I read reviews that mention "E18 error" before buying this camera but I did not pay attention. I thought that there must be some defective units among millions of Canon cameras and that those camera that had the error must have been abused. Search for "canon e18 error" on google, and you will get 17,100 results as of 04/23/2005. It is a very common problem and it can happen to your camera even if you don't abuse it.
What is E18 error then? The camera displays "E18" on the screen when the zoom lense is stuck. Once it happens, you cannot use the camera again as it turns itself off after displaying the error code. There seem to be various causes for it - shock to the camera with the zoom lense extended, sand or dust in the zoom lense gear mechanism, TURNING OFF THE CAMERA WITH LOW BATTERY, no apparent reason at all, and so on.
If your camera is out of warranty (i.e. over 1 year old), you are out of luck as Canon charges $250 or so to fix it. You might try fixing it yourself (http://www.ixus-world.de/tips/repair_guide/e18_01en.htm) but it seems too complicated for ordinary people. Maybe I should consider myself lucky as mine is just 7 months old and is still under warranty.

It would be helpful if you included "What's in the box" as you do in other cameras. It would be helpful if I knew that a battery charger, for instance was included with the camera and what ever else is included. Thanks, ----WJH PS I also notice that the S410 is sold at Staples for $229.50.

I am switching. After years of being a committed Canon customer, I'll never buy a Canon product again. Before you buy ANY Canon digital camera (especially the Elf model), go to Google and type in Canon E18. Canon has refused warranty service by saying that the problem is a broken lens. This is a design fault to which Canon is refusing to admit. There are better cameras and better companies out there.

I spent months (2) reading reviews and going to stores knowing it was going to be a lot of money for a digital camera and knowing that I would have it for years-so I didn't want to get one that wouldn't fill my needs.

My main need was something relatively small. As one reviewer said so insightfully, if you don't have your camera, you can't take pictures and having a camera I can put in my jeans pocket means more fun taking it to parties, dinners, to school (I am a teacher), and everywhere. If I want I just strap in on my belt with a case and extra battery, and off I go.

Other than that I wanted to make 5x7 prints that are near photo quality.

This camera easily does both these things. So here's the breakdown:

Pros:
Small
Long battery life
Video
Near photo quality (I can't really tell the difference)
good construction
Easy to use
Easy to charge and quick charging
Easy to upload photos onto PC and do simple editing

Cons:
Proprietary battery (bought two for long outings
Ignore digital zoom, it's worthless
Not too inexpensive
Comes with too small a memory card (I went up to 512, been great!)

In the end this has been a great camera. I CF cards are taken everywhere and are really stable and don't have exposed connections, and the camera is easy to use and carry

I have had this camera for 6 months, and have yet to be able to take a clear picture. Even on a small tri-pod, the images are still blurry. It appears the blurry quality is better, with the flash on, but I would suggest looking at another model, and Canon is hard to deal with when you do have a problem.

I bought my canon digital camera and two days after using it, the E-18 signal appeared. This also happened to my friend. Canon's digital cameras give good quality pictures but are unreliable.

I was (emphasis: "was") really happy with this camera, which I bought 1 year and three month ago (For those of you who know that Canon only insures their products for one year, you may be able to guess where this is going... ). Apparently, Canon digital cameras have a nasty habit of breaking down at or around the one year mark.

For me, it was the dreaded: MEMORY CARD ERROR. I have treated my camera better than my girlfriend (honestly, ask her). Keep it safe, dry, never drop it, etc. Both of my memory cards are fine (my computer reads them effortlessly). But the camera mysteriously stopped working. £$%^!

Another common complaint is the zoom lense error (check other postings). Both of these errors regularly occur without any cause (!?!) or mistreatment of the camera! Its unbelievable!

What does canon have to say? Here's the heart of their email to me:

"The age of your camera and/or the cause of the error will determine your service options. If the camera was purchased less than one year ago, and you have a copy of your sales receipt, the unit can be sent to our Factory Service Center for repair (address and instructions below). If the camera is more than one year old, or if the camera was damaged by liquid, sand, or impact, it is out of warranty. We have two options available for out of warranty cameras: you may send the camera in for repair, or (if eligible) you may participate in our PowerShot Upgrade program.

For non-warranty repairs, the standard labor cost to make the repair will range from $150.00 to $300.00. Parts may be an additional cost. Cameras damaged by impact, liquid, or sand may have a considerably higher repair cost, depending on the results of the Factory Service Center's evaluation."

Solution: Send Us Money!! It doesnt matter that you spent $400 on this camera and now it inexplicably just doesnt work... send us another $150-300 (plus postage...) and you can use it again... OR trade it in for $100 off a new canon camera (that may well stop working too in another 15 months...)

This isnt a freak incident, search around. There are hundreds of people in this situation and Canon just turns its back. Maybe its a problem with digital cameras in general, maybe its manufactured obscelence or maybe you should just buy a Nikon. Either way, I would not recommend gambling on this camera (in particular) or Canon (in general).

One month after going out of warrenty, I got the common E18 error code that 1000's of others have reported. The camera is now useles. I will never buy another Canon camera....

John

I had good luck (so far) fixing the CF Card Error on my Canon Digital Elph. Here is what I did. I removed the memory card and battery. Then I removed every screw I could see on the outside of the camera. I opened the CF card door and carefully opened up the camera a crack and blew inside. (I did not even remove the case completely.) Then I closed it up and replaced the battery and CF card. THE CAMERA WORKS NOW!
(Note: The tiny screws look alike but they are NOT! Keep track of each screw and place them on a card with labels or something so you know which screw goes where.)

My camera was 3 years old when the CF Card Error appeared all of a sudden, for no apparent reason. It is an S200 digital elph. After trying a new card, a new battery and other things that did not work, I contacted Canon. I received the same response as other people: repairs would cost at least $150 OR I could upgrade to a "refurbished" S410 for $175 (only six month warranty on this one).

