Was going to buy the SX40 tomorrow but it looks like I will probably pass...

[JoeM]

Winston wrote:
From reading the thread of comments, it sounds like CHDK will enable long exposures.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1JN35HPODM...g5?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1MNTX0U9XGSH4&cdPage=5&asin=B005MTMFHU&store=photo&cdThread=Tx2UTWJKMSAC9HI#wasThisHelpful
T.C.O says:
You can override the ISO and set long exposures with CHDK. I have taken pictures over the 1 sec limit with the ISO from 100 up to 3200. The longest I have taken was over 100 seconds. But I do agree that canon should not have put these limits on. Thanks to the guys at CHDK we have the ability to override them."


T.C.O says:
Firmware 100f and 100g are in ALPHA right now.
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Downloads

I know it is not in BETA yet but some of the many features work.

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?board=29.0

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readfl...forum=1010&thread=39794808


Good luck.

- Winston

Thanks for posting this.I actually just purchased the camera. Staples dropped the price today another $20. and I felt since the SX40 would probably handle 90% of what I wanted in a vacation camera, it was too good a price to pass up.

My thanks goes to lafinfil for helping me out with his coupon. The price came in at $303 +tax.

Pictures to follow...

[mattkime]

I've never encountered the problems you describe and have done quite a bit of night photography. if you can point me to resources i'd be interested in reading them.

JoeM wrote:
[quote=mattkime]
[quote=JoeM]One of the things I want to do is take night photos at higher ISOs in very low light, like the reviewer. Looks like the SX40 will not be able to handle that.

I'm a bit confused about this need. The limitation is dependent upon shutter speed. If shutter speed is longer than 1 sec then you need to use a tripod. if you need to use a tripod then 1s or 15s doesn't really matter.
I'm still a bit confused myself and still trying to learn about shooting in low light so maybe you or someone more experienced could clarify a bit.

From what I have read, higher ISO has noise no matter but the noise is a little more uniform (much like film grain) where long exposures at low ISO settings can cause chunky and colored noise. Although I haven't tried it yet, I've read that Noise Ninga or stacking can reduce the noise in higher ISO shots and that technique is preferrable when taking star shots/ night sky shots and others at night.

I have taken photos with my Rebel XT at night with very little light available that were shot at ISO 400 with a 4 sec exposure. From what I am reading here, I would not be able to do this with the SX40.

[Grateful11]

>"The price came in at $303 +tax."

Dang you got the rest of us beat. I'm ok at $319 + tax. Was hoping to get out and take some shots today but didn't do it.

[JoeM]

mattkime wrote:
I've never encountered the problems you describe and have done quite a bit of night photography. if you can point me to resources i'd be interested in reading them.

[quote=JoeM]
[quote=mattkime]
[quote=JoeM]One of the things I want to do is take night photos at higher ISOs in very low light, like the reviewer. Looks like the SX40 will not be able to handle that.

I'm a bit confused about this need. The limitation is dependent upon shutter speed. If shutter speed is longer than 1 sec then you need to use a tripod. if you need to use a tripod then 1s or 15s doesn't really matter.
I'm still a bit confused myself and still trying to learn about shooting in low light so maybe you or someone more experienced could clarify a bit.

From what I have read, higher ISO has noise no matter but the noise is a little more uniform (much like film grain) where long exposures at low ISO settings can cause chunky and colored noise. Although I haven't tried it yet, I've read that Noise Ninga or stacking can reduce the noise in higher ISO shots and that technique is preferrable when taking star shots/ night sky shots and others at night.

I have taken photos with my Rebel XT at night with very little light available that were shot at ISO 400 with a 4 sec exposure. From what I am reading here, I would not be able to do this with the SX40.
Here's a couple of things I've looked at:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutoria...-noise.htm
http://www.karbosguide.com/books/photobo...pter13.htm
http://photocamel.com/forum/photography-...h-iso.html

Would appreciate your thoughts.

[JoeM]

Grateful11 wrote:
>"The price came in at $303 +tax."

Dang you got the rest of us beat. I'm ok at $319 + tax. Was hoping to get out and take some shots today but didn't do it.

I got lucky and reread Winston's post above again this morning and when I took a look saw Staples dropped the price by $20. It was such a great deal I figured I'd join the crowd here.

Took some pictures outside tonight without even looking at the manual and considering I was just using it in auto, I'm impressed. I'll post.

[mattkime]

Ah yes.

The hot pixel issue was greatly exaggerated in that image.

further, cameras are quite good at compensating. it doubles the length of time to take the pic but as long as we're talking about handful of seconds it still shouldn't matter.

JoeM wrote:
[quote=mattkime]
I've never encountered the problems you describe and have done quite a bit of night photography. if you can point me to resources i'd be interested in reading them.

[quote=JoeM]
[quote=mattkime]
[quote=JoeM]One of the things I want to do is take night photos at higher ISOs in very low light, like the reviewer. Looks like the SX40 will not be able to handle that.

I'm a bit confused about this need. The limitation is dependent upon shutter speed. If shutter speed is longer than 1 sec then you need to use a tripod. if you need to use a tripod then 1s or 15s doesn't really matter.
I'm still a bit confused myself and still trying to learn about shooting in low light so maybe you or someone more experienced could clarify a bit.

From what I have read, higher ISO has noise no matter but the noise is a little more uniform (much like film grain) where long exposures at low ISO settings can cause chunky and colored noise. Although I haven't tried it yet, I've read that Noise Ninga or stacking can reduce the noise in higher ISO shots and that technique is preferrable when taking star shots/ night sky shots and others at night.

I have taken photos with my Rebel XT at night with very little light available that were shot at ISO 400 with a 4 sec exposure. From what I am reading here, I would not be able to do this with the SX40.
Here's a couple of things I've looked at:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutoria...-noise.htm
http://www.karbosguide.com/books/photobo...pter13.htm
http://photocamel.com/forum/photography-...h-iso.html

Would appreciate your thoughts.

[Jack D.]

Grateful11 wrote:
>"The price came in at $303 +tax."

Dang you got the rest of us beat. I'm ok at $319 + tax. Was hoping to get out and take some shots today but didn't do it.

I'm getting my $20 back from Staples:

Staples Price Match Guarantee

How does Staples' price–match guarantee work?

If you find a lower price on a new identical item, just show us the lower price when you buy the item at Staples and we will match the price, or within 14 days of your Staples purchase and we will give you the difference (see full policy below for details).

[Grateful11]

I'm not sure I'm going to the trouble on this one it's a 50 mile round trip.