Canon Powershot A410 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3.2x Optical Zoom
By: Canon
More Information
 On: 2008-04-05
Ive had this printer for about a year. The printer works great, prints well and fast. I cant speak to photo printing (ie, on photopaper) but colors are vivid and vibrant. My negative review comes because of the price of the ink, a full set of new ink cartriges costs more than the printer would cost new without the camera, $67 for ink from staples, $51 for ink from Amazon and $49.95 for the printer new from amazon. At this point, it would be cheaper to buy the new printer, just for the ink.
In addition, each ink cartridge has a special Canon chip in it, so after market ink is essentially out. You can buy cartridges, but you have to go through the process of cutting out the chip from the old cartridge and putting it in the new, kind of a jury-rig process. Its doable, but kind of annoying if you just want to buy and install a new after market cartridge.
I have no idea what would make a good alternative, but just for the ink price, Id skip this printer.
The Camera is ok, but nothing special. This camera model, like several other Canon models, has a design problem with the zoom lens jamming (search "E18 error" on Google).
In summary, given a chance to redo it, Id rather buy a different printer and a different camera, so theres very little point in investing in this package.
 On: 2008-01-19
I purchased this for my daughter for Christmas 2006. She has taken very good care of it and never loaned it to anyone. After about 6 months it started acting funny. I told her not to worry as Ive been using cameras for over 30 years and have owned many digitals and it was probably just needed fresh batterys. UPDATE- she was right.... camera goes dead after 2 pictures either taken or viewed with new batterys. Camera now lives in the bottom of my safe...waiting for the Camera Gods to fix it. My $250.
should have been spent on something else..sorry.
 On: 2008-01-10
This used to be mine a few years ago, but I gave it to my mom for Christmas after upgrading to something else. This is a great little camera. The best digital camera under 4MP if you ask me. It has a glass lens (most of these little cameras have plastic lenses) and it will focus at any length no matter how close or far your subject and no matter how close you hold the camera to the subject. Extremely easy to use. You should be able to find this on the used market in great shape for between $30-$75.
On: 2008-01-04
I purchased this camera for my 8 year old daughter for Christmas after reviewing all the "kids" cameras. I own a digital SLR Canon that I am pleased with so wanted to stick with Canon. After checking around, I found an excellent price on Amazon. This camera is easy to use and takes excellent pictures. The color is great and I have found myself using it instead of my SLR. You can turn off the back display which saves batteries and take pictures through the eyepiece. Two AA batteries keep it running for a long time. The only complaint at all is that the battery compartment is a little awkward to open. My daughter has learned to use this camera quickly and has surprised us with the great pictures shes taken.
 On: 2007-12-26
This camera has great features and functionality, is a breeze to use in terms of learning it (as my wife can attest to... although it may take some time), and its so simple to transfer files/print to a canon printer. I purchased this with the Pixma ip4200 printer, and it was well worth it!
The only downside Id point out, which was a real bummer for my wife and I and is the reason I only gave 4 stars is that the flash is very slow to bounce back (so-to-speak). I recently got her a new 7.x MP Canon Powershot SD1000, which is similarly a snap-and-go camera, and the flash is a bit quicker at rejuvenating. However for the money, this drawback is truly minor, unless youre planning to really take tons of quick photos... and even then, I believe with these cameras you can set 3 shots at a time (although you should double check).
by: Anonymous On: 2007-02-14
Took it on a trip, couldnt figure out how to work it, bought a disposable that worked just fine.
by: nunee On: 2007-01-10
I gave this camera to my son and he has taken so many fantastic photos. It is just so great and easy to use. It takes sharp, up close and long range shots. I am going to recomend it to others.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-01-04
This camera takes good pictures but the only problem with it is that it goes through batteries very quickly. I got some rechargable ones and they last a little longer, but its a bit of a hassle always changing batteries.
by: dj_primate On: 2006-11-10
This camera worked very well until the lens got jammed in its extended position. I sent the camera for warranty service (I had it less than 7 months), and they refused to honor the warranty because it was a bit scuffed and a little decorative ring on the end of the lens that had been attached with 2-sided tape had come off. They claimed this happened due to physical damage, but this occurred during normal use: I was just changing modes and the lens didnt retract. Dont bother trying to get warranty service unless the unit looks brand new. Even then, dont be surprised if they renege on the warranty.
I had another A410 that did the very same thing (lens got jammed), but was stolen in a break-in before I sent it out for service (so I suppose it was no loss after all). Obviously there is a design flaw that causes the lens to extend too far and come off track inside.
In short, this camera is not suitable for frequent use in the field. If you buy it, and plan to use it a lot, expect to be buying another camera or paying for a repair that should be covered under warranty (which Im not doing) soon.
On: 2006-11-09
This camera worked very well until the lens got jammed in its extended position. I sent the camera for warranty service (I had it less than 7 months), and they refused to honor the warranty because it was a bit scuffed and a little decorative ring on the end of the lens that had been attached with 2-sided tape had come off. They claimed this happened due to physical damage, but this occurred during normal use: I was just changing modes and the lens didnt retract. Dont bother trying to get warranty service unless the unit looks brand new. Even then, dont be surprised if they renege on the warranty.