So I decided to buy a NEW one rather than buy the refurbished one. Amazon had a great deal on the S410 (came with battery, card, software, cables, etc.) so I ordered it.

Then, since my old one was headed for the trash can, I decided to look inside. I don't why looking and/or blowing inside it fixed it, but it really did! I am very happy right now. I hope this works for other people. Who knows, it might work with other cameras too. Spead the word if it does.

I get stunning photos with my S200 so I canceled my order for the S410. However, most people would probably like the S410 even better than the out-dated, low megapixel one I have. I will likely upgrade to another Canon Elph in the near future. For now, I am completely nonplused by the fact that my S200 is working again.

I like the camera and for the price it is a pretty good option.

I JUST HAD TO WRITE BECAUSE I READ ON SOMEONE'S REVIEW THAT DIGITAL CAMERAS WILL NEVER TAKE THE SAME QUALITY PHOTOS AS SIMILAR PRICED REGULAR CAMERAS. HOGWASH. I HAVE A CANON ELPH THAT TAKES FILM AND THE CANON S410 DIGITAL AND THE DIGITAL CAMERA TAKES FAR SUPERIOR PRINTED PICS THAN THE FILM VERSION - BETTER CLARITY AND COLOR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR NEW DIGITAL USERS - DIGITAL IS SUPERIOR TO FILM CAMERAS HANDS DOWN. MY ONLY PROBLEM IS MY LCD SCREEN BROKE - I WAS CARELESS. BE SURE TO ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CAMERA IN CASE AT ALL TIMES WHEN NOT IN USE.

I bought this for my fiance, and while it worked, we were both very happy with the size and quality of pictures. But then the day came, less than a year after buying it, that it decided to stop working. Very frustrating, and it seems like we are not the only ones.

Wonderful camera until memory card errors show up... after warranty expired. Needless to say that after having lost vacation pictures and confirming with a quick research on Google that it is a common problem, I won't be buying another Canon camera.

I'm naming this "The Little Camera That Could" because it far exceeded my expectations of what a digital camera could pull off. I was a hardcore 35 mm SLR lover until I went on trip with someone who had one of these tiny babies. Suddenly I was envying the gorgeous shots he was getting simply because he had the camera in his pocket while mine was still around my neck the with lens cap on! A little thicker than a deck of cards, this Canon is palm-sized and very easy to use. Yep, turn it on, point and shoot.

The flash is shockingly powerful for such a tiny camera ... enough to capture the light on dust motes floating in the air. Generally, a flash is only good for about 6 feet. I swear this one shoots to at least 7 or 8 feet. The zoom's pretty good too. Put that together with a serviceable manual mode (for those of you who still want some control over your camera), and you got the ultimate travel camera.

A few drawbacks, just to keep honest (but these are not enough to keep me from raving about the camera). Small LCD screen in the back. Comes with a small compact flash card (as all these cameras do) which I recommend you immediately upgrade. Movie mode is limited (but get a movie camera if you really want to get into this mode).

Great things about this camera include its optical viewfinder. So many of the newer digital camera are leaving out the eye porthole for design reasons. Very shortsighted ... if you are in bright sunny conditions, the LCD window is all but useless. Long battery life and excellent refresh. Canon customer service is great as well.

You'll be pleased by how many people ask you if the awesome pictures you took were with a digital camera! Who knows? You may make a few more converts!

Stay away from these cameras like a plague. My S400 got the infamous "E18" shortly after the warranty ran out. Then I did a search on the internet and was shocked to learn that this is a widespread problem with these cameras. Do a search on "Canon E18" on Google before first before buying...

I bought the previous model Canon Elph S400 just a year and a half ago. It worked for about a year. Now it has started erasing my memory cards so that all the pictures on it are lost. I called the Canon support number and they said I could send it in to be repaired for $155. I plan to but a new camera instead, but not a Canon.

First off, I love the Canon digital Elph series. I bought the S100 when it first came out, then the S200, and most recently ordered this one because I wanted to have more megapixels (both the latter cameras still function.) I have to say that I am disappointed though, for the following reasons:

1. The screen is tiny and hasn't gotten any bigger over the past 4 years despite gains in screen technology on the market... Clearly Canon has the technology to do it--just look at the SD200 or SD300 both of which have beautiful big screens. The tiny screen on this thing is put in the lower left hand corner of the camera, no ability to pull it out or rotate it which are functions available on other Canons.

2. The 'box' hasn't changed in 4 years...it was an impressively small size when it first came out, but at this point, it looks big compared with the SD series or against the Sony series. Guys, it's time to change the look!

3. I was quite reluctant to keep a camera that got so many poor reviews...even though the overall review at amazon is more than 4 stars, there are a ton of 1 stars hidden back there, and it's clear that there is a fundamental error in the design of this camera. Check out the other reviews to learn more.

In the end, I decided it was worth it to pay more for the same functions in a smaller package, and to buy an SD300. I hope that I won't experience any of the errors described here.

Just like all other reviewers said. I had the old model (S400) for over 18 months and it was so good that I even recommended to tons of my friends. Until last month, all of a sudden, the famous "memory error" showed. Will not bother to spend another $150+ as requested by Canon. Actually, I think a class action should be initiated. I can't believe such a big company can get away this easy.

Will never touch any Canon camera.

This is a wonderful camera, I was amazed at the digital zoom capabilities! Crystal clear photos, this is a super easy camera to use. Truely point and click, great for the "technically challenged" it comes with a battery charger (most brands don't) so you are not wasting $$$ on batteries. I have yet to run my battery down. I also purchased the Canon MP760 copier/scanner/printer. That is a wonderful machine as well. I would recommend purchasing a larger CF card if you want to take video. This camera is worth every penny!

