Canon Powershot SX400 IS: First Impressions & A Few Tips

When it comes to modern compact cameras, Canon has enough selection to appease even the most unreachable consumer. From the hundred-dollar A1400 Powershot, to the almost-a-grand GX1, satisfaction for most budgets does exist at Canon.

Listing at $229, the Powershot SX400 IS is an affordable camera that packs some punch. Featuring a 30x zoom, a 16 megapixel sensor, and Image Stabilization, the SX400 is a lot of bang for the buck.

Focal range on this little point 'n' shoot is 24mm to 720mm. Image quality suffers a bit at the longest zoom, but is very good nevertheless. The digital zoom, which pumps the range up to 120x, is not very good.

The IS system is just mediocre. Long zoom range requires a steady hand, and zooming in can be problematic to focus. The AF system is above average but it is slow. Frames per second is also slow, and shooting wildlife can be tricky. Best results are composed shots.

The face recognition on the SX400 is very good, and will meter correctly even with objects in the foreground. Metering option include Evaluative, Center-Weighted and Spot/Partial.

The SX400 also boasts a very good Live Mode, as well as "smart" modes that recognize specific scenes. Exposure Lock works in both photo and video mode.

Shutter speed on the SX400 has a fast 1/1600 second, and a long exposure option for up to 15 second exposures. A well built tripod mount allows this camera to be a decent option for landscapes and composed stills.

ISO capability is good, with Program Mode offering ISO 100-1600, and Low-Light Mode going to ISO 6400. Image quality is good at lower ISOs and very grainy at high ISOs.

The user-interface is decent and the LCD screen is large enough to use comfortably. Control buttons are small, but easy to use. The camera fits well in hand and has a nice grip.

Battery power is also decent, and with an Eco Mode to conserve power, all-day shooting is possible. The SX400 battery has a two-hour charge time.

The kit that Canon sells this tiny camera in, comes with a carrycase, wrist-strap, an 8gb memory card, and charger for the battery.

To make things easier, I shoot in Program Mode at ISO400. This allows me to get fast shutters and adequate f-stops. The Evaluative metering mode works for general scenes, and I tend to use this mode the most on the SX400.

Even on my DSLRs, I run the White Balance on Auto. The camera is smart enough to do this very well.

Remember, the digital zoom will degrade photos, and is only for snapshots.

For around $200, the Canon Powershot SX400 IS is a good bargain.