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Editors' Rating:
8.2 of 10
| Value for money |
8 |
| Ease of Use |
9 |
| Performance |
8 |
| Image Quality |
8 |
|
Average User Rating:
9.0 of 10
(64 votes)
| Value for money |
9 |
| Ease of Use |
9 |
| Performance
|
9 |
| Image Quality
|
9 |
|
Where to Buy ?
|
PROS
Wide assortment of shooting modes.
Stylish, easy-to-use design.
Remarkably low noise and color aberrations.
Almost no shutter lag.
Excellent image quality.
|
CONS
Cant use accessory lenses or
external flash units.
Macro focusing distance limited.
Tight, slightly distorted optical
viewfinder.
|
Includes: Canon PowerShot S40
Digital Camera, 16MB CompactFlash Card with
case, Lithium-Ion Battery Pack NB-2L, Battery Charger CB-2LT,
Interface Cable IFC-300PCU, AV Cable AVC-DC100, Wrist Strap WS-300, Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk 7.0 (for Mac & PC), ArcSoft Camera Suite Software
Disk (for Mac & PC), Users Guide, Software Starter Guide & System Map, Canon U.S.A. Inc. Limited
Warranty.
Recommended
Accessories |
High performance for users seeking advanced
features at exceptional value.
The 4-megapixel PowerShot S40, released concurrently with a
companion model, the 3-megapixel PowerShot S30 (as well as a new Canon
printer that they both connect to directly), is a point-and-shoot style
digital camera that incorporates many of the G2 features, but in a more
compact, portable format. With the exception of the rotating LCD monitor
and external hot shoe, the S40 has nearly all of the advanced features of
the G2, including an impressive range of automatic and manual exposure
controls, a 3x optical zoom lens, JPEG and RAW file formats, and in-camera
adjustment of image contrast, sharpness, and color saturation. In addition
to these features, the S40 also offers an expanded ISO range, an
additional metering mode, and the first direct-to-inkjet printer
connection, enabling the user to make prints not only to the Canon C-10
Photo Card Printer, but also to the company's newest inkjet
("bubble-jet" in Canon's terminology) printer, the S820D.
We
recommend a similar product: Canon
PowerShot S45 Digital Camera.
PowerShot
S40 Major Features:
| |
3x Zoom Digital Camera featuring 4.0 effective megapixels. |
| |
4.0 effective megapixels for
2,272 x 1,704-pixel images. |
| |
1.8-inch, color TFT LCD monitor. |
| |
3x optical zoom lens, 7.1-21.3mm (equivalent to a
35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera) with auto and manual focus. |
| |
Digital zoom up to 3.6x magnification. |
| |
Full automatic, program AE, shutter priority, aperture
priority, and manual exposure modes, as well as five preset exposure
modes. |
| |
Manually adjustable aperture settings from f/2.8 to f/4.9,
depending on zoom setting. |
| |
Auto Focus & 3-point AF. |
| |
Automatic Exposure Bracketing & AE/AF Lock. |
| |
Shutter speed settings from 1/1,500 to
15 seconds (Manually adjustable). |
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ISO sensitivity equivalents: Auto, 50, 100, 200, and 400. |
| |
Three Light Metering Modes (Spot, Center-weighted, Evaluation). |
| |
White balance setting with seven adjustment
modes and Auto mode. |
| |
Built-in flash with
four operating modes (Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, On, Off). |
| |
Stitch-Assist mode for creating panoramic pictures. |
| |
Voice Memo mode. |
| |
'My Camera' Function. |
| |
Records up to 60 seconds of sound with individual images. |
| |
10 & 2-Second Self Timers. |
| |
RemoteCapture utilities for controlling the camera
from a computer. |
| |
JPEG and RAW still image file formats, movies saved as AVI
/ Motion JPEG and WAVE formats. |
| |
Images saved to CompactFlash Type I or II memory cards (16MB card
included). |
| |
Canon Digital Camera 7.0, plus ArcSoft PhotoImpression and
VideoImpression software. |
| |
Powered by Canon NB-2L rechargeable lithium-ion
battery pack, with optional AC adapter. |
| |
USB cable for high-speed connection to a computer. |
| |
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility. |
 |
Full Specs |
|
Customer Reviews
|
Rawlscreek,
from Columbia, SC, US, Mar 01, 2002
|
|
After looking at the Digital Elphs and the A-series cameras, I stumbled upon the S40. This camera has it all. Four mega-pixels, a sturdy metal body, complete control over almost every aspect of your shot, and all in a compact size to boot. The feature-set is based on the popular Canon G2, which is a professional grade digital camera, so you know it uses a fully field-tested, high-quality internal design.
