Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS 14.1MP Digital Camera Review

With its compact and slim design, it’s hard to believe that the Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS comes with so many advanced features. The PowerShot SD1400 IS 14.1MP digital camera comes with a 4x wide angle optical image stabilized zoom lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. Its sophisticated silver casing makes it a standout among other point-and-shoot cameras.

Highlights of the Canon Powershot SD1400 IS

Armed with a 28mm wide-angle lens and 4x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, expect the SD1400 IS to give you sharp images in brilliant colors. You can take a panoramic shot of distant landscapes or zoom in on your child’s smile. It also has an HDMI output, so you can record videos in 720p resolution and enjoy your movies on your HDTV.

The PowerShot SD1400 IS features the Canon Optical Image Stabilizer. This automatically corrects camera shake. Your shots will be consistently sharp and steady with or without a flash.

With the camera’s Smart AUTO setting, all you have to do is point and shoot. The PowerShot SD1400 IS will automatically select the best setting for your shot. This allows you to focus your attention on your subject and let the camera take care of the technical details. Canon technology has 22 specially defined settings to choose from, so you can be certain that you’ll get fabulous pictures under any condition.

The camera automatically adjusts its settings according to the light conditions and movement. The automatic flash exposure function provides just the right intensity to get vividly sharp images.

New scene modes come with this camera. The Miniature effect makes very large objects appear in tiny proportions. Huge buildings will appear in miniature proportions.

The Fisheye Effect warps the image around the center. This gives a distinctive curvature effect that you can use to suggest the inside of a dome or the curve of the Earth.

Most point-and-shoot cameras cannot face up to the challenge of taking pictures in low light conditions. The PowerShot SD1400 IS can handle ISO’s of 400-6400 in Low Light mode, so you can shoot scenes in dim lights like by the fire, candlelight or lamp in the street. Images come through clearly with all their colors intact.

This digital camera also comes with the new Smart Shutter technology. This includes the Smile Self-Timer, Wink Self-Timer and Face Self-Timer. It detects faces in the scene and automatically activates the shutter in response to the appearance of a smile, a wink, or an additional face.

What’s in the Box

Inside the box you’ll find the PowerShot SD1400 IS digital camera along with a Lithium-ion battery pack, battery charger, wrist strap, the Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, one USB interface cable and an AV cable.

How the PowerShot SD1400 IS Performs

With all its advanced features, it is only to be expected that the PowerShot SD1400IS should perform well. The camera itself is very compact and lightweight. It’s extremely convenient to carry around with you. In AUTO mode, all you have to do, literally, is point and shoot. Best of all, you can count on the camera to give consistently clear and sharp pictures.

The 2.7-inche LCD screen is larger than what you find on most compact cameras. In addition, the screen display is bright and clear. In fact, the LCD screen is so good that you won’t mind that the camera doesn’t have a viewfinder.

The camera has a lot of great features. Not only can you take amazing pictures, you can even put in some special effects such as Miniature effect and Fisheye effect. The HD video recording capability is pretty decent, although the video quality is poor if you use the zoom effect.

The different functions are intuitively organized so that it’s very easy to use the camera. The camera has many available options but they are easy to manipulate. However, while AUTO mode is very convenient, you should take the time to become familiar with the other options to get the most out of this digital camera.

Being extremely compact, some people may find the buttons a bit difficult to manipulate. The buttons are flush with the camera’s body, so you have to depress the button below the body of the camera. This may be a bit difficult if you have large fingers. You also have to watch out for the pop-up flash. Be sure to get your fingers out of the way.

Some users may find that shutter lag is an issue. The camera takes a long time to focus, making it unsuitable for taking photos of moving subjects. This can also make it difficult to take pictures of children and pets. However, as long as you don’t try to use the camera beyond its capabilities, you’ll be sure to get surprisingly good pictures.

Recommendation

If you are looking for a compact digital camera that’s easy to use and loaded with fun and useful features, the Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS fits the bill perfectly. It takes awesomely brilliant pictures even in low light. Its video recording capability is also quite good. This affordable camera in silver casing is available online at Amazon.com.

