Canon Powershot SD40 Review

The SD40 features a high quality, all-glass 2.4x optical zoom lens 6.3-14.9mm (35mm film equivalent: 38-90mm) with a maximum aperture of f/3.2-f/5.4. When the camera is powered down the lens is retracted inside of the body and a built in shutter closes to protect the lens.

An advanced TTL AiAF 9-point autofocus system permits the camera to automatically select the primary subject even when off-center. This model also features Canon's Face Detection AF/AE technology, which allows it to detect, lock on and track up to nine human faces in a scene simply by pressing the shutter button halfway. The face detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects the optimum subject and not simply the closest face (based on Canon's Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus and exposure to ensure the best possible results for easy picture taking moments.

Focusing range is 1.0 ft. (30cm) to infinity in normal mode and macro coverage is from 1.0 in. to 1.6 ft. (10-50cm) in Wide angle and from 3.9 in. to 1.6 ft. (30-50cm) in Telephoto.

The autofocus is light-assisted and works properly even in the dark. The AF-illuminator also functions as the selftimer indicator.

The built in flash offers Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Reduction and Slow-Synchro modes. 30 cm--2.0 m (1.0--6.6 feet) in Wide angle and 30 cm--1.3 m (1.0--4.3 ft.) in Telephoto. (When sensitivity is set to AUTO.) The focus-assist lamp also serves as the red-eye reduction lamp.

The optional High-Power Flash HF-DC1 complements your PowerShot perfectly and requires no accessory shoe. With a strong light output (guide number 59 ft.) and wide angular field (28mm), it delivers proper illumination up to approximately 30 feet and in all zoom positions. The flash fires in synchronization with the main flash, and output is adjusted accurately and automatically. A "Manual" mode prevents others from firing your flash.

Absent from the SD40 is an optical viewfinder. The 1.8-inch color LCD has 118,000 pixels of resolution and is used to frame your pictures as well as review captured images and access the menus.

On the top is the Power On/Off button and the Shutter Release button. On the right is the built-in speaker.

Controls on the back: On top is the Mode Switch with positions for Playback, Movie and Record. The Print/Share button is for automated image downloading and printing, it can also be used as the Vertical shutter release when shooting portraits. The 4-way controller lets you navigate menus and select images during playback. In record mode you press "Up" to zoom-in to Telephoto and press "Down" to zoom-out to Wide angle (delete images in playback). Press "Right" to change flash modes, and press "Left" to enable Macro focus mode. The FUNC/SET button accepts menu selections and calls up the Function menu in record mode. The MENU button calls up and dismisses the menu system.

See the next page for a description of the Record modes and menus.

The Powershot SD40 is equipped with a card slot that supports use of SD or MMC cards up to 2GB or SDHC cards up to 4GB, and comes with a 16MB SD. Shown here with a speedy ATP Pro Max 2GB SD card - see the tables below for the approximate storage capacity.

Approximate Storage Capacities

The SD40 is powered by a Canon NB-4L 3.7v 760mAh lithium rechargeable battery pack. Canon claims a fully charged battery can record 190 shots with the LCD on and has a replay time of approx. 300 minutes. (Based on the CIPA standard)

The supplied Camera Station CS-DC1a charges the battery while it's in the camera in 90 minutes or less.

The I/O ports are on the Camera Station and include an AV Out which handles monaural audio and video (NTSC or PAL) to connect to your TV set with the supplied cable. The DIGITAL port supports USB 2.0 high speed to the computer for image download, it's 'plug-n-play' with the newer operating systems like Windows XP or Me or Mac OS X.

The standard USB cable can be connected directly to all Canon "CP series" printers such as the compact and portable SELPHY CP510 or Canon PIXMA series printers as well as any PictBridge compatible printer.

The included WL-DC200 wireless remote allows you to control the playback features of the SD40 when it's in the cradle and connected to a TV set.

The optional All Weather Case AW-DC40 lets you use the SD40 underwater at depths up to 3 meters (9.8 ft.).   It's also ideal for taking worry-free pictures in the rain, at the beach, or on the ski slopes.