Home :: Cameras :: Digital Cameras :: Simple Point-and-Shoot  

2 to 2.9 Megapixels
3 to 3.9 Megapixels
4 to 4.9 Megapixels
5 Megapixels & Up
Advanced Point-and-Shoot
Digital SLRs
Extended Zoom
Professional & Serious Amateur
Simple Point-and-Shoot

Ultracompact
Under 2 Megapixels
Canon PowerShot A40 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Canon PowerShot A40 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

List Price: $399.99
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 14 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Outstanding entry level
Review: This is not a professional level camera. It is a casual users camera, and as such, it does an outstanding job. It's nice and light, but not ridiculously small. I've had other entry level digital cameras, and the photo quality on this one is very nice. Also, digital cameras often show a great difference between where objects lie when you look through the viewfinder, and where they end up on the photo, because of the distance between the lens and the viewer. The Canon seems to suffer from this a bit less than I've experienced elsewhere.

The use of compact flash is a big plus in my mind. That particular storage method, according to some magazine articles I've read, is here to stay for the long haul. Also, additional cards are inexpensive, and, of course COMPACT. It's simply a media I like, and recommend.

The camera can make very short, web-quality videos, but to be very honest, I've not really found a use for that other than as a novelty ("hey, look what I can do with my still camera.") However, we have a digital camcorder as well, so that might explain it. If, for example, you had your A40 with you, and nothing else, and something remarkable was happening, being able to use the video could be nice. BUT, it'll use up your whole card, so make sure you have extra compact flash with you.

As with ALL digital cameras, this one EATS batteries. Take extras...and you must invest in rechargeable batteries. They upfront cost will be made up in shockingly short time.

My only complaint about the camera might seem silly to some. It's not as SIMPLE as some other entry level cameras. It puts a bit more control in your hands (if you want it) and this makes for a longer and more daunting manual than usual. But don't be put off, you don't have to use the manual exposure and such. You can just be a "dummy" and let the camera do it for you.

On a side note: over the years, I seem to end up with a lot of canon products, including camcorders and printers. They have always been excellent, and when I've switched to other makers (from Canon printer to Lexmark, for example), I've ALWAYS been sorry I did.

At the time of this writing, the A40 has been discontinued. If you can find it (I got my as a display model from BEST BUY), grab it. If not, Canon has got a whole line of "this year's model," and I imagine they are quite good as well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awsom camera, incredible features from a great brand, Canon
Review: For a starter, I have always been a big fan of Canon brand. But when I bought this camera, I even loved and respected the brand more. To say the least, Canon doesn't mess around, they don't make cheap devices. They have very advanced technology, especially when it comes to optics and photo-taking machinery. When comes to price, I have compared other brands, like fuji, nikon, olympus, within the same price range, none of them include in their cameras the same features this camera has. For instance, you won't find the video captuering ability in the othe brands with the same price. And if you like taking control of photo shooting, this camera will let you do that. You can adjust the shutter speed from as slow as 15 seconds to as fast as 1/1500 of a second. I guess that takes you beyond the amature to a creative level. You can also take pictures in low lights where other cameras cannot. The most amazing thing about this camera, which was mostly the main reason I bought it for, is the expandability. You can attach a variety of extra lenses, such as wide-angle converter, tele-converter for extra zoom, and macro-converter lense for close-up distance, which extend the limit of this camera. I took it to Niagra falls last year and took more than 250 photos and lots of video clips with sound using two 128MB memory cards, which I recommend buying, they area not expensive. I also recommend buying at least 2 sets of 4 rechargeable AAA batteries, it will pay off over the time. hope you can still find it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Grab this camera if you can still find it
Review: The picture quality, ease of use and functionality make the A40 a steal when you consider the MSRP. It will soon be replaced by the A60, which I assume will be of equal or better value. The thing I love best about my A40 is the picture quality in low light situations. I've taken pictures of bands that were playing in dark clubs and they came out wonderfully. The shutter-like lens cover and retractable lens is great when you compare it with models that only feature a plastic lens cap. When you adventure outside of the auto mode, you'll find some great features like the Effects menu that lets you manipulate color options and Continuous Shooting mode by holding down the shutter button. Really cool stuff.

My only gripe (and it's a small one) is that I've had hit-or-miss luck with the red eye reduction feature. But the software that comes with the A40 addresses that problem (for the most part). The software, which is easy to install and use, also includes typical features such as cropping and stitching, so there's no need to go out and purchase separate photo software.