I had another A410 that did the very same thing (lens got jammed), but was stolen in a break-in before I sent it out for service (so I suppose it was no loss after all). Obviously there is a design flaw that causes the lens to extend too far and come off track inside.
In short, this camera is not suitable for frequent use in the field. If you buy it, and plan to use it a lot, expect to be buying another camera or paying for a repair that should be covered under warranty (which Im not doing) soon.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-11-05
Best camera Ive ever owned.It has features found on larger SLRs such as shutter speed & red-eye reduction.The several shoot modes such as portrait allows for close ups as well as a scenery mode which allows for sharp vivid photos of foilage as well as sunsets.A marvelous little camera and the size being slightly bigger than a pack of cigarettes allows you to take this anywhere without the bulk of some of the SLRs and their required lens.Too many features to list here.Try one for yourself youll be amazed.
On: 2006-11-05
I love this camera! I did a lot of reading-up and price-checking before I bought this item, and Im delighted with the quality of product and value for money.
This was my first own camera and Ive had almost zero camera experience, so to find myself taking the most amazing photos and being able to edit/add text/e-mail them - well - WOW! Ive been stunned by the results this camera has given, all within about a month of purchase.
The basic handbook had me taking quality normal photos within 24 hours and, using this handbook Ive progressed into some fantastic close-up stuff, and some fun stuff too - get your spouse to dress up for the sepia shots and have a good laugh!!
Ive had enormouse fun learning with this camera - and Ive got loads more to learn and I feel that some good camera work is now within my grasp. This has required a modicom of concentration and diligence, but its paid off, and is precisely what I had hoped for.
I found the batteries that came with the camera were almost useless, but that your quality name-brand batteries give excellent life - also, if you plan on taking more than about 15 pics at a time, you will want a memory card.
Oh Yeah! Im an old bird of 53 years, so if I can do this, ANYONE can :o)
On: 2006-10-27
I bought this camera as a gift for my 16 yr old daughter who takes lots of fun pictures of her friends.Her photos are great quality. This is a dependable camera, and takes the abuse a teenager gives it. I love it for all those reasons besides the great pics!
On: 2006-10-13
I just finished the first set of pics with this machine and was surprised at the amazing sharpness and the accuracy of the autofocus, not to mention the deapth of field when compared to our older Canon digital camera.
Dont be fooled by the low price, however. The 16MB card is a joke, and the batteries are not rechargable. It is best to get a 1GB memory card along with a battery charger pack right away. The price is still very reasonable for such a high quality machine.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-10-13
I am an 11 year old boy who was looking for a camera to take pictures with, a good price and one that was nice. It turns out I get this camera and I took it to the beach and took it into the forest and the pictures turned out excellent! The only reason why I did not give it five stars was because sometimes it would beep and not activate no matter what I did. This is most likely because it is refurbished- this rarely happens. If I were you I would not worry about it and not by the camera because of it.
Whenever you make prints at a photo store, the prints look great but my parents for some reason think that the colors are not as intense. I always get the 4x6 print outs and they turn out great.
If you are going to take lots and lots of pictures I reccommend that you get the 1GB SD memory card, but if you just take pictures when it is important, your good with just a 256MB or 512MB SD or MMC card. The video mode is nice except that there is no sound.
Overall it is a nice camera and anybody who is low-key and just wants a picture that is 4x6 or 5x7, even 8x10- this is the camera for you. If you are a person who wants poster size images, this is not the camera for you. The main reason I bought it was I wanted pictures of my dogs, my family, maybe scenery. You know that old-fashioned 35mm film? Well, I did not want to spend all my money on film and I just wanted a camera that will work. Trust me, unless you are a professional photographer- GET THIS CAMERA!!!
On: 2006-08-25
This camera is incredibly frustrating. I must admit that under ideal lighting conditions outdoors on a moderate to fully sunny day, the camera takes wonderful pictures. However, photos using indooor and mixed lighting conditions leave alot to be desired. If you want to take any indoor pictures with natural light, this is not the camera for you. The reason being is that if the flash is not activated or the lighting is not perfect, the camera slows down the shutter speed considerably. Since the camera does not have very good image stabilization (if any) indoor pictures are blurry unless you have the hands of a surgeon. Of course you can use the flash, but then your subject will be overlit, while the background is pitch dark. And forget about taking long range pictures indoors (i.e. at a graduation ceremony or wedding) because if the flash is on, you will get a black picture because the camera does not compensate the shutter speed for distance, it only adjusts to whether or not it thinks the flash is on. If it is off, your picture will be blurred because the shutter stays open for 1-2 seconds. Since I take alot of indoor pictures, this camera is worthless to me. If you only plan to take outdoor pictures in ideal light, this is the camera for you. If you want to do any natural light photography, forget it.
