Rating: 
Summary: Canon WOW's again!
Review: Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it does!. I bought the Canon S230 (3.2mp) in January and have already upgraded to the S400. This camera has been in stock for several weeks at online stores I probably can't mention here. I've had mine for a week now. Overall this is a great camera, it's the same size as the S230, very carryable, high quality, improved optics and zoom (3x optical instead of 2x) and the extra megapixels come in handy. There are a few minor points to pick at.1). Certain parts of the camera are now plastic instead of metal as on the S230 (from what I can tell, the zoom ring around the power button, the chrome ring around the lens, and the edges of the lens). The main body of the camera is still metal, however it's a new finish (Cerabrite) which has an odd plasticky look to it. Overall the construction quality doesn't feel quite as nice as the S230, notably the feel of the buttons when pressed, however it's nothing to be alarmed about. 2). For some reason Canon removed the 640x480 movie mode option. I never used the movie mode extensively, but this might matter to some users. 3). While some people might like it, (I think it's tacky) Canon has added the following useless features: Camera startup sound, shutter sound, camera display theme and startup image. There are cheesy sounds like a bird chirp, or a wolf howl, startup images like a Canon logo, picture of sunset, bird, etc. Due to the addition of these features the camera now has a tiny speaker. One benefit of the speaker/sounds is that Canon has added a self-timer sound which I think is useful. Some other nice additions/changes include the ability to edit the length of movie clips on the camera, a closer focusing distance in the macro setting, and the ablility to record a sound bye of up to 60 seconds to a picture (also useable as a simple voice recorder for recording memos, thoughts, etc) which will play back via the tiny speaker. The microphone has been moved from the front of the camera to the top, this could be good or bad depending, it may record less wind noise in windy situations (especially if facing into the wind), however it may also no longer pick up quieter sounds due to the repositioning. At a minimum I would reccommend the use of a 128mb card, preferrably 256mb or larger. At less than $$$ I would suggest an external memory card reader to be used for transfering photos instead of the Canon software which seems buggy at times. As far an extra battery goes, some people won't live without an extra. With the price of the battery, I'd pass. Canon says the camera is good for 190 photos with the LCD on (400+ with LCD off). I've never taken more than 50 pictures in a day and have always had an opportunity to recharge the battery during some down time in the evening. To sum things up, if you're looking for a high quality high megapixel camera that's easily carryable, and hardly noticed in most pockets, this is it!. The combination of size, quality and features of this camera are unmatched!. If you don't require 4 megapixels or want to save $$$ I'd highly reccommend the S230 which I have also reviewed.
Rating:
Summary: Mature Product!
Review: Beautiful photos! Easy to use and well made. Very compact and excellent battery life. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: video resolution reduced compared to S230
Review: This is a very nice camera that is slightly larger than the S230, but includes a higher zoom(3X compared to 2X in the S230) capability and higher still photo resolution(4MP compared to 3 MP in the S230). I was surprised to find that Canon eliminated the hi resolution(640 X 480) video capability in the S400 though. I found the hi-res video mode in the S230 to be very useful. But, the highest resolution(320 X 200) offered by the S400 is too grainy to be very useful.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate ELPH. Next generation maturity.
Review: I bought the S-400 to upgrade from the S-200 that I have been using since it was made available. I love the S-200, as it is both durable and handy. It has also become a great value with recent price reductions. On the other hand, I wanted to get the most recent tech advances in the smallest package, so the S-400 was the clear choice. Here are my initial impressions, and some of the improvements / differences between the 200 and the 400. First of all, Canon has paid close attention to the nits and picks of users of the earlier cameras in the ELPH line. Aside from the addition of cutting edge developments, there have been subtle changes that greatly increase it's ease of use. This is an incredible camera built into a compressed case. Except for being ever so slightly thicker than the S-200, it is the same cigarette pack size. It has a 4 mega pixel sensor, and it is quick and accurate. Color saturation and contrast are outstanding. The lens is very sharp from edge to edge (I tested at various light levels from macro mode (1.5") to infinity focus, and it consistantly produced remarkably fine images). 8x10 prints are outstanding. Period. At long shutter speeds (up to 15 sec), the sensor is remarkably free from "noise". In fact, it does better than many SLR style digicams in all areas of picture quality. The 3x optical zoom is a welcome addition. Now you can take a proper head an shoulders portrait without invoking the relatively lossy digital zoom, or suffering from the effects of distorted facial features caused by getting too close with a too short lens. When you need it though, the digital zoom offers up to 11x total zoom power, and returns pretty good results as digital zooms go. The 400 retains the special effects lineup of the 200, and they work very well. The tonal range of the black & white option is a real treat. The final result isn't exactly Panatomic X quality, but it is really good, and your darkroom for artistic dodging and burning is contained entirely on your hard drive. The case is still steel, but has a ceramic coating that is supposed to be even more scratch resistant. It is also much "whiter", and offers MUCH better contrast when you read the various control labels. While the contols are similar, they are also marked with larger and bolder lettering. All in all, a big improvrment. The michrophone was moved from the front to the top of the case. I think the front makes more sense, but it works very well on top. Canon also included a tiny (but effective) speaker in the 400. You can now select or create sounds for all camera functions (even a "real" shutter sound), as well as make voice notes for each photo taken if desired. Most sound functions are individualy adjustable for volume, and several sound "themes" are included. Techno-tinkerers might enjoy customizing the photo displayed upon startup. Movie preview also has sound now. On the subject of movies, the 400 makes a little tradeoff. The max resolution is no longer 640x480, it is 320x240 (which is fast becoming standard for movies from still cameras). On the other hand, it is not limited to 10 seconds anymore. You can now make clips up to 3 minutes each. Computer playback looks very good. TV