yakkowarner's Full Review: Canon PowerShot SD300 / IXUS 40 Digital Camera
I am absolutely amazed at how far digital cameras have gone. I really did not think they would be as small as they are, as cheap, or as easy to use. Definitely ahead of my pessimistic predictions. Yet, they are still not as good as an SLR film camera. So if you are looking for quality or you want to be a professional, then avoid digital cameras for the time being. For the rest of us that just want to capture a moment in time, then digital cameras are the only way to go.
When I bought my wife the Sony P5 I thought that camera was incredibly small. I was impressed with how they fit everything in such a small package. Over the last couple of months I have been checking out the current crop of cameras. Now they are even smaller. I looked at Canon's and Nokia's digital line up a few years ago and was not impressed. I really felt at the time that Sony's cameras were superior. Today I can not make that statement. All three manufacturers have made great strides in improving the basic digital camera.
Basically a digital camera saves a picture in a memory card and allows you to made some minimal edits, erase the picture completely, upload it to a computer, or in the case of this camera you can print it up directly from the camera. It displays the picture using an LCD screen. You also use the LCD screen as your view finder.
Media format
This camera accepts the SD (secure digital) format. This camera comes with a 16 MB card so you will definitely want the bigger version (128 or 256 would be preferable.) The maximum memory size that the camera will accept is 512 MB. There is no internal memory for pictures.
Zoom capabilities
For a camera this size the zoom capabilities are very limited. There really is no way around this unless you want a larger camera. As long as you keep the camera small then the zoom range will also be small.
3x optical zoom plus 3.6 digital zoom.
You control the zoom function buy pushing or pulling on the small wheel on the top of the camera. It is fairly easy to use and I would not suggest a change to the controls for a camera this size.
The lens also submerges into the camera body when the unit is off creating a very compact design.
Image capacity
You can expect to get around 60 pictures on a 128 MB memory card at the highest resolution. Just keep in mind that this number can change depending on the qualities of the picture, so 50-75 pictures is the range I would expect to see.
You can have about 1000 pictures on a 128 MB memory card at the lowest settings. This size would only be good for website design.
Movie format
If you are going to use this mode you need a high speed SD card, preferably 512 MB.
The highest setting is 640 by 480 at 30 fps.
It records in AVI format.
Still image format
JPEG
Resolution
4.0-megapixel or 2272 X 1704 pixels maximum resolution.
Shooting speed
Under ideal conditions it is 2.4 frames per second. But you should expect slower speeds in low light conditions. If you like shooting a lot of frames like this then you need to get a high speed memory card. Otherwise you will be limited to just a few shots in succession.
For comparison, I can do 4.5 fps with my f100. Some canon SLRs can do 10 fps with the right lens.
LCD screen.
I think the LCD screen is too small but it is still an improvement from the Digital cameras I have used in the past. It is 2 inches.
There is also an optical viewfinder if you feel the need to shut off the LCD screen.
Manual controls
The only real manual controls are white balance and shutter speed. Shutter speed can go up to 5 seconds. Not much else is available and even if there were, a camera this small would be a little difficult to use in manual mode.
Optional light sources?
The only flash available is the one in the camera itself. It will not accept an external flash. If you need additional light you will need to go out and buy a light source. But if you need additional light then this is not the camera for you anyways.
Features
Direct print- you do not need a computer you can just print directly to the printer itself.
Night shot
Auto, custom and preset white balance modes
RED eye reduction
Timers- 2 seconds or 10 seconds
LCD orientation- The display always shows the picture in the upright position.
LCD brightness
Date stamp
AiAF- nine point AF system
AF assist beam
Digital zoom- please keep this off, it is such a waste.
Volume controls- Controls sounds for the various functions.
Adjustable for NTSC or PAL
Output ports
USB
A/V output
What is comes with
Accessories 16MB Secure Digital card,
NB-4L battery pack,
CB-2LV battery charger- about 90 charge time.
wrist strap,
interface cable,
A/V cable
Optional accessories
AC adapter
An all weather case that can go 3 meters under water.
