SX40 Super Zoom (2 Viewers)

[Andrew]

Whilst being very impressed with the optical performance of this camera, the external features do not suit my needs so I have put mine up for sale in the classifieds section.

I find the Fuji HS cameras better for extreme insect macros and the Canon's side swinging LCD screen does not work for me.

The never ending quest for the perfect camera continues!

 

[AndyM]

Working on the PC this morning I saw this young Sparrowhawk pitch on my garden fence. Grabbed the SX40 and rattled off a few shots through the DG window. The SX40 was in SCN mode and 10 fps with no time to change. Worked out reasonable well in the circumstances.

Incredible shot!

(wish my windows were that clean ;-)

 

[Roy C]

?While like everyone you will not have seen the sx 50 any thoughts Roy on spec between them. GEORGE.

Hi George, as the sensor size is the same I am not sure that the 1200mm will be anything to get excited about (maybe be marginally better than the SX40 + 1.5x digital converter). The thing that would interest me the most is the claimed better AF as this is where the SX40 really is poor IMHO. No thoughts on getting one myself though.

 

[Moocher]

Working on the PC this morning I saw this young Sparrowhawk pitch on my garden fence. Grabbed the SX40 and rattled off a few shots through the DG window. The SX40 was in SCN mode and 10 fps with no time to change. Worked out reasonable well in the circumstances.

OUTSTANDING! As usual.

 

[Neil]

Working on the PC this morning I saw this young Sparrowhawk pitch on my garden fence. Grabbed the SX40 and rattled off a few shots through the DG window. The SX40 was in SCN mode and 10 fps with no time to change. Worked out reasonable well in the circumstances.

Nice one Roy. The SX40 proves it's worth again.
Neil.

 

[lobas]

Working on the PC this morning I saw this young Sparrowhawk pitch on my garden fence. Grabbed the SX40 and rattled off a few shots through the DG window. The SX40 was in SCN mode and 10 fps with no time to change. Worked out reasonable well in the circumstances.

Top shot Roy, very good, would be happy with that one

 

[MonkeyPrince]

Working on the PC this morning I saw this young Sparrowhawk pitch on my garden fence. Grabbed the SX40 and rattled off a few shots through the DG window. The SX40 was in SCN mode and 10 fps with no time to change. Worked out reasonable well in the circumstances.

Very nice shot :t:

 

[Roy C]

A couple of snaps from my walk this morning just to keep the thread going o
Starling at 840mm and Wheatear at 1260mm both heavily cropped.

 

[Neil]

A couple of snaps from my walk this morning just to keep the thread going o
Starling at 840mm and Wheatear at 1260mm both heavily cropped.

Looking good Roy. It will be interesting to check the sx50 against the sx40
Neil

 

[Mackem George]

Hi Roy another couple of great shots especially the starling,have ditched the Nikon P90 and joined the SX40ERS got myself a Canon sx40 plenty bells and whistles on it just like the 7D have been tracking back on the forum at the various threads, some really great shots.So pleased you restarted the thread again Roy long may it continue. GEORGE.

 

[Roy C]

Hi Roy another couple of great shots especially the starling,have ditched the Nikon P90 and joined the SX40ERS got myself a Canon sx40 plenty bells and whistles on it just like the 7D have been tracking back on the forum at the various threads, some really great shots.So pleased you restarted the thread again Roy long may it continue. GEORGE.

Thanks George :t: The best of luck with the SX40 I am sure you will enjoy it.

 

[christineredgate]

Whilst being very impressed with the optical performance of this camera, the external features do not suit my needs so I have put mine up for sale in the classifieds section.

I find the Fuji HS cameras better for extreme insect macros and the Canon's side swinging LCD screen does not work for me.

The never ending quest for the perfect camera continues!

Andrew .I totally agree with you.

 

[flossiepip]

I have the SX30 and I'm very pleased with it. Would I benefit from moving up to the SX40 or wait on the SX50?

 

[crazyfingers]

I have the SX30 and I'm very pleased with it. Would I benefit from moving up to the SX40 or wait on the SX50?

I have and SX30 and upgraded to the SX40 and the upgrade was definitely worth it.