This is one of the best point and shoot camera's out there in the market today. You can't get better than Canon S410 for a simple point and shoot 4 MP camera that takes excellent quality pictures. The battery life is pretty good and dont forget to get an additional battery from Ebay. Of course for this price range, you cant expect many manual controls.

My advise is:
- Get a second battery
- Get a good compact flash card (Ultra II)
- Use self timer for night shots (preferably on a tripod)

and check out the excellent pics taken from this camera at: http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_s410

I have not encountered the E18 and other errors described by other reviewers, so cannot comment on that.

The Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom it is brand new in box,never opened.I have 6 Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoomat the price of 200$ each.Thanks

First let me say that this is the first digital camara I have
owned. I am very pleased with the camara. It is easy to operate and the pictures are great. I would definately recommend this camara.

super fast delivery and item was as described and works perfect i couldn't be happier thanks

What to do when a family member covets your SD400? The answer was to buy them an SD410 and save almost 40%!
I have been buying digital cameras from the beginning, starting with some brands that are now extinct and some cameras that offered less than 1 megapixel resolution. My most recent acquisition was a Pentax Optio SV which I panned in a review posted here on Amazon.
Anyway, Canon is the benchmark for all other digital cameras. This model offers the usual Canon sturdy build and very good visual appeal. The size and weight are about 50% larger than the SD400, but still not too large for a purse.
The LCD screen is excellent; 1.5 inches and readable even in bright sunlight. The optical viewfinder (I just don't like cameras that make you rely upon the LCD only for framing images; sometimes I feel I need to frame an image the old fashioned way) is tiny but very bright and also features all of the menu items you select from setup (or none if you prefer).
The 3X optical zoom is smooth and fast and in most cases that's enough zoom power, though I did buy that Optio in search of even more power. For the record, pay no attention to digital zooms. They are computer trickery that enlarges the central part of your image at the expense of image resolution. For example, a 2X digital zoom effect exactly halves your resolution, making such images often unfit for printing. Talking about resolution and printing, the 4 megapixels available on this model allows for high quality 8" x 10" prints. The camera is also capable of functioning as a camcorder in a pinch.
The controls of the SD410 are simple and intuitive and the menus have evolved nicely, making it much easier than it was with my S200 to navigate and adjust things. That said, the SD410 is part of a class of cameras designed mostly for automatic users; if you crave control, you're probably not shopping for this type of digicam.
I find the Canon colors to be about the truest, though performance in that area is degraded when using the flash. Also, "red eye" is a problem, though newer software programs like Microsoft's PictureIt! Photo Premium 9 have finally made red eye fixes really easy.
The fact that this camera operates on 2 AA batteries is great. You can be environmentally friendly using rechargeables and in a pinch you can just use alkalines available anywhere.
Of course the included 32 meg CF memory card is too small to be useful, but that is the case with every single digital camera I've bought. No matter, these cards are the most reasonably priced format available, with prices now below ten cents a meg.
Lastly, I want to commend the new Digic II processor in the SD410. It is ready to shoot in about one second after it is powered up, and there is almost no shutter lag at all. Recovery time for a second shot is similarly brief. Shutter lag is a big factor when selecting a digicam and this one jumps that hurdle very nicely.
On balance, I'd say the SD410 is a "best buy".

The S410 may be skim on features and manual options, but the photo quality is excellent.

I just LOVE the photo quality of the S410. The S410 is probably the best camera on the market when it comes to photo quality and print-outs. The video quality is very good too, though, the videos can not be shot at or above VGA, and the S410 can only handle low resolution. However, the video quality is crystal clear, and crisp. There is barely any lag at all when taking two pictures, or a multi-shot.

The durability is very good. I haven't dropped this yet, but if I happen to, it seems it will take the damage. It has a very strong build, and seems to be made of very strong material. That's quality right there.

A negative on the S410 is that there is one or two manual features. That's fine if you just want to take normal pictures, but ones in a complex scene will have a loss in photo quality. Actually, there aren't any big features on the S410 at all. The LCD is normal and is the size of most common digital cameras, and there's no manual settings. Once again, if you just want a basic digital camera, this is it. But, if you want some features, you may want to look around. Photographers may want high resolution videos if they're doing a documentary, or a special project. If you need features, get a camera with features. If not, the S410 is your camera.

So, even if the S410 is very skim on features, it's excellent photo quality and durability should make you think about clicking add to cart.

Recommended.

I purchased this camera seven months ago and was satisfied with its overall performance. However, its durability has not impressed me. The camera has been stored in a canon leather case and never been abused or mishandled. Then one day we found the LCD screen to have a crack internally which made it impossible to see the display properly. After sending the camera in for repair Canon stated that the LCD screen cracked due to too much pressure. This of course made the warranty irrelevant and I was stuck with the costs of repair. I told the canon representative that the camera had been stored in its case and kept in a purse. She replied by saying that the camera should never be carried in a purse and that due to the sensitive nature of digital cameras they should just be carried in your hands. I thought she was joking but she wasn't! What good is a camera if you can't carry it in your pocket, purse, luggage, etc... I have had a Nikon digital camera for 4 years and it still works great and is definitely durable enough to be used under NORMAL conditions.

Positive:
+ Good Battery Life
+ Wonderful Photo Quality
+ 3x Optical Zoom
+ Wonderful Video Quality

Negative:
- No Manual Options
- Only 32 MB Memory Card Bundled


It's a great camera, unless you don't mind not having manual options.

