Canon PowerShot S400 Digital Camera (Canon-8392A001)

Canon PowerShot S400 Digital Elph

PowerShot S400 Digital Camera (Canon-8392A001) Review, by Grace Aquino June 2, 2003

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• Latest User Reviews 1 review
• Reviewed by: drhealth

  Duration of ownership: 4 Years

  Strengths: Small size means it's in my pocket. Great close ups as well as the 12x telephoto.

  Weaknesses: In my pocket sweat condenses in the camera. Switching to a case on my belt solved that problem. The flash can be too strong for indoor shots. The close ups can be slow as the data are transferred to the memory card.

  Overall: As a small form factor the camera is available whereas the more technologically proficient is still sitting at home. Viewing in bright sunlight is hopeless but the view finder saves the day. Sometimes there is a delay of 10 second upon pressing the shutter; never have been able to figure out why. I'd buy it again. Paul in Napa

• Reviewed by: Javex57

  Strengths: Versatile, lightweight, cheap CF memory, rechargeable battery, Movie mode w/sound, easy operation.

  Weaknesses: Short battery life (buy an extra), crappy little plastic USB connection cover

  Overall: This is my first digital camera experience & I went with Canon for name brand and the positive reviews I read. Overall it has been a good camera even though I had to take it in for repairs twice. The first time the switch to change from shooting to review mode broke off. The second time the image processor went and all my daylight pictures were washed out. This happened on vacation which was quite annoying. To Canon's credit they repaired it at no cost (other than the cost FedEx'ing to them), even though the warrtyyt expired a month earlier.

• Reviewed by: USA Electronics

  Strengths: Sturdy, simple to use

  Weaknesses: Dial can break easily, night shots. No video editing software

  Overall: I've owned it for almost 2 years and never had a problem. I'm afraid the dial will brake, I like how the newer models use an up/down switch for choosing play or record mode.

• Reviewed by: jellybeanfury

  Strengths: Definitley a great flash. Takes great night shots. definitley built well and very sturdy and strong. dropped it 3 times and absolutely no problems with it.

  Weaknesses: Definitley needs to indicate the battery life. Doesn't do that at all.

  Overall: I think that this is a great camera. It has a lot of great features! I have taken hundreds of pictures so far and the battery life through all these pictures was great. But the only thing that is a negative is the fact that it does not give you any indication when the battery is about to die. It just flashes a couple second I guess when the battery is finally low and then dies. That is the only negative comment that I have about this camera. Another thing that canon should make is a leather slipcase for it. The case does get scratched easily....but it does perform well which is very important. My Brother In Law has the model before the one that I have and he dropped it on the cement and it is fine. Just a couple of scratches and it still lives on. Go Canon! Mom of three

• Reviewed by: mlw168

  Strengths: Easy to use. 3 minute video. good manual setting options. super small!

  Weaknesses: special battery. awkward mic for video.

  Overall: I love this camera. I owned a Digimax before this camera and it broke three times in two years, the third time was outside of the warranty period. My parents own a canon digital camera and they have been using it for more than three years without ANY failure. It was an easy choice to go with Canon. This camera takes excellent pictures. Occassionally I use the manual mode, but I am a very amatuer photographer and primarily use it to chronicle camping trips, vacations, weddings, pets, etc. For someone who isn't well-versed in the intricacies of professional picture taking, I have taken many pictures worthy of a 8x10 glossy. There are only a few disadvantages. First, the audio with the video feature is not great. If there is any wind during the filming, it will most likely overpower the audio. This affected a wedding video I had taken, but I basically took the audio out and put music in its place. It worked for me. Second, the battery is propeitary. I would have preferred something with AA or AAA, but I always recharge the battery and will soon buy a second battery so that I always have a back-up. This camera has been all over the United States. It is small and convienent. I can fit it in the pocket of most pants, making it awesome for capturing candid pictures, without carrying a case around with it. I will admit that this camera is perfect for me. I like being able to stick it in my pocket with my wallet when I go out on the town. I like that if I take it camping, it doesn't even add weight to my cargo. It takes great pictures, close up and far. I bought it at BestBuy.com, mostly because I wanted to get an extended service warranty (bad karma from the first digital camera). But I am sure there are better deals out there for trusting people.

• Reviewed by: mnemonicj

  Strengths: Great pictures, great size, durable, good battery life, uses Compact Flash cards, good for beginners and more advanced photographers as a second and smaller camera.

  Weaknesses: None

  Overall: This camera is great! It takes very nice pictures and not only lets you adjust the quality of them, but the size too. It is small and durable, especially in the small leather case Canon gives you. It could probably take a pretty good beating before breaking, but I am not the one that is going to find out. The flash is good and bright and a 3X zoom is great for the size the camera is. It uses the most reliable, universal, fastest, and cheapest media available in flash form, Compact Flash cards. They are lower priced for higher capacity, they have cards available that go up to 4 GB (try that with xD or Memory Sticks), and they have cheap adapters that allow you to put them into any laptop or desktop computer. I am glad Canon still realizes that they are the best.