 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D70 are 15 x 10 inches or 38.2 x 25.4 cm for good quality, 12 x 8 inches or 30.6 x 20.3 cm for very good quality, and 10 x 6.7 inches or 25.5 x 16.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX40 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D70 are ISO 200 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the SX40 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the D70 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX40	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.6	10.9	409	41
2.		Nikon D70	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	10.3	529	50
3.		Canon 300D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
4.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
5.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
6.		Canon G12	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	720/24p	20.4	11.2	161	47
7.		Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
8.		Canon SX10	1/2.3	10.0	3648	2736	480/30p	19.0	10.3	144	35
9.		Canon SX20	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	19.2	10.5	225	37
10.		Canon SX30	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	720/30p	19.4	10.7	320	39
11.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
12.		Nikon D50	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.9	10.8	560	55
13.		Nikon D70s	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	10.3	529	50
14.		Nikon D80	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.1	11.2	524	61
15.		Nikon D100	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	9.9	394	48
16.		Panasonic FZ100	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	19.4	10.7	306	39
17.		Panasonic FZ150	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.4	10.9	132	40
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The SX40 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the D70 does not. The highest resolution format that the SX40 can use is 1080/24p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the SX40 has an electronic viewfinder (202k dots), while the D70 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon SX40, the Nikon D70, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX40	202	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	10.3/s	Y	Y
2.		Nikon D70	optical	n	1.8 / 130	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 300D	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon G12	optical	n	2.8 / 461	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.1/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon G15	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX10	202	n	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.7/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX20	202	n	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.7/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX30	202	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.6/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0 / 461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
12.		Nikon D50	optical	n	2.0 / 130	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D70s	optical	n	2.0 / 130	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon D80	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
15.		Nikon D100	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
16.		Panasonic FZ100	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic FZ150	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The SX40 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the D70 uses Compact Flash cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS and Nikon D70 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX40	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D70	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 300D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon G12	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon G15	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon SX10	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX20	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon SX30	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon D50	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D70s	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D80	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D100	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic FZ100	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic FZ150	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both the SX40 and the D70 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D70 was replaced by the Nikon D70s, while the SX40 was followed by the Canon SX50. Further information on the features and operation of the SX40 and D70 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX40 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D70 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX40 or the Nikon D70 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (12 vs 6MP) with a 38% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/24p movies.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.7" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 130k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10.3 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the D70 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (123x92mm vs 140x111mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the D70).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.0).
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 7 months of technical progress since the D70 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D70:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/3200s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in January 2004).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX40 is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX40 and the Nikon D70 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX40 or the D70. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX40	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D70	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	EUR 999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 300D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	EUR 1 095	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	EUR 399	ebay.com
5.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
6.		Canon G12	4/5	+	..	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
7.		Canon G15	4/5	+	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	EUR 579	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX10	..	+ +	..	..	..	4/5	Sep 2008	EUR 379	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX20	..	+ +	..	73/100	..	4/5	Aug 2009	EUR 379	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX30	3/5	+ +	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Sep 2010	EUR 469	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	EUR 529	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D50	..	78/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2005	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D70s	..	..	..	..	..	5/5	Apr 2005	EUR 949	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D80	..	+	..	+ +	o	4.5/5	Aug 2006	EUR 969	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D100	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	EUR 2 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic FZ100	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2010	EUR 529	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic FZ150	3/5	+ +	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	EUR 529	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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