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Any Canon SX40 HS users here? How do you like it?

AnitaPeterson

AnitaPeterson

Diamond Member
Hi folks,

I've been a long-time Canon fan, and I have an SX1 (along with an S1, S3, XSi, TX1 and an A310, LOL!)

Been using the SX1 for the last couple of years, and I love it, despite its quirks and the unwieldy, monstruous 1080p video files it produces. As for the S3, it was one of my favorite cameras of all times...

But now I'm curious about the SX40 HS... The 35x zoom is quite a proposition (by comparison, it's almost double the power of the SX1)... Previews seem to indicate that Canon has wised up and a) reduced the megapixel count, and b) switched to CMOS, thereby reducing image noise and light sensitivity. Is that right? How do you like the camera? How does it compare to previous models (if you have them as well)? Do you like the video it produces? And, most importantly, how's the lens? Does the zoom work as advertised? Did it retain the Super Macro capability to get as close as 0 cm to the subject?

Thanks in advance 🙂
 
LOVE IT.

Had the SX10, traded up to the SX30 for more zoom. The SX30 was great at the long end, nowhere close at wide.

The SX40 is great at both. Upgraded sensor, reduced megapixels, does very well at higher ISOs, which the SX30 did not.

Haven't used the video much, and probably won't. Lens is great, zoom is as advertised. Haven't used macro, but from what I've read, you can indeed take macros with the object against the lens. There's a thread on that topic at dpreview - along with others on IQ, video, and just about everything else. Lots of sample images, as well.
 
OP, thanks for posting this.
I'm also looking for a superzoom or travelzoom. I have it narrowed down to 4 cameras. The Canon SX40 and the Panasonic FZ150K are the superzooms.
From reviews I've read, except for for 35X vs. 24X optical zoom, a few bucks less for the SX40, and a few other differences they are pretty close.

Here's a comparison review: http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Panasonic-FZ150-Digital-Camera-Review.htm
 
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Currently using a SX10 for the last couple years and am interested in the SX40 as well. I don't care about the 35X zoom but I love the 0cm super macro on mine (I have in fact taken photos of objects right up against the lens) and hope they kept in on the SX40. The SX20 had HD video that I wanted but I wish it had the option of 720p and 1080p as opposed to just 1080p cause like it has been mentioned before the file size of 1080p is monstrous.
 
KingstonU said:
Currently using a SX10 for the last couple years and am interested in the SX40 as well. I don't care about the 35X zoom but I love the 0cm super macro on mine (I have in fact taken photos of objects right up against the lens) and hope they kept in on the SX40.
Click to expand...

I too have a SX-10, and agree about the super macro setting. I also have the SX-30, and the super macro setting goes away. Also, it changes from AA batteries to a proprietary L-ion one. That makes a spare battery almost essential. There are many things the SX-30 does better than the SX-10, but I still keep the SX-10 for super macro shots of hardware items. I would therefore assume that the SX-40 would not have it, but be like the SX-30. As for video, 1080p, etc., I couldn't care less - am not a video shooter at all.
 
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KingstonU said:
Currently using a SX10 for the last couple years and am interested in the SX40 as well. I don't care about the 35X zoom but I love the 0cm super macro on mine (I have in fact taken photos of objects right up against the lens) and hope they kept in on the SX40. The SX20 had HD video that I wanted but I wish it had the option of 720p and 1080p as opposed to just 1080p cause like it has been mentioned before the file size of 1080p is monstrous.
Click to expand...

According to an owner on dpreview, the minimum focusing distance for the SX40 is 0cm. It will focus with the subject touching the lens.

The SX40 does offer 720p video, if you want a smaller file size.
 
I also love the fact that you can take photos and videos at the same time, I just wish that the resulting video is not just a slideshow of the photos you took. Hard to explain unless you see it and if you take less pictures then it's more tolerable but it would be nice if they could figure out how to keep the video seamless while taking photos.
 
The disappearance of the SuperMacro feature was a surprise... I didn't think they'd take that way. To those not familiar with this setting: what it accomplished, basically, was to create a fixed focus-free lens, capable of shooting at 0cm as well as 10 metres, while keeping everything in focus. Useful when trying to do insect photography, for instance (as the bee/butterfly moves, you might have to hunt for focus...)
 
AnitaPeterson said:
The disappearance of the SuperMacro feature was a surprise... I didn't think they'd take that way. To those not familiar with this setting: what it accomplished, basically, was to create a fixed focus-free lens, capable of shooting at 0cm as well as 10 metres, while keeping everything in focus. Useful when trying to do insect photography, for instance (as the bee/butterfly moves, you might have to hunt for focus...)
Click to expand...

How is that possible? Really tiny aperture??
 
What disappeared with the Macro hold to get S macro. It seems as though the simply enhanced macro and it supposedly does S-Macro. However, I haven't found that to be the case with the SX-30.

For me, the biggest change from SX-10 to SX-30 was the shift to a proprietary battery as opposed to commonly available AA's - especially when in remote overseas areas.
 
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