I looked at a bunch of entry level cameras and I'm so glad I went with the A40. In addition to a set of rechargeable batteries and larger CF card, I recommend purchasing a card reader for downloading pictures to your pc. Card readers are cheap, fast and you don't end up wasting you camera's battery. Most of them plug right into your USB port and you're off and running.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Happy in Arizona
Review: This is a great camera. It will please the point and shooter as well as the more imaginative photographer. Some may think that 2MP is too little, but for most of us, it's just fine. Plus it takes great pictures at every resolution. The price/value equation is very good. Other reasons I purchased this camera was it's superior ergonomics (Canon Elphs were too little for my big hands) and its use of AA batteries (do buy some rechargeables) which are universally available. I also had a prior camera that used the CF card format, so I can recycle.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Splendid!
Review: Here is a little background information:
I had spent months reading reviews and searching for the best possible deals. I was weary of cameras made with flimsy materials, required "special" batteries, or came with horrible software.
But, I went ahead and purchased the Canon Powershot A40. That was last spring, and I can honestly say I have never been happier with it. I purchased a PNY 128 MB card, a Compact Flash Memory Card reader, as well as rechargeable batteries and the battery charger. Definitely worth the investment.
There were (and still are) features that put this ahead of all the other cameras out there:
-Crisp photos (at 2.0 Megapixels)
-Wonderful software. Easy to use, easy to install. Definitely keeps my photos organized.
-Excellent "advanced" features, such as Exposure, shutter speed, flash.. this list goes on.
-Sturdy camera. It's been dropped a few times. Not a scratch in sight.
Finally, I would just like to point out, that reading reviews is definitely a good way to find out the finer details of a product. I could sugar coat my review, but I believe it's far more important to hear the truth about the product. This is an excellent camera. Period.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: another satisfied customer!
Review: After quite a bit of research, I decided the Canon A40 would be my first digital camera, and I am extremely pleased with my purchase. It's been a week since I bought the A40, and I still can't put my new toy down! The LCD is great. Controls are very easy to use. Camera takes beautiful pictures - I can't wait to receive my first set of prints! The only negative that I have found with this camera is shutter speed, but if I'm not mistaken that seems to be common with digital cameras as opposed to regular film cameras. It's not that big of a deal as I'm getting used to it already.

The Canon software is very easy to use, and I had absolutely no problem installing it on my system (Windows 98). I'm not extremely familiar with all the technical aspects of electronics so I'll leave that to other reviews. This is a great point & shoot camera that takes clear, vivid images. I highly recommend it!

P.S. Get a larger memory card & rechargable batteries!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very surprised!
Review: I just purchased this camera after doing research on several different brands. I thought I might like the Canon Elph, but when I held it in my hands in the store, I felt it was too small. The A40 fits perfectly in my hands and the controls are extremely easy to learn and use. I look for easy to use when shopping for electronics. I don't want to have to take a class to learn how to set the time feature on a a camara. This camera is not only simple to figure out, it also takes fantastic photos. I have taken action and stills with it and they look great on my PC. I also purshased a USB port which makes uploading the photos very fast. All in all I would recommend this camera to anyone who is looking for a nice camera that is easy to use and affordable. I waited six years to be able to buy a digital camera and I am very pleased with my selection!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The camera of the cameras
Review: Don`t think twice, remeber Canon is Canon, and you'll get more than expect. Also, digital camera is not the only point, think about the software to handle your pictures...canon has it! excelent!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So far, so good...
Review: We bought the A40 a few weeks ago for 229.99 with a Viking 128MB card for another 39.95. Wow! So far it's been a great camera. I had a trip to Monterey Ca a few days later so I took the camera along. Took great pics. It's very easy to use and shooting in the auto mode the picture come out great. Shot in auto, Program, and Manual modes. I had good results with all the modes.

I'm not a professional, so to me the images are superb.

Only thing I don't like is that in Manual mode, once you select a shutter speed, you only have 2 aperture choice. weird.

The users manual that comes with the camera is easy to understand.

Buy a set of rechargeables and a charger. We bought a charger and batteries from MAHA. With standard batteries and the LCD on, you'll be going through a lot of batteries. With the LCD off, batteries last quite a while.

With the rechargeables, the camera goes quite a ways even when using the LCD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best all purpose camera available
Review: Once you get a feel for the manual controls, you'll find this camera can take pictures anywhere, in any light.

The body of the camera feels sturdy and is very rugged. The controls are easy to press and manipulate. And, the LCD is bright and easy to see. The viewfinder, like on most point-and-shoot cameras, is a little small, but still accurate enough to allow you to frame your shot.

The automatic settings are great for taking snapshots in most conditions. However, the manual controls allow for unbelievable versatility and allow you to shoot in almost any condition.

The software that comes with the camera is easy to use and install, although I find it a little over-the-top. It's a little too flashy for it's own good.

Overall, the Canon A40 is an unbelievable camera.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 14 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates