Canon Powershot SX40

$314
  • 12 MP
  • 35x f/2.7
  • 1/2.5" CMOS
  • 2.7" LCD
Released September, 2011
It's via this L-shaped toolbar that PowerShot users can also specify large, medium or small files and even adjust video resolution on the fly, from 1920x1080 through 1280x720 and down to 640x480 pixels.
Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (Nov, 2011)

Conclusion Check out the Canon Powershot SX40

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First reviewed December, 2011

Features Key features of the Canon Powershot SX40

Back view of Canon Powershot SX40

12 MP

1/2.5"

The low-light video is predictably grainy, but it's at least as good as this camera's high ISO photo performance.
Rated 75% by by c|net (Dec, 2011)

megapixels

0 MP
18 MP

12 MP
15.9 MP
20 MP
The SX40HS has the new Canon DIGIC 5 Image Processor and a high-sensitivity 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor dropped down from 14 Megapixel in the SX30IS.
Powershot SX40 by Adam-Petrone--Adam (Sep, 2011)
The camera has a wide range of capabilities, and the 12.1 megapixels of this unit generate stunning images.
Powershot SX40 by Alan-Holyoak

sensor size

Canon Powershot SX40
Fujifilm FinePix HS33 EXR
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Now considering a popular Tamron 17-50mm is equivalent to 27-80mm, on a 35mm camera / full frame, this superzoom is even wider!! it's even wider than the 16-35mm canon on cropped camera body like the Canon T3i.
Powershot SX40 by Gordon (Jun, 2012)
The CMOS sensor on the SX40 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm whereas sensor sizes on typical APS-C sensors are around, let's say ~23.6mm x 15.7mm.
Powershot SX40 by Josh

wide angle lens

Canon Powershot SX40
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Going from very wide angle (35mm equivalent of 24mm) to way long (840mm equivalent), it will take about any picture you have in mind including a simulated fish-eye mode.
Powershot SX40 by Retired-Tire-Engineer--Drew (Nov, 2011)
Canon SX40 HS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch Vari-Angle Wide LCDI am totally in Love with this product!! It is amazingly beginner-friendly.
Powershot SX40 by Ken-B-Melvindale (Jun, 2012)

aperture size

Canon Powershot SX40
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
The detractors of my comparison, I'm sure, will mutter some mumbo jumbo about how the f-stop is too high on these super zoom cameras and that there is no way they can get as much quality as their $5000-$10000 outfit.
Powershot SX40 by wvhunter1968 (Mar, 2012)
For those who like to set aperture, shutter speed, white balance or focus manually, this camera will let you do that.
Powershot SX40 by JohnG (Apr, 2012)

zoom range

0x
35x

24x
50x
50x
I compose my shots with the zoom, the SX 40 has a 35x optical zoom and it works very well.
Powershot SX40 by knadler (Oct, 2011)
I am very satisfied with quality, performance and zoom.
Powershot SX40 by Amit (Jul, 2012)

body size

123 x 92 x 108 mm
104 x 70 x 80 mm
111 x 76 x 83 mm
But carried in a light jacket pocket or a medium sized purse, you can still have near DSLR versatility with less weight and a smaller size.
Powershot SX40 by Juliann (Aug, 2012)
I love good quality pictures and have purchased quite a few small cameras (the kind you put in your pocket).
Powershot SX40 by ReynerN
 

Performance Real world tests of Canon Powershot SX40

shutter lag

Canon Powershot SX40
Nikon Coolpix L810
Nikon Coolpix P510
I'm extremely pleased with response time between shots and time for the AF to capture the shot.
Powershot SX40 by EllJay (Jan, 2012)
SX40HS solves 2 issues fully and partially addresses one of them (shoots 1080p; CMOS for better low light; response time is better but not stellar).
Powershot SX40 by W.-Joo

battery life

380 photos
600 photos
195 photos
What I like about this camera is several things.....including a large 35X Optical zoom lens, looks well-built, has a flip out LCD viewfinder, has an optical viewfinder also, fairly easy to use and battery life is pretty decent for rechargeable batteries.
Powershot SX40 by Stormy1 (May, 2012)
As far as I can tell, the battery life is quite good on these.
Powershot SX40 by The-Draconic-Nabokovian

max continuous shooting

For the time being, what I really like is the sharp photos I've been getting, and the 8 fps in the burst mode (the third is usually the best).
Powershot SX40 by Ethan-A.-Winning--ewin64 (Mar, 2012)
Burst mode is the alternative.
Powershot SX40 by kishorekp
 

Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors

pros

  • f/2.7
  • Contrast detection focusing system
  • HD video
  • Generic
  • 35x
  • Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot
  • For that film look
  • Great for recording movies
  • 10.3 fps
  • 0 mm
  • HD video
  • Create slow motion video
  • 1/3200 s

cons

  • 2.7"
  • 230 k dots
  • 12 MP
  • 10.29 fps
  • 3,200 ISO
  • No automatic 3D
  • No automatic stitching
  • Sep, 2011
  • 9
  • No automatic HDR
  • 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • 108 mm
  • 600 g

