Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
Canon's 5.0-megapixel PowerShot SD400 features a 3.0x optical zoom, a large 2.0-inch LCD, high quality VGA video clips at 30fps limited in length only by the capacity of the memory card , high speed USB 2.0, 'My Color' in-camera color editing and a Print/Share button for easy PictBridge direct printing and fast file uploads. Its 5.0-megapixel sensor allows detailed enlargements up to 13 x 17 inches. For fast start-up times, responsive performance and superb, accurate colors and image rendering, the camera features the same high speed DIGIC II processor found in Canon's latest professional series digital SLR cameras.

Superb Quality, Great Performance
Color gradation and white balance accuracy are improved with Canon's purpose-built second generation DIGIC II image processor, to ensure the very finest image quality. DIGIC II speed and accuracy allows sophisticated and complex processing algorithms to be used in image rendering, without any trade-off in camera performance.
DIGIC II also helps achieve a fast start up time of just over a second and uninterrupted 2.1 frame per second shooting until the memory card fills. A new USB 2.0 high-speed interface provides one of the fastest upload speeds in this category. An abundance of processing capacity also supports a new high-speed image playback function, image jump function (jump 10 or 100 images at a time or jump to previous shooting date), fast image rotation, and an increased card writing speed.

Bigger, Brighter Screen
A new QuickBright LCD function on the large 2.0-inch screen takes the display temporarily to maximum brightness, improving visibility in glary or outdoor conditions. Composition and framing in low light conditions is made easier with a Night Display function, which improves visibility on the LCD without affecting recorded image exposure.

Easy Printing, Easy Sharing
PictBridge direct printing functionality is supported, for photo prints without the need for a computer. When coupled with DIGIC II Compact Photo Printers such as Canon's new Compact Photo Printer Selphy CP600, the camera/printer combination is capable of producing borderless photo prints in just 63 seconds. ID photo print, N-Up printing and movie clip series printing are also supported. A postcard date impression mode imprints the date/time on each print.

Software and Access to Canon iMAGE Gateway
Software supplied includes ZoomBrowser EX 5.1 (Windows) and ImageBrowser 5.1 (Mac) for viewing, managing and archiving images. Other software includes PhotoStitch and PhotoRecord, plus photo manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoStudio. Drivers include TWAIN (Windows 98/2000) and WIA (Windows Me). Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) support allows the camera to connect to any Windows XP (SP1 - 2) and Mac OS X (v10.1.5 - 10.3) system without the requirement for a driver installation.

Test Report

Great for tiny camera: bring on a dock next time ! / Report November 18, 2005
I agree with all of the positive remarks from others but I have A HUGE Suggestion for the Canon engineers and designers working on the next batch of models:
ADOPT THE IDEA OF A DOCKING STATION FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND IMAGE TRANSFER!
-I got so used to this when using a Casio EX-Z55 that it should be the way to go for ALL digital cameras sold with rechargable batteries.
-In case no one has noticed, that flimsy plastic trap door on this Canon SD400 (and all other SD models) that holds the battery and the SD memory is absurdly destined to break one day. I am not one of those "bull in china shop" rough fast rippers that seem to break everything, BUT, I have to use the utmost tedious care when opening it to recharge the battery or if I want to use my card reader to quickly view the images without moving them to my PC's hard drive.
-I expect Canon to want a minimum of $100 to replace the battery door if it breaks. I paid $219 plus tax for the whole camera.
-Do it Canon! steal the concept like Nikon, HP, and Casio have done with the innovative Kodak docking station idea. (The chrome plastic pressure fit cover for the USB cable is fragile also!)


Great camera for a great price / R eport November 16, 2005
Canon is one of the best camera makers in the world. Compared to the previous SD200 that I owned, the Canon Powershot SD400 is a sleek and powerful camera. The metallic casing on the sides makes the camera seem much greater than it is. The camera fits snug in my hands and the button placement makes it easy for my fingers to find what buttons I need. With any product, there come pros and cons to functions and durability.

The greatest thing about this camera is the different modes you can take pictures in. If you're a beginner in taking pictures with a digital camera, or you just don't know how to set modes in the manual function, you can choose from different preset modes like "underwater" or "portrait". The best mode is "my colors" where you can change skin tone. You can also choose certain colors to appear brighter than others, or swap colors around in your photos. Another excellent point is the amazing battery life and how quick it takes to recharge.

A big complaint about this camera is the LCD screen. The screen is remarkable. It is a 2-inch LCD screen and the picture never shows any noise. The worst thing about it is how easily it can be damaged, but with proper care you'll never get a scratch or break the screen. Another con about this product is the red-eye problem. When you're taking shots with flash, most of the time they will result in red-eye pictures. There is a red-eye reduction mode, but it didn't seem to work that great for me. An additional problem with modes is the manual mode. There isn't much you can do when you switch over to the manual mode when taking pictures.

Uploading pictures onto your computer is very fast and very easy. You just plug the camera in and press a button. Editing pictures in graphic programs is also very simple. The best feature about opening a photo in a graphic program is the photo will rotate if you took the camera as a portrait. The automatic rotation saves a lot of time when it comes to rotating photos manually. As for the different modes, I find that the video mode works pretty well for a camera this tiny. Sound quality comes out well and the video quality is actually nice. You can also edit the video on the camera as well.

Overall, this camera is great and it's easy to find a use for it everyday! Snap a shot of your children or maybe that bowl of fruit on your kitchen table. Any picture you take can look just like a professional picture, as long as you have a steady hand and creative mind. Don't just use this camera to take pictures of family and friends, take time to capture the smaller things in life.

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