SX40 Super Zoom (4 Viewers)

[MonkeyPrince]

I don't usually find Feral Pigeons to be very interesting subjects, but I'm also struggling to find anything better at the moment.

 

[MalR]

It might be "only" a feral pigeon, but I think that's a cracking picture.:t:

Malcolm

 

[Irvo52]

Was in Currys today and they have the SX40HS for £185 as a clearance line.
Not sure if all branches have the offer but worth checking out if you're in the market for one.
Peter

None in my local branch. Anyone seen any around Edinburgh?

 

[AndyM]

Nice to see people still posting some great images. Light (and luck) was pretty good today and managed the following...

AndyM

 

[David142]

AndyM,Great pics. Nice and sharp. Can you please tell me what settings you used and distance from subject.

 

[AndyM]

AndyM,Great pics. Nice and sharp. Can you please tell me what settings you used and distance from subject.

Sure. No problem. I have the following settings assigned to C2 on the mode dial;

AF Frame: Flexizone
Digital Zoom: Off
Servo AF: On
Continuous AF : On
AF-assist Beam: On
MF-Point Zoom: Off
Safety MF: On
i-Contrast: Off
Spot AE Point: Centre
IS Settings; IS Mode: Continuous; Powered IS: On
Display Area: Small

These are saved via Tv mode with the camera instructed to move to full zoom at power-up with 1/500sec shutter-speed and ISO set to Auto (however, on nice bright sunny days I will simply use Scene mode, HiQ 10fps burst and let the camera decide what's best). Unsurprisingly, all four images were taken using full zoom, hand held at 1/500sec at f.5.8 using Auto ISO!

Approximate distances; Turnstone at c.3m, Redshank at c.25m, Starling at c.15m and Brambling at c.18m. 1.5X converter used for Brambling.

All cropped for composition and mercilessly torn apart using various bits of image enhancement software....

HTH,

AndyM

 

[David142]

Thanks for the detailed info.Much appreciated. Will give it a try when we get any fine weather.

 

[kevcampbell]

I don't usually find Feral Pigeons to be very interesting subjects, but I'm also struggling to find anything better at the moment.


View attachment 424743

the colours of the pigeon have come out beautifully in the photo, great detail too

nice photo!

 

[AndyM]

A few more for anyone soldiering on with the SX40 or considering it as the cheaper option...

AndyM.

 

[Mackem George]

Hi Andy some cracking shots there sir,have the SX40 myself had about 5months still finding my way around it bought used had no manual only disc noticed some of your threads so taking them on board. Regards George.

 

[kevcampbell]

A few more for anyone soldiering on with the SX40 or considering it as the cheaper option...

AndyM.

cheaper and maybe better option in some ways too

 

[Johnny1]

Hi Andy some cracking shots there sir,have the SX40 myself had about 5months still finding my way around it bought used had no manual only disc noticed some of your threads so taking them on board. Regards George.

I bought mine new but that didn't have a manual with it only the disc which I found very annoying having to read everything in PDF format. When I first got it I printed off the first 100+ pages and learnt the basics. Too be honest I've found this thread very good and I've learnt more about the camera here.

 

[wilki]

Having just bought an SX40HS I've found this thread very interesting and helpful. In fact it influenced me to buy the camera after using a Fuji S8000fd for the last few years.

I used aperture priority, auto iso and auto focus for the attached pics. Still on the learning curve on how to use the camera.

 

[new_texas_birder]

This morning took this shot of a shellduck on a small island about 100 mtrs away , i used full zoom on my SX40 hs , by full zoom i mean the full 840 mm optical x 4 digital , to my surprise it turned out quite good , i didnt expect too much at that range especially using the x 4 digital as well , strangly the exif 150.5mm, anyway now i dont need to carry extra lenses anymore , this canon sx40 is one cool machine :t:

I have what is probably a dumb question, but what do you mean the 840 optical and a 4x digital? When it says the camera has a 35x optical zoom that is the 840 mm I am guessing. Then where does the 4x digital come from, and does it multiply the optical by 4x?

 

[Wildmoreway]

I have what is probably a dumb question, but what do you mean the 840 optical and a 4x digital? When it says the camera has a 35x optical zoom that is the 840 mm I am guessing. Then where does the 4x digital come from, and does it multiply the optical by 4x?

Woody does says 840 mm in the quote and 840 mm is the maximum focal length that can be reached optically. If you are on auto the digital zoom will also multiply by at least 4x, (I don't find the results much use above about 2x digital zoom though).

It is worth reading Roy C's comments about the effective "actual" maximum focal length on this camera and on zoom lenses in general, whilst not always easy to understand he has has done some tests that show the actual maximum optical zoom is not always anything like as much as 840 mm. One of the effects is that the closer you are to the subject the less the maximum zoom actually is, which can be somewhat awkward when you are photographing birds close up.

 

[KFC]

Have been following this thread for some time and it helped me decide to buy my sx40hs last summer. I've not had much chance to use it but had fun while in Sri Lanka over Christmas. The bird shots are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenturnip/sets/72157632442322014/ but a few of the better ones posted below. All are sharpened. Most were relatively close (20m?). I post the lesser adjutant as this was about 100m away under overcast skies and yet still produces a reasonable image as a record shot.

Thanks for all the advice that has appeared on this thread. I still have a lot to learn. :t:

Ken

 

[lobas]

Great shot's there with lots of detail in the pictures.

 

[pooleparrot]

Have been following this thread for some time and it helped me decide to buy my sx40hs last summer. I've not had much chance to use it but had fun while in Sri Lanka over Christmas. The bird shots are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenturnip/sets/72157632442322014/ but a few of the better ones posted below. All are sharpened. Most were relatively close (20m?). I post the lesser adjutant as this was about 100m away under overcast skies and yet still produces a reasonable image as a record shot.

Thanks for all the advice that has appeared on this thread. I still have a lot to learn. :t:

Ken

Beautiful shots Ken , especially love the Bee-Eater, nicely composed shot.

Ian

 

[Ben Markham]

These shots were taken at RSPB Fairburn Ings, in decent weather.

I'm happy with the turnout, and continue to be impressed by this camera's capabilities.

 

[Reuven_M]

I bought this camera based largely on the posts in this thread, and have been trying it for about 2 weeks. I'm very happy with it, I'm able to take great shots close up as well as document birds that are very far away.

Here's a few samples: A mourning dove, pintail and white-winged crossbill close in good light, a hidden long-eared owl and a distant glaucous gull under clouds.