Just received the response shown below after me second email to Canon regarding my S400. It seems familiar - exact wording that I saw on another website claiming ignorance about a problem. I have now filed a complaint with the California and New York Attorney General's Office and the New York BBB. I strongly suggest all of you with this problem to do likewise so we can build a fire under Canon. If your camera has this problem and you haven't yet posted to this site let us hear from you. We should also start posting to other shopping websites (dealcatcher, epinions, etc) as well as the photography sites, including their Letters to the Editor. We need to make others aware of the way Canon has turned this problem into a profit center.

------------
Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you.
Please note, Canon USA does not monitor, confirm, endorse, or attest to the accuracy of any information posted on third party websites. It seems many customers are overwhelmed by the barrage of information (or misinformation) being posted on unregulated, non-Canon websites. Unfortunately, this is not something over which Canon has any control. We are able only to confirm the performance of the camera based on our
own testing.

No service notifications have been released for the PowerShot S400.

Unfortunately, we here at the Care Center do not have the opportunity or authority to extend the terms of your warranty or to offer you free repair service outside of the 1-year warranty period. I understand your disappointment in encountering this issue with your camera, but you will need to address your concerns with the Factory Service Center. They are
the only entity within Canon USA authorized to make warranty decisions.

I suggest mailing your camera to them, along with a detailed letter explaining your situation, just as you have done in your correspondence with us here at the Care Center.

The Factory Service Center personnel will assess your camera and read your letter. If they decide to complete your repairs free of charge, the camera will be repaired and returned to you at Canon's expense. If they determine that the repairs will not be covered, you will receive an estimate for the costs to repair your camera. At that point, you can determine if the cost of repairing the camera is of value to you. If
not, it will be returned at no cost to you.

I apologize for any inconvenience this causes you.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

Chris
Technical Support Representative

Very, very happy with this camera. Easy to use for beginner digital camera user and has many features to grow into when I am ready. Excellent price.

the one star is simply because there are no negative ratings. Please, please, please whatever you do don't buy a canon digital camera. i used to own a powershot 400. right after the warranty ran out, i suddenly couldn't use the camera. an error message would pop up immediately; i couldn't even get the lens to extend or anything on the camera to work. The message? E18. if you do a google search for canon E18, you will see tons of forums with literally thousands of people who have had the same thing unexplicably happen to their cameras. and it's not even limited to that one model. canon refuses to admit there was a problem inherent with the camera, and the only solution they offer is selling you a refurbished model for half the price of the original.

well, after that i was set to buy a sony camera, but i had purchased a few extra batteries and memory cards, and i realized that i'd have to put out some major money to do all that over again with the sony. canon had released the 410, which i though would be bug-free since it was completely the same camera save for a print button. so i bought it, but this time made sure to buy from amazon so that i could return it if there were any problems. good thing i did! i received the camera in april 2005. it's now july 2005. the thing is already broken, displaying "memory card error" messages even though i've tried about 5 different cards that work perfectly fine in my friends' camera. i can't even use it at all 99% of the time, and if it does let me get as far as actually taking a picture, that too is useless because the camera crashes without saving a thing!! i was so livid it took all of my energy just to keep myself from throwing the thing off of my roof deck.

so, to make this clear, two cameras. one broken after 1 year. another broken after less than THREE MONTHS!!! Canon makes crap!!!! and they don't even fess up to it and do the right thing and replace the cameras! i am never, EVER giving them one more red cent.

This is the most compact incrediable camera you can buy. It is my second one and I love it. You can learn how to operate this camera with out using your owners manual, adjust the camera to your personal settings, and carry it in your pocket. It is great for travel and everyday use. Don't pass on this camera...it is well priced through amazon.com and a must have!

The automatic lens cover on my Canon Elph S410 camera has just failed -- it will not close. We bought this camera in June 2004, right after the lens cover on my two-year-old S400 failed. The S400 lens cover would not open. We sent the S400 to Canon to repair and were told that the repair would cost almost as much as buying the S410.
We assumed that the first failure was a problem that Canon would have fixed and bought the second Elph because its predecessor had been great in other respects. Now, of course, we feel like fools and will not take a chance on any more Canon cameras.

I recently purchased this camera for a second smaller camera to supplement my Nikon D100. I had it 2 weeks when it began to display "Memory Card Error" and would not store any of my pictures. I don't have any problem with that same memory card in my other camera. I have the older 3MP powershot and have never had a problem with it. I have since returned it but wish I had listened to the reviews on this camera.

I love this camera; it is easy to use and produces high-quality images. I will say, though, that I do not require prints larger than four by six inches; I have not tested to see how large of a print it can clearly produce.

As a college student, this is a great on-the-go camera, and I take it everywhere with me. It easily fits into my pocket or purse, and is great for life's random (forgive the cliche) "Kodak moments."

It is really good one. I am using one and bought the same one for my parents. I think they can really enjoy it.

I love the camera and the compact size is great for vacations. I just slip the camera into my purse. The pictures are very clear. I would recommend this camera to everyone who would like a compact digital camera.

Great battery life. Don't need to worry about additional re-chargeable batteries since the camera comes with its own battery pack and charger.

Easy to use features even in manual mode. Red-eye reduction on the camera doesn't seem to work on some people but nothing that the provided software can't fix. Wonderful clarity, not the mention the very portable size.

A great digital, small, light, & good battery life. Easy to operate, also has move mode. Very clear & bright display.With a 512mb memory takes all the pictures you want.

After about a year of thinking about ordering a camera, I finally took the leap and bought one. I chose the canon s410 and thus far have been happy with it. It is easy to use and the pictures look good. For the price, I am happy with this 4 mp camera. It has a solid metal body which makes it heavier then other models, but I think will make it better in the long run for durability. The battery charges pretty quickly and you don't have to charge it completely before using it again...which is nice if you just need enough power to take a few more shots and don't have time to wait for it to charge. The life of the battery is also pretty good...I used it for a couple weekend trips and took about 60 pictures during the period, reviewed pictures often and even took 3 short film segments and then it finally ran out. It does not give you a long warning for low battery however. Probably only about a minute or two...the light came on I took a picture and then the camera went dead. It doesn't have a lot of extra features, but for the beginner, point and shoot operator, it seems to have enough. Overall I am happy with my choice of the canon s410.

