Canon 10 Megapixels PowerShot SD4000 IS Express Review by ImagingResource
2010-07-31 09:16 | SD4000 Sales Ranking: #89 | Tag: PowerShot Express Canon Megapixels Review | SourceAverage Camera Review Rating [12 reviews]
On May 11 2010, Canon announced the PowerShot SD4000 IS (aka IXUS 300HS) - the company first PowerShot style compact with aperture- and shutter-priority shooting modes. The SD4000 IS features the a new sensor system that promises better low-light performance and high-speed photography through a combination of a 10 Megapixels back-illuminated CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processor, supporting a maximum ISO of 3200 at full resolution. It comes with a 28-105mm equivalent f/2.0-5.3 stabilized zoom lens that provides the ability to use faster shutter speeds and make subjects stand out by creatively blurring the background, while a range of manual settings offer a new level of artistic flexibility to PowerShot users. The camera also features a Super Slow Motion movie mode that can captures at 240 frames per second (fps) and plays back at a much slower 30fps, providing a dramatic and spectacular record of fast-moving subjects.
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Camera Reviews Roundup
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Camera Recent User Reviews
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On May 11 2010, Canon announced the PowerShot SD4000 IS (aka IXUS 300HS) - the company first PowerShot style compact with aperture- and shutter-priority shooting modes. The SD4000 IS features the a new sensor system that promises better low-light performance and high-speed photography through a combination of a 10 Megapixels back-illuminated CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processor, supporting a maximum ISO of 3200 at full resolution. It comes with a 28-105mm equivalent f/2.0-5.3 stabilized zoom lens that provides the ability to use faster shutter speeds and make subjects stand out by creatively blurring the background, while a range of manual settings offer a new level of artistic flexibility to PowerShot users. The camera also features a Super Slow Motion movie mode that can captures at 240 frames per second (fps) and plays back at a much slower 30fps, providing a dramatic and spectacular record of fast-moving subjects. The SD4000 IS can support 720p high definition movie recording with high quality stereo sound. The lens' quiet drive system allows users to zoom during recording with minimum audio interference, while the optical Image Stabilizer can also be engaged to reduce the effects of camera shake in video footage. For users who want to transfer content wirelessly, the SD4000 IS includes Eye-Fi connected functions. The camera features a dedicated Eye-Fi section in the User Interface, on-screen icons, and will disable the automatic power-down function when the Eye-Fi card transmits data - allowing users to transfer content easily and without interruption. The camera is scheduled to be available at the end of May in blasted steel silver, matt black or glossy white finishes. It is currently selling at around $319 (drop from $326 about 2 weeks ago). Here is the summary of an express review by ImagingResource:
"Overall color looks pretty good, though bright yellows are somewhat muted, and strong reds and blues are pumped a little high (blues more so than reds). Hue is also a little off for colors like yellow, orange and cyan. Dark skintones are fairly accurate, and lighter skin tones show a small nudge toward pink. Still, good results overall. Detail is quite good at ISO 125 and 200, with some visible softening beginning at ISO 400. Chroma (color) noise is pretty well controlled at all ISOs, and luminance noise only moderately increases. The real trouble is from noise suppression efforts, which wind up blurring fine details. However, results at ISO 3,200 are better than average. See Printed results below for more on how this affects prints.
Combining high quality with high style, Canon has integrated an f/2 lens into a compact Digital ELPH design and called it the PowerShot SD4000. Don't let the Canon SD4000's diminutive size and attractive touchable design fool you; it's capable of capturing some beautiful images on par with more advanced (and even more expensive) cameras. Though the f/2 aperture is only achievable at the widest, 28mm setting, the Canon SD4000 is a champ in low light. Along with the bright lens, the Canon SD4000's impressive, 10-megapixel sensor with BSI technology did well in keeping noise down at ISO 800. And though it struggled at ISO 3,200, it performed better than most compacts in this class. Plus, the advantage of having an f/2.0 lens is that you won't always need to pump up the ISO in low light. On the downside, though the camera has some features that will make serious photographers take note, its clumsy menu-driven interface can be frustrating to use, especially if you're trying to make quick changes to the settings. Those are fairly minor quibbles, though. The Canon PowerShot SD4000 is one of the best compact style cameras we've tried and makes an easy Dave's Pick."
