As with its 3-megapixel cousin the IXUS 30, the IXUS 40 constitutes a revamped version of Canon's popular IXUS IIs; in addition to the extra megapixel and a bumped-up 3x optical zoom, the silver IXUS 40 also offers faster shooting, thanks to its DIGIC II image processor.
Upside: The Digital IXUS 40 boasts a relatively large 2-inch LCD, as well as a decent set of adjustable options in manual mode, and as long as you have space on your SD card, it can capture full-resolution burst-mode stills at 2.4fps and 640x480 video at 30fps. Its 35mm-equivalent lens is a nice bonus for better wide-angle shots.
Downside: The IXUS IIs suffered from poor autofocus in dim light, so it'll be interesting to see if similar lighting problems affect the IXUS 40's rated speed.
Outlook: Spec-wise, the Canon Digital IXUS 40 has addressed nearly every concern we had with the IXUS IIs and thrown another megapixel into the bargain. However, the 4-megapixel snapshot field has become quite crowded, and at AU$629, the IXUS 40 will have to compete with versatile offerings from Nikon and Kyocera.
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10/11/2005, 09:18 PM
2 years old and is unreliable!
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Adam North
12/08/2005, 03:23 PM
Help I can not go passed this camera
I want to buy another brand ,I can't I am stuck with the Canon IXUS
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TheWingman
30/04/2005, 11:08 PM
Easy to use, great quality, but lacks features
I had no doubts about buying this camera as the image quality settings are excellent and the screen is obviously a highlight. But if you want to take snaps with lots of options (eg. landscape etc) there aren't as many options as other cameras but it more than makes up for it in the image quality and its size is perfect for your pocket.
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Anon
17/01/2005, 11:36 PM
Can't get a better ultracompact on the market.
There are better reviews at www.imaging-resource and www.dpreview.com
Pertinent points:
Pros:
Great ultracompact camera, brilliant, sturdy build.
Beautiful "canon" - vibrant colours.
4MP will let you print 8x10 inch photos with some cropping.
Takes tight sharpening (150-200%) on photoshop very well. This is recommended as photos on the Ixus are a little soft - this is probably deliberate on Canon's part and not a lens problem.
DIGIC II is super-fast from startup, focus to photo.
Very user-friendly
2" LCD screen
Cons:
Chromatic aberration in high contrast areas - results in noticable purple fringing. Okay for 4x6 prints but above average for it's class.
Batterylife only 100 pics with LCD & 300-400 without. Average for it's class.
Visible noise at ISO200 and especially ISO400. Great ISO50/100 though.
LCD does scatch easily.
No manual shutter/aperture selection. Only EV compensation.
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jamieson
16/12/2004, 02:39 PM
good
I have one and is is great!
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23/11/2004, 06:27 PM
Hard to Beat
Having researched for a couple of months I was about to settle for either the ixus 500 or the sony PSD-150. Then cannon released the ixus 40. Ultra compact and stylish, good picture quality and a very intutitive and easy to use menu system. The large LCD is a welcome enhancement as is the better video capabilities. It took about 30 mins to master how to use the camera and it's small enought that it never has to leave my side. The shot to shot times are very good even with the flash on. Having used ixus series cameras before I can say that the new DIGIC II processor makes a noticeable difference to performance.
All in all Cannon has addressed all the issues with the ixus 500 and for style you can't beat the ixus range, now even smaller.
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Gavin
08/11/2004, 01:12 PM
Nearly bought the Ixus 500
I was all set to buy the 500, when this little beauty arrived. What a difference 1/2 an inch makes on the LCD! This one is crisp and fluid. Buttons and controls are easy (haven't had to refer to the printed manual yet). Picture quality is great in most settings I've tried so far. I haven't had any problems with night shots, partcularly with the night-mode allowing great images in a standard lit room - without a flash! The movie mode is just amazing and with SD memory becoming cheaper, you should be able to get a 512Mb for not much more than a $125. Oh, and did I mention it's only 2cm thick and smaller than a credit card. If a pocket point and shoot is what you're after - you can't go far wrong with this one.
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