I mostly use this camera in auto mode, in which it takes absolutely beautiful pictures. They are clear, beautifully saturated, and capture motion extremely well. Indoor and outdoor pictures are equally impressive, and I found the metering to be very intelligent. That is, highlights, shadows, and exposure levels are all handled very well.
The camera offers an amazing amount of control with 12 user-selectable modes in addition to the auto mode. (...) But, suffice it to say that anyone seeking a high-level of control over their settings will not be dissapointed by the S40.
A Little Advice:
1. If you are looking to spend a little less money and do not need a 4 mega-pixel camera, a 3 mega- pixel version is available in the S30.
2. If you are looking for a point-and-shoot camera only, you do not need to spend this kind of money. Look toward the Canon A-Series cameras instead. These are plastic and lack the high-level of user control, but they are also much easier on the wallet.
3. Although this is a very compact camera, it is not the smallest that Canon makes. If you want the ultimate in portability, look at their Digital Elph line.
4. The proprietary battery that comes with the S40 is extremely powerful and has an impressive life. The charger is also very compact and very fast. However, I highly recommend buying a spare battery from Canon's website (for about $70).
5. Do not waste your money on the leather case for the S40 that Canon sells on their website. It is far too small for the camera and the lens cover slides open whenever you try to put the camera in it. I am not a big fan of sliding lens covers in the first place, and the leather case does nothing to win me over. Go buy yourself a generic camera case that fits the camera properly.
6. The included 16 MB CompactFlash card is embarrassing. Go buy a 128 MB card (at minimum). And while you're at it, pick up a USB card reader. They are under $(...) and are far more convenient than using the direct camera hook-up (although the S40 software and connection is quite convenient compared to many other digital cameras).
7. Be careful when removing the label from the lens cover. You can actually pull the cover right off if you're not careful. PEEL SLOWLY!
Conclusion:
Overall, this is a beautifully designed, well-built camera from an excellent company. As you can see by my review, Canon has won me over. In summary, the S40 matches the excellent picture quality of the finest Nikon and Kodak cameras available. The difference is, Canon does not skimp on the build of the camera by using cheap plastic parts. This, in my opinion, puts the S40 above the rest in this category.
Well Done Canon!
|
|
Value for money
|
10 |
|
Ease of Use |
10 |
|
Performance
|
10 |
|
Image Quality
|
9 |
|
The Lowest Price is not always best !
 When you buy a digital camera, the basic package almost always includes
extras such as a battery charger, lens cap, batteries, flash memory card, and software.
One of the more disreputable practices a dealer can engage in is called unbundling. These
dealers remove items from the package that are normally included in the price and
price them separately.
When purchasing
a camera you have three components of the price to consider - the camera price, postage and
handling, and taxes. Many dealers lower the price to make the camera more attractive, then
increase the postage and handling to boost their profits.
Hesitate before
accepting extended warranties. Every knowledgeable consumer expert says it's better to
gamble. Most of a company's profit is in the sale of these warranties so they press, and
press hard. Your job is to resist, and resist hard. The only thing to keep in mind is that
digital cameras can be horribly expensive to repair. If you want peace of mind, you may
want the warranty, even though it's probably overpriced. The cost of a repair can
approach, or even exceed, the original purchase price.
When you buy a
camera from a reputable dealer, you expect to be able to return it if you aren't
satisfied. Some dealers try to discourage this by requiring a restocking fee for returned
merchandise. This is always explained as a way to recover their costs of checking the
merchandise and restoring the packaging you may have opened.
Many dealers is
truly a false, deceptive and a total crook. Bait and switch tactics used. Does not sell
new merchandise and will ship used or refurbished goods without notifying customer. They then
try to charge a restock fee on top of their exobitant shipping fees to make a profit where
they could not on their goods. A try case of buyer beware.
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Where To Buy
Canon PowerShot S40 Digital Camera:
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