On: 2006-08-21
I bought this camera owning 2 more digital cameras. One Kodak and another canon (a70). Amazing product...
Pro... almost everything..
Cons... no audio on video
I definetly recommend the product for the price!
On: 2006-08-20
I bought this camera for my 10 year old daughter. She is thrilled to have her own camera and has taken may vacation pics for the family. I would reccommend for all beginning photographers. Great price range with all the options. Plus easy to use.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-07-26
This is my second digital camera. This is a 3.2 meg camera but it shoots like a seven. picture quality amazing. DO NOT DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE, just pulg into the USB and select scanner and camera wizard. very easy to use. battery life long. get this camera!
On: 2006-07-25
Okay, I admit that Im a complete beginner when it comes to digital cameras, but this camera is really very easy to use, and the picture quality is very good. I received it for a birthday gift and couldnt be more pleased.
On: 2006-07-12
All I have to say is first this camera looked to be well, cheapish due to the size. After 3 minutes though it had me impressed! Takes the pictures quite readily, no waiting for it to stabalize for a minute, and you barely get any blurry pictures. I was actually given this camera after my cousin broke my other one, they felt so bad they gave me their canon, and now im kinda glad that happened!
For me personally the two biggest things I use this for are; taking pictures of lakes, trees, plants, etc. and taking pictures of fish and inverts. Im a huge fish enthusiast and finding a camera thatll take good shots of fast moving fish through a glass box is hard. I was also limited with what I could photograph, as all subjects under three inches usually came out blurry, but heck, the macro mode solves all my problems on that one!
Bottom line, this little camera is the best ive come across! You know its good when it has Canon in its name!
On: 2006-06-30
The camera was well packaged and the delivery was prompt; exactly the day it was promised.
On: 2006-06-23
I have no idea what I am doing but this camera makes a pro out of a novice like me. I have just been "playing" with pictures and sending them off to my friend, a professional who owned her own studio at one time and did it all! She said the photos are pretty much technically perfect. And I was using difficult subjects during the worst shooting times for the light.
The camera has great manuals that are either simple for quick use and reference or go into more depth depending on your requirements. You can either go with the camera settings or play with custom shots...also simple to learn and fun too.
I had no problem hooking it up for downloading photos to the computer and playing. I even made a scrapbook from the software to print out of my kitten...my first test subject.
Its small and light and easy to use...I am getting lots of time from store bought batteries and havent even loaded in my rechargeables since it hasnt been a financial burden at all. Although the ones that come with the camera dont last long.
Can I go on about how I love this little camera that floats on my shoulder in my bag along with my purse wherever I go? I read all the reviews and I didnt have ANY problems that were listed by other users. Its a gem!!!
On: 2006-04-27
I bought Canon S2IS for myself and A410 for our niece. To my great surprise A410 took A WHOLE LOT BETTER pics than S2IS. (In fact I sadly returned my S2IS and continued using my old faithful Canon PRO 90IS digital camera.) We took several pictures with it, not a single came out bad! All were vivid and crisp. I just loved this cameras output. Only one thing I didnt like is the zoom controls are on the back on the same dial as forward backward controls. I like zoom controls on top of the camera.
On: 2006-04-23
This camera has more than exceeded my expectations. It takes fabulous pictures even in the pitch dark. You can zoom, and zoom and the pictures are still clear. There are tons of features, including the option to take your photos in black and white or sepia. Its easy to use, but do read the manuals so you can take full advantage of all the camera has to offer. I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone. The only small downer was that the memory card that the camera comes with doesnt hold many photos. But other than that its perfect! Go buy one! Its the best deal for your money, hands down!
On: 2006-04-12
I got this camera as a gift and just love it - I also love the fact that I can use the memory card from my Palm Pilot. The pictures are great, it is easy to use and the price is right.
On: 2006-03-31
Canon produces reliable cameras that dont eat batteries like some of the other brands, and the A410 is simple for beginners but has enough options to grow with, including a fair zoom (x3) and a macro setting for super close ups. Its small though only fairly slim, a tad thicker than a pack of cigarettes, so it wont slide in your front pants pocket but it will fit. Avoid the expensive kit youll get offered, instead get a less expensive AA battery charger and buy the case by itself if you want one. An extra Memory card is a nice option if you are away from your computer on vacation and want to store a lot of photos but the included card is fine for around home. If you have a Mac the Canon will load photos right away into iPhoto without having to load the included software.
On: 2006-03-27
This would make a fine entry-level camera to digital photography, except for me its replacing an early-model Sony Cybershot U with a 1.3 mp lens. The Sony was producing satisfactory images, but whenever Id send out for prints, Id receive lots of those orange triangles warning me that the resolution wasnt sharp enough to guarantee good results.