 |  |  | |
| Manufacturer | Canon | Canon | Sony |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | PowerShot SD3500 IS | PowerShot SD4000 IS | DSC-TX7 |
| Style | Stylish | Stylish | Stylish |
| Megapixels | 14.1 | 10.0 | 10.2 |
| LCD Screen | 3.5-inch LCD with wide viewing angle and Touch Panel Technology, 461,000 dots | 3.0-inch TFT color LCD, with wide viewing angle, 230,000 dots | 3.5" Xtra Fine TruBlack with 921,000 dots |
| Memory Cards | SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus Card, HC MMCplus Card | SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus card, HC MMCplus card, Eye-Fi card | 45MB internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick Duo Media, optional Memory Stick PRO Duo Media, optional Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), optional Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC |
| Resolution | Still Image: 4,320 x 3,240 (Large), 3,456 x 2,592 (Medium 1), 2,592 x 1,944 (Medium 2), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 3/Date Stamp), 640 x 480 (Small), 4,320 x 2,432 (Widescreen), 2,144 x 1,608 (Low Light) | Large: 3648 x 2736, Medium 1: 2816 x 2112 Medium 2: 2272 x 1704, Medium 3: 1600 x 1200 Small: 640 x 480, Widescreen: 3648 x 2048 | N/A |
| File Formats | Exif 2.2 (JPEG) | Still Image: Exif 2.2 (JPEG) Movie: MOV (Image: Motion JPEG; Audio: Linear PCM (Stereo)) | JPEG |
| Focal Length | 5x zoom, 4.3 (W) - 21.5 (T) mm (35mm equivalent: 24 - 120mm) | 3.8x zoom, 4.9 (W) - 18.6 (T) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 28 (W) - 105 (T) mm) | 4x zoom and Still shots: 25-100mm / Movie 16:9: 28-112mm / Movie 4:3 : 34-136mm |
| Shutter Speed | 1 - 1/3000 sec. | 1 - 1/2500 sec. 15 - 1/2500 sec. (Total shutter speed range) | iAuto(2" - 1/1,600) / Program Auto(1" - 1/1,600) |
| Aperture | f/2.8 (W) - f/5.9 (T) | f/2.0 (W) / f/5.3 (T) | iAuto(F3.5-F6.3(W)) / Program Auto(F3.5-F6.3(W)) |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent | Auto, ISO 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 equivalent | Auto / 125 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 |
| White Balance Settings | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom | Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Fluorescent 1(White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 2 (Natural White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 3 (Day White Fluorescent Lighting) / Incandescent / Flash / One Push. |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro | Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro, Smart Flash | Auto / On / Slow Syncro / Off |
| Flash Range | 1.6 - 11 ft./50cm - 3.5m (W), 3.0 - 6.6 ft./90cm - 2.0m (T) | 30 cm - 6.0 m (W), 50 cm - 2.0 m (T) (12 in. - 20 ft. (W), 1.6 - 6.6 ft. (T)) | ISO Auto: Approx.0.08-Approx.3.8m(Approx.0.26'-Approx.12.47')(W) / Approx.0.5-Approx.3.1m(Approx.1.64'-Approx.10.17')(T), ISO3200: up to Approx.8.0m(Approx26.25')(W) / Approx.6.3m(Approx20.67')(T) |
| Shooting Modes | Auto, P, Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Smart Shutter*, Low Light, Color Accent, Color Swap, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Creative Light Effect, Beach, Foliage, Snow, Fireworks, Long Shutter, Movie | Auto, Av, Tv, P, Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Smart Shutter**, High-Speed Burst, Low Light, Color Accent, Color Swap, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Beach, Foliage, Snow, Fireworks, Stitch Assist, Movie | High Sensitivity / Twilight / Twilight Portrait / Soft Snap / Landscape / Beach / Snow / Fireworks / Hi-Speed Shutter / Underwater / Gourmet / Pet |
| Maximum Movie Resolution | HD 1,280 x 720 (30 fps available up to 10 min. or 4GB per clip), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | HD 1,280 x 720 (30 fps available up to 10 min. or 4GB per clip), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (59.94i, Interlace) (Approx.17Mbps) / 1440 x 1080 (59.94i, Interlace) (Approx.9Mbps) MP4: 1440 x 1080 (29.97fps, Progressive) (Approx.12Mbps) / 1280 x 720 (29.97fps, Progressive) (A |
| Maximum Movie Frames Per Second | 30 fps | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Maximum Movie Duration | HD available up to 10 min. or 4GB per clip, non-HD available up to 60 minutes or 4GB per clip | HD available up to 10 min. or 4GB per clip, non-HD available up to 60 minutes or 4GB per clip | To capacity of memory card |
| Macro Focus | 2.0 in. - 1.6 ft./5 - 50cm (W) - infinity | 1.2 in. - 1.6 ft. (3 - 50 cm) (W), 12 in. - 1.6 ft. (30 - 50 cm) (T) | iAuto(W:Approx.1cm(0.39'') to Infinity, T:Approx.50cm(1.64') to Infinity) |
| Metering | Evaluative, Center-Weighted average, Spot | Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot | Multi Point, Center Weighted, Spot |
| Image Stabilization | Yes | Yes | Yes, Optical |
| Self Timer | Approx. 10 sec. delay/approx. 2-sec. delay custom | Approx. 10-sec. delay/approx. 2-sec. delay/custom | Off / 10sec. / 2sec./ portrait1 / portrait2 |
