Techniques for shooting with the zoom (on the telephoto end) (PowerShot SX40 IS)

If you cannot shoot the subject up close with the optical zoom, please consider the following.

Using the digital zoom

You can use the [Digital zoom] to zoom up to a maximum of approximately 140x and capture subjects that are too far away for the optical zoom to enlarge.

Press the ⋖MENU⋗ button (), and from the [Shooting] tab () set the [Digital Zoom] to [Standard].

Caution

Caution

Using the safety zoom

Depending on how you have set the number of recording pixels and the magnification of the digital zoom, the [Zoom bar] may be displayed in yellow (safety zoom).

To shoot with the [Digital zoom] without causing the image quality to degrade, please shoot within the range of the safety zoom.

Using the digital tele-converter

With the [Digital Tele-Converter] setting, the focal length of the lens can be increased by a factor equivalent to 1.5x or 2.0x. This makes it possible to increase the magnification without compromising the brightness of the lens even more than increasing the magnification to the same rate in ordinary zoom operations (including digital zoom), enabling you to shoot with a faster shutter speed, thereby minimizing camera shake and subject blurring.

Press the ⋖MENU⋗ button (), and from the [Shooting] tab () set the [Digital Zoom] to either [1.5x] or [2.0x].

Caution

A recording pixel setting of [Large] () or [Medium 1] () will cause images to appear coarse (the zoom factor will appear in blue).

The [Digital tele-converter] cannot be used together with the [Digital zoom].

The [Digital tele-converter] can be used in the following aspect ratio and recording pixel setting combinations:

- Aspect ratios of [16:9] or [4:3] in a recording pixel setting of [Large] ().

- An aspect ratio of [4:3] in all other recording pixel settings.

In cases where you have pressed the ⋖Zoom lever⋗ to maximum telephoto (), the shutter speed may be the same as when zoomed in on the subject using digital zoom.

If the ⋖Mode dial⋗ is set to any of the following modes, neither digital tele-converter 1.5x nor digital tele-converter 2.0x can be set.

- ⋖AUTO⋗ (), ⋖Sports⋗ (), ⋖SCN⋗ (), ⋖Creative Filters⋗ (), ⋖Movie⋗ ()

Caution

Reacquiring Zoomed In Subjects (Zoom Framing Assist)

If you lose track of your subject while zoomed in, temporarily zooming out will make it easier to find.

To use the [Frame Assist] function, press and hold the ⋖Zoom Framing Assist⋗ button ().

If you release the button, the zoom will revert to its previous magnification.

Change the range displayed while pressing the ⋖Zoom Framing Assist⋗ button ().

Press the ⋖MENU⋗ button (), and from the [Shooting] tab () select from among [Small], [Medium], or [Large] for the [ Display Area].

Caution