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Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

Started Oct 3, 2012 | Discussions
james2k50
james2k50 Contributing Member • Posts: 573
Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

I would like a camera with more reach so I have been considering this for the last few days. Here is a little background; I come from using an entry-level DSLR "Sony Alpha a230" which I sold. With the money I decided to buy another camera "$400 budget". I'm wondering if the SX40 HS would be fine regarding image quality and for larger prints? I know that this Canon is not a dslr but it seems to get good reviews. Many seem to choose this camera as an alternative to buying into the dslr system. I do know however that it does have a small sensor. I would love to see some pictures samples of this camera in action. Thanks, James

 james2k50's gear list:james2k50's gear list
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Sony SLT-A35 Sony SLT-A65
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
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naturefilmer Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

I really like the SX40 for close-up wildlife/nature shots and for wide open spaces with even (not mixed) sunlight. Here are some I took:

c.hammett Forum Pro • Posts: 12,125
Re:A little of everything and some crops...

Some of everything, all focal lengths a few crops, and most OOC. Notes below
each image

http://www.pbase.com/chammett/canon_sx40_experiments

ducks bathing

http://www.pbase.com/chammett/sx40_hs__two_mallard_ducks_having_a_bath

Indoors Christmas eve . EXIF doesn't indicate flash, but I was using 430EX bounced .

http://www.pbase.com/chammett/christmas_eve_2011

Fun camera.... hope this helps.

carolyn
--
Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett

'elegance is simplicity'

 c.hammett's gear list:c.hammett's gear list
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CoasterTim
CoasterTim Senior Member • Posts: 1,241
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS
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Olympus Tough TG-4 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Apple iPad Pro 9.7
stef Regular Member • Posts: 411
Some pictures and thoughts...

I have taken a lot of pictures with the SX40 and I think it is a great camera. The only criticism that I can think of is the auto focus, which sometimes really frustrates me. But to be fair to the camera, I am pushing it and getting shots that I could never have gotten with my other cameras. For the money I spent on this camera, it has already paid for itself in the fun that I have had with it. The camera is truly a point and shoot but one with a macro and a very long lens built in.

I have a large number of pictures at my website if you are interested. I would never post any images without first checking them in pp software for levels or whatever so none are straight out of camera -- unless they satisfy me and in good light I usually don't do anything with them so some have light pp and some don't.

My website:

http://steveandbecky.smugmug.com/

The four "Featured Galleries" were all shot with the SX40 and the one further down the page "Street Scenes" (the one called "My Street") was shot with the SX 40. I was going to make a photo gallery of all the interesting things that happen on our street but as it turns out there isn't much of interest that happens around here -- but it might be interesting to see different images from the camera.

I would buy it again or the SX 50.

RDCollins
RDCollins Senior Member • Posts: 1,194
Re: Some pictures and thoughts...

Ditto. It may not be the perfect camera, but then there is no such thing. Search this forum for posts about the SX40 and you'll quickly see the very high quality photos that it's capable of.

-- hide signature --

Doug Collins
Hermosa Beach, California

 RDCollins's gear list:RDCollins's gear list
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VisionLight
VisionLight Veteran Member • Posts: 6,227
Re: Some pictures and thoughts...

Hey Stef,

Clicked on the SX40 HS tag in your gallery and had a really nice time watching the slide show while I had my lunch. So many wonderful images of flora and fauna, and so well done. Thanks for posting the link.

Vision

 VisionLight's gear list:VisionLight's gear list
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toomanycanons Forum Pro • Posts: 14,167
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

Aren't there about a gazillion threads already up on this forum about all aspects of the SX40?

james2k50 wrote:

I would like a camera with more reach so I have been considering this for the last few days. Here is a little background; I come from using an entry-level DSLR "Sony Alpha a230" which I sold. With the money I decided to buy another camera "$400 budget". I'm wondering if the SX40 HS would be fine regarding image quality and for larger prints? I know that this Canon is not a dslr but it seems to get good reviews. Many seem to choose this camera as an alternative to buying into the dslr system. I do know however that it does have a small sensor. I would love to see some pictures samples of this camera in action. Thanks, James

BosPhotoMan Regular Member • Posts: 320
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

I completely agree the strong point of the SX40 is the image quality. As others have mentioned, the autofocus is sometimes frustrating, so it might be worth considering the SX50 as well.

RoyAmatore
RoyAmatore Senior Member • Posts: 1,440
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

That's a nice shot hannenberg. To the poster: If you like 840mm of reach you will probably love 1200mm. I have the SX40 and am very happy with it. I do struggle with focusing, however, and as I am primarily interested in bird images, I always wish I could get closer.

