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

[JoeM]

... after reading a review on Amazon that states:

"...Try to set the ISO at 400 for a night shot, and then spin the dial towards a 15 second shutter speed. It stops it at 1 second and drops the ISO to 100. Then a message appears on the LCD which says, "ISO speed is limited due to slow shutter speed." I verified it with the Canon Tech Dept. They also verified that the previous Canon cameras DID allow full Manual control in setting both the ISO and shutter speed, but no more...."

Full review and thread of responses are here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1JN35HPODM...g1?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1MNTX0U9XGSH4&cdPage=1&asin=B005MTMFHU&store=photo&cdThread=Tx2UTWJKMSAC9HI#wasThisHelpful

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.

[deckeda]

Yeah, I know ... my sedan also can't seem to carry what my neighbor's pickup truck can, either. Nor can it keep up with my buddy's Vette.

[JoeM]

deckeda wrote:
Yeah, I know ... my sedan also can't seem to carry what my neighbor's pickup truck can, either. Nor can it keep up with my buddy's Vette.

Doesn't really apply here. If you read the guys review he's discussing something older Canon P&S cameras could do that has been limited in the SX40. Granted, it is what it is. But it unfortunately aint what I need.

[Ombligo]

I was looking at one as well but the lack of a hotshoe or PC connection stopped me. I need one or the other.

[macphanatic]

Ombligo wrote:
I was looking at one as well but the lack of a hotshoe or PC connection stopped me. I need one or the other.

SX40 has a hotshoe according to the pictures I have seen (shows an external flash on top of the camera).

[mattkime]

JoeM wrote: 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.

[Winston]

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

[RAMd®d]

It has a hot shoe and a USB connection.

[Ombligo]

macphanatic wrote:
[quote=Ombligo]
I was looking at one as well but the lack of a hotshoe or PC connection stopped me. I need one or the other.

SX40 has a hotshoe according to the pictures I have seen (shows an external flash on top of the camera).
My bad - the images I saw had the designer cover in place and I did not recognize as such. Great news - thanks

[JoeM]

mattkime wrote:
[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.