Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom
by Canon
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List Price: Our Price: $53.00 You Save: $396.99 (88%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom
Customer Review: The little engine that could
Summary: 5 Stars
In my oppinion you could spend the next few weeks, maybe even months looking for a better pocket-size digi cam, and you won't find one. I've owned this camera for a little over a month now, and I took it on 2 vacations with me so far. I've taken some great pictures with it, but like every camera it has it's flaws...and not all came out great.
Generally, however, I found that if you read the instruction manual carefully, with the camera in your hand, and practice with different settings, when time comes to imortalize a moment, you won't be disappointed. I fiddled with it for a while before I took it for a spin, and I figured out what works best for each type of situation. Unfortunatly, this camera doesn't offere memeory buttons that allow you to load pre-set settings at the touch of one button, but it usually won't take you more then 5-10 seconds to get everything right if you need to.
I've read people say that the menu is not very intuitive...but I've found it to be quite the opposite. People also said that there aren't a great deal of manual functions available... well this is my first camera, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I've been very satisfied with what the manual shooting mode offers in terms of addujusting the exposure, shutter opener timer, shutter speed, lighting environment, etc. Again, by playing with all these settings I've taken great pictures in poor/no light, indoors/outdoors, portraits and panoramics.
I particulary like the fact that you can shoot short 3-minute clips w/ sound, I really like the stiching feature, and the fact that it allows you to record 60 sec voice memos for the pictures you take. I didn't hear anyone mention the software, which I think is an importan part of the package. My experience with it has been a very good one so far. I found it to be very easy to use, especailly for first timers, but it also allows you to get into more detailed settings once you know what you are doing.
My biggest dislike about this camera is that it doesn't have a battery indicator. You never know how close you are to a dead battery untill it happens, at which point it will flash you a red battery icon on the display and 15 seconds later the darn thing will turn off and you can't do anything about it. Now the battery will last you pretty long (190 shots they say). If you play with the settings, view pictures and what not, it is really much less then that. But honestly when will you ever take 100+ pictures w/o being able to recharge the battery.
I would also recommend that when you buy the camera you also buy a CF card with no less then 256 MB available. I like to take my pictures in the finest setting at the second highest resolution. This will give you about 230 pictures without sacrificing picture quality whatsoever. If you go to the highest resolution you will get about 115 pictures.
Having said all that, I think this is a great camera if you are looking for portability w/o sacrificing the most basic functions and still get some great shots. If you want more functions, more performance then you're gonna have to sacrifice size, and you shouldn't buy this camera
Customer Review: Great camera for the money.
Summary: 5 Stars
What to do when a family member covets your SD400? The answer was to buy them an SD410 and save almost 40%!
I have been buying digital cameras from the beginning, starting with some brands that are now extinct and some cameras that offered less than 1 megapixel resolution. My most recent acquisition was a Pentax Optio SV which I panned in a review posted here on Amazon.
Anyway, Canon is the benchmark for all other digital cameras. This model offers the usual Canon sturdy build and very good visual appeal. The size and weight are about 50% larger than the SD400, but still not too large for a purse.
The LCD screen is excellent; 1.5 inches and readable even in bright sunlight. The optical viewfinder (I just don't like cameras that make you rely upon the LCD only for framing images; sometimes I feel I need to frame an image the old fashioned way) is tiny but very bright and also features all of the menu items you select from setup (or none if you prefer).
The 3X optical zoom is smooth and fast and in most cases that's enough zoom power, though I did buy that Optio in search of even more power. For the record, pay no attention to digital zooms. They are computer trickery that enlarges the central part of your image at the expense of image resolution. For example, a 2X digital zoom effect exactly halves your resolution, making such images often unfit for printing. Talking about resolution and printing, the 4 megapixels available on this model allows for high quality 8" x 10" prints. The camera is also capable of functioning as a camcorder in a pinch.
The controls of the SD410 are simple and intuitive and the menus have evolved nicely, making it much easier than it was with my S200 to navigate and adjust things. That said, the SD410 is part of a class of cameras designed mostly for automatic users; if you crave control, you're probably not shopping for this type of digicam.
I find the Canon colors to be about the truest, though performance in that area is degraded when using the flash. Also, "red eye" is a problem, though newer software programs like Microsoft's PictureIt! Photo Premium 9 have finally made red eye fixes really easy.
The fact that this camera operates on 2 AA batteries is great. You can be environmentally friendly using rechargeables and in a pinch you can just use alkalines available anywhere.
Of course the included 32 meg CF memory card is too small to be useful, but that is the case with every single digital camera I've bought. No matter, these cards are the most reasonably priced format available, with prices now below ten cents a meg.
Lastly, I want to commend the new Digic II processor in the SD410. It is ready to shoot in about one second after it is powered up, and there is almost no shutter lag at all. Recovery time for a second shot is similarly brief. Shutter lag is a big factor when selecting a digicam and this one jumps that hurdle very nicely.
On balance, I'd say the SD410 is a "best buy".
Customer Review: A great camera that you can carry in a pocket or purse.
Summary: 5 Stars
My experience with the Elph S410 has been a love affair from the very first picture I snapped. I was used to using a 2.0 megapixel, 8 year old Kodak digital which weighs at least 4-5 times as much as the Elph and is twice as large. I have always been partial to Canon cameras since I bought my first Canon AE-1 SLR about 20 years ago. Even so, I shopped extensively before selecting this camera. It is easy to use and has an adequate zoom for most situations. There is no comparison between the quality of the photos between this 4.0 megapixel and my old Kodak, but all I can say is that the pictures come out very sharp and the colors are incredibly true. I fully intend to buy a digital SLR 8.0 or higher MP camera in the future, but this little sweetheart is a great camera in the mean time. The battery is rechargeable using the charger adapter which comes with the camera. I also purchased the Accessory kit which includes a carry bag large enough to carry the camera, the manuals, the charger and the spare battery that comes with the kit. It is even large enough to carry your wallet and other items so you can use it as a "purse" if you so desire.
The camera comes with a fairly small CompactFlash media card, so I would recommend purchasing a larger one if you don't want to spend your time constantly downloading and deleting pictures. With a 256MB card I can take a couple hundred pictures without downloading for quite a long time. You can directly connect the camera to your PC or a direct print printer to do your download with a USB cable or you can use a media reader. The charge on the battery lasts a very long time. I have not actually calculated it in hours, but I keep the camera with me most of the time and it usually lasts through 5 or 6 shooting sessions if I don't use the viewing feature (which uses a ton of your battery life!). Having the extra battery charged up and ready in the case makes it a snap to swap them when needed. It takes a little over an hour to recharge one of the batteries. This is so superior to the older digital cameras that I am in heaven! It took absolutely awesome pictures when we visited the Grand Canyon earlier this year.
The Elph has an impressive list of features including the ability to set it to manual if you prefer setting up a photo that way. I usually keep it on auto, but have used the manual feature a few times and it works great either way. Both the media card and the battery are very easy to remove and reinsert.
It is extremely lightweight and compact and it fits in the palm of your hand. Although there is smaller media than the CompactFlash used by other cameras, this was a bonus for me as I already owned 2 CompactFlash media cards from my Kodak which work in the Elph.
I just cannot get over the quality of this little camera. Amazon offered it for a very nice price. If you are looking for a great little versatile camera, check this one out. I am sure you won't be sorry!
Customer Review: A worthy buy
Summary: 5 Stars
The Canon PowerShot S410 is a slightly upgraded version of the immensely popular S400 model, which has been discontinued and can be found for close to three-hundred bux. I think since the S410 is only slightly improved -- it is slightly faster than the S400 and sports a new print/share button which I'm not sure you'll be using a lot if you are the typical user -- the S400 is a much better buy.That said, the S410 will be the new standard bearer for 4MP digital cameras. It has a compact form factor, although not as small or light as offerings from Minolta or Pentax or Casio, and it's a bit heavier than you might have expected from the size. It puzzles me why Canon continues to use the older CompactFlash memory card as opposed to the more-standard Secure Digital format. Maybe they simply wanted to save money in upgrading the S4xx series. The plus side is, CF cards are a lot cheaper than SD ones for the same capacity, although the difference is shrinking as expected.
Like the S400, the S410 produces excellent image qualities, both indoors and outdoors. It's got the best color and exposure balance from automatic programs among all the cameras I have tested/used. The S410 is slightly faster in taking pictures than the S400, but image quality is largely the same. You won't be disappointed.
And as before, the S410 is easy to use, with buttons that aren't too small like on ultra-subcompact cameras from Casio or Pentax. Battery life is about the same as before, which is pretty good and should last you a whole day of moderate shooting. As always, turning off the LCD (via a simple press of the Disp button), turning off the flash, avoid zooming in and out frequently, and using a lower resolution and lower quality will all help preserve battery life (this comes in handy when you realize the battery is about to run out).
I wish Canon had increased the optical zoom. 3X is standard but not adequate in a lot of situations, e.g., shooting a stage play your kid's in. But this is only a minor complaint for a camera in this price class.
For another hundred bux more, you can get the 5MP S500 model. Should you go for this or the S500? I think for most consumers 4MP is plenty enough, with room for cropping and enlargements. 5MP is only necessary if you really crop a lot. The S410 strikes a great balance between pixel count and price -- it's a good value.
Customer Review: CF Card Error Repair
Summary: 5 Stars
I had good luck (so far) fixing the CF Card Error on my Canon Digital Elph. Here is what I did. I removed the memory card and battery. Then I removed every screw I could see on the outside of the camera. I opened the CF card door and carefully opened up the camera a crack and blew inside. (I did not even remove the case completely.) Then I closed it up and replaced the battery and CF card. THE CAMERA WORKS NOW!
(Note: The tiny screws look alike but they are NOT! Keep track of each screw and place them on a card with labels or something so you know which screw goes where.)
My camera was 3 years old when the CF Card Error appeared all of a sudden, for no apparent reason. It is an S200 digital elph. After trying a new card, a new battery and other things that did not work, I contacted Canon. I received the same response as other people: repairs would cost at least $150 OR I could upgrade to a "refurbished" S410 for $175 (only six month warranty on this one).
So I decided to buy a NEW one rather than buy the refurbished one. Amazon had a great deal on the S410 (came with battery, card, software, cables, etc.) so I ordered it.
Then, since my old one was headed for the trash can, I decided to look inside. I don't why looking and/or blowing inside it fixed it, but it really did! I am very happy right now. I hope this works for other people. Who knows, it might work with other cameras too. Spead the word if it does.
I get stunning photos with my S200 so I canceled my order for the S410. However, most people would probably like the S410 even better than the out-dated, low megapixel one I have. I will likely upgrade to another Canon Elph in the near future. For now, I am completely nonplused by the fact that my S200 is working again.