1: Burst shooting is a huge improvement. SX30 is about 1/second and the SX40 is 8 per second. I understand that some people consider 8/second to be slow but I'm not sure I would want more. I delete enough near-duplicate photos as it is.

2: Lower light shooting is noticeably improved

3: Overall better image quality is better with the SX40.

I don't have an SX50 and I am resisting the temptation to look too closely at it for fear of appliance envy.

 

[Roy C]

Whilst being very impressed with the optical performance of this camera, the external features do not suit my needs so I have put mine up for sale in the classifieds section.

I find the Fuji HS cameras better for extreme insect macros and the Canon's side swinging LCD screen does not work for me.

The never ending quest for the perfect camera continues!

Andrew .I totally agree with you.

Although I never use it myself (preferring the viewfinder) I am curious as to what is wrong with the LCD screen on the SX40. You can have it closed in OR open just like a DSLR OR swung open at any angle - apart from having live TV I cannot think of what else you would want!

As for macro stuff I cannot image anyone even contemplating a superzoom like the SX40 for this type of work - the so called macro setting only works at the wide end of the zoom and to use this you would have to be just about touching any insect to get any decent size in the frame, if you do get this close then you will lose light due to the Camera blocking it. I can only think that you did not do your homework before buying the SX40 Andrew if you wanted it for macro. For decent macro stuff only a DSLR with a pukka macro lens is sufficient IMHO

Surely the only reason why anyone would buy a 'superzoom' is for a little walkaround and general snapping or for their ability to get long focal lengths which are hand holdable while retaining AF (what DSLR can you get 1600mm, hand holding and still have AF?).

 

[Mícheál]

For decent macro stuff only a DSLR with a pukka macro lens is sufficient IMHO

Surely the only reason why anyone would buy a 'superzoom' is for a little walkaround and general snapping or for their ability to get long focal lengths which are hand holdable while retaining AF (what DSLR can you get 1600mm, hand holding and still have AF?).

Roy,

I have an SX40 and I am very happy with it except that it is very poor at macro/close-up photos for the reasons you state (and I was aware of that when I bought it. I would far prefer it to have the 'record shot' capabiilities at the long end.

However I did wonder why it is so poor, compared to say my old simple, and by today's standards, primitive Nikon Coolpix 4500, which was a fantastic close-up camera that made the absolute most of its 4.5 megapixels.

Mícheál

 

[Roy C]

Roy,

I have an SX40 and I am very happy with it except that it is very poor at macro/close-up photos for the reasons you state (and I was aware of that when I bought it. I would far prefer it to have the 'record shot' capabiilities at the long end.

However I did wonder why it is so poor, compared to say my old simple, and by today's standards, primitive Nikon Coolpix 4500, which was a fantastic close-up camera that made the absolute most of its 4.5 megapixels.

Mícheál

Hi Micheal, my first digicam was the Coolpix 4500, cracking little camera in its day and still favoured by a lot of digiscopers. I think that because these so called super zooms have developed primarily for the extreme focal lengths then other things have to suffer - you are not going to get a Camera that gives over 840mm optical and good macro abilities for the price of these Cameras -I would have thought a vast majority of people who buy a Camera like the SX40 do so for the long end of the zoom. I cannot remember what the 4500 went up to at the long end but certainly nothing like today's 'superzooms'.

 

[bob freeman]

BrownShrike

I have been finding headless Swallows around the decks this last few days,now i know why,found this young Brown Shrike skulking amongst the wire slings,looks well fed and in good condition.
Pretty bad light when i took these shots.
TV Mode at 1/25,full zoom with 1.5x on and only 100 iso,i usually keep it set to 400 but must have changed it by mistake as i have done a few times with this camera.

 

[Hottentot]

Stunning picture bob, wicked birds Shrikes, impressive it can catch Swallows.
When you say decks do you mean its on a ship?

 

[Roy C]

I have been finding headless Swallows around the decks this last few days,now i know why,found this young Brown Shrike skulking amongst the wire slings,looks well fed and in good condition.
Pretty bad light when i took these shots.
TV Mode at 1/25,full zoom with 1.5x on and only 100 iso,i usually keep it set to 400 but must have changed it by mistake as i have done a few times with this camera.

Some cracking detail there Bob:t: I change lots of things by mistake on the SX40 because it is so small.