| Video Out (TV Playback) | Yes, HDMI | Yes, NTSC/PAL | Yes, HDMI / Component (1080i) |
| Batteries | Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery NB-6L | Battery Pack NB-6L, AC Adapter ACK-DC40 | InfoLITHIUM G type 3.6V |
| Dimensions | 99.3 x 55.7 x 22.0 mm | 3.94 x 2.13 x 0.93 in. / 100.0 x 54.1 x 23.6 mm | 97.8mm x 59.5mm x 17.5mm |
| Weight | 160g | 6.17 oz. / 175g | Body: Approx. 133g |
| Release Date | 2010-02-08 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-01-07 |
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Sample Photos on Flickr
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Camera Reviews Roundup
| MacWorld: "In the real world, the SD4000 IS's arsenal of hardware and in-camera features add up to outstanding performance for a compact point-and-shoot camera. The camera's killer feature is its f2.0 lens, which creates impressively shallow depth-of-field effects for a camera of its size. In PCWorld Labs subjective jury evaluations for image quality, the PowerShot SD4000 IS turned in one of the best overall scores we've..." - Aug 18 2010 More » | |
| dpreview: "The SD4000 IS fits into a very well established line of cameras that have tended to get good reviews for being dependable, well-polished little cameras. And, despite our sample's matte-black finish, the SD4000 IS has that same lustre. It does exactly what you expect, does it well and without fuss. There are the now almost compulsory flourishes - miniature mode and face self-timer being prime examples, but we found m..." - Aug 03 2010 More » | |
| DCI: "The Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS is a well priced compact camera that offers a decent zoom range and shoots attractive photos with low noise and a good level of detail. We also found that the noise level in images stayed pretty low as we jacked the ISO sensitivity up to the maximum of 3200, which is unusual. This is also one of the few cameras that can shoot at this ISO level at full resolution. More serious..." - Jul 30 2010 More » | |
| TechRadar: "The 300 HS is a superb little camera. In terms of what you should be prepared to spend on a compact it's at the top end - its £300 price tag puts it nearly in the sights of budget DSLRs.We liked: We're real fans of the 300 HS's looks - the matte black finish, while perhaps a little prone to scratches, is really eye-catching. We also like our test images - the 300 HS resolves plenty of detail. The lens, wh..." - Jul 16 2010 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "Overall the noise performance of the Ixus 300HS is quite impressive for a compact. Noise starts to become apparent from ISO800 in the shadows, but it is still very well controlled. By ISO 1600 there is a little more noise, and evidence of fairly aggressive colour noise reduction is evident causing high contrast edges to blur a little, but images are still more than acceptable at this high sensitivity. ISO3200 result..." - Jul 13 2010 More » | |
| CNET: "The 300's design, however, is rather lacklustre. For an IXUS, the 300 is something of a porker, and the display's 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio means you get black bars on either side when you're shooting stills. There are no markings on the rotary controller on the back either. You can use this controller to set the focus mode, EV compensation, flash and display modes, but, unless you spot the little virtual dial t..." - Jul 08 2010 More » | |
| LetsGoDigital: "The Canon IXUS 300 HS is an especially fine camera and a valuable addition to the current IXUS series of cameras. The Canon IXUS cameras have actually always been successful, from the first digital IXUS. It is an extensive series of cameras where design always plays an important role. I have always been impressed by the fact that Canon has managed to use their designs for such a long time, while being surprising eve..." - Jul 02 2010 More » | |
| PhotoReview: "Still pictures straight from the camera appeared to be very slightly soft - but this was easily (and effectively) corrected with post-capture editing. You can boost the sharpness levels in the camera via a setting in the My Colours sub-menu but it tends to produce more sharpening artefacts than post-capture sharpening. Colours were accurately reproduced in most shooting situations, although with the slightly el..." - Jun 16 2010 More » | |
| PhotoRadar: "Canon claims its back-illuminated CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processing mean better dynamic range and 60 percent less noise than previous models, but does this show up in the pictures? Actually, it does. The dynamic range does seem better than the average compact's, even though it's masked to some extent by the Ixus 300 HS's tendency to overexpose. And the picture quality at ISO 3200 is quite remarkable. Not surpr..." - Jun 14 2010 More » | |
