In addition to Tom's excellent suggestions and overview, I would add that Canon's newest model, the SX40 HS, was recently released. This camera has a new CMOS sensor as well as Canon's new Digic V processing system. The results? In my opinion, significantly improved image quality (IQ). From my observations and tests, the following improvements are the most notable: 1) Less digital noise at higher ISOs. It's pretty amazing (inasmuch as new models often have precious little more than additional whistles & bells, mere cosmetic changes, and precious little IQ improvement), because my tests reveal about a two stop improvement! I've even tested the SX40 against my larger sensor G11, and the SX40 gives me images at ISO 800 that look as good as the G11 at ISO 200. That's impressive, to say the least. Especially when needing higher ISOs to yield sufficiently fast shutter speeds for bird photography. 2) The SX40 also appears to signficantly reduce (probably digitally) the purple fringing that's infamous on megazooms. 3) The SX40 also has a burst mode, capable of firing off 10 frames per second. For those wanting good reviews of the SX40, and photos of birds taken with it, I recommed what Stephen Ingraham (who once wrote binocular and scope reviews, known as "Better View Desired") has been posting at "Digital Photography Review." He's shared some pretty impressive bird photos, using his SX40. Megazooms, like the SX30 and SX40, are very convenient to lug around while birding. They're relatively small and light (esp. compared to a dSLR and long telephoto!); they also come at a pretty low price. (And they do a fantastic job at macrophotography.) But in my opinion megazooms are much slower to focus than dSLRs, and are best suited for photographing perched birds. DSLRs are easily best for birds in flight. That's photography: tradeoffs! Good birding and bird photography... Wayne Rohde Walworth, WI #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn