Model Design / Appearance (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot S410 has a metallic silver finish that coats the camera’s rectangular surface. The rounded edges allow for a certain amount of visual interest; however, its overall design relies heavily on the straightforward rectangular cube, familiar to the traditional digital camera design format. Its controls, while small in size, are clearly labeled and allow enough space for smooth functionality. The Shooting Mode dial needs to perhaps be reconsidered, as it feels a bit awkward and has a generic finish. All of the modes are detailed in red. This choice of color, along with the small overall size, makes changing modes in dark conditions a guessing game for the user.
The viewfinder is a moot point, as it often is with most small digital cameras, although the S410's has the distinct attribute of being circular, providing ideal placement to rub my face on the LCD screen below. The flash is also too close to the upper left corner of the front of the camera body, positioned directly below where the index finger naturally falls and is sure to get obstructed each time
Size / Portability (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot S410 is small, compact, and easily held in the palm of the hand. The camera is light enough to be portable, while remaining substantial enough so that it does not feel cheap or fragile. However, if you desire a camera that will fit into a pocket, the S410 may be a bit too heavy; after all it does weigh 6.5 oz. It’s a solid camera when held, extending 3.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 inches, for a total cubic volume of 8.228 inches.
Handling Ability (8.0)
The camera is pretty straightforward to handle when utilizing complete automatic mode settings. It is completely feasible to hold the camera and shoot with one hand when using the Canon PowerShot S410, though often images were blurred and out of focus. Even with digital image stabilization, it is recommended with most digital cameras to try to shoot with two hands, allowing one to be an added stabilizer. Most of the buttons are flush with the camera body and easy to access. The minuscule viewfinder, as mentioned before, is completely useless, a pet peeve of mine. The small 1.5-inch LCD monitor is set slightly above the rest of the camera body and solarizes when turned at all in any direction.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
For the most part, the Canon PowerShot S410’s controls are strategically placed and remain consistent throughout the frame, allowing for enough space to exist between controllers. However, the Mode Dial on the back of the camera, located in the upper left corner, is small and awkward both in placement and in the illustrations used for each specific setting. Also due to the lack of Mode Dial height, the user will find that switching between these settings is a bit cumbersome. Also, some of the symbols used to designate control feature capabilities are a bit arcane, and will require most users to invest a fair amount of time familiarizing themselves with the user manual.
Menu (7.0)
The regular menu settings for the Canon PowerShot S410, which are accessed via the Menu button, allow for changes such as Quick Shot, Slow Shutter, and so forth. The Manual Control settings are located in the selections found via the Function button, and allow the user to control the Exposure Compensation, Photo Effect, Long Shutter Mode, Compression Rate, White Balance, Resolution, ISO Speed, and Movie Resolution.
Ease of Use (8.0)
For the most part, the Canon PowerShot S410 is a straightforward camera with functions laid out in a logical format for fast access. One small irritant for me as I used the camera was the fact that, unlike most other digital cameras, the Menu button controls features unrelated to the actual frame shot, leaving those to the Function button. Time and again, as I used the manual control on this camera, I’d find myself pressing the wrong button and searching for the White Balance setting among the LCD brightness controls. Otherwise, this camera functions well with both its manual onscreen control options and its automatic settings. However, it should be noted that a fair number of the supposedly manual control features are actually only partially manual controlled, with the rest of the final image quality dictated by the camera.