The wait was worth all the grief I've taken from my friends.
Jumping into the new millenium couldn't have been easier and the results leave me wondering why I waited. The camera and the pictures(movies) are the best quality, plus the purchasing process was top-of-the-line customer fiendly.

La cámara es excelente y las fotos que toma muy buenas, lo único que no me gustó fue que en el modo de toma de fotos automático, no hay opción en el botón del flash para que este dispare obligatoriamente, lo cual es muy necesario para elementos que estén en contraluz, o como flash de relleno cuando hay muchas sombras............si se quiere hacer esto, hay que pasar al modo manual y hacer ajustes lo que demora mucho la toma de la fotografía........en cámaras de otras marcas, esta opción de flash si está en el modo automático

Canon's definitely got a good little camera with this Elph. I would strongly suggesty buying a larger capacity memory card as the one that comes with the camera only holds about 35 pictures.

I am extremely happy with my camera and so are my friends. It's so easy to use and the pictures are amazingly clear. This camera is worth every penny!

This is great little camera I can take anywhere and still get great snapshots. Much of the time this great little Canon will suffice, and I don't mind carrying/wearing it on my belt when a heavier camera would have been left at home. Most of the time I do not need the firepower or flexibilty of my G5, Digital Rebel or D10. I have often regretted not having a camera with me when a great shot or memory came up and I left my big and heavier cameras at home. Now I have no excuse. It uses the same CF cards as my other cameras. The camera is built tough and does not show finger prints.

My experience with the Elph S410 has been a love affair from the very first picture I snapped. I was used to using a 2.0 megapixel, 8 year old Kodak digital which weighs at least 4-5 times as much as the Elph and is twice as large. I have always been partial to Canon cameras since I bought my first Canon AE-1 SLR about 20 years ago. Even so, I shopped extensively before selecting this camera. It is easy to use and has an adequate zoom for most situations. There is no comparison between the quality of the photos between this 4.0 megapixel and my old Kodak, but all I can say is that the pictures come out very sharp and the colors are incredibly true. I fully intend to buy a digital SLR 8.0 or higher MP camera in the future, but this little sweetheart is a great camera in the mean time. The battery is rechargeable using the charger adapter which comes with the camera. I also purchased the Accessory kit which includes a carry bag large enough to carry the camera, the manuals, the charger and the spare battery that comes with the kit. It is even large enough to carry your wallet and other items so you can use it as a "purse" if you so desire.

The camera comes with a fairly small CompactFlash media card, so I would recommend purchasing a larger one if you don't want to spend your time constantly downloading and deleting pictures. With a 256MB card I can take a couple hundred pictures without downloading for quite a long time. You can directly connect the camera to your PC or a direct print printer to do your download with a USB cable or you can use a media reader. The charge on the battery lasts a very long time. I have not actually calculated it in hours, but I keep the camera with me most of the time and it usually lasts through 5 or 6 shooting sessions if I don't use the viewing feature (which uses a ton of your battery life!). Having the extra battery charged up and ready in the case makes it a snap to swap them when needed. It takes a little over an hour to recharge one of the batteries. This is so superior to the older digital cameras that I am in heaven! It took absolutely awesome pictures when we visited the Grand Canyon earlier this year.

The Elph has an impressive list of features including the ability to set it to manual if you prefer setting up a photo that way. I usually keep it on auto, but have used the manual feature a few times and it works great either way. Both the media card and the battery are very easy to remove and reinsert.

It is extremely lightweight and compact and it fits in the palm of your hand. Although there is smaller media than the CompactFlash used by other cameras, this was a bonus for me as I already owned 2 CompactFlash media cards from my Kodak which work in the Elph.

I just cannot get over the quality of this little camera. Amazon offered it for a very nice price. If you are looking for a great little versatile camera, check this one out. I am sure you won't be sorry!

I bought this camera as an upgrade from the S200. I can keep all my previous accessories and get the higher resolution and zoom features. It takes pictures faster than the S200 (focus, shutter, and flash seem faster) and still the same size and weight (in fact, I think it's a bit lighter). Plus, at $250 it's quite a bargain.

I am getting married soon and purchased this camera for when I go on my honeymoon to Hawaii and so far I am very pleased with my purchase.

The camera is easy to pick-up and learn to use, with a very quick learning curve. The pictures it takes are very high quality with no pixilation. The screen on the back is very clear and a nice size as well. Point and shoot in every sense. And the videos you can take with it are pretty good for a digital camera. Others I know have the same camera and they are all pleased with it as well. If you're looking to get a digital camera for the first time, then this is a good place to start.

If you get this camera though, make sure you get at least one spare rechargeable battery. Like every other digital camera, if you plan on taking a lot of pictures (such as at a wedding) the battery will likely die on you 1/2 way through the day and there is nothing worse than being about the take a picture and the camera just shutting down completely.

Also, getting a larger size flash card is highly recomended. The one it comes with will hold about 50 pictures or so, which is twice as much as most disposable ones, but it's a digital camera and the whole point of getting a digital camera is to be able to take as many pictures as you want without having to worry about film, and most times you're going to take more pictures than the card will hold, especially if you still have pictures left on it from the last time you used it. I got a 1GB card that I love because it holds well over 900 and now never have to worry about memory.

But all in all this camera would be a good purchase for anyone looking to get into the digital camera game.

