Canon Powershot A400 Review

By Movable Type Admin

Click for our main menu

Canon PowerShot A400

Review posted 8/19/2004


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Canon PowerShot A400
Click to take a QTVR tour of the PowerShot A400


The latest entry-level PowerShot model from Canon (as of 8/2004), the A400 is a 3.2 megapixel camera that features a 2.2x optical zoom and DIGIC processor for superb image quality. It also includes a high performance 9-point AiAF autofocus system, Intelligent Orientation Sensor, and 12 shooting modes to ensure that it's easy to take great images, even under challenging conditions. The high quality 2.2x optical zoom lens has a focal length of 45-100mm (35mm equivalent), making the A400 especially suitable for portrait photography. Taking close-ups is also simple with its 2 in. (5cm) macro function.

Along with the "SD" series from Canon, the A400 records to an SD memory card, allowing the camera body to be smaller and lighter. The A400 can record up to 3-minute movie clips at SVGA (320x240) resolution or VGA (640x480) quality up to 30 seconds. Like all other 2004 PowerShot cameras, the A400 features Canon's Print/Share button for simplified, one-touch Direct Printing to Canon and PictBridge-compatible printers as well as one-touch downloading to Windows XP/Me/2000/98 computers. The PowerShot A400 also supports PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol), making it fully compatible with Mac OS X. It's powered by two AA-size batteries and is compatible with any size SD removable media.



Canon PowerShot A400

The A400 (which is available in 4 attractive colors) features the same technology found in Canon's professional digital compact cameras like Canon's DIGIC processor and iSAPS technology, which enables users to capture high-quality images. The purpose built DIGIC processor integrates all image processing algorithms onto a single chip to deliver fast write times, minimal shutter lag, optimal image definition and consistently precise and natural color reproduction. iSAPS, a built-in photographer's assistant, analyses composition factors such as zoom position and luminosity in order to predict the type of photo being taken. This results in faster auto-focusing, more accurate auto-exposure and precise white balance.

Software supplied includes browsing and printing software ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Mac). Other software includes PhotoStitch, plus photo and movie manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoImpression and VideoImpression. Also a free membership is included to Canon's online CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, with 100 Megabytes of free storage space for online album storing and sharing. Users can upload favorite images and now movies to the site and then direct friends and family to individually secure online 'albums'.


PowerShot A400 Features

  • 3.2-Megapixel CCD for images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels.
  • 2.2x optical zoom 45mm - 100mm (35mm equivalent)
  • 1.5-inch TFT color LCD, approx. 115,000 pixels
  • Compact (4.2 x 2.1 x 1.4 in.) and lightweight (5.8 oz)
  • 9-point AiAF system with single-point center focus and focus lock
  • Low-light focus assist illuminator
  • Exposure modes: Auto/ Manual/ Stitch Assist/ Special Scene/ Movie
  • 8 Scene modes (Portrait, Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor
  • Motion video w/audio, 640x480 up to 30 secs, 320x240 up to 3 min
  • White balance options: Auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H, or custom
  • Shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/1500 second
  • Evaluative metering linked to the focus point
  • ISO settings: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400
  • Photo Effects: Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Sepia, B&W
  • Built-in flash with Auto, Forced on, Red-eye on, and forced off (Red-eye reduction On or Off)
  • 2x-10x enlarged playback function with scrolling
  • Direct Print to PictBridge compliant printers
  • Video output (NTSC or PAL)
  • SD memory card storage
  • Canon's exclusive Print/Share button
  • USB driverless downloads
  • Powered by two AA type batteries






Physical Views

Canon PowerShot A400

Canon PowerShot A400

Canon PowerShot A400

Canon PowerShot A400 Canon PowerShot A400

Canon PowerShot A400

Canon PowerShot A400





Canon PowerShot A400

The PowerShot A400 and a standard CD for size comparison.





Canon PowerShot A400

The A400 and the PowerShot A85 for size comparison.




