ISO comparison
Macro
Color
Burst shooting
Zoom range
Fringing
It doesn't appear that Canon does much to help remove or reduce fringing in high-contrast areas of photos. Most megazoom cameras produce a lot of fringing, but some create more at the wide or telephoto positions. The SX40 HS is bad at both ends, to the point where you'll see it in larger prints or if you crop heavily. If you're able to look past it or don't mind removing if it bothers you, then it's a nonissue.
As for lens distortion, Canon keeps the barrel distortion in check at the wide end; there was some on the left side of our review camera, but it's barely detectable. When fully extended, the lens exhibits slight pincushioning, but not enough to be concerned. Center sharpness is good and the lens softens only a bit out to the sides and corners.
Creative Filters
i-Contrast
While the SX40 HS doesn't offer the a high-dynamic-range mode like other cameras in its class, Canon does include its i-Contrast feature, which helps rescue shadow detail like the face of the player in this photo. On the left is the original and on the right is the same photo adjusted with i-Contrast with the camera in playback. Take a closer look and you'll see the difference a little better.
Canon also includes exposure bracketing that will take three shots in a row at different exposures. However, it doesn't do it all that fast so you and you're subject have to be stationary.