The Canon Powershot A410 is a user-friendly camera (I shot my first pictures, loaded them into my computer, and printed them without opening the manual), and its only slightly larger than either my tiny Cybershot or my wifes Canon Elph SD110. It easily fits in a pants, or even shirt, pocket and is so light as to make weight a negligible factor. I considered the Canon A430 with a 4 megapixel lens until I noticed that its a bulkier, slightly heavier camera. With the A410 youre getting a precision instrument thats practically Elph-sized. I also looked at the Canon A520, which is essentially a miniaturized version of the 400 series. The problem is that the A520 is appreciably thicker than the A410 (translating into bulging pockets). Also, the shrinking of the camera body in other areas apparently required sacrificing the newer, more efficient Digic II processor thats a feature of the A410. Contrary to the testimonials of others, loading pictures into iPhoto (with the most recent OSX) required installation of Canons included software.
As for megapixels, the 3.2 lens is just as sharp as the 4 lens. Compare 8X10 photos shot by the two lenses and there is no difference. The 4 megapixel lens becomes a factor only if you decide to go for enlargements much beyond 8X10 or to blow up selected portions of a photo.
On: 2006-03-22
We loved our Canon A400, so when our house was burglarized and it was stolen, we had no doubts about replacing it with the Canon A410, which is the upgraded model. Something to be aware of before you purchase: There is no audio taped with the videos on the A410, though there was on the A400. We are sadder but wiser, and will have to find another way to record the precious sounds our grandchildren make!
On: 2006-03-20
It is a great product, I enjoy the different modes. Its a good camera for a first time digital camera buyer. It is not to complicated to understand everything, battery time could be longer but other than that I believe it is a great buy
On: 2006-03-19
But we couldnt get it hooked up to the computer! We installed the software properly andt tried on 2 desktops and a laptop yet the camera was never recognized. After sending it back we found one that we liked better anyway.
As far as the camera itself, its very easy to use and takes decent pictures, but the movies are kind of pointless because theres no sound recorder.
On: 2006-03-18
I havent had time to learn all the intricacies of my camera and printer, but from all indications, it will be a great purchase which I will enjoy on vacations and occasions in the future years.
On: 2006-03-16
Great little camera for the price. Does everything I ask and was well priced. Easy to learn how to use. Very good quality pics.
On: 2006-03-14
I have wanted a digital camera for some time now but I didnt want to pay out the you-know-what for a good one. So I spent a lot of time researching and comparing prices. I chose this one because it was recomended above all the others for my particular photographing needs. And it was in my budget. Mostly I use it for family pictures, nothing fancy. I like the ease of use for basic point ans shoot and also for more technical photographing. Although to really get all the different uses out of this one youll have to read through all the many books that acompany it. I dont use the included software, I prefer my own I have installed on my pc. The one that comes with the camera is too complicated. All around I feel like this is a great camera and if it holds up to wear and tear I probably wont be replacing it any time soon.
On: 2006-03-10
This is a great camera for the beginner. 3.2MP is plenty for the type of pictures I take. What little set up is quick and easy. Someday Im going to read the manuel. Buy a bigger chip. I picked up a ScanDisk Ultra II. 1GB. It holds over 1700 post card shots and I can plug it directly into the USB port on my Mac. It also acts as a backup for my hard drive.
On: 2006-03-10
I bought this camera because of the Canon brand name. But I was totally disappointed.
The camera has good image, but some unforgivable problems:
- You need to install tons of software components just for tranfering the pictures from the camera to the PC.
- The ZoomBrowser EX software does whatever it wants, except what I want to do. Opens picture folders that I dont want. And keeps spreading the pictures all over my HD.
- I need to unplug my other 3 USB devices everytime I want to transfer pictures from the camera to my PC. Because it wont work if other devices are connected. This is even stated in the cameras manual.
(...)
On: 2006-03-09
Pictures are dark and you have to replace the battery often. They should all come with rechargables! Not bad for a kid or someone starting out.
On: 2006-02-27
good inexpensive camera
exactly what i was looking for
works great
intuitive controls
On: 2006-02-24
I think that this item is a terrific camera for the price, it takes great pics and since I use it for my ebay business, I like that it takes really good close up shots. The card that comes with it is small (only takes 15-16 shots) but for what I use it for it works - I also purchased a larger card to use for more exposures when Im out and about - My previous camera was over 6 years old and still took good pics but couldnt get replacement parts. It cost 3 times what I paid for this one and the pic quality of this one is superior to that one. I would recommend this camera for ease of use, pic quality, and size - would suggest purchasing larger capacity cards for more exposures between uploads.
On: 2006-02-20
I bought this camera to replace an old HP, and dont have one regret. This camera takes great pics, and takes sepia and black and white as well. I took the snowflake pics with this camera. LOVE it! I highly recommend this camera, and if I ever buy another digital, you bet your bottom dollar it will be another Canon.