| Pocket-lint: "Thanks to the new backlit CMOS sensor, the IXUS 300 HS produces rather decent low-noise images that are useable throughout its ISO 125-3200 range. ISO 125-200 are the most clean, with colour noise and some rather granular-like interruptions gradually appearing thereafter. ISO 400 still retains detail, though from ISO 800 and above the image noise reduction system employed by the camera means that images appear progr..." - Jun 14 2010 More » | |
| DigitalCameraReview: "The SD4000 IS arrives with a lot of fanfare directed primarily towards its back-illuminated sensor and fast (at wide angle) zoom lens, and these are certainly the hardware that will distinguish this camera in the crowded field of 3 to 5x compact digitals. The lens gets shooters an extra stop of shutter speed or a reduction in ISO sensitivity (at wide angle) and the sensor seems to provide a bit better than aver..." - Jun 10 2010 More » | |
| TrustedReviews: "The main reason the single-shot shooting speed isn't as fast as expected is that the autofocus system isn't anywhere near as fast as I'd usually expect from a Canon camera. It takes almost a second to focus even in good light, and in low light it does appear to pause briefly before activating the AF assist lamp. Focusing is reliable and accurate though, even in low light, and the AF assist lamp has a range of severa..." - Jun 08 2010 More » | |
| Gizdomo: "Nighttime shots were impressive across the board, with the SD4000 kicking out some strong, low-noise night shots that generally held their own with those of the reigning point-and-shoot champ, the Canon S90. Up to ISO 800, shots showed very little noise. Shots with ISO 1600--and even in some cases 3200--still looked fine for the most part. Here's a detail of a shot from both the SD4000 and S90 at ISO 1600. Asid..." - Jun 02 2010 More » | |
| PhotographyBLOG: "The Canon IXUS 300 HS is a largely successful attempt to marry the style of the IXUS range with a fast lens and excellent image sensor, marred somewhat by an eye-watering price and a lack of refinement in the handling department. Sharing the same 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and fast f/2.0 lens as the excellent Canon S90, the IXUS 300 HS was always going to deliver the goods in terms of image quali..." - May 26 2010 More » | |
| infoSync: "What exactly is transpiring within the confines of the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS's strange little chassis? Well, we've got a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS chip, bright f/2.0 aperture, and the latest Digic DV 4 processing, so something good is bound to come of this, you say. Well, we're not entirely blown away, but we recognize the fact that Canon has made an improvement. Our biggest issue with such a wide..." - May 22 2010 More » | |
| DigitalCameraReview: "Shutter lag seemed quick, but AF acquisition times seemed to be a bit slower than the best cameras I've experienced in this class. Time (and timings) will tell if this first impression holds up. The camera is small and easily shirt-pocket portable, with few dedicated control buttons - but menus for shooting settings can generally be brought up fairly easily on the monitor. So, after a couple hours with the SD40..." - May 21 2010 More » |
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Camera Recent User Reviews
A fantastic camera for travel, D. B. - Sep 04 2010
I recently purchased this camera to take on a trip to Papua New Guinea. I also carry a larger camera (Canon S3IS) but purchased this model for its larger screen, small and convenient size, low light capability, and ease of use for high quality video. I've just returned from the trip and couldn't be happier with the performance of this camera. Its only negative quality is the lack o...
A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT!!, Jeffrey Ceterko "autographhound1" - Sep 03 2010
I had a couple of older model Canon Elph's, and wanted to upgrade thinking new had to be better. This camera just did not live up to expectations, or what was promised by Canon. First and foremost, I got a lot of odd looking colors in my shots. Some looked fine, but others looked "cartoonish". I was using the complete auto mode, so it's not like I had the wrong settings...
A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT!!, Jeff from NJ "autographhound1" - Sep 03 2010
I had a couple of older model Canon Elph's, and wanted to upgrade thinking new had to be better. This camera just did not live up to expectations, or what was promised by Canon. First and foremost, I got a lot of odd looking colors in my shots. Some looked fine, but others looked "cartoonish". I was using the complete auto mode, so it's not like I had the wrong settings...
Nice but no cigar, J. Ford - Aug 28 2010
Nice camera, takes great pictures and is very easy to carry. Beyond this, I didn't find the bells and whistles to be much of an improvement over the five-year-old Canon digital camera it replaced. In my mind, no company's digital products deserve ratings of four or five stars (out of five) without providing a manual. The User Guide for the SD4000IS is 166 pages and the Software Guide...
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