Battery life
You can expect to have 4-6 hours of life depending on what features you use.
The battery is rated at 3.7 volts and 760mAh.
Still image quality
Even though cannon put in a new circuitry, the images are still inferior to 35mm slide film and high quality 35mm photo film. (And then there is the large format film cameras.) So do not expect to make poster out of these pictures. But the picture quality is perfect for 4x6.
Problems with a small lens
One of the problems with small cameras and lenses is that they are prone to red eye. This can be eliminated when you download the pictures on a computer and edit them.
Another more serious problem with a small lens is that very little light can get through. This does two things, the first is you have to have longer shutter speeds to get enough light for a descent picture. This slows down the fps rate and it could cause fast action to blur. Second it limits the creativity of the photographer. There is a lot you can do with a wide range of apertures and shutter speeds at your disposal. From changing the blues and red in a picture, to changing how much of the background is in focus. For me as a wanna be photographer this control is essential. The lens on this camera will not allow you to do this.
Problems with the lens on this camera.
First thing with this camera is you cannot change the lens. You are stuck with the lens that is built into the camera.
Second, you cannot attach filters to this lens. Although purists will disagree, I feel you need a polarizer filter and a warming filter for your camera. In addition there are a lot of filters out there that just let you have fun, and that is what any hobby is about.
Third you have a very limited manual control over the setting on this camera.
Problems with digital zoom
Whenever you grab the magnifying lens with the plus mark on it and click on the picture in paint, you are essentially zooming into the picture. That is what digital zoom is doing. The problem with this is you get an increase in pixelation and you are not really zooming closer to the subject. You are just blowing up the picture that is already there. You can easily do the same thing on your computer when you download the photos.
Warranty
This product has the typical 1 year warranty.
Terms
fps- frames per second.
SD- secure digital
AF- autofocus
LCD- Liquid Crystal Display
My take on the ergonomics
Compared to the previous cannon models the ergonomics are a big improvement. The buttons, although small, are simple and intuitive. They are all located on the right side of the camera. So now you can just use your right thumb to control the function and not both hands. This will enable those people that want to be able to control the camera without looking at the camera itself.
The layout of the button is also very well planned. This is as big an improvement as the circuitry found inside this camera. You have a center button with 4 arrows, this makes up the core of the button design. This is the same design that you will find on any DVD remote. This not only controls the menu navigation but it also controls some of the automatic features of the camera.
The Menu button is at the 11 oclock position, the display button is located at the 7 oclock position, and the direct print button is at the 5 oclock position. Speaking of buttons, the photo-movie-playback button is located in the top right and is a slider button.
This is a small camera so there is not a big need for a grip. But my opinion is there should be some sort of a grip designed into the right side of the camera. With the right design you can eliminate a small degree of movement and allow the camera to be more easily used in one hand.
Who is this for?
-Someone that needs a small camera to capture the moment.
-People that carry a camera in a purse or pocket.
-People that do web design and print up 4x6 print frequently.
Summary
The reason you want this camera is so you can take family and vacation photos easily without the hassles of film. If that is the case then this camera is perfect. This camera makes capturing the moment very easy. And with the increase in resolution and improvements in memory cards you will be able to take 100s of high quality pictures without having to worry about running out of film..I mean memory.
This camera also allows you to take movies if you have a fast enough memory card. The cool thing about this is the movies are optimized for the old television standard. Most cameras, including my old analog video camera, only takes film at 320x240. This is able to take it at 640x480. You just will not be able to save much on these small memory cards.
Manuel controls are very limited. This camera, like most digital cameras, does not allow you to fine tune the picture before you take it. You can change a few features on the computer but it will never be as good as if you took the picture right the first time.
Ultimately this is a very easy camera to operate and a big step in the right direction. If you do not care about fine control of your pictures because all you want is to capture the moment, then this is a great camera and one of the best on the market today. Also you will not find as good a camera that is smaller than this. It can literally go anywhere with you, just be careful not to lose it.
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