Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
Customer Review: SD400 is THE perfect camera - Great quality Pics - movies - and a Macro mode!
Summary: 5 Stars
First, know that I'm very picky and tough to please.
(Note that this review also applies to the new SD450 which mainly has a larger screen.)
I had a Canon SD110 (2MP) camera for 3.5 years and I loved it. I took a while and did a lot of research to find it. I had been waiting for the right new camera and I finally found it, the SD400. I've had it for over 6 months and I've been meaning to write up this review.
I had taken over 9,000 photos with my SD110 in 3.5 years. With the SD400 in only 6 months, I've already taken over 1000 shots.
Back when I got the SD110 Canon was not as well known. Now people recognize that Canon is a top-tier digital camera brand.
My wishes for improvement over the SD110 were:
- longer movie clips (only 15 seconds) - now unlimited
- zoom in movie mode - YES
- limited close-up range - new Digital Macro mode
- higher resolution - YES
- better zoom - YES
The SD400 has all of this. The one thing it doesn't have enough of for my taste is zoom, but what can you expect from a camera .75 inches thick? I wanted zoom, but I didn't want to sacrifice portability. (I hate having a lens sitcking out of the camera.) In any case, it has a 3 x optical zoom which is pretty good.
The best feature of the SD110 was it's compact size. The SD400 delivers more in less space. I take it with me everywhere I go. If I see a shot, I can take it. If I see a moment, I can capture it in a movie. And no hassle with carrying a separate case. It fits in my front pocket, even my tight jeans. (Just be careful not to put anything else in there or you might scratch the screen or even crack it.)
One of the best features of the SD110 was the movie mode. It took great little clips of super high quality with sound too! Way better than any other camera. The only problem was they were limited to about 15 seconds in length. With the SD400, they are unlimited. You can trim them in the camera to save space too. It also can take 60 FPS for a high-speed camera effect. When you play it back at 30 FPS you get slow motion. The only issue is that you need to brace yourself to minimize camera shake. These movies are better than standard video recorder quality. They're close to HD TV quality if you use the 640 mode. There is no jumpiness period.
The other big advancement is the Macro mode. This thing is practically a microscope. It can take shots at under 1 inch from the subject assuming you have good lighting that close. Add to that the digital macro zoom and you can photograph a mosquito so close that you can count the hairs on its legs!
I love taking photos of flowers and always wanted to get closer. Now I can get as close as I want.
Lots of people will say you need more than 5 MP to go over 8x10. It's not true. I did decent 8x10 prints (with the bundled Canon software) using my old 2 MP SD110. With the SD 400's 5 MP I have done enlargements to 12x18 that are excellent.
The range of new settings on the SD400 are great. I would like more but they options are good. The best one is the ability to set the ISO speed. There's a focus lock and an exposure lock feature. I wouldn't know it if I didn't read the manual. Nice extras for sure. They're very useful if you're into photography.
The least satisfying thing is the auto-focus. It's odd, but I've gotten used to it.
Now, to be sure it's not perfect, but it is really good. I think it's better than 99% of the cameras out there.
I chose it over the SD500 because the 500 was thicker and I didn't feel I needed the extra resolution of a 7 MP camera. It was the right choice.
Note the following:
- battery life is excellent, and the charger is tiny, but if you don't want to be caught short on vacation or when you're out on a long hike, get a spare battery and charge them both. I did this for the SD110 and I never ran out of juice. The battery is so slim, you can carry it easily.
- do get a big memory card. I recommend the SanDisk Ultra II 1 GB. I have two of them.
CRITICAL - get something to cover the screen. It's large and easy to scratch in your pocket. Also in your pocket be careful to put the screen against your body to prevent it from getting poked and cracked. I would not put it in a back pocket either.
The biggest problem is holding still in low-light. I don't like flash and I like taking low-light shots. You will want a tripod or a mini-tripod if you do much of that.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Customer Review: camera
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.
Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?
First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.
The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:
-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.
