Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Review

The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS has a zoom range of up to 60 times thanks to its incorporation of Canon’s ZoomPlus technology. This feature is also included in many of the company’s other small cameras. The optical reach can be extended to 720 millimeters thanks to the wide-angle zoom of 24 millimeters, and the space may be increased to 1440 millimeters by using digital zoom. To achieve the same level of resolution as photographs shot with optical zoom, ZoomPlus recalculates the number of pixels in each image.

The bridge camera region appears to be breaking the general decreasing trend of the miniature camera industry. This is possibly due to bridge cameras’ versatility compared to smartphones in terms of their zooms.

Because this camera is intended for novice photographers, it is not equipped with manual controls nor supports shooting in raw format. It also lacks a handful of the more advanced functions available on other Canon compact cameras, such as Creative Shot and Hybrid Auto, which are available on other Canon cameras. On the other hand, a mode called Program Mode enables you to alter various settings, such as the white balance and the sensitivity.

The camera has a Digic 4+ processor, just like the Canon SX520HS launched simultaneously with the SX400. However, according to Canon, this is 60 percent quicker when shooting at high ISOs and 30 percent faster than the conventional Digic 4 processor regarding focusing and processing.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Build Quality

Even though the SX400IS has a design reminiscent of DSLRs, the fact that it is much smaller than a DSLR makes it very clear that it is not one.

Despite this, it features a suitably sized grip that gives you a firm hold and makes it feel comfortable in your hand while shooting with one hand.

A zoom switch on the camera’s top, close to the shutter release button’s location, allows the user to increase or decrease the focal length. When dealing with a large zoom, it’s vital to have a pretty fluid motion because of its smoothness. If you wish to maintain the optical zoom, you should take advantage of the brief gap that occurs just before the zoom enters the ZoomPlus mode.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Viewfinder

The colors are vibrant and full-bodied right out of the camera, exhibiting the warm saturation typical of photographs taken with Canon cameras. You may also change the colors directly in the camera by selecting to shoot with MyColors; this is helpful if you want to increase the contrast (Vivid) or capture a landscape. Other color adjustments include:

There are many different things to try out in this section, such as Positive Film, Black and White, and Neutral, so it’s a good idea to look at them to see if they catch your eye. It is essential to remember that because the camera does not capture images in raw format, you will not have the option to recover a “clean” version of the image if required.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Image Quality

Autofocusing rates are relatively swift, mainly when there is sufficient light. Although you may anticipate that the pace will decrease slightly when shooting in low light circumstances, the focusing light helps to speed up the process. When you want to get very close to a subject for frame-filling shots, you can activate macro focusing, which will help you get very close; in fact, the lens will be so tight that it will almost touch the subject. You can activate the macro, focusing on bringing close to a subject for frame-filling shots.

As one would expect, zoom’s effectiveness is of utmost significance for a camera of this type. The SX400 has an excellent 30x optical zoom, and once again, if you view photographs at A4 or smaller, you are left with a good sense of detail. On the other hand, if you zoom in to one hundred percent, you will notice that the image has been smoothed. It is possible to utilize digital zoom, but you should be aware that doing so may decrease image quality; however, access to this feature is helpful if you need to go a little closer.

The camera comes with a selection of digital filters. Still, sadly they are starting to appear a bit old-fashioned in contrast to some of the other cameras available on the market. For example, Canon hasn’t updated its lineup in a while, so the digital filters are starting to look ancient. Toy Camera is my personal favorite, but it’s still important to try out the other apps that are out there.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Specifications

Body typeCompact
Max resolution4608 x 3456
Image ratio w h1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels16 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors17 megapixels
Sensor size1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor typeCCD
ProcessorDigic 4+
ISOAuto, 100-1600
White balance presets5
Custom white balanceYes
Image stabilizationOptical
Uncompressed formatNo
JPEG quality levelsSuperfine, Fine
Focal length (Equiv.)24–720 mm
Optical zoom30×
Maximum apertureF3.4–5.8
AutofocusContrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterTrackingSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View.
Digital zoomYes (4x)
Manual focusNo
Normal focus range5 cm (1.97″)
Macro focus range0 cm (0″)
Number of focus points9
Articulated LCDFixed
Screen size3″
Screen dots230,000
Touch screenNo
Screen typeTFT-LCD
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeNone
Minimum shutter speed15 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/1600 sec
Aperture priorityNo
Shutter priorityNo
Manual exposure modeNo
Subject/scene modesYes
Built-in flashYes (Pop-up)
Flash Range5.00 m
External flashNo
Flash modesAuto, on, off, slow synchro
Continuous drive0.8 fps
Self-timerYes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Metering modesMultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
WB BracketingNo
Resolutions1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
FormatMPEG-4, H.264
MicrophoneMono
SpeakerMono
Storage typesSD/SDHC/SDXC
USBUSB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMINo
Microphone portNo
Headphone portNo
Remote controlNo
Environmentally sealedNo
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionLithium-Ion NB-11LH rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)190
Weight (inc. batteries)313 g (0.69 lb / 11.04 oz)
Dimensions104 x 69 x 80 mm (4.09 x 2.72 x 3.15″)
Orientation sensorYes
Timelapse recordingNo
GPSNone

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Conclusion

If you are looking for something that is easy to use and interested in the design of a bridge camera, this might be an excellent alternative. Canon has made another camera that is easy to enjoy and does a fantastic job in vacation and travel circumstances. However, because of its design, even though it is very little, even by the standards of bridge cameras, it will not fit in the pocket of a jacket or coat. Therefore, if you are looking for something portable, you should keep this in mind, even though it is tiny.

Images are lovely directly off the camera, mainly if you will be shooting in good light most of the time, which is probable if you use it as a vacation camera. However, there is not much in the way of control over the settings here. While Program Mode does allow you some degree of control, you may be left unsatisfied with the SX400IS if you are used to managing every element of your photography. Again, there is not much control over the settings here.

On the one hand, it would be nice if Canon provided more touch-in innovations for this bridge camera, such as a touchscreen or built-in Wi-Fi. Still, on the other hand, this does assist in keeping the price of the camera at a manageable level for most people.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS FAQs

When did the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS come out?

In July 2014, Canon made the PowerShot SX400 IS camera available to consumers.

Is Canon PowerShot SX400 IS a DSLR?

The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS is not a DSLR camera but a pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera with a lens that cannot be changed.

Is a Canon PowerShot SX400 IS a professional camera?

No, the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS is not considered a professional camera because it has fewer capabilities and more simplistic features compared to higher-end cameras.

How do I charge my Canon PowerShot SX400 IS?

You can charge your Canon PowerShot SX400 IS by either using the battery charger that came with the device or by connecting it to an electrical socket with the help of the AC converter.

Can I use a Canon PowerShot SX400 IS as a webcam?

It is possible to use the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS as a camera; however, doing so requires installing third-party software and acquiring additional hardware, such as a capture card or an HDMI converter. As a result, it is possible that it does not provide the same degree of clarity or simplicity of operation as dedicated webcams.

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