Totz had many years of use of DSLR`s / I always "just take away time" a compact / bridge camera `s, leave, etc. in my stash. The picture quality is the most important criterion at all for me. And this is (interesting photos, video me) at the SX40 really good. However, I use only half-automatic or manual settings and only the ISO ranges 100/200 ASA. Color fidelity and balanced exposure are very good. The maximum focal length, I use only in an emergency. It then occur quite strong vignetting in the upper corners, so you really need to prune the image. But excerpts are still handsome and well resolved if you do not overdo it here. One should mention perhaps that the 35x zoom, so refers to the wide-angle starting region. The actual magnification compared to KB lenses and the lens is normal at around 16-17 times. Basically, I find it better also with compact when you can manually adjust a ring the focal length, but only have a few models. The viewfinder is fully manageable even for me as a spectacle wearer. Here I need not have a high resolution. That would not gripe for me. The same applies to the display, I use it rarely, and look at me on the PC as the photos have become. Since one for manual settings usually white, what you do, are also most of the photos in order. So, recommended also for spoiled SLR users.