SX 40HD vs SX 50HD

I have tried to search for some actual users of both for ??s which one gives the best IQ in good light ??Is the extra 400mm with the SX 50 real good for birding ?? The SX 40 was recommended buy one poster i PMed he said the SX 50 is really not that much better???can some one Please give some real answers Thanks Ron
I have searched many posts and still not come up with what i want ??

The extra mm's is not what will make the camera good for birding,
if the SX40 is good enough for you in terms of its focal length, I say go for it.
The $100 difference, which is 25% of the price (or a 33% increase, if you look
from the other direction) is nothing to ignore. The SX40 is a great camera.

-eyalg

Thanks eyalg..one person said,, the lens at 2.8 instead of 3.5 madE IT a much better balance of zoom at 800 vs 1200 ?? Ron

Is the HORRIBLY SLOW focussing of the SX40 really any better in the SX50?

To me this is the Achilles heel of the otherwise-remarkable $X40.

Cheers, del Sol

The SX40 has a slightly better imagequality in Low ISO.. the SX50 in high ISO.
The SX50 is faster
the SX40 is Cheaper.
from 840mm to 1200mm its not that much big difference.
The SX40 has Aperture of F2.7 in Widest angle, and also a Max Shutterspeed of 1/3200
the SX50 only f3.5 and 1/2000
But the SX50 has faster Autofocus and better Macro mode (same 0cm macro, but you can
better zoom in in macromode with the SX50, the SX40 you have to keep distance from the
object at least 30cm as soon as you touch the zoom just a tinybit)

Also the SX50 has a better resolution Display..
So judge yourself whats more important to you.

I had the SX40, now have the SX50, and do quite a bit of birding.

No question that the SX50 is an improvement. AF is a bit faster, zoom is a bit longer, IS is excellent, and a huge plus for me is the ability to shoot in RAW.

I also like one little mentioned feature - the ability to set the spot exposure area and focus really small - very useful for birds backlit or amid tree branches.

So for me the choice is a no-brainer - go for the SX50.

Thanks every one! i think we are slowly getting the info I want,,840-1200 mm is not that important..I can,t see me hand holding a 1200mm lens and getting a sharp,blury free pics?? and if i got to carry a tripod..might as well take the big "gun" , my 40D and 300 mm lens ?? or 400 5.6 ?/
I can,t find a review that favors the SX 50 over the SX 40,,,i have a Panny FZ 30 that has served me well..but has over 35,000 clicks on it?? So i guess SX 40? or wait and see if the SX 60 is any better??

unless some one can add something that will help me decide?? I have saw nice pics from both cams SX 40 & SX 50,,,Ron

Well, the faster aperture at the widest setting won't really help in birding; at the long end is where it'll come into play - f/5.8 at 150 mm vs. f/6.7 at 200 mm. The SX40 has a range of about 2-1/3 stops (f/2.7-f/5.8) from wide to tele while the SX50 has a range of about 2 stops (f/3.5 to f/6.7) over a longer zoom range. The difference between the two lenses at the tele end is less than 2/3 stop, but since the SX50's tele is longer than the SX40's, at the same (150 mm) focal length I would expect the max. available aperture to be about the same.

? Teekay do you find the 2.8 vs 3.5 lens hendering your every day birding pics..?? I want this cam for mostly birding as i have other cams for other pics,,do you hand hold the cam at 1200mm and get sharp pics?? send or show me a couple pics ?? Thanks Ron

Jon you might have nailed it..at Max Zoom is there really that great a difference ?? Ron

Can some one Please posts,,bird pics at full max zoom ,hand held with both cams or either cam ?? Thanks Ron

Ronnie H wrote in post #15924185
? Teekay do you find the 2.8 vs 3.5 lens hendering your every day birding pics..?? I want this cam for mostly birding as i have other cams for other pics,,do you hand hold the cam at 1200mm and get sharp pics?? send or show me a couple pics ?? Thanks Ron

I took this a few days ago with the SX50. 1/250 f/6.5 ISO100 215mm (full zoom), handheld.

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Thanks Teekay..the Ducks are real nice,,I know the SX cams can not not match my Dslrs,,but it can come close,,but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO handy and easy to carry along ?? Leaning more towards the SX50HS Ron

Ronnie H wrote in post #15924551
....but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO handy and easy to carry along ?? Leaning more towards the SX50HS Ron

Agreed - great carry-around camera.

Here's one of a Gosling I took specially for you, Ronnie, about an hour ago, in the rain, handheld, poor light, full zoom at ISO500 just to show the SX50 is not just a fair weather camera useful only in full sun.

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WOW! I love it,,very nice detail and colors,,been a very cold Spring here and the ducks & geese are just now setting,,but should hatch soon.. I am sending you a PM..Thanks Ron