Roy Amatore

 RoyAmatore's gear list:RoyAmatore's gear list
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BosPhotoMan Regular Member • Posts: 320
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

Thank you Roy. Your shot is awesome.

I've said this in other forums - but the feature I desire the most in some future superzoom is a decent manual focus option. There are other shortcomings to the SX40, but the inability to adjust focus manually (in any usable way) is my biggest gripe.

James Cafferty Veteran Member • Posts: 5,364
Re:A little of everything and some crops...

c.hammett wrote:

Some of everything, all focal lengths a few crops, and most OOC. Notes below
each image

Snip...

Very nice work, Carolyn. I added your links to my SX40 Best Examples list. Thanks!
--
All the best,
Jim

Photographers take pictures; the camera is only a tool.

Augustin Man
Augustin Man Forum Pro • Posts: 11,361
Warning - not Canon SX40, but Nikon P510

I'm happy that someone recommended you my Munich album:

https://picasaweb.google.com/106913078899624028286/Munchen2012#

but the images there were shot by a Nikon P510 camera and not by Canon SX40! I just came to the Canon forum because I prospected to upgrade to Canon SX50, and speaking about P510, I gave also here the link.

All the best,

Augustin

 Augustin Man's gear list:Augustin Man's gear list
Nikon Coolpix P1000
James Cafferty Veteran Member • Posts: 5,364
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

CoasterTim wrote:

I have 19 sample shots here:
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/timspirations/CANONSX40#
--
Tim Schaeffer
http://picasaweb.google.com/timspirations

Nice work, too, Tim. I've also added your link to my Best SX40 examples. Thanks!

-- hide signature --

All the best,
Jim

Photographers take pictures; the camera is only a tool.

james2k50
OP james2k50 Contributing Member • Posts: 573
Re: Some pictures and thoughts...

So would you say this camera would be problematic if the autofocus is this hard to deal with?

stef wrote:

I have taken a lot of pictures with the SX40 and I think it is a great camera. The only criticism that I can think of is the auto focus, which sometimes really frustrates me. But to be fair to the camera, I am pushing it and getting shots that I could never have gotten with my other cameras. For the money I spent on this camera, it has already paid for itself in the fun that I have had with it. The camera is truly a point and shoot but one with a macro and a very long lens built in.

I have a large number of pictures at my website if you are interested. I would never post any images without first checking them in pp software for levels or whatever so none are straight out of camera -- unless they satisfy me and in good light I usually don't do anything with them so some have light pp and some don't.

My website:

http://steveandbecky.smugmug.com/

The four "Featured Galleries" were all shot with the SX40 and the one further down the page "Street Scenes" (the one called "My Street") was shot with the SX 40. I was going to make a photo gallery of all the interesting things that happen on our street but as it turns out there isn't much of interest that happens around here -- but it might be interesting to see different images from the camera.

I would buy it again or the SX 50.

 james2k50's gear list:james2k50's gear list
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Sony SLT-A35 Sony SLT-A65
Augustin Man
Augustin Man Forum Pro • Posts: 11,361
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

Gorgeous shot, congratulations!

Augustin

 Augustin Man's gear list:Augustin Man's gear list
Nikon Coolpix P1000
c.hammett Forum Pro • Posts: 12,125
Re:A little of everything and some crops...

James Cafferty wrote:

c.hammett wrote:

Some of everything, all focal lengths a few crops, and most OOC. Notes below
each image

Snip...

Very nice work, Carolyn. I added your links to my SX40 Best Examples list. Thanks!
--
All the best,
Jim

Photographers take pictures; the camera is only a tool.

Let us know what you decide. I think the SX40 has exceptional IQ at full zoom. Ditto for close ups. I have the G1X too, and think they are a good pair for travel.

carolyn
--
Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett

'elegance is simplicity'

 c.hammett's gear list:c.hammett's gear list
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
James Nelson5141 Junior Member • Posts: 40
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

I tried the sx 40 and the AF was not quick enough just pick up the sx 50 and is blown away by my fist 50 shots I still ha to set it up Canon got it right so everything that I didn't like about the sx40 has been corrected AF IS and shot to shot

RoyAmatore
RoyAmatore Senior Member • Posts: 1,440
Re: Thinking about Buying the SX40 HS

James Nelson5141 wrote:

I tried the sx 40 and the AF was not quick enough just pick up the sx 50 and is blown away by my fist 50 shots I still ha to set it up Canon got it right so everything that I didn't like about the sx40 has been corrected AF IS and shot to shot

That's great to hear, James. -Roy

 RoyAmatore's gear list:RoyAmatore's gear list
Nikon D750 Nikon D850 Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm F4G ED VR Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Tamron 15-30mm F2.8 +5 more
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