Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera - Black (12.1MP, Super Wide Angle, 35x Optical Zoom) 2.7 inch Vari-Angle LCD

Go far, get closer with 35x zoom

The PowerShot SX40 HS offers an “all in one” solution which bridges the gap between digital still cameras and digital SLRs. It showcases Canon’s optical expertise with an incredible, ultra wide-angle 35x optical zoom lens, whilst Canon technologies such as the HS System ensure premium image quality and optimum user experience.

Features include:

• Ultra wide-angle (24 mm - 840 mm) 35x optical zoom lens with Intelligent IS
• Fast, silent zooming and focusing
• Zoom Framing Assist to help keep track of subjects at high zoom
• 2.7" (6.8 cm) vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF)
• Canon’s HS System with powerful DIGIC 5 processor for outstanding image quality even in low light
• 12.1 Megapixel, high-sensitivity, Canon CMOS sensor
• Full HD movies (1080p) with optical zoom, stereo sound and HDMI-CEC
• High-speed Burst HQ and Super Slow Motion Movie to help capture fast action scenes
• Smart Auto detects 32 types of scene so you can simply point and shoot
• Multi-area White Balance correction for more natural colour reproduction
• Creative shooting modes including Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome and Miniature Effect

The 35x optical zoom is ideal for capturing distant subjects
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35x optical zoom gets you closer to the action

The PowerShot SX40 HS features an astonishing ultra-wide 35x optical zoom lens - this gives you a zoom range equivalent to 24mm to 840mm in one single lens. Coupled with an impressive 12.1 Megapixel capacity this allows you to really explore your creativity; from breathtaking landscapes to long-range close-ups and sharp macro photography, you have the power to capture truly stunning photos.

The Ultrasonic Motor (USM) provides fast, silent zooming and the Voice Coil Motor (VCM) enables fast focusing. Plus, the 2.7" (6.8 cm) vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD screen flips out and rotates so whether you’re shooting across a crowd or from ground level, you’ll be able to capture the scene perfectly every time.

Take high-quality photos easily with Zoom Framing Assist

With such an incredible zoom capacity, keeping track of distant or moving subjects when shooting with a long zoom could pose a challenge. This is where Zoom Framing Assist steps in. If you have zoomed in on a subject and then it moves you can just press a button and the camera will quickly zoom out, allowing you to locate the subject again and zoom back in to re-capture it in the frame - ensuring the perfect shot is never missed. This feature is especially useful at full zoom where subjects can easily be lost due to the small angle of view available at 840mm. So if you are a nature enthusiast or like to take photos on safari (where you often only have one opportunity to get the perfect shot) you will find this feature invaluable.

Without Intelligent IS close-up shots can be blurred
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Blur-free images whatever the situation with Canon’s Intelligent IS technology

The PowerShot SX40 HS benefits from Canon’s Intelligent IS technology using optical methods (lens shift) which is renowned as the most effective method of hand-shake correction. Whether you’re shooting stills or movies, Intelligent IS automatically identifies the shooting situation and then selects the most appropriate type of image stabilization from seven possible modes. For example, when capturing a close-up of a flower the camera will automatically select Macro IS with Hybrid IS technology, but then it will switch to Powered IS when filming distant subjects with the 35x zoom. This allows you to focus on framing the image you want, safe in the knowledge that the camera is working to eliminate as much camera shake as possible, even if you need to move with your scene.

Capture the scene exactly as you see it with Canon’s HS System

The power of Canon’s HS System comes from the combination of the 12.1 Megapixel high sensitivity CMOS sensor and Canon’s advanced DIGIC 5 processor. The HS System gives incredibly high image quality in all light conditions and enables the camera to capture a wider dynamic range, reducing over-exposure of highlighted areas and loss of detail in the shadows. This means you can preserve your memories in perfect detail, whether in stills or video.

Additionally, the new Multi-area White Balance correction enables incredibly accurate colour reproduction, including the correction of the green colour cast that sometimes occurs during night-time shooting and the retention of natural skin tones when shooting indoors with flash.

In low-light, camera shake is controlled
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Low-light

Canon’s HS System truly excels in low-light conditions. It can often be challenging to capture well exposed subjects inside against dark backgrounds or outside in low-light because the flash range is often not sufficient to light up the background but turning it off can cause blurring from the instability of handheld shooting. With Canon’s HS System, background illumination is improved, dark areas are reduced, and camera shake is controlled, maintaining complete image clarity and eliminating blur.

Less noise, clearer detail

The HS System allows for significant noise reduction at all ISO levels while maintaining accurate colours and crisp detail, allowing the camera to capture the natural ambience of dimly-lit environments without the flash.

Shots are striking and detailed, with the 12.1 Megapixel sensor capturing more than enough detail to reproduce images onto large poster-sized formats.

