Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - PowerShot SX40 HS Black 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Average customer rating
4.7
(125 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 125 reviews
5 Stars
97
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
1
1 Star
0
90%of customers recommend this product.
(
111 out of
123)
Customer Reviews for Canon - PowerShot SX40 HS Black 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Customer Rating
5
I took these photos?!
on May 28, 2012
Posted by: NP Blues
from California
I just used my camera at a blues festival. It is the first time I've really used this camera. It was amazing. I got shots from far away that look as if I was up close. I took photos with a monopod in the dark and just about all the shots came out great. I used auto features and also programmed it. I was leary of the viewfinder being digital instead of optical, but it is FABULOUS. All the info you need is right there and you can see everything very clearly. Some of the photos were so great, I couldn't believe I took them. LOVE THIS CAMERA
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, excellent image quality, easy to use, viewfinder
Cons: camera strap is annoying
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
SX40 Really Is All That
on March 17, 2013
Posted by: canonfanforlife
from Spokane, WA
Based on the way Canon Customer Service treated my wife and I when we had a lens error problem with our SX160 (Canon replaced our camera), we bought a SX40 to go with our Canon A3100 and SX160. We now think that we have a great combination of Canon cameras: A small point and shoot that is easy to carry; A relatively small point and shoot with a 16X zoom lens; And a relatively large point and shoot with a 35X zoom lens. We think of them as our "small, medium and large" cameras that meet all our picture taking needs from macro to far away. But, bottom line, it is the Canon Customer Service that keeps us buying Canon cameras. We have taken pictures and videos that we like with half a dozen different cameras but no camera maker has treated us as well as Canon, plus we just plain like our Canon cameras. One problem, at this stage I'm convinced that the SX40 has features I may never come to understand but that does not prevent us from taking great pictures with it. My dear wife is already planning a new trip/adventure that will include all three of our Canon cameras: The A3100 will be in her purse, the SX160 will be in a harness on my chest and the SX40 will be in our camera bag for those shots that require features not available with our A3100 and SX160. Truth be told, we could probably take all the pictures that we want to take with our new SX40 but what the heck, why not use all three of them just for the fun of it? And, so far, when we look at our pictures, we can't tell which picture was taken with which camera because all three of them give us great pictures.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, easy to use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
So far, my dream camera
on March 4, 2012
Posted by: canon fan
from NE Georgia
This is my 5th canon Point and Shoot. I bought it to replace my 130 because it combines an awesome zoom lens with an optical viewfinder. Have had the camera for a few weeks now and taken on vacation. I have not had long enough to try out the manual possibilities. However: Great night and long-distancce shoats using auto settings. Beautiful family group photos as well.
Yes, I wish it had a printed manual for this price but have loaded the pdf manual on my mobile devices.
It would be nice to have raw and other file forms but I can barely keep up with digital processing of my photos so that did not deter me from purchasing.
The recovery rate is a bit slower than I like but I think that once I master the burst mode that will be less of an issue.
Canon - please keep up with your trend back to including optical viewfinders.
Yes, I wish it had a printed manual for this price but have loaded the pdf manual on my mobile devices.
It would be nice to have raw and other file forms but I can barely keep up with digital processing of my photos so that did not deter me from purchasing.
The recovery rate is a bit slower than I like but I think that once I master the burst mode that will be less of an issue.
Canon - please keep up with your trend back to including optical viewfinders.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Best non-Pro Safari Camera
on August 11, 2012
Posted by: Safari Enthusiast
from Santa Barbara, CA
Upgraded to SX40HS in 2011 following previous favorite tourist safari camera the S3IS. SX40HS is THE BEST camera for weight-conscious safari travel (26 pound weight limit for combined checked AND carry-on). The wide angle really captures those African vistas, and the 35x zoom brings those distant animals almost eye-to-eye with you. Fellow-tourists in our land rovers were quite envious as they juggled their various lenses and DSLR bodies -- missing those "moments" constantly as I snapped away at the leopard in the tree or the bird on the wing. The SX40HS was also perfect for gorilla-trekikng because of its light weight (for carrying up the mountain) and low-light, great zoom, AND video capacities. HOORAY!
Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, easy to use
Cons: Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Fun, great photo's, simply awesome
on August 14, 2012
Posted by: Wildphoto1
from Idaho
After owning the S1, S2, S3, S5, SX10, SX20, all of which I enjoyed shooting this camera is by far the best of the bunch, the image quality is so much better than the rest, I like the long zoom for bird photography and again the images are great. I wasn't sure about the battery after being able to just pop in AA batteries when ever needed but the battery life has been very good and I find that the 1 extra battery has been plenty for any weekend of shooting, the flash works very well and I also have the 270 ex II flash which is awesome and doesn't take up much room in my bag. I wouldn't mind having an owners manual for when I do have a question but I use a photo bert cheat sheet and that helps and is easy to carry in the field. I wish that it had filter threads, I have the adapter to attach a filter but you can't use the lens hood with it. I really like the controls they are really not that much different than older models. the image stabilizer is amazing, I have a bogen tripod but seldom use it. I took some video at my church inside of my grandkids on stage singing and I and my family were amazed at the quality of the video this is something that I need to use more often.
The camera is a lot of fun to use and I look forward to getting out often with it.
The camera is a lot of fun to use and I look forward to getting out often with it.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: should have filter threads
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
LOVE THIS CAMERA!!
on August 23, 2013
Posted by: MJH32
from New York, NY
I love this camera. I've owned this camera for almost 2 years and couldn't be happier with it. I've always been interested in photography but being in college a few years back I was never able to afford a nice camera. Once I got a job out of college this was one of my first purchases, couldn't afford a full DSLR yet and this camera seemed to have everything I wanted.
The camera take GREAT photos and has an INCREDIBLE zoom. The image quality come out almost as crisp as a full DSLR and you can't beat the quality and zoom for the price. Great camera for any amateur photographer to learn with and hone their skills. I'm constantly reading articles and tips on how to improve my skills and the camera is always able to do the new things I discover (recently got into HDR photography and the camera has a great bracketing feature). The various modes are great even thought I like to stay in the manual mode most of the time, the high speed shutter feature is great for capturing all the little details of movement in something that happens quickly.
The only downside I've discovered with the camera is trying to take space/night photography and only having up to a 15 second exposure and it limits your ISO to 100, but I guess when I save up enough for a full DSLR I'll get past that.
One other thing I want to mention which I'm thrilled about is that I accidently left my camera outside ALL night during a rain storm. The next morning I was freaking out thinking I broke my camera, but to my pleasure I opened the battery pack and it was bone dry. The lens was fine and it started right up and took pictures good as ever. The LCD screen has a couple little water spots on it that I would have to learn to live with but after a couple days those dried up and are no longer there. Canon you made a GREAT product here and I couldn't be happier.
I'm currently saving up for a full DSLR but will never get rid of this camera, there are just somethings that this camera can do that a DSLR can't (ie the zoom, at least without a crazy expensive lens).
Highly recommend this camera for any amateur photographer who wants to learn and discover how to take great pictures. Thanks Canon!!!
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: 15 second max shutter speed with 100 iso limit
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Worth every Penny
on October 14, 2013
Posted by: Mr. Cressida
from Allentown,PA
I was in the market for a new camera that could tie me over till I got better at photography. I went a to a local retail store to and found several that were ready available in the price range I was budgeting myself in. After trying all of them I found myself going back to SX40 for over all speed quality and ease of use. I researched for another week and The Sx40 won out of the top names in the price range. That was 2 years ago and I'm still using it and have decided A DSLR is still not for me and all the weight and baggage I would have to lug around.
I will use this camera till it dies and if I can find another it will be mine!!!
I will use this camera till it dies and if I can find another it will be mine!!!
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use, manual focus big plus
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Camera
on February 12, 2012
Posted by: volleymom
from Puerto Rico
I bought this camera about a month ago and I simply love it. I've shoot volleyball games and it freeze the image without the noise. I also went to a concert were I was seat far (real far!!) from the stage, and showing the pictures I took, people thought I was at the first row!! I am in love with my new camera!!
Pros: great lense., great pictures., easy to use.
Cons: can't find original iv filters for it., does not include manual
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com