To be honest, the PowerShot S-400 has garnered some mixed reviews from consumers. On the one hand, its light weight design, easy snap and shoot mechanisms, and strong three times optical zoom make it quite a good buy. On the other hand, it doesn't possess a 640 by 480 movie mode, and you can't really change any of the automatic settings manually. For the so-called snap and shoot crowd, the S-400 digital offers a decent sized 400 megapixel resolution and boasts terrific image quality. As with the other Canon PowerShot models, the S-400 comes with a DIGIC image processor, which guarantees clarity and keen lines. This camera is, by any standard, a vast improvement over the earlier PowerShot models, the S-230 and the S-330. Best of all, it has one of the most superior red-eye reduction mechanisms in its class. One of the problems with the S-400, however, is that its standard memory card is by no means adequate. You should upgrade to a 64 MB card, a 256 MB card, or a CompactFlash type I or II card. Memory card errors have been reported with the Canon PowerShot S-400. While a technical service representative can help with any technical glitches, you may want to skip the hassle and just purchase the next camera up, the Canon S-500. Of course, you should always stabilize your shooting when handling such a compact and lightweight piece of equipment. Despite the elegant processing that the S-400 offers, blurring can occur, and there's little you can do about it, thanks to the camera's lack of manual controls. Experts suggest comparing the S-400 to other Canon PowerShot cameras thoroughly before making decisions. |
