Need help deciding - S100 or SX40 HS

[SimpleJack]

Canon PowerShot S100 (or) PowerShot SX40 HS

I'm having a hard time deciding on what camera to get and was hoping I can find some decision making help here.
I'm selling my DSLR setup to buy a point and shoot camera. I wan't something smaller and easier to use as in taking 1 handing shots and carrying around.

What I need most is:
Image Quality
Macro
Manual Controls
Fast Autofocus
Zoom is good, but only if the zoom keeps high image quality.

[Sirrith]

The s100 should win in IQ. Personally I don't like superzooms, so its the one I'd pick. Plus its pocketable, the SX40 isn't, so you don't really gain much over a DSLR; sure its smaller, but if you think about it, you still need a bag for it, you still need to use 2 hands to hold it, so does it really matter that it takes up less space inside the bag, since the bag is the most obtrusive/annoying part of carrying a camera around?

My opinion is that if you're going to get something with a compact sensor, get a proper compact, not something that tries to be more. If you're happy with the size of a superzoom, get a m4/3 camera.

[mark2009]

I bought a s100 when I want a pocket camera instead of lugging my dslr, and love the camera. Below is a size comparison of the two you are thinking about.

http://camerasize.com/compare/#142,140

[guitplayer]

The s100 should win in IQ. Personally I don't like superzooms, so its the one I'd pick. Plus its pocketable, the SX40 isn't, so you don't really gain much over a DSLR; sure its smaller, but if you think about it, you still need a bag for it, you still need to use 2 hands to hold it, so does it really matter that it takes up less space inside the bag, since the bag is the most obtrusive/annoying part of carrying a camera around?

My opinion is that if you're going to get something with a compact sensor, get a proper compact, not something that tries to be more. If you're happy with the size of a superzoom, get a m4/3 camera.

+1

I totaly agree with Sirrith. I have all 3, a dslr, the S100 and a SX20 (not quite the 40). I find myself using the S100 the most. It's features coupled with it's size are amazing. When space permits I'll throw the dslr with a 70-200 along with the S100 and have a wide focal range option available. The SX cameras don't shoot raw either which I do almost exclusivly.

[guitplayer]

I bought a s100 when I want a pocket camera instead of lugging my dslr, and love the camera. Below is a size comparison of the two you are thinking about.

http://camerasize.com/compare/#142,140

That's a nice size comparison but what it needs is a side shot. The S100 is way thinner than the SX40

[ct1co2]

OP, for smaller and more convenient, the S100 wins. Of note, try changing the comparison of the size of the SX40from the S100 to the T2i, and you'll probably find the SX40 is not much smaller than your current T1i.

[S100mike]

S100 wins... agreed. Pocketable, fantastic IQ, decent high iso performance, RAW( all I shoot ) I prefer Olympus and Fuji Jpeg renderings much better. It is a true take it anywhere camera.

PS... I sound like a broken record but Canon has done so right with the S Series from the 90-100..

[S100mike]

There you have it.

[guitplayer]

There you have it.

Now that says it all :lol:

[eyalg]

S100, there's no question.
For better image quality and one-hand-holdability, as you said.
SX40 is fun, but not so much so for someone selling their DSLR.
In fact, in that position, I would either get the S100 or the G12.

-eyalg

[imjason]

If money is not an issue, and all youre interested is in size and IQ, 2012 is a good year to be in. Tons of recent compacts have large enough sensors to rival DSLRs. If you want to stay with the Canon camp, check out the G1X with its near APSC sensor. Its larger than your typical point and shoot but not as big as the SX40 with DSLR like capabilities.

If you want something smaller, the S100 is the winner in the qualities that you want, maybe except for zoom range.

[jim_in_srq]

Canon PowerShot S100 (or) PowerShot SX40 HS

What I need most is:
Image Quality
Macro
Manual Controls
Fast Autofocus
Zoom is good, but only if the zoom keeps high image quality.

I own neither, but am looking at the SX40. That said every one of the responses thus far seems to focus on the physical size comparison between the two and not so much on the items Simplejack is asking the forum to compare...