I bought the Canon S410 because I wanted a longer (3x) optical zoom than the S230 (versus 2x optical zoom) I already owned (and love). I also wanted a model that still used compact flash cards, like my S230, so that I would not have to begin purchasing yet a different kind of memory. All my digital cameras use Compact Flash memory and that makes my life simpler. And I was also attracted because it used the same battery, and hence the same charger as my S230.

I debated buying the S500, but decided the S410 had everything I needed...and cost about $100 less.

I have been shooting with my S230 since August of 2002 very happily, and still use it with good results. The S410 seems just as capable, and the longer I use it and familiarize myself with where the settings have been moved to, the more I love it too.

So, one month on, and I can say I am a very happy customer.

I had read a lot of reviews on these cameras (the S410 and the S500) and many readers mentioned an "E-18" error. I then researched this error on the Internet. I have not experienced this, but I have only owned it a month. I can only hope that if I am careful with it (it isn't a toy, nor indestructible), that I will have many happy years of use from it.

I also shoot with two Nikon digital cameras (both are professional models) and take photography seriously. Sometimes I am quite amazed at the quality my Canon cameras produce for me. I believe these should not be underestimated. I find that the more I use any camera, the better atuned I become to what it can do or cannot do, and also what it can do well! Everything has its own strengths and weaknesses, not just human beings.

I own both this camera (PowerShot Digital Elph S410) and the Canon Digital Rebel (a digital SLR camera with interchangeable lenses). Of the two cameras the Digital Rebel takes exquisite pictures. Yet, I use the S410 far more often and tend to take far more pictures compared to its expensive cousin (Digital Rebel about $1,000).

Why? The small size of the Digital Elph makes it so handy and inconspicuous. I do not think twice about sticking the Digital Elph in my back pocket and pulling it out for a quick shot or two. It's a social thing. There are a lot of social situations where you would rather not have a big honking SLR camera around your neck. You really look like a photographer in those circumstances.

As I said, there are times where you just want to blend in with the activity and this camera is great for documenting what you are doing. No one seems to mind when you pull it out. With a larger camera (Digital Rebel) I tend to spend more time fiddling with the settings and people can be a little more self conscience.

I love both cameras and the Digital Rebel certainly has its place but the Digital Elph is perfect for taking snapshots. Image quality is very good; low noise and bright, vivid colors. This camera is probably a better choice that the 5 MB S510 as the S410 has less noise at higher ISO speeds.

The only thing that I don't like with the Elph is that the battery doesn't last too long. It charges quickly with the battery charger, but I should probably invest in a second battery. Also, you should invest in a larger CF card. A 256 MB card will hold a full weekend's worth of pictures and then some.

Purchased the Canon S410 just over a year ago and it took many great photos until yesterday when the screen image suddenly turned into a tie-dye effect. The camera has been carried in a padded leather case and was not dropped or abused. I have since read reviews that mention the mysterious "E18" error but there was no message beforehand on my screen. If anyone has experienced this, please advise. Have recommended Canon Power Shot Elphs to many friends & family members but having read all the Amazon customer reviews that mention poor service from Canon, looks like I'll have to look for a non-Canon camera next. What a shame that such a great camera has had so many problems and turns into a lemon!

I have an S400 and I was willing to put up with the constant redeye and slowness of it because I liked the small size. After the warranty ran out I started getting the memory error condition. I tried different cards and formatting them via the camera and with my Windows XP computer, but nothing fixed the problem. I even sent the camera to Canon, but they would not fix it unless I paid the $155 repair fee. They offered to sell me a refurbished S410, but no way was I going to buy another Canon. I refused the ridiculously expensive repair fee and had them send the camera back to me. I just found out that maybe getting a new rechargable battery will resolve this memory card error, so I am going to give it a try. If it doesn't work, I'm joining the lawsuit.

From another website: "If you would like to join the Lawsuit against Canon for "Memory card error" OR "E18" error CALL ATTORNEY JIM SMITH AT NO COST TO YOU REGARDING THE E18 ERROR. THERE IS A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT.HIS NUMBER IS 1-877-667-9489. This was posted at cnet."

We really love this camera and strongly recommend it. Canon keeps its reputation for high quality lenses and advanced technology. The pictures are great both in daylight and in inner areas/night (sometimes you don't even need the flash). The user interface is very simple and easy to use.

The only (minor) disadvantage might be that it's a bit heavier than we expected.

I've owned this Canon s410 for 3 months now, it replaced my s230, which I passed down to my son. I really loved my s230 and was hesitant about buying this one. All I can say is WOW! Don't know why I waited so long.

The picture quality from this camera is so much better than the s230. Of course I love the fact that it takes the same batteries and CF that my s230 took, as I have spares of both. The real thrill was how few blurred pictures I take now. LOL I have to be one of the worst photographers (snapshot shooters). When my husband looks at my pics lately, he asks me how come they are so good. This really is unusual for me.
The only thing I can attribute it too is the s410. This is a great camera for anyone, even a total camera klutz like me. I love to shoot pics, but nobody wanted to look at them before.

I highly recomend this camera, even though it's discontinued. If you can find one, buy it.

I have been having the infamous memory card error as well. Have lost many valuable photographs as a result. Have tried a new memory card and followed the support instructions on Canon's website, but no success. A great disappointment. Do not buy this camera.

I purchased a Powershot S410 less than 1 year ago. I registered the camera faithfully and now have experienced the E18 error. I can still take pictures, but I can't download them directly from the camera. I have to take the memory card out and use a reader to do that. The lens does appear to retract and extend all the way, and the pictures seem fine. I've tried resetting the camera by taking the card and battery out for 24 hours, to no avail. I tried hooking the camera up to the TV which was suggested by one website, and it gives me the E18 error. I contacted Canon USA and was told that the registration was for marketing purposes and not for warranty purposes, and so I would have to pay for a repair.