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About Canon PowerShot D10 12.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera

Canon always has something for everyone. This time it’s a digital camera for all adventure lovers out there. Waterproof, shockproof and freeze-proof, the Canon PowerShot D10 is incredibly tough yet loaded with high performance features. This 12.1MP waterproof digital camera with its 3x optical image stabilized zoom and a 2.5 inch LCD screen is the perfect companion to take on your next adventure.

Canon PowerShot D10 Highlights

With the PowerShot D10, you can take amazing pictures underwater up to 33 feet. It’s also freeze-proof and can withstand extreme temperatures from 14° to 104°F, ideal for snowboarding or mountaineering. This waterproof camera is also shockproof to 4 feet.

Versatile accessories are sold separately so you can customize your camera to meet the requirements of your upcoming adventure. The customized strap keeps the camera within reach while leaving your hands free. A variety of Canon faceplates gives your camera a more personalized look. A thick, braided cable with twin carabiner clips on the end is useful for securing the PowerShot D10 to a belt, diving harness or backpack.

Canon’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor offers Face Detection Technology and combines it with the Face Detection Self-Timer so you can be included in the picture. In addition, the camera’s ISO 1600 setting reduces blurring due to camera shake and results in sharper images even under low-light situations.

With the camera’s 12.1-megapixel resolution, you can take images that can be enlarged up to 13 x 19 inches. The 3x optical zoom allows you to take crystal clear pictures of distant subjects. Fuzzy or blurred shots are automatically reduced with the PowerShot D10’s Optical Image Stabilizer Technology. The camera also features Red-Eye Correction and Blink Detection.

Setting the Canon PowerShot D10 to Smart AUTO lets the camera do most of the work for you. You can relax and concentrate on taking the perfect shot, knowing that the D10 has got all the technical details covered. A total of 19 Shooting Modes and 16 Special Scene Modes will ensure that you get the best shot all the time, whether you’re taking a picture of your friends, a sunset, or a coral reef.

What’s in the Box

Along with the Canon PowerShot D10 body, the box contains a lithium-ion battery pack, battery charger, wrist strap, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, a USB interface cable, and an AV cable.

How it Performs

For an adventure camera, the PowerShot D10 is quite small, although the protruding lens makes it just a little inconvenient to tote around. Also, we miss having a lens cap to protect the camera lens. The wrist strap that comes with the camera is too short and flimsy for tough jobs. It’s advisable to get an accessory kit containing a number of cables that can be affixed to any corner of the camera. These cables are useful for hooking the camera to your person.

The PowerShot D10 works just like any normal camera, except for the internal seals on all port openings and a number of rubberized buttons. It is important to make sure that the battery/memory card compartment is securely closed to keep water out.

The 2.5-inch LCD screen is bright and clear, even in broad daylight. The zoom mechanism works well and switching from still mode to movie mode and back to still is easy. The button layout is also well thought-out and easy to operate. Starting up the camera is quick, but auto focus and shutter action can be sluggish. You could easily miss a few precious shots.

As for the image and video quality, it’s surprisingly good. Out of the water, the images taken are at least at par with images taken using a regular digital camera. This can only be attributed to the D10’s advanced features such as DIGIC 4 processor, optical image stabilization, face detection, etc. Underwater shots are equally good. Be sure the camera is set to underwater mode when you take pictures under water. It’s also a good idea to make sure there are no water droplets on the lens before you start taking pictures.

After using the camera underwater, be sure to rinse it off with fresh water. Remove the wrist strap when you do this and wash it separately. Sand usually gets into the corner where you screw in the strap. You have to rinse this out well otherwise it will start to corrode.

The battery life of this camera is amazing. You can take a few hundred snapshots along with 45 minutes of VGA video before the batter warning indicator comes on. This is in contrast to many digital cameras whose batteries run out very quickly. The only problem is that you have to take out the battery to charge it using the optional AC adapter. This is a hassle as the waterproof door is hard to open. Opening and closing the battery/memory card door frequently may also damage the waterproof seal.

Recommendation

When you’re out on the adventure of a lifetime, you shouldn’t have to worry that your digital camera will let you down. The Canon PowerShot D10 will take you through thick and thin while producing the most amazing shots you could possibly imagine. Through water, ice and extremes of temperature, this rugged camera will deliver fantastic images and videos. It’s easy to use and can take a real beating. The PowerShot D10 can be purchased at major retail stores and online at Amazon.com. With a Powershot D10, you can go wherever adventure calls.

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