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Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera Review

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Updated: December 19, 2011
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A competent enough super zoom camera, but other models offers more bang for the buck.

3.5 stars
(3.5 out of 5)

Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS is a good super zoom camera, but there are better choices out there. In terms of design and features, it’s very competitive. Photo quality is a little better than most of the cameras in this class. Where the SX40 lags a bit is in terms of performance, manual controls, and movie mode. The last super zoom camera I reviewed was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150, which has a less powerful lens, but a better LCD and EVF, much faster autofocus, and 1080/60p video recording with manual controls — and I have reason to believe that Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V will also provide strong competition for the SX40. While the PowerShot SX40 is a super zoom camera that is good enough to earn my recommendation, I think you may be best served by considering one of the models I just mentioned.

Read full review @ Digital Camera Resource Page

Pros

  • Very good photo quality, with low noise through ISO 800
  • Incredible 35X, 24 – 840 mm zoom lens
  • Optical image stabilization — camera will select the proper IS mode for you
  • Flip-out, rotating 2.7 LCD display offers good outdoor / low light visibility
  • Good selection of manual controls
  • Smart Auto mode picks a scene mode for you — tons of scene modes and Creative Filters
  • i-Contrast feature brightens shadows, reduces highlight clipping
  • Zoom Framing Assist helps you track moving subjects when you’re really zoomed in
  • Redeye not a problem
  • Customizable button, menu, and spots on mode dial
  • Cool face, smile, and wink self-timers
  • Hot shoe for external flash
  • Records Full HD (1080/24p) video with stereo sound, use of optical zoom and image stabilizer — manual mic level controls, plus a wind filter

Cons

  • Strong highlight clipping at times
  • Not competitive with best super zooms in terms of performance (especially autofocus), LCD/EVF quality, and movie mode
  • EVF is small, not very sharp, and a bit washed out
  • Videos are a bit choppy due to 24 fps frame rate
  • ISO fixed at 100 when shutter speed drops below 1 second
  • Can’t access memory card slot while using a tripod
  • Full manual on CD-ROM
  • no video cable included

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