100 Iso - Digital Camera Forums

zl2bmhh · 02-20-2012, 05:44 PM

Hello fellow photographers.

Could I please tap your knowledge. i am keen to purchase the Canon SX40 HS, but when I read the reviews last evening a number of owners were complaining that this camera was poor at low light. It's ISO was regulated to 100 and would go no further. Can someone please confirm this fact as it would make a difference to my thinking.

Thank you
Jim.

Andy Stanton · 02-20-2012, 06:05 PM

From the reviews I've read the Canon SX40 HS is quite good in low light. It has a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which usually produces better low light images than the CCD sensor standard for point and shoot cameras. It also has a very reasonable 12 megapixels. Some cameras with tiny sensors pack as many as 18 megapixels into their sensors, which detracts from low-light image quality.

I don't know where you saw that ISO is limited to 100. The SX40 HS can shoot as high as 3200 ISO though, realistically, anything above 1600 is going to look pretty bad.

Take a look at this website's review of the Canon SX40 HS. http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/d...powershot+sx40

KCook · 02-20-2012, 07:31 PM

Canon AE programming typically keeps the Auto ISO at a minimum value. So set the ISO wherever you need it, instead of relying on Auto ISO.

Kelly Cook

zl2bmhh · 02-20-2012, 08:20 PM

It sucks. There is a new childproof governor on Manual setting. QUOTE:

Customer Video Review Length:: 2:20 Mins
The Manual setting on the new SX40 has a new childproof governor on it. The SX30 did not. 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...

First of all I thank you both for your replies, it much appreciated. I would 'love' to buy this camera. I was badly hurt when in the police and after a life-time in the job had to take retirement because of it, as a result I'm now severely disabled and in a wheelchair, so this camera with a x35 zoom was just perfect for someone in my position, but when reading the 135 reviews and replies on the Amazon SX40 SH forum where everybody commented on the 100 ISO I am about to change to another product. But let me say I don't want to, but i suppose it only makes sense

Thank you again.
Jim.

Andy Stanton · 02-20-2012, 09:49 PM

Jim,

It looks like there is a limitation built into the firmware that prevents you from shooting at higher than 100 ISO when shutter speeds slower than 1.3 seconds are used.

You might want to switch to the Canon's competitors, the Panasonic FX150, the Nikon P500, the Sony HX100v or the Fuji HS20EXR.

KCook · 02-21-2012, 12:11 AM

Man, that ISO governor is so weird! I guess the SX40 is not tripod rated?

Kelly

zl2bmhh · 02-21-2012, 12:58 AM

Andy, my thanks to you for sorting out 4 digital camera's, all within my price range and all with virtually the same zoom. I have carefully read the good and the bad reviews, and have decided to go with my original selection, the Canon SX40 HS.
With this camera the only draw back is the low light shooting, so if I decide to get involved with that I will have to choose a cunning time prior to full darkness.
Could I ask you if there are any groups or whatever on the net where you can join and exchange pictures and hear the criticism of your work, as I prefer to work in manual mode.
Once again many thanks for your help.

Regards,
Jim.

KCook · 02-21-2012, 01:33 PM

Photographytalk.com

zl2bmhh · 02-21-2012, 03:03 PM

Thanks a lot Kelly.
Jim.