Before you spend $2000 for a zoom, check the Powershot SX40hs

Candor wrote in post #13326701
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1001476
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=975759

Thanks for sharing, cause I know it can do good pics, nice demo

sega62 wrote in post #13324420
Take a look, because my friend has the sx 20 and it's really nice, for the price....or invest $3000 on a lens and converter hahahah,

You're looking at it from strictly a cost-basis. That's very similar to the very rookie read on 75-300's for $199 vs. 70-200 f/4L IS's for $1200 and saying, "ha, why would someone pay $1000 more for 100mm less?" Cuz there are MAJOR differences and benefits to the 100mm LESS lens. A) Its sharper all the way thru the range (sharpest lens you can buy for the range arguably) B) it focuses incredibly fast, speeds few other lenses can achieve, allowing for tracking and the maximum framerates. C) its built like a tank and is weather sealed, and lastly, but certainly not least, D) its an f/4 throughout which makes it up to a stop faster for much of the range... that translates to faster shutter speeds which for something like birds-in-flight is very important.

Bottomline... 70-200 f/4L IS is "MORE" than the "extra" 100mm on the 75-300's. But to a newbie they don't see it that way, you want "more zoom". Funny thing is they usually don't even know WHY they want more zoom, just that they want it.

You're comparing Apples and Potatoes (not even Oranges) they are very different animals.

That said, there are benefits to some P&S's and they can serve some purposes that SLRs can not. For example, I carry a Samsung TL500 with me pretty much wherever I go, it gives me a great focal range 24-72mm @ f/1.8-2.4 and I can take it anywhere... anywhere it wouldn't be permissable, an SLR would definitely not have a chance of getting into without press credentials, and it gets into many places that an SLR would be forbidden but its ok. Same for my Fujifilm Z33WP, which is water proof... I don't shoot underwater enough to justify something more expensive and for just fun times at the beach or pool or whatever, its great.

Now one thing I would get the SX40IS for is sports events, which these days are harder and harder to bring an SLR to (which is sad). The size of the camera would not be rejected by the gate staff at any stadium, while the zoom range would give you a real shot of getting a nice shot of Eli Manning or Tom Brady or Albert Pujols. I'm looking at one for this reason. But for birds-in-flight... I'd be looking for more capable gear.

Veemac wrote in post #13327444
Great job and awesome shots, but you know somebody is going to pixel-peep one of them at 732% and complain about softness in one of the corners or something.

Well the post is for openminded and on a budget.
Why not try it, it,s not perfect, the,re no perfect camera at $479

I go out to shoot only macro and could not justify the cost of a decent 500+mm lens for the odd occasion a bird or mammal presents itself not would I want the extra weight. The SX40 suits the bill, reasonable image quality and will squeeze in with my two dslrs, macro lenses, tripod and flash guns.

Candor wrote in post #13326701
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1001476
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=975759

I was just thinking of those threads when I started reading this one.

My SX20 is great when I want the reach without the weight and bulk of a dslr in the daytime. It only has a P&S size sensor so you will run into issues when not in good light, but it definately is a budget way to get crazy long FL

if you're on a budget you can get a sigma 150-500OS...that'll allow you to shoot things that actually move, while they are moving...you can pick it up for under 1,000...and if you're going to be using a tripod you could always get an old bigma that'll be almostt as cheap as the camera...you'll get the same amount of reach, and way better AF, ISO capability of an SLR...

I had this same thought a few weeks ago. I saw the sx40 online and it got me thinking a lot. I was even thinking about selling my DSLR and lenses and getting one. The trip to best buy cured me of this madness. The AF was slow and so was the zoom. It took around 2 seconds to go from no zoom to full zoom. That's plenty of time to loose a shot. It's just no DSLR and I could not make my self settle for it no mater how hard I tried. And the times that I need more zoom than a $200 55-250 can provide are going to be few and far between. I ended up buying a lens instead with the money and I am going to buy a second lens soon. The lenses I am getting are the 15-85 and the 55-250

killeraxemannic wrote in post #13338022
The lenses I am getting are the 15-85 and the 55-250

Excellent combo! Where in CO are you? Denver here.

sega62 wrote in post #13324346
Yesterday I was looking at migrators birds near my home, and on that island I talk to a ornithologists, well he proclaimed himself this way.
He's more of a older men who know's about birds....

He got himself a new Canon SX40 that has a reach of 800mm
So It might not be perfect for everyone, but believe me, you can see the birds
that are far away,you just need a tripod to take the pics, it has also the IS so it takes the birds clearly.
You could see the heron feather's nicely detailed. maybe nut as nice as a $4000 lens, but hey, IT DOES MAKE THE JOB for someone on a tigh budget, you might check it out for yourself.

And it's easy to carry that little bugger!

This is a joke, right?

ct1co2 wrote in post #13338119
Excellent combo! Where in CO are you? Denver here.

I am in the Fort Collins area

I've got the Panasonic Lumix FZ150 arriving tomorrow. Debated between it and the Canon SX40 HS but decided on the Panny. I'll run it through the paces. Looking for it to do what I expect it to do well, and not expecting it to do what I shouldn't expect it to do well. All that said, I expect it do quite a lot well

Edit: Well well, arrived 1 day early. Love how Amazon Prime 2-Day is sometimes overnight LightRules says AmazonRules.

Some more nice samples:
http://ps4wild.lightsh​edder.com …sx40hs-makes-it-possible/

Very convincing! Does the SX40HS have the same sensor as the S100?