Reviews Word on the street

Rated 80%
Read the review (Nov, 2011)
Yes, they’re pretty much the opposite of what most serious, manual-focus-loving photographers are after, but they are undoubtedly good fun.
Rated 80%
Read the review (Nov, 2011)
The most obvious market for this pumped up PowerShot is the family user, wildlife watcher or sports fan, or even concert go-er who wants to get that much closer to their heroes in a venue where photography is allowed.
Rated 75%
Read the review (Dec, 2011)
Colors desaturate some at ISO 1600 and 3200, subjects look very soft, and detail is greatly diminished.
Rated 90% by 416 users at amazon.com
Manually focusing pictures is so much easier, lower f-stops (with the correct lens, which btw are very expensive), wide angle shots (again, expensive lense) and the ability to crank out 3200ISO pictures with decent quality are the 3 that come to mind immediatly.
Rated 100% by by wvhunter1968 (Mar, 2012)
If you take long videos or plenty of high-speed bursts though for things like sports photography you will see the battery drain more quickly.
Rated 80% by by Josh
Stabilization is excellent even at 840mm (equivalent) and the pictures are crystal clear with minimal chromatic aberration and fringing (means they are sharp and relatively undistorted).
Rated 80% by by caaron (Oct, 2011)

Lens

I like the Canon wide angle/35X zoom with the same lens.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by AR-wally (Dec, 2011)
Sports shots have come out fantastic and I even took a picture of the moon with the 35x optical zoom withOUT a tripod, it came out magnificent!!!! Super clear!
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by CrazyMom (Oct, 2011)
Took it to a football game and on various zoom lengths the clarity and crispness of the pictures is great.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by Craig-A-Tramp (Nov, 2012)

Zoom

The zoom is amazing, I got pictures of the moon where details were more visible in the photo that you can see from a low end telescope.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by SoapyHollow (Jul, 2012)
With my very arthritic hands it's a plus to just have a light camera with an exceptional zoom to take with me on bird shoots.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 80% by by Lisa-K.-Mitchell (Apr, 2012)
The picture quality is amazing and the zoom allows me to take pictures of the moon and its craters!
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by KT (Nov, 2011)

Video

Features I like most are: the zoom (super telephoto) that takes clear pics, the panoramic settings that provide stunning wide views of the subject, the portability of size and weight, the magnificent print quality and clarity of the pics and I love the ease it provides to instantly start a video which is HD.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by daylebread (Jan, 2012)
Razor sharp.-wide enough and has the reach.-has hotshoe ** first big requirement met.-no dust on the sensor so no cleaning dust bunnies off pictures shot with high aperature.-can do good video.-color is good.-seems to have good dynamic range.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 40% by by Gordon (Jun, 2012)

Image quality

;). The picture quality is very sharp, crisp.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by Anukul (Dec, 2011)
This is a great camara for someone who wants high quality photos on a camaras auto mode.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by Dan-Lennander (May, 2012)
I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who can't afford a DSLR but still wants good quality photos.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by Shannon (Nov, 2012)

Photography

I love to take fotos and will use the camera for family shots, vacations, and memorie making.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 80% by by A-Hall--transfer-chick (Dec, 2011)
Landscape shots are fantastic just play with all the modes to see which works best for you and oh let me tell you about the VIVID color!
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by CrazyMom (Oct, 2011)
Took the kids to a park the other day and took some amazing outdoor photos using the sports mode and auto mode.
Canon Powershot SX40 | Rated 100% by by Dan-Lennander (May, 2012)

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Community Find out what the Sortable community is saying about the Canon Powershot SX40

24

people have recommended the

Canon Powershot SX40
Top Canon Powershot SX40 experts at Sortable
WaterlooAlex
Intermediate III
Canon Powershot SX40
Supporter
Brenden-Sherratt
Expert I
Canon Powershot SX40
Supporter

Tim-Matthews
Beginner II
Canon Powershot SX40
Supporter
Nikon Coolpix P510
  • 15.9 MP
  • 41.7x f/3.0
  • 1/2.5" CMOS
  • 3" LCD
Canon Powershot SX40
Nikon Coolpix P510
5 more Sortable users recommended the Nikon Coolpix P510 over the Canon Powershot SX40.
View all discussions | View comparison
Beginner I
5
votes

I would say the SX40 because of the f2.7 ability will give you a better usage of ISO and the light that you have in venues.  I my self do indoors sports photography for cheer teams and i find my...

Expert I
1
vote

Both cameras are good, and you will not see a big difference between them. Save yourself $50 and go with the Canon SX40.

Expert I
1
vote

Both of these cameras are great, and should meet your needs, but the Canon SX40 can take amazing macro photos, so I would suggest you take a look at that one.

Canon PowerShot G1X
  • 14.2 MP
  • 4x f/2.8
  • Four Thirds CMOS
  • 3" LCD
Canon Powershot SX40
Canon PowerShot G1X
It's a tie. Cast the deciding vote!
View all discussions | View comparison
Beginner I
1
vote

I think for travel you will love the long zoom of the SX40.  It will get you close to things you can't reach by foot.  I was amazed the first time I shot the moon with mine.  At full 35X zoom, I...