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Canon SX710 vs Nikon L840

The Canon PowerShot SX710 HS and the Nikon Coolpix L840 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2015 and February 2015. Both the SX710 and the L840 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon SX710
versus
Nikon L840
Canon SX710   Nikon L840
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
25-750mm f/3.2-6.9 22.5-855mm f/3.0-6.5
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 80-3,200 ISO 100-6,400
No viewfinder, LCD framing No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
6 shutter flaps per second 7.4 shutter flaps per second
230 shots per battery charge590 shots per battery charge
113 x 66 x 35 mm, 269 g 113 x 78 x 96 mm, 538 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS and the Nikon Coolpix L840? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX710 and the Nikon L840. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, red).

Size Canon SX710 vs Nikon L840
Compare SX710 versus L840 top
Comparison SX710 or L840 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon L840 is notably larger (18 percent) than the Canon SX710. Moreover, the L840 is substantially heavier (100 percent) than the SX710. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX710 nor the L840 are weather-sealed.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 349ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon L840 113 mm 78 mm 96 mm 538 g 590 n Feb 2015 299ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX740 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 299 g 265 n Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX420 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 195 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX540 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 205 n Jan 2016 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 379ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX410 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 185 n Feb 2015 279ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX700 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 250 n Feb 2014 349ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Leica X Typ 113 133 mm 73 mm 78 mm 486 g 350 n Sep 2014 2,295ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon B600 122 mm 82 mm 99 mm 500 g 280 n Jan 2019 349ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon B500 114 mm 78 mm 95 mm 541 g 600 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
16.
 
Nikon P900 140 mm 103 mm 137 mm 899 g 360 n Mar 2015 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony HX80 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 390 n Mar 2016 349ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The L840 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 14 percent) than the SX710, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Canon SX710 and Nikon L840 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX710 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the L840. This megapixels advantage translates into a 13 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX710 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.33μm for the L840). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX710 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX710 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon L840 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX710 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix L840 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the SX710 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the L840 uses a CMOS 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.

SX710 versus L840 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
2.
 
Nikon L840 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.211.672147
3.
 
Canon SX740 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1105051
4.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
6.
 
Canon SX420 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.311.780648
7.
 
Canon SX540 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.780648
8.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
9.
 
Canon SX410 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.211.672047
10.
 
Canon SX700 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.111.462945
11.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
12.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
13.
 
Leica X Typ 113 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.612.8149178
14.
 
Nikon B600 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.712.2109552
15.
 
Nikon B500 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.311.781048
16.
 
Nikon P900 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.211.672747
17.
 
Sony HX80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.411.882248
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the SX710 provides a higher frame rate than the L840. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60i.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The SX710 and the L840 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX710 and Nikon L840 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image 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 SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Nikon L840none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX740none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX420none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX540none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX410none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon SX700none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 8.5/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
13.
 
Leica X Typ 113optional n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/2000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Nikon B600none n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
15.
 
Nikon B500none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
16.
 
Nikon P900921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony HX80638 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

Both the SX710 and the L840 have zoom lenses built in. The SX710 has a 25-750mm f/3.2-6.9 optic and the L840 offers a 22.5-855mm f/3.0-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Nikon provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Canon. The L840 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX710 and the L840 write their files to SDXC cards. The SX710 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the L840 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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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 SX710 HS and Nikon Coolpix L840 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Nikon L840-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX740-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX420-mono / mono---2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon SX540-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon SX410-stereo / mono---2.0---
10.
 
Canon SX700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Leica X Typ 113Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Nikon B600-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
15.
 
Nikon B500-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
16.
 
Nikon P900-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony HX80-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
padding

Both the SX710 and the L840 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX710 was replaced by the Canon SX720, while the L840 was followed by the Nikon B500. Further information on the features and operation of the SX710 and L840 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX710 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon L840 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX710 or the Nikon L840 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (20.2 vs 15.9MP) with a 13% higher linear resolution.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
  • More compact: Is smaller (113x66mm vs 113x78mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 269g or 50 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

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Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix L840:

  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/3200s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7.4 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.0 vs f/3.2).
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (590 versus 230) out of a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (14 percent cheaper at launch).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the L840 emerges as the winner of the match-up (8 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

SX710 05:08 L840

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX710 and the Nikon L840 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the SX710 and the L840 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 349ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon L840..+ +....3.5/54/5 Feb 2015 299ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX740..+3.5/5..4/54/5 Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX420..........3/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX540............ Jan 2016 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 379ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX410..o........ Feb 2015 279ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX700..+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 349ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Leica X Typ 1133.5/5......3.5/54/5 Sep 2014 2,295ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon B600..+....3.5/53/5 Jan 2019 349ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon B500..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
16.
 
Nikon P900......77/1004/54/5 Mar 2015 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony HX80............ Mar 2016 349ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon SX710 vs Nikon L840

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 25-750mm f/3.2-6.9 22.5-855mm f/3.0-6.5
    Launch Date January 2015 February 2015
    Launch Price USD 349 USD 299
    Sensor Specs Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm 1.33 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2 56.73 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 80 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Screen Specs Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder no viewfinder
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s 7.4 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I no
    Connectivity Specs Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX710 Nikon L840
    Battery Type Canon NB-6LH Nikon 4xAA
    Battery Life (CIPA)230 shots per charge590 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 113 x 66 x 35 mm
    (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 in)
    113 x 78 x 96 mm
    (4.4 x 3.1 x 3.8 in)
    Camera Weight 269 g (9.5 oz) 538 g (19.0 oz)
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