I bought the SX40 and love it. It`s a great camera for travel or events where they tell you "no professional cameras allowed". The main reason I bought it was for a trip to Australia, I Just did not feel like lugging around 15 lbs of equipment. It was great, the zoom is fantastic ( and that's why i bought it ) and the IQ is fine. I payed under 500 for it on Amazon. If I feel the need to shoot Raw, or better IQ, out comes the 7D or 40D or better yet, the EOS-1n.