Tried out the SX40HS Today...

It didn't really impress me so I returned it a couple of hours later. I don't think the image quality even matches my SX110IS that was 1/3 the cost.

I didn't save any sample photos but that's just my opinion. It didn't seem nearly as solid as the S3IS I had a few years back or even the S1IS that lasted me over 300k shots many years ago.

Ib2loud - You might be under-rating the SX40 - with the BSI-CMOS sensor (same as my Fuji HS10,though that's 10Mpix) - it's a leg-up on the SX30's crowded 14Mpix CCD.

If you aren't used to the long-zoom bridge cameras, they can be awkward to get sharp well focused images with.

While I bought the Fuji HS10 in preference to the SX30 - it has fast continuous and RAW - if buying now, I'd have the SX40 rather than the HS20.

The Fuji "Premium Bridge" X-S1 - with the 'big' X-series sensor - might be another thing, though - when it descends somewhat from the rude $829.00 (Sydney) asking price.

Have a look at the SX40 threads here to see what can be done with it - actually, it seems to be pretty darn good...!

Regards, Dave.

dont forget the low light capabilities of the SX40HS. HS = high sensitivity. I have yet to see any point and shoot using a CCD that can perform as well as the recent generations of the Canon's HS CMOS powershots. OP, you should've taken some low light or high iso photos and compared them between your older cameras. Under normal or optimal lighting conditions, point and shoot cameras havnt gotten much better over the last few years, but theres been leaps in gains for low light and high iso department.

Check out the SX40 photo thread to see what others can capture with this camera: Show us your Best with an SX40!

That's strange to hear - about the SX40 being worse than the SX110, in your experience.
Perhaps you got a bad copy of it? What made the images so bad in your opinion?

-eyalg

From what I have read about the SX40 and looking at the photos here, I am very impressed with the camera. So much so, that I bought one from a member here a day and a half ago. I am now impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can start to play with it. I hope it is here by Friday as there is a custom car show in town this weekend.

Al

Very nice ofwiah. Can you share with us what you are doing to process those shots? I think the
SX40 delivers very good IQ, but I have not seen that level SOOC. Thanks.

Imjason - There's actually another "HS" - Fuji's HS10 - which 2 years back had the BSI-CMOS sensor - Fuji claimed it to be the first in a bridge zoom, though is 10Mpix compared with the 12Mpix BSI-CMOS in the SX40.

While the HS10 certainly has its 'Fuji-isms', isn't at all good in Auto and Program, in the Priorities and Manual, it works well, and the barrel-ring MF is very good. The low-light, high-ISO performance is pretty good...

Maybe we could compare some SX40 images at ISO 3200 and 6400.

The HS10 image below was in close to darkness, over a rest - kitchen window-ledge.

That's ISO 3200 - the ISO 6400 ones were similar - but rather noisier. However, the HS10 is very usable at ISO 800, and at 1600 is still pretty reasonable - but at 3200, is starting to lose it, as you can see...

Range was about 30ft - Manual, MF, f/5.6, 1/800th - Exif included.

Regards, Dave.

Chopper Al wrote in post #14126335
From what I have read about the SX40 and looking at the photos here, I am very impressed with the camera. So much so, that I bought one from a member here a day and a half ago. I am now impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can start to play with it. I hope it is here by Friday as there is a custom car show in town this weekend.

Al

I'm joined this forum tonight since I will get mine tomorrow. Like you Chopper_Al, I am impressed by what photos that can be shot with the SX40HS. Looking forward to get to learn it thoroughly and get those results myself. Just an amateur, but think it's fun with photographing, and want to learn all I can. My current camera is an S80 which I bought approximately six years ago, and thought it time to upgrade. Before that, I had a Sigma 70 which wasn't digital. One of the reasons to upgrading now, and chose the SX40 HS, is the longer zoom. I grew tired of trying to get really nice scenes, only to find out that they were too far away, and no chance of getting closer. I decided on this camera, after having read a lot of reviews (both professional and customer), comparisons etc, and finally trying how it felt when holding one in a store. In the right hands, it's seems you can get pretty amazing photos.

/Tobias

I think maybe I was just using it in the wrong application. I wasn't using the long zoom as much as I was using it for close ups. Either way I'm sure the people who use it properly love it but for now I prefer my SX110 for the day to day grind.

mpix345 wrote in post #14127574
Very nice ofwiah. Can you share with us what you are doing to process those shots? I think the
SX40 delivers very good IQ, but I have not seen that level SOOC. Thanks.

I shoot on manual. I observe the meter setting and try to keep it in the midrange. I am very careful about making sure that I have steady hand since I shoot everything offhand.
I do download the photographs into photoshop to check for color tint, exposure and sharpness. I don't have to do a lot to them.

ofwiah wrote in post #14129675
I shoot on manual. I observe the meter setting and try to keep it in the midrange. I am very careful about making sure that I have steady hand since I shoot everything offhand.
I do download the photographs into photoshop to check for color tint, exposure and sharpness. I don't have to do a lot to them.

Your shots are even more impressive then! I found better results with SX40 on Auto. But my skills are so-so, and I really don't like the user interface all that much, so shooting in M is way less fun.

Oh, BTW, I really love IMG_0375a on your flickr. Great composition. So many great close up bird shots get posted, but this one really caught my eye.

mpix345 wrote in post #14129975
Your shots are even more impressive then! I found better results with SX40 on Auto. But my skills are so-so, and I really don't like the user interface all that much, so shooting in M is way less fun.

Oh, BTW, I really love IMG_0375a on your flickr. Great composition. So many great close up bird shots get posted, but this one really caught my eye.

Thanks mpix345,

I use manual because I have learned by using my T21 that each lens has a sweet spot. I am not sure if that applies all that much with the sx40 thought. The first thing that I do is use the lowest ISO that I can get away with and secondly the fastest shutter speed that I can get away with. For the most part that works out well.

I had to go back and see which picture was IMG_0375. I do have a few posted on flicker so the photographers can see what I am doing with the sx40.

I am glad that you are enjoying the photographs.

Pete