Canon PowerShot A400 Digital Camera Review

Front (8.0)
The front of the Canon PowerShot A400 has a 5.9-13.2mm (equivalent to 45-100mm) Canon Zoom lens located on the left side of the camera body. This lens, when not in use, is recessed in the camera body and covered by a built-in automatic lens cover. To the left of the lens, near the top of the lens ring, the user will note the AF-assist beam/red-eye reduction/self-timer lamp, a three-in-one feature that appears as a small circle on the camera body. Above this feature is the internal flash. To the right of the flash is the viewfinder window, and to the right of that are two small dots, which record audio and allow for sound memos to be attached to still images. It should be noted here that it is impossible to attach sound memos to movie clips captured on the Canon PowerShot A400; however, audio can be captured in conjunction with video when shot simultaneously. Continuing on with the front, there is a cut into the slight grip to the far right. This small strap eyelet is neatly tucked away into the camera body and does not protrude, a common occurrence on other models.

Back (7.5)
On the back left side of the back of the Canon PowerShot A400, the user will find the 1.5-inch LCD screen, set slightly into the camera body. Centered above the LCD screen, the user will find a circular real image zoom viewfinder and to the left, the operation indicators for the camera. When the upper indicator is green, the camera is ready to shoot or to communicate with a computer; if blinking green, it is still in start-up mode, recording images to the SD card, reading the card, erasing data on the card, or in the process of transferring data to the computer. Finally, if the upper indicator is orange, the camera is ready to shoot with a flash, and if blinking orange is ready to shoot with a shake warning, or is charging the flash. If the lower indicator is yellow, the camera is either in Macro or Infinity modes, and if blinking yellow, the camera is encountering focusing difficulties.

To the right of the circular viewfinder, the user will find the mode switch, which allows the user to choose from Shooting Mode, Still Mode, Special Scene Mode, or Movie Mode. The fifth mode available on this turning switch is the Playback Mode. Continuing along the top of the camera body is the Zoom button, which allows for adjustments to be made in regard to Wide Angle or Telephoto shots. When the Mode Switch is changed to the Playback setting, these features double as Index and Magnify controls for viewing previously captured images and video. Beneath the Mode Switch and the Zoom control, the user will find the four-way controller for the Canon PowerShot A400. This four-way controller allows for navigation within various menus, along with dual controls when shooting images. The up arrow also doubles as a light-metering feature, the right arrow as a flash control option, the down arrow for continuous shooting/self timer, and the left arrow for macro/infinity settings. In the center is the Set button. To the right of the four-way control is the Print/Share button.

Beneath the four-way control is the only port cover, a plastic strip which is opened via a slight tab on the bottom left side. When flipped upwards and over, the following three ports are revealed: Digital, DC in, and A/V out. It should be noted that this cover is somewhat flimsy in its attachment, and its length makes it easy to fumble during playback or other use. Running between the four-way controller and the LCD screen, the user will find three controllers. At the top, there is the Menu button, which allows the user to scan between Rec Menu, Set up Menu, and My Camera Menu. When the camera is in playback mode, the user replaces the Record menu with the Play Menu. Beneath this button is the Display button, which controls the amount of information displayed on the LCD screen, and turns the LCD screen on and off during shooting. The lowest button, located above the port cover that runs along the base of the camera body, is the Function button, which allows the user to select among a series of onscreen sidebar menus in a variety of modes. This button can allow for alterations in image size, quality, manual control settings, automatic mode, and scene selections. Also, when engaged in Playback mode and depressed, this button allows for single-image erasures to occur.

Left Side (7.5)
The left side of the Canon PowerShot A400 has no features, and is a smooth and sleek silver surface.

Right Side (7.5)
The right side of the Canon PowerShot A400 has a card/battery cover, which opens when the small tab located at the bottom of the camera is pushed forward, revealing the appropriate slots for the SD memory card and the position for the two double-A batteries. This door is a bit frail upon first opening, as the tab is a little undersized and takes a bit of practice to master comfortably.

Top (7.0)
The top of the camera body has three distinct features on the far left side. Towards the back of the camera body, the user will find the internal playback speakers. On the far right side, also near the back, is the On/Off button, located slightly to the right and behind the shutter button.