The Canon PowerShot SX40 HS is a brilliantly versatile bridge camera whose key feature, that 35x optical zoom, is made all the more attractive by an excellent image stabilisation system. Picture quality is good and overall speed is much improved over its series precursor, the SX30. If you can live without the picture quality perfection and improved low-light performance of a DSLR, this is a great buy.
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I own a Panasonic TZ-5 and am interested as to the comparative performance of this camera against it / a DSLR.
You keep mentioning that a DSLR would offer far superior pictures, but really how superior ? I mean would anyone really notice on pictures taken in normal conditions, or would you need to zoom in to the max on the photo and know what you were looking for ?
Also would this offer better results than the my TX-5 ? And again, buy a real margin ?
Whilst I love the idea of the DSLR the sheer bulk is very prohibitive to carrying one around, especially when you then add the need to carry lenses too.
Finally how good is the 1080p video ? I know some of the DSLR's are now taking practically broadcast quality; is this on a similar level ? Is the optical stabilisation still working whilst taking video ?
A DSLR has a larger image sensor which enables you to get those nice background out of focus images. The downside is having to carry a larger and much heavier device. The only other option is to go for the halfway house of the mirror-less cameras such as the Panasonic micro four thirds models. But to get a reasonable zoom and video will set you back £1050 (GH2 + 14-140mm lens).
The Canon SX40 or Panasonic FZ150 will be a step up from your current camera and for most family users give the results they want in a relatively simple way. The FZ150 is a little cheaper than the canon at the moment and also a little lighter.
Look at the sample images and video clips available on many sites to see if you feel it matches your expectations.
I'd be very interested to see if I could tell the difference though between shots taken on a normal DSLR and this Canon. I'm not sure I could easily. Comparing camera output is often tough as only rarely are comparison shots taken in the same light, of the same subjects.
Unfortunately reading the review and comments on the web it seems that this camera is limited by key features being disabled in manual mode, this means that things I'd want to do (like long exposure shots) are potentially not possible at all. Seems a big shame on a device this close to an SLR.
Well I bought the camera and I love it.. You CANT tell the difference unless you are some PRO that is just the best.. lol.. Also you can do the long image shots with lights. Here is a video I found on Youtube that talks about it and It is a great camera.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfpGJG9N7f4 Let me know what you think.. Patrick
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