playback isn't bad at all. As a pocket sized way to film Junior taking his first bike ride without training wheels, it can't be beat. The shutter button and zoom ring are a little larger, and now feel just right. The 400 has also incorporated the mode selector wheel used on other high end Canon cameras. This is long overdue, as it makes using all of the many features and modes a real joy. Red eye appears to be better than before, but I don't expect much from such a close coupled flash / lens combo, and who really cares, as it is corrected with a click of the mouse before you print a photo. A few MAJOR improvements are the 9 zone Ai AF, and new (yellow) focus assist. If you were not careful, the 200 could return slightly out of focus shots, and in low light, the focus assist sometimes didn't. That has been fixed. The 9 zone intelligent AF really does an amazing job, and the new focus assist achieves lock under a much wider range of difficulty than the old system. The built in flash has a generous range for a tiny camera, and the coverage is very even. Shooting a blank wall within the range of the flash shows no "hot spots". The metering options are still program, center weighted, or spot, but the program mode seems to have been given a big boost. The 200 does very well, but the 400 is on par with the SLR class for getting it right the first time. Exposure bracketing is +/- 2 EV, slow synchro flash is still there to boost background brightness when needed, the panoramic stitch mode is still a treat, and, in general, this is nothing less than a James Bond version of a full featured, top quality 4+ megapixel digital camera. The only tradeoff is that a full sized camera with similar features might offer a larger lens aperture. That can extend your non flash low light level by an F stop or so, but it does no good if the camera is sitting at home, rather than in your pocket. If it is in your budget, get this camera. Not only will you take more quality pictures over time, but you won't be burdened by feeling like a conspicuous tourist while doing it. One last note. Buy a high speed (24x) 256 meg memory card. The speed alows for quicker second shots (the 400 can do 2.5 FPS in continuous mode), and the 256 meg size gives you a full 128 shots at the highest resolution, many hundreds of pics at the low res setting.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I have waited a while for a digital camera with the right set of features and size - this is it. It is so compact you can put it in a trouser pocket, takes great photos and is very easy to use. I added the Canon PSC-50 leather case and 512MB SimpleTech CF card (as sold by Canon).
Rating:
Summary: A winner right out of the box!
Review: I opened the box, loaded the battery & CF card, and started shooting pictures. The basic controls were easy to figure out in seconds. Some day soon I will read the manual to learn the advanced controls. 3x zoom is very useful. No red-eye. Automatic exposure control works well. A picture of large room was well lit and all parts of the room were easy to see. No dark areas. Like most digital cameras, you have to hold the button down and wait for the shutter and flash to fire. This makes action shots difficult. Cycle time is better than my previous two digital cameras. The only real down side is the proprietary battery. In the past I have purchased and loaded AA or AAA batteries anywhere. Now I have to recharge or carry a spare battery. The bottom line is: I use a digital camera for convenience. I purchased a Canon Digital Elph because its size makes it easy to carry. Therefore, I am more likely to have it with me when I want to take a picture. I purchased the S400 because I was disapointed in the 2x zoom of the S230 and 4 Mega Pixels gives me more cropping/quality options. I'm very happy with my choice.
Rating:
Summary: It might be your memory cards
Review: Not all memory cards work well with all cameras. I tried to use a Viking card with my Canon s230, and got the E18 error mentioned here. As soon as I swapped my SanDisk back in, the problem was gone forever. I think sending the memory card back was a much better and cheaper solution than ditching an excellent camera.
Rating: 
Summary: Memory Card Error
Review: Same problems as everybody else. 14 months after purchase it ate the card. Tried 2 different cards, no dice for either. From love to hate. Dang. Also Canon's support website/acknowledgement of this problem is non-existent. It was hard enough to navigate their site, but it's impossible to find anything relevant.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful camera after 1.5 years of ownership
Review: I've been using this camera for quite a while now and I've been very happy with it overall.
Pros:
This thing that most attracted me to this camera was it's size. Yes, there are smaller cameras on the market but almost all of the smaller cameras lack an Optical zoom lens. I wouldn't purchase a digital camera with out an optical zoom lens as I use it quite frequently. Me, being a guy, and therefore not carrying a purse, I found it really easy to carry this camera around in my pocket when traveling. I have felt so free on vacation now not being burdened with holding a camera or asking my wife to hand my the camera from her purse whenver I want to take a picture. It makes vacations that much more enjoyable.
Ease of use:
I find the auto mode useful frequently. My wife is not a technophobe and enjoys the easy point-and-click ability of this camera and most of the time it works quite well. I do use the manual mode quite often to optimize for lighting conditions. I also appreciate the easy ability to disable the flash with a separate button on the back as I frquenty turn off the flash for indoor pictures when there is plenty of light. I do find the flash to be a little harsh for indoor pictures when there isn't a lot of light.
Cons:
As several people have pointed out, upgrade the memory card size immediately to at least 512MB so you don't ever end up filling up the camera. I recommend learning to download pictures on to a computer straight away and burn them on CD for long-term storage.
Buy an extra battery. There really is no warning when the battery is dying. Once the warning hits, you will be lucky to get one more shot off. I got burned on my one (and probably only) trip to Mt. Fuji in Japan and ran out of juice half way through the trip. I do like the small size of the battery charger and it works quite well (no chords!).
Rating:
Summary: Questions about Memory Card Error to L. Torres "titililly"
Review: I just this last week got the memory card error as so many other people have described. And it seems clear that the problem is with the camera and not with the memory cards themselves. Yet your solution (of formatting the memory cards) does not really do anything to the camera itself. Are you sure this method works and that it's not only temporarily cooperating before it starts giving you the same error again? Also, is there anything us consumers can do to get Canon to create some sort of fix to this problem w/o paying $150?
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