-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens
-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)
-Much better movie mode than previous Canons
-Small light, easy pocketability
On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:
-Few manual controls.
-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.
-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)
-More purple fringing issues than other Canons
-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace
-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!
If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.
If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?
Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:
Features unique to the SD500:
-1/4 inch thicker
-30% heavier
-50% longer flash range
-14% more battery life
The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:
-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light
-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera
-USB 2.0 High Speed support
The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:
Pros:
-Beautiful, eye catching design
-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models
-New Dig!c 2 image processor
-Excellent Movie Mode
-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people
-Excellent, intuitive manual controls
-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions
-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards
Cons (most of these are minor quirks):
-Some purple fringing problems
-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times
-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs
-No RAW support
-Few manual controls
If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.
You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.
Customer Review: The Canon Elph Shines Again-Now With 3x Zoom & Large 2.0" LCD & More
Summary: 5 Stars
The Canon Powershot really sizzles and outperforms almost ALL other Competitors in the 5MP Digital Arena! I have always been interested in Canon products, especially the optics on their Digital and SLR cameras. The Canon Powershot SD400 Digital Elph has outperformed ALL of the previous cameras that I have owned. There are many cameras available with 5 megapixels or even more. It's important to pay attention to the quality of the camera in a number of different areas and NOT to just focus on the number of megapixels a camera has.
I purchased this camera when it first came out-probably one of the first off the shelf. I should have waited for all of the rebate offers and sales, however I wanted to replace my previous ELPH and pass it on to a nephew so I could get the newest Canon Digital Camera. I had read all of the reviews online and in periodicals that I like to read. It was unanimously agreed upon that this camera really packed a true bang for the buck!
I am a photographer and use typical SLR and Medium Format Cameras for the most professional work. I've incorporated digital photography for moments when I don't have the time to put the whole camera outfit together or when I am traveling and don't want to carry a heavy camera, lens, flash, etc. Recently I put the Canon to the test. I was called upon to photograph a Canadian Competition Bicycling team, from Toronto, that was training in sunny Arizona. The photo shoot went very well and I was comfortable that the photos would turn out great. In addition to taking my typical "35mm Film" photographs, I chose to use my Canon Powershot SD400 to see how it would compare.
I developed all of the 35mm photographs and had prints made for all members of the racing team. After I finished this 4 day process, everything from taking the photos to developing the negatives and finally making prints of the best photos, I turned to my new ELPH and used my laptop computer to view the pictures. I was totally astounded by the incredible performance of this small but mighty camera. I decided to take it another step higher and took my Memory Card to a Kinko's Copy Center and had enlargements made-everything from 5 x 7's to 8 x 10's.
The colors were brilliant and it was impossible for me to see any differences in quality between the original small prints and the 5 x 7's and 8 x 10's! As a semi-professional photographer, like so many others, I assumed that I would see a difference once the digital photos were enlarged. Not the case with this awesome digital Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Elph Camera!
I hung 2 prints on the wall, both 8 x 10's from my 35mm SLR Camera, and then placed the digital 8 x 10's from Kinko's just below them. It would take a very, very professional eye, with a very, very powerful magnifier, to discern any differences in quality. I've always been impressed with the Canon Digital Cameras that I have owned, but this 5 megapixel Elph is a true gem and the best digital camera I have ever owned. I ended up with 4 photos on the wall, that still remain there, as I enjoy showing clients the power of a high quality digital camera.
I hope this review offers some assistance to you. There are so many technicals points that I could have discussed with you, however I wanted to present an honest review as a result of a true experience I had with this incredible camera. There are so many to choose from, so many sales and specials and rebates, etc. If you're looking for a great camera that will guarantee you performance that even a professional would expect in a camera-then the Canon Powershot SD400 is the camera for you.
Customer Review: You want this camera.
