Canon SX40 ISO limits time-exposure night shots.

The Canon SX40 limits time-exposure night photos to ISO 100, even in Full Manual Mode. The older SX30 did not. Here is what that means.

Category:

Film & Animation

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• Canon
• SX40
• SX30
• PowerShot
• Power
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• ISO
• limit
• camera
• time
• lapse
• night
• low
• light
• long
• exposure
• photo
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• digital
• problem
• problems
• critical
• block
• blockage
• childproof
• governor
• night photo
• night photography
• ISO limit
• ISO governor
• childproof governor
• Time exposure
• Long exposure
• Photography
• Canon (company)
• Monterey
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[usgp1]

Always read the manual before you buy, it's in there. Manuals are available online, no need to purchase camera first.

[SLOphoto1]

@usgp1 No one reads 25 manuals cover-to-cover before they decide to buy one $400 camera. You read the professional reviews first, and then the spec sheets. Nothing in print mentioned this limit. Canon's own tech support dept did not know about the limit. It is not mentioned in the manual mode section of the user manual at all. Is the consumer supposed to understand the camera better than Canon's own tech dept. before they buy it? That's not a reasonable demand of any consumer.

[usgp1]

"doesn't protect the photos in any way". Try the high ISO at night and you'll see a high degradation of photos on a small sensor camera.

[SLOphoto1]

@usgp1 You misquoted me. I said, "it doesn't improve the quality of the photos in any way." It doesn't. It simply puts limits on which photos you are allowed to take. Actually I was able to get a very good quality 8X10 print at over 360 dpi. out of it with the SX30. There was a slight noise degradation in the original image, but two passes through Noise Ninja and it was completely cleared up. I'm convinced the SX40 would take the same photo even better. It does not need that limit on it.

[usgp1]

CHDK, 64 second exposures and gets rid of the pesky ISO limit.

[SLOphoto1]

@usgp1 I'm sure it would. Now as to "CHDK." It stands for "Canon Hacker Development Kit," right? Well, not everyone wants to resort to a hacker software program to try to solve the problem. Most people just want the camera to work for them. The problem is that an artificial limit was placed on the camera. I'm just asking Canon to remove that limit and let people have the personal freedom to make their own decisions. If you want to help in that effort, I could certainly use your support. Thanks.

[SLOphoto1]

Look it up in the index of the manual under “ISO.” It just says “page 81” for ISO Speed. The limit is not described on page 81. It’s not even there, not anywhere! Doesn't anybody understand? Canon is HIDING the limit, they are NOT explaining it!

[SLOphoto1]

@usgp1 You are right about the term "time-lapse." I didn't understand that subtle distinction when I first made the video, but I have now changed the title and the caption. Thanks. Longer exposures would work, except for a minor cloud movement problem, but unfortunately Canon has never allowed more than a 15 second exposure on any camera of this line since the beginning. I wish they would change that too. Nope, I'm just not into using CHDK at the moment. For others it's fine. Thanks again.

[SLOphoto1]

@nealx CHDK will fix your voided warrantee? Whatever... Maybe it will, but if it can, then please tell us how? Thanks for the input.

[usgp1]

CHDK dude, I don't see a timelapse here anyway. I have no problems doing night shots with mine, just turn up the timer longer.