I've been a loyal Canon consumer up until now - scanner, printer, and camera. I searched for E18 on the web so I could fix it without bothering Canon. I tried all of the suggestions without help. So I called, and given the response I got from Canon USA, I won't be purchasing Canon again. I just can't afford several hundred dollars a year for a new camera. I am a polite person, and I could tell the CSR helping me was not happy about another E18 call. His tone darkened considerably when I mentioned that it seemed like a common problem.

Search Google for Canon E18 to see lots of links regarding this problem. It affects a lot of Canon cameras!

I do not learn fast enough.
I bought S400 and S410 for my daughters and they are both having same memory card problems. I sent these units for repair and it cost me $150. This is such a surprise that Canon is not handling this problem and I will recommend eveyone against this product.

I had a problem with Canon Digital Camcoder and I thought this was my bad luck. I am convinced now not to buy any of Canon products from now on. I am a slow learner ...

I have had this camera since April 05, and in half the time I have owned it I have been unable to take pictures. In August, it began having problems with the lens, and over 100 pictures I had on the memory card were deleted. I sent the camera back to Canon for repair, which cost me $120. It still did not work properly after Canon returned the camera, and I have sent it in twice since then. Canon will not offer replacements or opportunities to upgrade until they figure out the exact problem.

I was happy with the Canon I owned previously, but this particular model has a lot of bugs and isn't worth the hassle.

I have taken this camera with me on my travels. I have not been gentle with it. I has never failed me. Please see the photos on the Amazon.

I have "upgraded" to another more expensive camera with mixed results and then returned it.

Pros: Uses Compact flash which appears tougher than SD cards, has nice metallic solid feel, battery charge lasts longer than any conceivable picture taking situation, nice sharp lens when using macro and 1x magnification, 4 megapixels is sufficient for elargements of at least 5x7 and it appears to me 8x10, although I do not find the need for it. No bells and whistles but solid workhorse..thousands of pics with no problems. My friends and family own one too and are of the same opinion and do not want to trade up.

Cons: Shutter response could be a little faster, if you are using 3X magnification...have a very steady hand, sunny day and a tripod:) or the pictures will be blurry. This is true of most other cameras in that class. I have found that even the cameras with stabilized zoom do not do very well with anything greater than a 3X magnification.

I really like this camera. Check my pictures please.

If you do some research on this camera you will find a lot about an error message common to many Canon cameras called E18 which is related to the zoom lens getting stuck. Well I decided to go with it anyway citing these people as nuts. Wrong! I just got this E18 message after only 6 months of use and no drops of the camera. After doing some more research I've found that MANY MANY MANY people have experienced this problem as well. Insult to injury after a $300 camera failing on you is that Canon will fix it...free? no...for $117. Charging me for a flaw that seems to permeate all of your cameras? What an insult. I will never buy Canon again and suggest that you do so as well. I am pissed.

I have this camera for almost 2 years. It has pretty much every intricate and sophisticated features of BIGGER ones...I have a NIKON N80 35mm....I can literally match any image from N80 with my S410. It is very easy to use! can be easily hid anywhere....Excellent camera with some excellent features....can be used anywhere from indoor ocasions, sporting, landscape to under water shooting. You can see for yourself from the sample pictures

I got the all too common dreaded E18 error after using this camera for 10 months with not so much as a bump to it.

I will be sending it in for a warranty repair tomorrow.

purchased 3/23/2005 (my birthday)
E18 error message 3/23/2006
cost $400.97!!!! at Best Buy - it's actually the SD500 model but this problem has been reported on several models

before you buy this camera do a search on Canon and "E18" and error - there are so many cases a class action lawsuit is possible - there is a flaw in these cameras denied by Canon - they do not stand behind their product - BUYER BEWARE!

I bought this camera to take pictures of my family and friends. I have had if for more than one year, and it has performed above expectations under all conditions. The 1 minute video feature is great, and was an unexpected bonus (since I didn't know about it when I bought it off Amazon).

The camera works great with iPhoto and MacOS X. I bought a 512 MB card for it and so far it has been great. Both my father and my father in law have the previous Powershot S400 and they have had no problems with it. I figure at some point I'll have to change the battery, because Lithium-Ions lose 20% capacity per year, but so far it has worked flawlessly.

When I got this camera for my birthday April 2005 I thought that it was a dream come true. The picture quality was brilliant, it was easy to use. The device was ment to be envied. It took marvelous pictures until within 3 months, July 2005- the LCD screen cracked. The camera had been in a case sitting on a bed with no possibility of misuse or accidental damage. I was never suspiscious of it until I took it to be fixed and reading countless reviews of similar problems. Something bad will happen to this camera. Either the sceen will break or the memory card thing. A friend of mine also owned the s410, and her screen broke before mine did.
The camera still takes photos, but without the screen the device is near worthless as you have no options. It is not worth the price of repair. Tomorrow I am going to buy a new camera.

Beware of this camera! The camera overall works great. We have had it for more than a year now and it takes clear, bright pictures and is very easy to use. Very nice compact size.

However, as others have pointed out, the battery is the fatal flaw in this camera and we will be looking for a non-Elph replacement for fear we will run into the same problem again. There is NO battery meter until it needs to be recharged or replaced. We were warned about this so I thought, no problem, I'd get two batteries and be ready to switch them when charging was needed. But what we found out is that the batteries themselves quickly retain less and less charge so that now, they last only a few minutes each before another charge is needed. I had previously thought that this problem of retaining less charge over time was only for the much older battery designs and am dismayed to find myself looking for another camera so soon.

I have never owned a camera in my life (hubby always took all the pics) and this has been perfect for a beginning photographer mom. It fits in my pocket (guess that's the elph part), and we have taken it on two summer trips so far. I can't believe the photos are so crisp and colorful, and print up as well as the ones we always had developed at the drugstore.