[imjason]

I own neither, but am looking at the SX40. That said every one of the responses thus far seems to focus on the physical size comparison between the two and not so much on the items Simplejack is asking the forum to compare...

sure ill address it.for the S100, besides having the size and image quality advantage, both cameras have manual controls and slow autofocus. I would give the macro advantage to the S100. The zoom lens on the SX40 has barrel distortion. If one is interested in a superzoom with less barrel distortion, check out Fujis.

[eyalg]

Here's my simulated diagonal boxed size comparison (and images to scale):

http://www.eyalg.com/compare/size/index.php?first=s100&second=sx40

-eyalg

[T.J.]

As for the barrel effect on the SX40 HS and the S100, check out this link, where there is a comparison between the two cameras. Here, the SX40 HS seems to come out slightly on top. [URL="http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=40868323"/URL]

Furthermore, though I haven't tried it, the SX40 HS is capable of taking RAW shots with the addition of CHDK.

Another fact you should be aware of, if you don't already know it, is that the S100 does not have any viewfinder, but only an LCD, while the SX40 HS has an electronic viewfinder. True, some people does not care for a viewfinder, however, it is very good to have in bright sunlight, or for that matter, it really does help in stabilizing the camera. As far as I'm concerned, a viewfinder is a must, in order to be able to take good photos regardless of the light situation.

Furthermore the SX40 HS has a fully articulated screen, while that's not the case with the S100. This is really a nice feature, since you can get great pictures in angles that would have been quite difficult to get into otherwise. When not in use, the screen is turned with the backside out, in order to protect it. Another thing with the LCD is that it's possible to turn it forward, which can be very useful if taking photos and being in front of the camera yourself, such as group photos, or videos or something else.

Regarding the image quality, check out the Best photo threads of the cameras available in this forum, that should give you a really good view of what qualities they are capable of.

The macro seems to be better in the SX40 HS. Again, in the Best shots thread you can see some photos in macro which is really great.

Can't say anything about which of them is better at autofocus, but at times the SX40 at least takes a little while to get it right. After playing around with it for a while though I think this has to do with technique rather than the camera itself. I might be wrong though.

There are some other features differing between them, but I have tried to keep to only the ones you were wondering about.

As for size, yes, the S100 is much smaller and easier to carry around.
Speaking of zoom, the SX40 HS is definitely far better than the S100. It's really amazing what type of photos you can shoot using it.

So, in the end, it's up to you to pick the one that best suits you, depending on what you value most.

Good luck with whatever camera you choose. :)

/T.J.

[wilerty]

I just sold my 60D and lenses. I now have an S95, SX40, and a G1X.

The S95 is a wonderful camera, great images, pocketable, good in low light ... but it doesn't have the IQ of the G1X. The SX40 has very good IQ and I only have it for the rare times where I need a long zoom.

I consider the S95 as the best P&S. I consider the G1X as a small DSLR replacement.

[nate42nd]

The S100 is a clear winner. I had an SX20, SX30, and sold them promptly. I have had my S95 for a long time. The S series is just great. If you want a superzoom or a large camera..get a Rebel.

[SimpleJack]

I think the S100 is gonna be the winner of my decision.

Small size and the image quality is by far the best I have ever seen with a point and shoot camera.
The extra money I will have after selling all my DSLR gear
I think it will also be nice to master the camera and impress people with the pictures that can be taken with such a small camera.
I love the color and the body style.
To me this seems to be the perfect camera.

The SX40 HS is only good for having that extra zoom when needed, but other then that, I don't like anything about it. Too big and just doesn't look as nice.
Comparing what I would get with the large SX40 verses what I will get with the S100, I think it is a clear winner that the S100 is by far the better camera for what I am looking for.

I was looking into the G1X, but then again, going back to the size issue that I'm trying to get away from.

[Keyan]

I find the AF on the S100 to be very fast, rivaling the kit glass on my 60D, most of the time my shutter lag is well under 1/2 second, and it also has burst options, including the crazy 8 fps single burst. It just works great.

[ct1co2]

Pocketability of the S100 is amazing. I've had it this week on vacation in SD and have often pulled it out to shoot (1 handed) holding my daughter in my arms and even at times when my 50D is hanging off my shoulder or being out to dinner and being inconspicuous. For macro, I had posted a snowflake shot in the S100 thread a few weeks back. The focus pretty quick. The combination of size and IQ make this a very impressive and flexible p&s.