On: 2006-02-08
This is my first digital camera as well as my first time buying something online. I carefully read through all the reviews in my price range and this seemed to be the one for me. I dont know all the technical stuff that comes along with cameras, but let me tell you.. I love this camera. It is so easy to use! I just popped the batteries in and after about ten minutes of reading the quick start guide I was taking tons of pictures and emailing them to friends and family. Of course there are also tons of nifty settings to experiment with once you have time to really read the manual. One thing I was worried about was the battery life, since most reviews recommended that you get rechargeables. For a normal family photographer like me, I havent had any need to replace the batteries once I got a name brand in there, and Ive had it for two months. (The generic batteries it comes with lasted a whole half hour) I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a nice family camera to take the family photos with and save on film. Im sure its good for more than that, but like I said.. I dont know much about digital photography to rate it on that front.
On: 2006-02-01
Ive used a number of digital cameras in the past, including the D60 (DSLR) and several Olympus point-and-shoots. Im partial to Canon and Olympus. I purchased this camera for my niece as a birthday gift, and she used it while she was visiting me. She loved it! I loved it! It takes excellent pictures, is pretty easy to understand, and seems quite sturdy. She was taking shots outside in the extreme cold (10 above) and it performed very well. I read reviews and looked at other cameras, and for her needs this fit the bill. So far, its been a great choice.
On: 2006-01-31
All I can say is you cant get any better for the money! As others have said, from unboxing to printing in less than one hour. Its amazing! Printing from the camera is a one button deal. The photos are clear and very colorful. No one could tell the pictures came off a printer. We finally loaded software on my laptop so we now have editing functions as well. We are using Canon Photo Plus paper with awesome results. Now the interesting thing will be to see how long the ink lasts. Weve printed about 50 prints so far and still going strong.
The only, minor, complaint I have is the camera size. Its a bit on the small side. The pressure required to snap a photo makes me jitter the camera a bit. Still, its not enough to blur a picture.
Joe
On: 2006-01-26
How incredibly frustrating. This camera arrived with several POUNDS of instruction manuals. These were poorly translated (from Japanese I guess) and often referred to stuff that was in the illustration, but not on my camera. I wanted to rip my hair out. After reading and reading and studying and studying, I still could not operate any more than the automatic mode, and never did figure out how to switch between menus. I bought this based on the reviews here that it is a good entry level digital camera...for WHO?? An engineer? An experienced photographer? Let me be the first to say I am not technologically inclined, but HELLO, I thought entry level meant entry level--just entering the realm of digital. I am still so lost. And frustrated. I have signed up for classes to learn to use the thing. A complete exercise in frustration. Never again.
On: 2006-01-21
We love the camera and the printer is very nice. When we tried to install the supplied software, there is some sort of conflict and it turns off my wireless router. Ive tried to fix the problem, but havent been able to get it to work.
On: 2006-01-17
I bought this camera for my daughter, a freshman in college. I did so after reading several reviews of competitive products on the web. She is thrilled with the camera and its ease of use.
On: 2006-01-16
i love it! it works great!!
On: 2006-01-16
Great camera for the price. For my 18 year old daughter. Nice and simple and quality of a Canon. Does everything 99.9% of us need a camera for. Great pictures, Highly recommended.
On: 2006-01-15
This is a great entry level camera. It does everything our family needs tremendously. Printing, editing and downloading are simple.
On: 2006-01-04
This is a fairly high resolution digital camera (3.2 megapixels) and it wont break the bank when you open your wallet at the electronics story. The resolution is plenty good enough to give you some serious looking eight by ten photos.
The Powershot has several programmed setting, for taking pictures in different lighting conditions and the zoom is pretty spectacular, considering how small it is. Because if the cameras small size, I carry it in my purse, so Im always ready to capture that important shot that I would have kicked myself for missing. Can you tell I really like this camera?
On: 2006-01-03
The handsome A410 replaces the A400 in Canons lineup, updated with a more powerful zoom and the DIGIC II image processor. It has a few features that are kind of rare for an entry-level camera, such as an AF assist lamp and manual white balance. It also has an optical viewfinder, a feature that has become increasingly rare on point-and-shoot cameras, but which I consider essential. It lacks the interchangeable lens of the A510, but it does support the HF-DC1 external flash!
As with all Canons A-series cameras, it uses AA batteries. I prefer cameras that use AA batteries over cameras that use proprietary lithium ion batteries because AAs are cheap and available and in a pinch you can drop in some alkalines. Not surprisingly, the A410 ate the alkalines included in the package pretty quickly, but it gets excellent life from rechargeable NiMH batteries. A set of these with a charger is a necessary purchase. I use the Monster Cable MB 4-DCRC.
The 16MB card included with the camera is just OK for a 3-megapixel camera. Youll want to get a larger capacity card. Fortunately, you can get a pretty good deal on SD cards, which are available as large as a GB! Since at the default setting file sizes are about 1 MB, you may find a 128 MB card to be more than adequate.
Canons file numbering system is IMG_xxxx.JPG. It maintains the file numbering even if you replace or format memory cards. I dont know what happens if you take more than 9999 pictures, but I may find out -- my sister is up to 5700+ on her A95! A small watch battery in the bottom of the camera saves the time, date and other settings even when the AA batteries are taken out.