I have to admit that my two young children have helped me with the batteries, memory cards, and understanding how to get the photos off and printed. But if they can do it, I can certainly learn. Great camera and I am capturing memories I might have lost otherwise.

Without doubt, if Canon did not make the best digital cameras out there, at least it makes the most popular digital cameras. S400 and S410 are the first two which made Cannon so successful in digital camera market. And the later SD series definitely push Canon to be No. 1 digital camera seller in US and world(sorry, Kodark yields to Canon this year and HP is considering to leave this market).

So far, I am still happy with my choice made about 3 years ago. I have used this camera almost daily, taking over 12,000 pictures already using this S410. It still is strong, except a few scratch on the body. I am satisfied with the picture quality. Before this one, I used Fuji, Kodark and also used other's Nikon, I would say, S410 still the best to use and gives best quality. If considering for the next digital camera, I would take the even smaller size Canon SD series without question.

This camera is NOT perfect, anyway. But please tell me, which one is? And it might not never have one. However, it's good enough for me. Specificly, the cons of S410: startup is not fast, focusing sometimes takes longer time than expected. Not good at contiguous shooting. Also I got the famous E18 error after two years of heavy use. Being lucky enough, I just tap it against the table and problem is gone. Other than that, it is so far so good for me to carry it and use it everyday.

I bought this camera off of Amazon in June 2005. It was my first digital camera, and I had tons of fun using it- very user-friendly, and produced terrific pictures. Despite its inability to tell me the battery percentage before flashing red, I liked that the battery was quickly rechargeable and usually stayed charged for a few days of constant use or a few weeks of occasional use. However, I am cheap and did not bother to buy a camera case for it to protect it- it either dangled from my wrist or fell to the bottom of my purse. The body, although pretty, scratches easily, and by now my camera is now not nearly as nice-looking as when I first bought it.

In February 2006, my camera decided to not turn on one day. I thought it was the battery- I took it out, recharged it, and put it back in. Nothing happened. I looked back in the users' guide, realized there was a one-year limited warranty, and promptly sent it back to Canon with the warranty and the form I had to fill out. They sent it back to me within a few weeks- they were very good about repairing it, even though, to this day, I have no idea what was wrong with it. The camera kept on truckin'.

Two weeks ago, my camera was in my purse, as usual, and I took it out to take a picture of something when I realized that the shutter button was missing- I have no idea where it could have gone, as it is not in my purse. You see, this is a problem- a camera without a shutter is rather useless. I have succeeded in sticking a paper clip down the hole that the shutter once connected to, but obviously it does not work as well as an actual button. Now that the warranty was over, I made the decision, with the help of some birthday money, to buy a new camera- I have not done so yet, but I plan to purchase a Sony Cyber-shot within the next few days.


If you are planning on buying this camera, I would strongly advise you to buy a carrying case for it, a larger memory card, and an extra battery or two, and to exercise caution. But if you're willing to purchase these things, don't let this stop you from getting the camera.

I have owned the S410 camera for almost two years, when on New Years Eve I pulled out my handy camera, from the padded case it's always in, and to my horror, the E18 error message appeared! It hasn't worked since. I paid $400 for this camera and Canon would like $110 (plus taxes) to fix the problem - ridiculous. Especially since this seems to be a VERY common problem with their cameras. I've enjoyed the camera's picture quality and ease of use, but what a waste to spend that much money to take pictures with it for just under two years! Beware of this flaw that Canon doesn't seem to acknowledge.

I bought this as a gift to a family member and what can I say. Easy to take pictures, and they come out looking really good. This is the second Canon I've purchased and its very reliable.

I had the error message on my and I checked the canon website and found that they have a recall for it, I sent it in and they fixed it for free. Check the website and call the provided phone number even if you don't see your problem listed, eventually they might do other recalls do to all the complains.

I HAD THIS CAMERA FOR THREE MONTHS AND THE SCREEN CRACKED! IT WAS IN A CASE ON MY DESK WHEN I TOOK IT OUT OF THE CASE AND DISCOVERED THE CRACKED SCREEN, I CALLED CANON AND THE SERVICE REP. SAID I MUST HAVE DROPPED IT! THEY WILL NOT FIX SO THE CAMERA HAS BEEN SITTING UNUSED FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN A KODAK EASYSHARE AND I LOVE IT. THE CANON POWERSHOT IS NOW A PAPER WEIGHT.
CYNTHIA IN FLORIDA

i think the company i delt with was great - the camera was not my taste, but worked fine and they allowed me to exchange it.

I liked this camera a lot, bought it for $299 when new, a year ago. I never dropped it. But someone, a piece of plastic broke on the door to the compact flash department. Took it back to the camera store, and they said it would cost $200 to repair it! What a waste of money! Now I'll buy used on Amazon or ebay next time for far less...

I don't take a lot of photos, so I didn't need a lot of fancy features. The Elph works fine for pointing and shooting, then downloading to the computer. I can't upload photos from the computer to the camera.

Two downsides: The body began to discolor after my first visit to the seashore. I'm not sure whether it was the salty air or whether the Coach bag ostensibly designed for it is lined with an inappropriate material, but dark splotches have been spreading over the formerly shiny front. At least the camera looks very old now, so maybe it will be less of a target for theft!

Also, there is a delay between depressing the shutter release button and the exposure. This is not a problem for still lifes and posed portraits, but if you are a decisive moment photographer, you'd better keep shopping.

I had purchased this camera in 2005 as a replacement for my S400 that was stolen at a car dealership during a test drive session. It is a wonderful little camera and works perfectly to date. Over the years I have bought and sold several other cameras (Fuji F10 etc.) however this one has remained with me and we still use it quite extensively for taking photos at family celebrations and other occasions. A very nice camera indeed!