The A410's body design is almost identical to past models like the A400 and A310, but with a "stamped metal" look. Controls are spread out in a comfortable manor, with the exception of the zoom control. Like we have seen on many cameras, the Up/Down motion makes zooming uncomfortable and it will take some time to get over if you are use to the Left/Right action on most digicams. As always the Menu system is logically organized and changing settings quickly couldn't be easier with the FUNCtion menu feature. I was a little disappointed to see the same 1.5- inch LCD display on this model. Even though it is smaller than most, this is a high-quality display that works excellent outdoors in bright light and "gains up" well in lower lighting conditions. To conserve battery power while on a long trip or outing, you can opt to use the zoom-coupled optical viewfinder.

Shooting performance was impressive. From power up to first image captured measured approx. 1.6 seconds. Shutter lag measured 1/10 of a second when pre-focused and 5/10 of a second including autofocus. The shot to shot delay averaged 1.5 seconds without the use of the flash and about 5 - 7 seconds including the flash. The LCD blacked out while the flash was recharging, which was very aggravating when trying to frame for the next shot. Using the camera's continuous capture or burst mode allowed me to capture 10 frames in only 3.5 seconds! Because the LCD briefly displays the last image captured when shooting in burst mode, following a moving subject would be difficult; this is when you'll be glad the A410 features an optical viewfinder. Our tests were done using a SanDisk Ultra II 256MB SD card, Manual mode, Large SuperFine quality, preview off, flash off, and all other settings at default (unless otherwise noted.) Times may vary depending on lighting conditions, camera settings, media, etc.

Image quality was excellent. There are a variety of image sizes to choose from as well as the quality. The most common setting is either the default Large Fine mode or Large SuperFine, which we used. Both will produce pleasing prints up to 8x10-inches. Overall our outdoor sample photos looked awesome, showing good color saturation and exposure. I saw very little compression noise in areas of contrast, however there were traces of Chromatic Aberration present around highlights. The 3.2x optical zoom lens produced sharp results throughout its 41-131mm equivalent range, with noticeable barrel distortion at wide angle. Canon's AFiF autofocus system is accurate and fast even when shooting Super Macros at 0.6 - 2 inches or in total darkness thanks to its focus-assist lamp. Flash range was typical for this type of model, illuminating your subject up to about 10 feet away (ISO Auto at Wide angle.) We captured the best individual portraits from about four or five feet away. Overall they showed good flash exposure, with natural skin tones. The A410 also records video at resolutions of either 640x480 or 320x240 without audio. Our movie samples were sharp and showed very little compression artifacts, however the slower frame rate of its VGA mode (10 fps) makes movies look a little choppy.

The A410 is powered by two AA type batteries. While proprietary lithium packs allow you to capture more photos on a single charge, the NIMH rechargeable AA's are easily acquired and will save you money in the long haul. There's a multitude of different company that produce NiMH rechargeable batteries cells as well as fast AC or portable chargers. In a bind you can even use a set of one-use alkalines but these will most likely end up in your local landfill. Using a set of 2500 mAh rechargeables, we were able to capture a total of about 80 samples and conclude with our other tests before exhausting a set. However, this number can change, depending on how often you use the camera's LCD, flash etc.

Bottom line - Canon has done it again with yet another model that offers great image quality and performance, all with a very appealing price. We feel it is a perfect money saving replacement to all those disposable 35mm cameras. It is simple to use and still includes many features found on more expensive models. With a street price of around $149 the Canon PowerShot A410 offers an excellent value to the price conscious consumer and will make a great gift this coming holiday season!