Its start-up time is very quick. Photo quality is excellent, as one would expect of a Canon camera, with accurate color, low noise, and good sharpness. In Macro mode it focuses as close as 5 cm at wide-angle and 25 cm at telephoto. In Super Macro mode it can focus as close as 1.5 cm. It has several preset shooting modes including Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids and Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Beach, Snow, and Fireworks.
As with most point-and-shoot cameras there is a bit of red-eye to deal with, but the software included in the package deals with it fairly well. The A410s controls are logical and generally well-placed. Using the zoom located in the 4-way controller seemed a little bit awkward at first, but I got used to it in fairly short order. It seems to have been placed to favor using the LCD for composing photos.
I bought this for my Mom as an uncomplicated first digital camera, and its size and ease of use has made it a winner. In all, the A410 is an excellent entry-level camera, especially for its price.
On: 2005-12-30
This is an awesome camera and the cheapest Ive ever seen. BUT (1 problem) the memory card it comes with is SOOOOOOO SMALLL!!!! I hate it. I hate it! I HATE IT !!!! I HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE ITI HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Its 16mb , thats about 20 pictures at a time!!! ohmygosh fortunately this can be replaced.
On: 2005-12-30
I picked out and received the Canon PowerShot A410 as a Christmas gift. I wanted a low to mid priced digital camera with optical zoom and the Canon PowerShot had the features I wanted at the right price. It is my first real digital camera and considering the price it has definitely exceeded my expectations.
Setup was easy and without hassle. There is a basic and an advanced manual and the basic one is all you should need to look at to get started taking pictures, even if you are not familiar with digital cameras. You can read the advanced manual later when you are ready to try other features of the camera.
The display is small, but still easy to read (and I am legally blind with 20/200 vision.) In playback mode you can zoom to 10x to check the quality and clarity of your pictures. Menu and setting text is sharp and easy to read. Some of the icons are a bit small, but when you change a non-text setting, like the flash, the icon is briefly shown larger before shrinking and moving to the corner of the screen.
There are 4 resolutions and with each you can choose either Super Fine, Fine or Normal. The Super Fine setting is the best quality and Normal allows you to take more pictures. The resolution sizes and the average number of pictures you can take with the included 16MB card are: (2048x1536 SF=9, F=16, N=33), (1600x1200 SF=14, F=26, N=50), (1024x768 SF=25, F=45, N=80) and (640x480 SF=56, F=88, N=138.) There is also a 1600x1200 postcard mode which includes the ability to embed a time/date stamp on the picture.
In addition to the 3.2 optical zoom, there is a 3.2(approximate) digital zoom. Digital zoom is off by default so you have to turn it on. When its on you can zoom to 10x. The first 3.2x of the zoom is optical, then the zoom pauses for a second and the rest up to 10x is digital. The 3.2x digital zoom is also available in the macro mode which doesnt have optical zoom.
There are several pre-defined modes for taking pictures in daylight, night, etc. And there are also some interesting effects available. One that I like is color swap which lets you substitute one color with another. It can for example let you change the color of your carpeting while leaving everything else (of different colors) the same. It works pretty well, though sometimes shades of colors like brown and red are treated the same.
There are 3 video modes to choose from. None have audio. The modes are: 640 x 480 x 10 fps, 320 x 240 x 20 fps and 160 x 120 x 15 fps. In the 640 x 480 mode you can zoom digitally to 2x while recording. Approximate recording times with the 16MB card are 640x480: 23 seconds, 320x240: 33 seconds and 160x120: 1 minute 47 seconds. With a larger memory card you can record videos up to 3 minutes in length.
For the most part, the default settings were right for the photos I take. I have found that changing the ISO setting from the default of 50 to "Auto" takes pictures which have more accurate lighting. I also use the White Balance Evaluation for some pictures. See the example (with the Furby) that I posted to see comparison pictures taken with and without white balance. Usually White Balance is not needed, but for some photos it makes a big difference.
Some cautions and cons:
You should put the camera in playback mode when it is turned off. If not and you accidently turn it on the lens will try to extend, even if in the packaging. I saw no mention of this in the manual, but discovered it myself the first time I was putting the camera away. There did not appear to be any permanent harm, however the camera did beep when it couldnt fully extend the lens.
As others have mentioned, the highest ISO speed setting is 200, which makes it difficult to take pictures in low light conditions without the flash and without a tripod (or very steady hands!)
Battery usage does seem a bit fast, especially when the camera is connected to the computer. The manual suggests getting the AC adapter for when connecting the camera to the computer which I may do. The first time I get the low battery warning on a set of batteries has always been just after having the camera connected to the computer.
The included 16MB memory card is probably too small for most people, especially if you want to take videos. But memory cards are relatively cheap, so get a 128 or 256 MB card and you can take plenty of pictures and videos.
On: 2005-12-27
I bought one of these as a Christmas gift for my seven-year old. Its ideal! Shes thrilled to have a "real" camera and it wasnt terribly expensive. We need to get a Secure Digital Memory card with a greater capacity, but otherwise everything we needed was in the box and it works great with our Mac without installing any drivers.
