Canon PowerShot A2400 IS Point & Shoot

Overall Review

Canon, the Japanese Multinational has always done a decent enough job to satisfy the varying satisfaction levels of the customers of PowerShot family. These point and shoot models typically fit into two categories: Those with more advanced features and those that are aimed squarely at beginners with limited feature sets. And it isn’t really surprising that Canon PowerShot A 2400 IS will carry lower price tags than those PowerShot cameras with more detailed features. This camera which features Smart Auto like the rest of the series, Smart Auto basically automatically chooses from 32 shooting modes to give the best output in the given light situation. Canon PowerShot A2400 IS may well be the most budget A-series cameras that features Intelligent IS optical image stabilisation for clear stills and shake free videos. The device is operated upon a 16 megapixel CCD image sensor and features 28mm wide angle lens blended perfectly with 5x optical zoom lens. Other features include 2.7-inch LCD screen, 720p HD video recording, Help Button, Loads of fully automtaic Scene modes, Various My Color options, Li-ion battery pack (good for up to 180 shots), SD card slot

Design and Build Quality

The camera's metal body is quite compact, measuring just 2.1in x 3.7in x 0.8in. It is identical in size and shape to Canon PowerShot 2300, but Canon PowerShot A2400 is a little heavier, weighing in at 150 gms. The difference in weight is likely due to the optical stabilization system, which is not found in the A2300. The camera is also available in silver, black, or pink. The top panel on the A2400 IS is pretty basic, only containing a power button (just to the right of the ON/OFF label) and the shutter button. The zoom ring surrounds the shutter button, and in playback it controls the Index (Wide) and Magnify (Telephoto) options. On the right side panel of the camera is the Mini-B USB port. Canon didn't include an HDMI port with the A2400 IS. The USB port is behind a flexible plastic door that lightly snaps into place. This port also handles standard AV ouput, however Canon does not include any AV cables.

Focus and Face Detection

Canon has included a TTL Autofocus system with the PowerShot A2400 IS, and it has the ability to focus on images as close as 3 metres away in Macro mode. The lens housing completely retracts into the camera body when the unit is powered down, and it extends almost an inch away from the body when you turn on the A2400 IS. The 5x optical zoom that Canon included with this camera has a 35mm equivalent range of 28mm to 140mm. Detailed specifications include in normal mode 5cm to infinity wide and 1.2m to infinity tele, in auto mode 3 cm to infinity wide and 1.2 m to infinity tele, whereas in macro mode where the tele zone is eliminated you can work in the focus range of 3cm to 60cm.

Lens and Image Stabilization

Canon PowerShot A2400 IS sports a 5x zoom lens that can easily covers a great 28-140mm at 35mm equivalent focal range, and allows the input of a large amount of light much credits to the fast f/2/8 wide angle aperture. But once you zoom in, things may get a little complex as the lens aperture reduces to f/6.9 at its telephoto extreme, which only lets in about one-sixth the light. Thankfully the camera's lens is stabilized, which should help you get sharp photos when zoomed all the way in without having to worry too much about using a fast shutter speed. A 5x zoom is pretty much understood as a feature that will be present in a camera in this price range.

Screen and Menus

The control layout of this device is without a doubt similar to Canon PowerShot 4000 IS, but the buttons on Canon PowerShot 2400 IS are not as compact as they are on A 4000 pretty much because this camera flaunts a smaller 2.7 inch rear LCD. One can find devoted buttons to activate Macro mode, toggle between full Auto mode and other shooting modes, and to adjust the Flash output. There's also a Help button that brings up an on-screen manual and a Record button that activates the camera's video mode. The 2.7 inch LCD that mounts the device features a display resolution equivalent of 230k dot pixels. The camera's shooting menu is an overlay design such that when you hit the Function button and it shows up on the left side of the rear screen. From here you can change the Mode, adjust Exposure Compensation to brighten or darken a scene, control the White Balance, and adjust the ISO, among other settings. The menu is easy to navigate and quite snappy, so changing settings will be a child’s play.

Battery

Canon PowerShot A2400 IS is shipped in the box with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery which comes with a separate battery charger. The charger plugs directly into an outlet, so there's no need for a power cord. The battery is pretty thin, but Canon estimates about 180 shots can be taken per charge, and my tests resulted in numbers very close to that estimate.

Video Mode

When talking about the Video feature that accompanies Canon PowerShot A2400 IS, it may turn out to be a little clumsy. The device can record HD videos at 1280 x 720 pixel resolution or simply at 720p resolution at 25 frames per second. This isn't the best choice for capturing fast motion, but that isn't the major issue. The footage itself is grainy, even under studio lights, and the camera's lens cannot zoom in or out while footage is rolling. One positive that can be drawn out of here is the accesss to digital zoom while operating the vvideo mode, but that just drops down the quality drastically.

Sensors

Sensor is a device that changes the optical images to electrical signals for processing. Canon PowerShot A2400 IS’s backbone of all operation is a 1/2.3 in CCD sensor which provides 16 megapixel image resolution.

Pros

Inexpensive.

Sharp, optically stabilized lens.

Speedy performance.

Cons

Noisy images at high ISOs.

Limited video support.