Summary: 5 Stars
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 excellent, sturdy build (it was dropped onto a stone floor when it was only a few days old....even though it made a pretty bad sound, it wasn't dinged or scratched. I'm not sure how that can be, but it is a fact) and very good visual appeal. The size and weight are perfect. It is small enough for a purse or even a pocket, but not so small that it is hard to grasp while shooting.
The LCD screen is the best I've used; 2 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 5 megapixels available on this model allows for high quality 11" x 14" prints. The camera is also capable of functioning as a camcorder in a pinch, offering full motion (60 FPS) video and sound limited only by the size of your memory card.
The controls of the SD400 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 SD400 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.
While I agree that the Canon's need for a proprietary battery is a pain, I am satisfied with the battery life--about 140 shots with the LCD on and the flash not in use--and I like the very compact charger included with the camera. To be on the safe side, I ordered another battery here on Amazon (a generic that is not too expensive and works identically to the branded one that came in the box).
Of course the included 32 meg SD 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 reasonably priced (though not quite as cheap as the larger CompactFlash format) and now come in gargantuan sizes if you like. I paid about $50 for a 512 MB Ultra II card that will hold hundreds of images.
Lastly, I want to commend the new Digic II processor in the SD400. 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.
All told, I'd give the SD400 a "best in class" ribbon.
Customer Review: SD400 - a Fantastic Digital Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
The SD400 is a breakthrough in technology by canon, making a very small camera perform like a larger one. Besides having 5 megapixels, the camera has one of the best movie modes in the business. I have seen a lot of movie modes by Fuji, Sony, and others. Canon has the best, hands down. The reason is how they compress the movies. Canon has the least compression (movies must be compressed from a large file to a smaller one to fit on the SD card.) The new Digic II processor assists the movie mode to a full 30 frames/sec. Also a fast start up time of just over a second and uninterrupted 2.1 frame per second shooting.
The only camera in the Canon line that has a better movie mode
is the new S2IS camera. This one also gives you stereo sound. However, it is a much larger camera. The thing that appeals to me about the SD400 is that you can carry it anywhere and it will be there to get the shot. Either still picture or movies.
There is a new trend of smaller cameras such as the SD400, the Sony T series, and Casio having much larger LCD screens. These screens are 2" or larger. With a larger LCD, you must also take care of your camera better. With the older cameras, the screen was small, and less likely to get damaged. Here are some tips that should keep your SD400 from ever having a cracked screen, or for that matter any of the newer cameras from Sony, Casio, Fuji, etc. that have larger LCD screens. (You can damage any LCD screen regardless of brand).
[1] Do not place camera in with sharp objects like keys, lipstick holders, or any metal objects. I would suggest this even if you have the camera in a thin case, as the thin case is still no protection from sharp objects that can exert a lot of pinpoint pressure.
[2] If you carry it in your pocket, you should not do it in tight pants, and do not sit on the camera! I recommend not carrying it in your pants pocket (too easy to bump into hard objects). I never have and never had a problem. If you feel the need to carry it in your pants, carry it so the LCD is NOT on the outside and vulnerable. The older models were too thick to fit in your pocket. I think you are seeing a lot more people improperly carry this camera because of its thin size.
[3] The best bet would be a well padded case (not a thin one).
Padding is the key here. Pamper your new camera.
[4] Do not drop camera. Always put the strap around your arm when taking your camera out of the case. That way you never will drop it. Any digital camera will have a high probability of damage if you drop it. These are delicate electronic devices and need to be treated as such.
[5] Do not leave your camera in your car. Extreme heat or extreme cold is very bad for any electronic device with an LCD screen. The SD400 is no exception.
There is a silent majority of SD400 owners out there that are enjoying the camera, but have not left reviews. I would like to hear from them. Let people know of your success with the camera and you can even post images here that you have taken. Respect the camera, and it will give you a long life.
Update: Just went on a trip to Europe. Two girls on the trip had the sd400 camera. They did have cases for their cameras, but one did not even have a strap on their camera. Both cameras survived the trip with no problems. They even took the cameras to the beach, and up mountains, and on several boats. They did not put the camera in unprotected pockets.