Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
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Today we have a look at one of the latest digital cameras launched by Canon for its highly successful PowerShot lineup. It is the SX40HS model which replaces the SX30 IS and it has a MSRP of $429.99. It has a 12-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch backside-illuminated CMOS and comes with a 2.7-inch vari-angle LCD display. The dimensions of this model are 4.8 x 3.6 x 4.2 inches and it weighs 21.2 ounces (including battery).
As far as the lens are concerned, we’re dealing with 35x, f2.7-5.8, 24-840mm while the highest resolution size available for still photos is 4,000 x 3,000 pixels. It is also capable of recording videos up to a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 24 fps. It has a lithium-ion rechargeable battery with a CIPA rated life of 370 shots or 400 EVF only. It is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, as well as Eye-Fi SD/SDHC cards.
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS (Source: digicamreview.com)
For this class of camera, the quality of the photos is very good, even though the images get noisier and softer above ISO 200. The color accuracy is great, managing to produce vivid and bright results, while the exposure is in most cases OK, but you should know that the highlights have the tendency to blow out. The auto white balance feature is warm indoors which does not help color when it is combined with higher ISOs so we recommend using the presets or the custom option whenever you can.
The quality of the videos is on par and it is good enough for TV viewing and web use. Panning the camera will cause judder and there’s visible trailing on moving objects, but the clip will still remain watchable. Recording videos in a low light environment will provide grainy results, while the zoom lens moves very slowly when in recording mode.
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS (Source: www9.pcmag.com)
Aside from Canon’s standard creative shooting options like Color Accent and Color Swap, you will also find Monochrome, Toy Camera, Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, along with Poster Effect and Super Vivid mode which will intensify the colors.
The Canon PowerShot SX40 HS adopts the same design as the SX30 IS model from last year and it can be considered as a compact version of the EOS Rebel dSLR. The shutter release is at the front of the large and comfortable grip, with a lever for operating the 35x zoom lens, followed by a shooting mode dial and the power button. On the back next to the thumbrest is a Zoom Frame Assist button while below it to the right of the thumbrest you’ll find the Play and AF Frame Selector buttons. If you want to connect it to computers and displays, it features Mini-USB/AV and Mini-HDMI ports on the right side.
