What should I look for.. After reading the answers to my question re the Canon xs 40, I decided to purchase it. Found it online from rep. company and with my discount from Amazon got...

mericando Loc: NASHVILLE TN

After reading the answers to my question re the Canon xs 40, I decided to purchase it. Found it online from rep. company and with my discount from Amazon got it for $309 and a box of goodies to go with it. I currently use a Canon G12 and it is awesome. But since I order the 40 so I can get a better wide angle w/o going to the more expensive DSLR , what should I expect quality wise in the new camera? Should I expect to see a huge difference in quality and color. or just a slight difference except when I am shooting the wide angle shots. 1/2 of me still thinks I need to get a DSLR, but I seriously don't want to spend the money for it and still need to get a better wide angle lens. This little hobby I picked up a few years ago, is getting me addicted and I don't want to go overboard in a camera or complicated mechanics/learning curve. Uh, in case you all haven't noticed, I do get a little carried away in my posts-sorry-my brain just gets to going and 2nd guessing things, and out it all comes. Thanks for your help-I am learning alot. Here's a few from my G12 camera-

Rose with Dew

Jamestown Battlefield

2011 Blue Ridge Parkway VA

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

The SX40HS is a great camera with fantastic zoom (quality falls off at full digital zoom to me)

Normal photos are metered well and produce great photos. It is a bridge camera and will never perform as a full frame. If you expect national level award winning photos, forget it.

I kept mine a month but turned it in because of button placement on the rear near the thumb rest. I kept hitting a button that turned the camera on when I was putting it in my case.

Sarge69

mericando Loc: NASHVILLE TN

Thanks-I'm not looking for national award winning photos-just family and friends awards and ohhs and ahhhhs And for some great shots when we go west next spring.
? What do you mean by performing as a full frame? I am so new to the learning curve of photography - up until a 6mos ago, I just took pics and amazed at how well they were turning out. So now I want to learn more to wee what I can create with knowledge not just guess work

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Basically there are 3 classes of cameras that you can buy and utilize

Point & Shoot - Those $125 flat nice cameras for those 'gotta have now' shots

Bridge - Little better with lots of features and stuff like manual, priority, apeture and shutter adjustments

Full digital cameras that rival the old film cameras you saw the proffessional photographers using.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Basically there are 3 classes of cameras that you can buy and utilize

Point & Shoot - Those $125 flat nice cameras for those 'gotta have now' shots

Bridge - Little better with lots of features and stuff like manual, priority, apeture and shutter adjustments

Full digital cameras that rival the old film cameras you saw the proffessional photographers using.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

mericando Loc: NASHVILLE TN

Thanks much! The new one was delivered today. Hope to get out tomorrow and see what I can do and how much I need to learn.

Happy Shooting :lol:

djmarti Loc: cape cod,

The sx40 won't pick up much more detail than the camera you have now and the picture qulity won't be much better. But the manual modes are better and it will help you learn more til you step up to a dslr. Also the zoom is better. Just experiment using the manual modes to learn the results of using different apetures and shutter speed. If you learn to master the manual modes you can still get very nice pictures your friends will love. I have seen some on this site with people with this camera.

Capn Jack Loc: Virginia Beach, Va

ditto to what sarge69 wrote. I love the SX40 as it serves my purpose most times and much lighter to carry around than mt T2i and assortment of lens. But, like Sarge, the button placement is giving me a lot of woe. I am constantly hitting the button to turn on the review photos and it drives me nuts at times. I have looked for some way to disable it but no go so far. Guess it is my big thumb when trying to hold the camera.. The only con I have found so far.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Capn Jack wrote:

ditto to what sarge69 wrote. I love the SX40 as it serves my purpose most times and much lighter to carry around than mt T2i and assortment of lens. But, like Sarge, the button placement is giving me a lot of woe. I am constantly hitting the button to turn on the review photos and it drives me nuts at times. I have looked for some way to disable it but no go so far. Guess it is my big thumb when trying to hold the camera.. The only con I have found so far.