Im fascinated to see what photos she takes -- and how clever of her to ask for a camera as a gift.
On: 2005-12-10
This relatively new (August 2005) camera is a very interesting offering from Canon, one of the top makers of digicams. As you can see from the other comments here, there are lots of positive things to say about it, given its very reasonable price.
So it will be a great camera for lots of people, especially those new to digital photography. But it has some key features that you might not notice, so be sure to consider these points:
- At 4.1 x 2 x 1.6 in, this is not a tiny camera, though not large by any means.
- The wide angle only goes to the equivalent of 41mm - lots of other cameras go to 35mm. You will likely notice, some of the time, that you have a hard time getting everything into the shot.
- Even with the great Canon lenses and electronics, the picture quality wont equal that of other cameras, as this uses a very tiny sensor chip to pick up the images.
- This wont be a great camera in low light. The "fastest" ISO setting is 200.
- Not a huge point, but it doesnt have an especially high quality video mode. (The silver lining, you probably wont need a high speed memory card!)
- The LCD is a little small by current standards, at 1.5"
- The camera uses standard size batteries. Some prefer that to buying proprietary battery packs, but it does mean youll have to buy some NiMH (not NiCad) rechargeable batteries, and a charger, and carry them when you travel.
Being able to get a new Canon at this price is a great option, just be sure its right for you. If youre still using a film camera, and paying for film developing and prints you dont want, it will probably pay for itself!
On: 2005-12-08
Pros: Low price, compact, uses 2 AA batteries, good performance, image quality, build quality, its a CANON, digital zoom is really sharp better then some 5.1 meg
Cons: Only 3.2 MP resolution, no ISO 400, no dedicated zoom control, no wide angle, battery life
Summary: Ok guys, that Canon Powershot A410 isnt a bad camera nor a good camera. There are of course better choices. But to make it short, this camera is a very good quality product that has many many good technology like the high priced one. It can record 180sec of digital movies at 640 x 480 (VGA)when you forgot to bring that digital movie camcorders on that special events.
My recommendation of this product: Please get that re-chargeable battery for 2600mAH MiMH for longer usage and upgrade to 1G Compact flash memory. Its really worth spending an extra money for this nice Canon camera.
On: 2005-12-06
Ive had a few Canon cameras over the years, all from the A series (A10, A75, A410), and have been very happy with them. My old Canon A10 and A75 cameras took great pictures and were bombproof - they survived being dropped numerous times, bouncing around in backpacks, etc.
Unfortunately, the Canon A410 I purchased just a couple of weeks ago never even got a chance to stand up to this abuse. It died after just a couple weekends of taking family photos (E18 error, see details below). No drops, no scratches, nothing - it was in my pocket the whole time.
It turns out that this Canon E18 error is well known and plagues many Canon compact cameras produced in the last year. The E18 error occurs when the lens extension mechanism becomes misaligned (or the camera thinks that the lens is misaligned). The camera then refuses to extend the lens, making it impossible to take any pictures. In my case, it appears that the camera is just crying wolf (ie, the camera thinks the lens mechanism is broken when in fact there is no real problem), but I still cant take any pictures.
Dont believe me? Do a web search for "Canon E18". It sounds like a bunch of other people have had this problem as well.
Im bummed that Canon camera arent as reliable as they used to be - now Im going to have to find some other manufacturer (Olympus, maybe?)
On: 2005-11-30
This combo does what it should and thats take great photos and makes outstanding prints and I have been pleased. However, do not be fooled by what initially what appears to be inexpensive price even with rebate. My wife and I both wanted cameras to replace our 2mp kodaks we have had for several years. I came across this combo and purchased it after my positive experience with canon quality and my 35mm slr ive had for years. But after getting the combo I realized I needed the printer cable, larger memory card, rechargeable batteries and charger. Thats fine I did expect to need some items, however, my wife found on amazon a kodak 5mp combo kit that included all the items for few dollars more when it was added up. Also, i read in a review do not get caught up in the 3mp vs 5mp vs 7mp because most will not be printing poster size prints. I agree with this, however, the more the better as i found out. Where the higher MP shines for the average person like me is when you want to crop or edit a pic. I was taking photos of different flowers for a montage and used both the 3mp and 5mp. I was able to crop and enlarge the photo on screen and print out a 4x6 with no loss in quality while the 3mp did a good job i did start seeing some loss in quality. Like i said this is a solid printer excellent print quality and the camera is great but just be aware of the additional costs of ownership for items you will need and that are included in other combos.
On: 2005-11-26
This was such a nice little camera & easy to learn. But requires downloading more stupid software to a Mac that has an OSX operating system. I have 9.2 & no plans to update in the near future. All I need is to plug into the OSB port & have the folder pop up on my desktop with JPGs inside. I dont even know if this camera creates JPGs or raw data??? The manual doesnt say.
When will the tech people get the message that were tired of all this updating & problems with incompatability...
On: 2005-11-03
Sample pictures at (snipurl com jfki) replace the spaces with a dot and a forwardslash. bandwidth maybe refreshes every hour.
