Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS

The Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS is a great choice if you want a very small camera that's easy to use and produces high-quality images. If you have big hands, though, the controls might be too tiny.

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Most should be happy with the Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS' compact size, image quality, LCD, HD video capture and connectivity options. 

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If you have big fingers, you might find the SD1400 frustrating to use—many of its buttons are quite small. The biggest culprits are the mode switch (auto/program/video) and zoom trigger which are tiny numbs. To change the mode switch, I literally use the tip of my fingernail. 

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The LCD on the SD1400 is just 2.7-inches, but it still feels as sharp as the 3-inch Editor’s Choice Kodak M580 because it holds the same amount of dots—230K. Technically the SD1400 should look sharper because there are more pixels per inch. 

Ports

Canon’s connectivity options are always spectacular and the SD1400 is no exception. They include a mini-USB port for connecting to your computer and a mini-HDMI port for connecting to your HDTV. 

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You’ll be hard pressed to find a camera that is smaller and lighter than the SD1400. Its exact dimensions are 2.21 by 3.63 by .7 (HWD) and weighs just 4.69 ounces, it basically the same surface area as a credit card, but thicker. 

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The lens on the SD1400 offers 4x optical zoom, its focal length ranges from 28-112mm (35mm equivalent) with a corresponding aperture of f/2.8-f/5.9. Cameras with more optical zoom for the same price are scarce but do exist, the Kodak EasyShare (4 stars, $199.95 direct) offers 8x optical zoom (28-224mm.) 

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The user interface is simple to use and includes just a few basic features. There’s fully automatic shooting and a program mode (for controlling ISO sensitivity, white balance and light metering.) You’ll also find 18 scene modes and 11 color modes which is typical for most cameras in this price range. 

Price Range $175.00 - $249.95

Spec Data

Type Compact

Megapixels 14.1 MP

Media Format Secure Digital High Capacity

Battery Type Supported Lithium Ion

35-mm Equivalent (Wide) 28

35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto) 112

Optical Zoom 4 x

LCD size 2.7 inches

LCD dots 230000

Wireless Connectivity No

HD Video Capture Yes

USB Port Mini

HDMI Port Mini

Boot time 1.93

Recycle time 3.64

Shutter Lag .6 seconds

Lines Per Picture Height 2152

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