I got a good tip the other day from a fellow UHH'r regarding the NEX-5N & 7. The video record bottton is the same way; it's easy to turn on by mistake. His answer was to glue a rubber O-ring around the button. You have to deliberately press the button to turn it on but accidental activation is minimized. Just a thought...

Wick Loc: Venice, Florida

mericando wrote:

After reading the answers to my question re the Ca... (show quote)

Those are some very nice shots. If you want to venture into the DSLR world, do it on the cheap. My favorite used DSLR is a Canon 40D. You can get one at adorama.com in EX+ condition for around $450. InMHO it is the most bang for the buck out there. Also, can't go wrong dealing with Adorama or Bhcameravideo.com Very safe and reputable and they rate condition with amazing accuracy. Err on the buyers side if anything. As for lenses, start with a good walk around med zoom. My all-time fave is the Tamron 28-75 2.8. Sells new for around $475. So, for well under a grand you'll have world class equipment. The quality of this particular combination will leave you speechless. Best of luck.

Capn Jack Loc: Virginia Beach, Va

thanks Photogdog, thats a great idea about the rubber O-ring over the button. Now why didn't I think of that ? Once again one of my problems is solved by UHH members. Great Forum.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

sarge69 wrote:

Basically there are 3 classes of cameras that you can buy and utilize

Point & Shoot - Those $125 flat nice cameras for those 'gotta have now' shots

Bridge - Little better with lots of features and stuff like manual, priority, apeture and shutter adjustments

Full digital cameras that rival the old film cameras you saw the proffessional photographers using.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Hey! don't forget about the Micro 4/3rds :)

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

mericando wrote:

After reading the answers to my question re the Ca... (show quote)

Your post sounds a lot like me - learning, developing your creative side, and having fun. I've become a real nut in this regard and read just about everything I can find. Consequently, I've become unhappy with my old DSLR and want to upgrade it and get lots of other equipment. Am I good enough to justify the expense - no, but that's why it's a hobby and not my profession. So I'll work a few more years to be able to get what I want. My wife has the Canon SX 30 IS and so I know that yours is a terrific camera - but it is very limited compared to a quality DSLR and I suspect that you will at some point realize what you can't do and want to move into the DSLR space. My suggestion is to develop your skills with what you have and decide what type of photography you really want to pursue before you jump ship. Best of luck and keep learning & enjoying.

Wick Loc: Venice, Florida

ecobin wrote:

mericando wrote:

After reading the answers to my question re the Ca... (show quote)

Your post sounds a lot like me - learning, developing your creative side, and having fun. I've become a real nut in this regard and read just about everything I can find. Consequently, I've become unhappy with my old DSLR and want to upgrade it and get lots of other equipment. Am I good enough to justify the expense - no, but that's why it's a hobby and not my profession. So I'll work a few more years to be able to get what I want. My wife has the Canon SX 30 IS and so I know that yours is a terrific camera - but it is very limited compared to a quality DSLR and I suspect that you will at some point realize what you can't do and want to move into the DSLR space. My suggestion is to develop your skills with what you have and decide what type of photography you really want to pursue before you jump ship. Best of luck and keep learning & enjoying.

quote=mericando After reading the answers to my q... (show quote)

Now THAT's a great answer!

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

mericando wrote:

Thanks much! The new one was delivered today. Hope to get out tomorrow and see what I can do and how much I need to learn.

Happy Shooting :lol:

Use the "Search" link above, at the top of this page, and type in SX 40 or SX-40 or Canon SX-40 to find virtually everything said about that camera and there will be many splendid examples of shots taken with it.

In the last 9 months I've seen SX40 shots here on UHH that rival magazine quality. Maybe they wouldn't print at 24" X 36" or larger as well as a dSLR file but even that can be resolved with pixel interpolation software if that was your goal.

I say this because if you don't get similar splendid results with your new SX40, it's your operation of the camera, not the fact that it's a bridge model or there's something wrong with IT. True the sensor isn't as big as a dSLR but the glass is very good.

And yes, you are over-thinking this before you even get the camera or take it out for some extended shooting sprees. If you have problems tell UHH about it and people will help you through your trials and tribulations.