Right size, great perfomer

Author's Rating:

Pros: Size, appearance, picture quality, ergonomics.

Cons: Tiny flash.

The Bottom Line: 
A small, convenient camera that produces excellent quality pictures.

Author's Review
I've owned this camera for just over a year now. How it has changed me! The Canon S400 has met most of my expectations and exceeded the rest.

The camera is about the size of a pack of king-size cigarettes. Small enough to be inconspicuous and carry anywhere, solid feeling but not too heavy. It has a classy silvery metal (brushed stainless steel?) appearance. An equally smart looking (optional) leather case is available, for which I paid less than $20.00, and was worth it. The camera needs to be removed completely from the case to use it, which means I have to stash it somewhere so I have both hands free for the camera.

The camera is comfortable to hold, and powers up ready to shoot in about 5 seconds. Unlike most people who use digital snapshot cameras I use the optical viewfinder rather than the LCD screen. The viewfinder is tiny and gives only a rough idea of what will be on the finished picture, but I find the posture of holding the camera to my eye more natural. Another advantage -- huge advantage -- to me is that this method dramatically extends the life of the battery, since the LCD screen only comes on for a few seconds after each shot.

The controls are laid out logically and the camera is easy to use. Even the menu system is pretty good and it's easy to check or change features and settings. I need to put on my reading glasses to see the small characters on the LCD screen.

Because I don't use the LCD to compose my pictures my battery life is outstanding. I bought a second battery, which incidentally is a custom size, and keep it in the plastic sheath that came with the camera and carry it in my pocket, so I never need to worry about running out, even if the battery already in the camera is at the lower end of its charge. I also bought a larger capacity (256 mb) memory card, which gives me well over 100 pictures on the high-quality setting. The camera only came with a 32 mb card, which I think is a joke.

The S400 connects via a USB cable to my computer. The cable and software are included. The software is easy to figure out and is adequate to the basic job of downloading. Like me, you'll probably use other software for image editing and viewing.

How are the pictures? Excellent! Sharp! Under a microscope they wouldn't compare to a digital or film camera costing thousands, but I am impressed. You will learn to identify difficult lighting situations this camera can't handle well, such as strong contrasts in direct sun (areas tend to wash out), and low light (better hold that camera steady). However in most lighting situations, you can get some great shots. I've had many printed or enlarged (to 5x7) at Target and the results are cheap and excellent. At higher enlargements I'm sure the difference would become more apparent, but over the years 5x7 is my most common enlargement size. I took some quick shots of a friend at his graduation -- he liked them so much that he passed on the professional photographer's offerings and framed the shots from my S400 for his work and home!

All controls and adjustments are automatic, so be prepared to give all control over to the camera. Don't expect to control depth of field, shutter speed, or focus with the S400. The built-in flash is usually adequate, but it is tiny and can only illuminate subjects at relatively short distances, and because the flash is so close to the lens, you'll find illuminated dust specks in your pictures from time to time.

As I said at the beginning of this review, this camera has changed me. After 25+ years of owning Nikon manual focus cameras, since I bought this S400 I hardly touch them at all, and you may find them on e-Bay someday soon! The Nikon can't be beat in some situations, such as when I want to control depth of field, or when I need a long telephoto lens, or a powerful flash that will evenly light the whole room, but -- the good picture quality of the Canon, combined with the small size has won me over. In almost all situations the Canon will do. I'm no longer "THAT GUY with the camera", I'm just A guy with a camera, and I'm enjoying it.

I see that Canon now has a 5 megapixel, S500 version of this camera. Definitely worth considering if you go "new" but this camera is a terrific camera if you're buying a used model.