Continue on to
Features & Controls







PowerShot A400 Specifications

Image sensor: 1/3.2 in. CCD (Total number of pixels: approx. 3.3 million)
Effective Pixels: Approx. 3.2 million
Lens: 2.2x 5.9 - 13.2mm (45 - 100mm equivalent) f3.8
Digital Zoom: 3.2x (Approx. 7x when combined)
Optical Viewfinder: Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD monitor: 1.5 inch TFT color LCD, approx. 115,000 pixels
Autofocus: TTL 9-point AiAF / 1-point AF (Fixed to center), Focus lock available
Focusing Range:
 Normal: 47 cm (1.5 ft.) - infinity

Macro: AF: 5 - 47 cm (2 in. - 1.5 ft.)

Shutter: Mechanical + electronic
Shutter Speed:

1 - 1 / 1500 sec.
* 1 - 1 / 8 sec. in manual or stitch assist mode with the flash off.
* Noise reduction processing on speeds between 1 - 1 / 6 sec.

Light Metering Method: Evaluative metering / Center-weighted average metering / Spot metering
Exposure Control: Program AE
Exposure Compensation: +/-2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
Sensitivity : AUTO / ISO 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 equivalent
White Balance: TTL auto / preset (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H) or Custom white balance
Flash : Auto / On / Off; Red-eye reduction (On or Off)
Flash Range: Normal: 47 cm - 2.0 m (1.5 - 6.6 ft.);
Macro 30 cm - 47 cm (1.0 - 1.5 ft.) (When sensitivity is set to AUTO)
Shooting Modes: Auto / manual / Stitch assist / Special Scene/ movie
Continuous Shooting: Approx. 1.3 images / sec. (Large / Fine mode, LCD monitor off)
Self-Timer : Shoots after approx. 2 sec. or approx. 10 sec.
PC Connected Shooting: Available (USB connection only. Exclusive software program
"RemoteCapture" is included in the camera kit.)
Recording Media: SD memory card
File Format: Design rule for Camera File system, DPOF compliant
Image Recording Format: Still images: JPEG (Exif 2.2)*,
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE [monaural])
Compression : Superfine/ fine/ normal
Resolutions :
Still Images:
Large: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Medium1: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Medium2: 1024 x 768 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Movies:
640 x 480 pixels (Approx. 30 sec.)**
320 x 240 pixels (Approx. 3 min.)**
160 x 120 pixels (Approx. 3 min.)**
Approx 15 frames/ sec. at 320x240 and 160x120;
Approx. 10 frames/ sec. at 640x480
** The data in parentheses refer to the maximum movie per clip.
Playback Modes: Single (histogram displayable) / index replay (9 thumbnails) / zoomed view (LCD monitor zooms images up to maximum of approx. 10x) / auto play / sound memos (up to 60 sec.)
My Camera Settings
(customizing)		 The Start-up image, Start-up Sound, Shutter Sound, Operation Sound and Selftimer Sound can be customized using the following methods.
1. Using the images and sounds recorded on the camera.
2. Using downloaded data from your computer using the supplied software.
Interface: Universal Serial Bus (mini-B, PTP [Picture Transfer Protocol]); Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL Selectable, Monaural audio)
Power Source:
Two AA-size alkaline batteries (included)
Two AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (optional)
AC adapter kit ACK800 (optional)
Operating Temperatures : 0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Operating Humidity : 10 - 90 %
Dimensions
(W x H x D):		 107 x 53.4 x 36.8 mm (4.2 x 2.1 x 1.4 in.) (excluding protrusions)
Weight: Approx. 165 g (5.8 oz.) (excluding batteries and CF Card)
Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer.



Continue on to
Features & Controls




Return To Our
Reviews Menu











Next: Features & Controls

Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.

Canon Color Printer
ProductPriceInformationSeller Rating

Seller: Unique Photo

$79

Condition: New

In Stock: Yes


158 reviews