Pros:
mostly over the a510:
·The video mode although choppy is still a few fps(frames per second) better than the a510.
·Auto white balancing occurs during video recording which the a510 doesnt have and it also allows you to zoom 2x while recording.
·Very fast menu navigation and picture viewing. A lot faster than the a510.
·Better shot to shot times(without flash) than the a510.
·Although it is still at USB 1.1 speed, this time Canon got it right with making the plug and play hardware standards compliant with Windows. Basically meaing when you plug the camera in your USB port, windows will show it as a drive letter allowing you to copy the pictures over to your computer without any additional software unlike the a510 which requires you to use Canons own propietary software.
·Very slick rectangular design, curved edges, and a dark silver color, with all the buttons perfectly in the right place(if your right handed).
·Seems to conserve a lot less battery power than the a510 especially when recording videos witch the a510 would drain at.
·Battery life seems to just go on forever if you dont use the flash.
·Very sufficient manual controls for an entry level camera
Cons:
·I found the a510 , although slower, to be slighty better in picture quality because of more manual control available and less purple fringing than the a410.
·The LCD is smaller, but because of the faster digic II processor you can quickly zoom-in and pan the pictures very very fast.
ONE OF THE BEST FEATURES:
Canon included a feature not found in many entry level cameras. It is a feature I use very often in different indoor to outdoor environments. It is the EVALUATE WHITE BALANCE. Just place the small rectangle in the LCD view on what is supposed to be white and hit set and the a410 automatically adjusts the picture respectively. This drastically improves pictures taken in indoor lowlight environments so much that you dont even have to use the flash in less than adequatly lit rooms. It also keeps the your white walls looking white and not yellow. This improves indoors and night shots but you should still consider putting the camera on a solid surface and set the timer to 3 secs in order to avoid any potential blurring from trembling hands. This feature also doesnt show natural whites but it is still very much pleasant.
I purchased this camera new after discounts for $100 + tax + shipping and for the price difference, smooth operation, high performance, and convenience in hookup/operation compared to the a510 it outweighs the minimal picture quality difference.
By far the best entry level digital camera currently on the market.
Please take few seconds to view the sample images or rate my review if it was helpful. Thanks.
On: 2005-10-10
We just purchased this camera today, so we still have a lot to learn about the bells and whistles.
So easy to use... just point and click. We were also told it eats batteries (and purchased a pricey battery recharging kit) but Ive been fooling around with it for hours and its still running off of the genereic batteries it came with (only 2 AAAs.)
Very detailed, crisp pics, vivid color, and amazing indoor quality, even without the flash.
I wasnt expecting it to be this good!!!
On: 2005-10-08
I have had much experience with Canon digital cameras. Most of my experiences have been positive with them. The recently released Canon Powershot A410 combines all the positive aspects of Canon digital cameras into a well-rounded product. 3.2 megapixels is enough for any average photographer. The best thing in my opinion is the 3.2 optical zoom. Many times you dont find an optical zoom on cameras in this price range. Optical zoom is important because it allows for more clear and precise zooming as opposed to digital zoom. If you want a small camera, the size of the Canon Powershot A410 is perfect. Small enough to fit into your pocket, but not too small where the buttons become a pain to operate. The only downside to a small camera is the size of the LCD screen. However, the LCD on this camera is easy to view even in the glare of the sunlight. A bonus for a camera at this price level is the movie recording option. This is a great extra that will allow you to capture little video clips of any moment. Canon software as usual is simple and straightforward. If you want heavy duty photo editing software, youll have to pay for something. Overall, youre getting a brand name product, an all-around excellent camera, and you wont have to lose to much money when you buy it.
You should exam the specifications of this camera and compare to other cameras in the same price range.
On: 2005-09-30
This is a superb camera at an unbelievable price. The camera body is very attractive, its light and portable, and the controls are very easy and intuitive to use. 3.2MP is more than enough for very high quality prints, though I did add a 512k card. Dont get all caught up with worrying about 3mp vs 5mp vs 7mp unless you plan to print lots of poster size images. Now I can take and store 400 pictures on one battery charge with the LCD on. Simply amazing technology.
I compared all kinds of cameras under $500, and this one not only does everything I need, but its very affordable. This will keep me happy for many years to come. Now what to do with all the $$$ I saved...
On: 2005-09-29
This is a superb camera at an unbelievable price. The camera body is very attractive, its light and portable, and the controls are very easy and intuitive to use. 3.2MP is more than enough for very high quality prints, though I did add a 512k card. Dont get all caught up with worrying about 3mp vs 5mp vs 7mp unless you plan to print lots of poster size images. Now I can take and store 400 pictures on one battery charge with the LCD on. Simply amazing technology.
I compared all kinds of cameras under $500, and this one not only does everything I need, but its very affordable. This will keep me happy for many years to come. Now what to do with all the $$$ I saved...
Update: June 2008 I still love this camera and continue to use it frequently.
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