Canon Digital IXUS 400

Canon's compact digital cameras have a history of impressing us at PC Pro. Its PowerShot A40 and replacement, the PowerShot A70, both stormed our last two Labs.

But it's not all good for Canon. The smaller, more portable IXUS v3 was starting to look threatened in the company of the Casio Exilim EX-73, fixed-lens Sony Cyber-shot DSC-U20 and Nikon Coolpix 3100 for users wanting something pocketable and easy to use.

The IXUS 400 boasts similar proportions to the v3 but at 222g it weighs 28g more, so you'll certainly notice it in your pocket. However, this time the features on offer make it far more tempting. First is the Super Hard Cerabrite case, which looks more suave than the v3's brushed steel. This hybrid metal and ceramic substance is incredibly resilient to scratches and greasy fingerprints, so you won't need to splash out on a carry case. The eight buttons, two switches and control dials on the back look uncluttered and the 1.5in LCD screen is sharp and clear.

Then there's the 3x optical zoom, a significant improvement over other IXUS models' 2x. The sharp Canon optics give a range of 36-108mm at f/2.8-4.9, so landscapes and portraits are both comfortably handled. Unlike the Exilim, there was no problem with fishbowl barrel distortion at maximum wide angle.

The final main feature is the 4-megapixel CCD, which allows resolutions of up to 2,272 x 1,704 saved in JPEG format - there's no support for TIFF or RAW. At top resolution, file sizes are 1.5MB, so we were pleased with the 32MB CompactFlash card, although it's still only a stopgap until you can upgrade to 128 or 256MB. The top resolution allows print sizes in excess of A4 and, more usefully, means you can crop the image and produce 6 x 4in prints with no loss of detail. In Image Review mode, the on-board processor scrolls through these large images with little delay - a bane of older digital cameras.

As usual for Canon, the nine-point AiAF system is highly accurate, although we preferred using the single-point focus in conjunction with focus lock, which is slightly faster and offers more control. The multizone metering proved hard to fox and coped effortlessly with difficult conditions like backlighting, but centre-weighted and spot metering are still available if needed. The flash, with a range of 3.5m at wide-angle and 2m at telephoto, rarely bleached its subjects, even at close quarters.

Included software is limited to ArcSoft PhotoImpression and VideoImpression, which are capable enough. The excellent PhotoStitch creates great panoramas in tandem with the camera's stitch-assist mode, which displays a ghost image of the previous shot on the monitor to allow easy line up of the next.

We had few problems with the IXUS 400. It captured sharp and well-saturated images under every condition we threw at it. Its extensive exposure controls are intuitive and its exposure latitude meant that highlights are rarely too light and shadows retained detail.

While not as diminutive as the Exilim or DSC-U20, the Canon's performance is exceptional for a camera so small. It will suit undemanding point-and-shooters and control freaks alike, and its superb quality, looks and build make it one of the most desirable digital compacts available.

Author: Nick Ross