Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
The Canon PowerShot A400 that we received had a pleasant peach complexion (technically orange) with brushed silver highlights. It has a long, low slung body with clearly marked controls on the back, reserving the top for the shutter and on/off controller. The camera has an appropriately sized 1.5-inch LCD screen and a real image zoom viewfinder. There is a rubber port cover that runs along the bottom of the back of the camera body. Underneath it lie the three ports available to the camera’s user.
Size / Portability (7.0)
The camera body is long and rectangular, approaching 2.6 inches in height while extending 4.1 inches in length, providing a horizontally stretched design and feel. The only problem with this layout is that the camera is still 1.1 inches thick, complicating portability a bit. Overall, the camera is lightweight and can easily be carried in a user’s hand. On the other hand, slipping this in your pocket isn’t really an option. Therefore, as long as buying a carrying case or transporting the camera in the palm is not a deterrent for the user, portability will not be difficult.
Handling Ability (7.5)
There is a slight lift on the front face of the Canon PowerShot A400 that’s paired with a scallop on the back of the body, providing a secure grip for the right thumb and index finger. I found myself often having to hold the camera in awkward positions when using the viewfinder or when viewing the LCD in close proximity. The left hand basically has to fend for itself, a conundrum I solved by holding the camera body at the top and the base, as otherwise my fingers would block the lens or mask the internal flash.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.5)
The button control on the Canon PowerShot A400 is entirely dedicated to the right hand. All controls are located on this half of the camera body, allowing the LCD screen and the viewfinder to reside on the left portion of the frame. The buttons are fairly comfortably positioned for fast access and manipulation, and are clearly labeled with blue, red or black symbols that are large enough to see without strain. My only major concern is in the positioning of the Function Button that controls the auto/manual modes and all the manual features, as its meager size and crammed placement often complicates fast alterations. Beyond this, though, the controls are logically designed and easy to engage, particularly the cupped, four-way navigational buttons.
The four-way mode switch is an appreciated change from the standard mode dial that, with the addition of more and more features in past years, has become over-congested and reminiscent of the Wheel of Fortune. With this model, the rotating control easily switches between playback, still camera, and movie modes.
Menu (7.5)
There are two menus available to the user of the Canon PowerShot A400. The first is accessed via the Menu button located to the right of the LCD screen. This menu has three subsections: Play/Rec Menu, Set Up, and My Camera. When in regular shot mode, the Rec menu allows the user to control such options as Quick Shot, AiAF, Red-Eye, Self Timer, AF Assist Beam, Digital Zoom, and Review. When in Playback mode, this screen changes to the Play Menu and controls the following options: Protect, Rotate, Sound Memo, Erase All, Auto Play, Print Order, and Transfer Order. The Set up Menu controls Audio, Volume, LCD Brightness, Power Saver, Date/Time, Memory Card Format, File Number Reset, Auto Rotate, Language, and Video System. Lastly, the My Camera Menu controls these options for the Canon PowerShot A400: Theme, Start Up Image, Start Up Sound, Operation Sound, Self timer Sound, and Shutter Sound.
The second Menu is located under the Function button and controls the parameters of the camera more specifically concerned with the image being recorded. When in Still Mode, the user can choose between Automatic and Manual Modes. Either mode allows for Image Size/Quality to be determined, but in Manual Mode, the user can also choose to control the Exposure, White Balance, ISO, or Image Effects along with the previously mentioned Image Size/Quality. It is also possible to engage two different stitch-assist programs when in Still image mode, both of which are found in the same subsection menu as the Automatic and Manual control settings. In Scene Mode, it is possible for the user to control Exposure, Scene Selection, and Image Size/Quality. When in Movie Mode, Image Size, White Balance, Exposure, and Image Effect are all available in a menu that appears on the LCD screen as a bar located on the left side of the screen, and another bar that runs along the base of the screen horizontally.
Ease of Use (8.0)
Overall ease of use for the Canon PowerShot A400 is quite high. The onscreen menu features are clearly labeled and laid out. With consistency being one of the major features of this camera, it allowed fluid access to the features and control functions. The clear marking and large size of the buttons made accessing most of them simple, except perhaps for the more cramped Function Menu button. The mode switch was clearly labeled and straightforward, allowing the scene modes to be easily accessed via the onscreen LCD menu. All in all, the camera is fairly stripped-down, with limited control dials, each specifically oriented for particular functions. This allows the user to learn each control quickly and become more familiar with them as usage progresses.