Relive your special moments in high definition on the large, bright LCD screen
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Record fast-paced, Full High Definition movies with stereo sound

For moments that are best caught on video, the PowerShot SX40 HS offers the capability to record Full HD movies at 1080p with HDMI-CEC compatibility. The full 35x optical zoom is available during shooting and stereo sound guarantees clear, CD-quality audio every time.

The lens’ quiet motor allows you to use the full range of the optical zoom during recording with minimum audio interference plus a dedicated movie button allows you to instantly start movie recording so not a moment is missed. In most modes, the movie will take the settings from the particular stills mode you are in – e.g. monochrome, sepia or even Miniature Effect.

The PowerShot SX40 HS also supports a different format for recording its HD movies - iFrame Movie. This Apple™ format is designed to speed up the editing and importing process by keeping the content in its original recorded format. Of course, if you have a PC with Microsoft® Windows® you can still upload your movies onto that as well.

High-speed shooting

Canon’s high sensitivity CMOS sensor also offers the capability to shoot at super high speeds which provides excellent benefits in a range of situations.

High-speed Burst HQ

In High-speed Burst HQ mode the PowerShot SX40 HS can capture 10.3 frames a second at full 12.1 Megapixels resolution. This allows you to capture fast-moving subjects, so whether you’re shooting sports events or life in motion you will never miss a moment of the action.

Super Slow Motion Movie

Super Slow Motion Movie mode slows down fast-moving subjects by capturing QVGA resolution video at a staggering 240 frames per second (VGA resolution at 120fps) - which can then be played back at normal speed for a spectacular slow motion effect. This is perfect for analysing a golf swing, recording a bird in flight or just for a bit of fun. The software included with the camera supports multi-speed playback, allowing you to view your footage both at real or slow motion speed.

Handheld Night Scene

Handheld Night Scene mode allows you to capture clear, detailed night scenes. With this mode selected the camera takes consecutive high speed shots and then combines the image data into a single image, ensuring the best possible exposure with the least amount of blur – perfect for handheld shots taken at night.

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Effortless shooting for the whole family with Smart Auto

Smart Auto mode allows the PowerShot SX40 HS to automatically analyse conditions and select the optimal setting so you can concentrate on your subject, confident that the camera will produce superb results. Advanced Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses shooting conditions, detecting people, distance, brightness, colour and movement, then selects the perfect setting from 32 specially defined scenes. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset or friends in the park you can be certain you'll get the image you want.

Smart Auto is also more than just scene detection. Servo AF/AE detects moving subjects to ensure focus and exposure is always correct, while Smart Flash Exposure optimises exposure and flash controls to ensure your subject is perfectly lit whilst dark and light areas are accurately reproduced.

Fast, intelligent processing with Face Detection technology

With Face Detection, up to 35 faces can be detected in each shot. Focus, exposure, flash setting and white balance are then automatically adjusted for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones.

Additionally, Face Select & Track allows a single face in a crowd to be selected and tracked as the main subject.

Smart Shutter mode for effortless group shots Canon’s

Smart Shutter mode uses Face Detection Technology to allow users to take both group shots and self-portraits more easily and in a more relaxed way. The shutter can be triggered remotely in three different ways:

• Smile Detection - the shutter is triggered when the camera detects a smiling face within the frame
• Wink Self-Timer - the shutter is triggered two seconds after the subject in the frame has winked, removing the need for a remote control
• FaceSelf-Timer - this enables perfect group shots or self-portraits by automatically triggering the shutter two seconds after a new face has entered the frame

Explore your creativity

In addition to it being the compact camera for the serious photographer, the PowerShot SX40 HS also features several creative modes for fun and exciting results. These include Miniature Effect (also available when shooting movies), Super Vivid, Poster Effect and Fish-eye Effect, which distorts the image to offer a unique view on a more traditional scene. With Monochrome you can achieve black and white, sepia or blue monochromatic tones for more atmospheric images whilst Toy Camera Effect allows you to capture colourful shots that look as though an early pinhole camera has been used.

To really make your photos your own, Manual Mode gives you full control over exposure settings allowing you to not only explore the full potential of this powerful camera but also your own creativity.

Shoot with confidence

Easy Hints & Tips provides onscreen guidance so even beginners can operate the camera with confidence straight from the box. Menu explanations are always easy to understand and when settings are changed the relevant icon displays in an easy-to-see orange colour delivering a sophisticated and pleasant operating experience.

Automatic Red-Eye Correction

Automatic Red-Eye Correction is available in both shooting and playback mode and accurately removes the red-eye effect that can be caused by a flash.

Upload to YouTube

For fast and easy uploading of your clips to social websites like YouTube, Easy Web Upload software is included free in the box. This will display your movie clips and can also store your YouTube login details – so you can simply select your clip and upload with just one click.

Accessories

The PowerShot SX40 HS is compatible with a number of accessories including a stylish soft case an HDMI cable, a rechargeable battery pack and charger and an AC adapter kit. It is also compatible with a range of Speedlite external flash units including the 580 EX II, a filter adaptor and a lens hood, all giving you more flexibility to explore your creativity.