Introduction

Like all of its lower-end cousins, the A3400 sports a 5x zoom, but stands out with a larger 3-inch LCD, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and optical image stabilization. It's a modest camera by anybody's current standards, but it's also just $179.

We spent a few minutes with the A3400 at the CP+ 2012 tradeshow in Yokohama, Japan this week. Read on for our first impressions.

Design & Appearance

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS has fairly soft edges and a smooth finish, a bit like a classier ELPH from a few years ago could've looked. It's a sleeker, more modern design than last year's A3300, leaving off the mode dial and the curvy, almost bulbous lines. Available colors include red, silver, black, and an unfortunate shade of gold that looks brown in most lighting.

Tour

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Menu

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The menu system is standard Canon fare, basically identical to the system in other A-series cameras from this year and past years. The system is easy enough for just about anyone to handle, but there are some confusing quirks. It isn't always obvious why certain menu options are grayed-out in some modes, for example. Most users won’t be spending much time in the menu system anyhow, since this camera is designed for all-automatic operation.

Ease of Use

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS is simple to use as long as it's left in Smart Auto mode. A program mode is available for a bit of hands-on control, but this camera is built for easy, brain-free operation. There's a dedicated Smart Auto mode button, a Help button (the question mark), and Hints & Tips within the menu system.

Size & Handling

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Handling is decent for a camera that doesn't have much of a grip. It's a bit thicker than the A2300 (which we previewed here) so it's easier to grip, and the edge of the raised LCD makes for a decent thumb rest for extra leverage, too. So it's comfortable to take a shot with one hand, though a second hand will be necessary for balance when navigating the menus.

Modes Overview

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS is built for automatic shooting, as the dedicated Auto mode button suggests. Program mode and a Live View Control mode (sort of like a light program mode) are also available.

There are still plenty of effects and scene modes to choose from, most of them designed for entertainment rather than picture-perfect photography. These modes include Portrait, Face Self-timer, Low Light, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Snow, Fireworks, Long Shutter, Discreet, and iFrame Movie. A program mode is available as well.

Auto Mode

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Canon says that Smart Auto mode can handle 32 different shooting situations. Users can select photo size within Auto mode, but that’s pretty much the only user control over the photo. The up button on the four-way pad works as a direct-access key to Smart Auto mode.

Movie Mode

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS can capture up to 720p HD video with mono sound in MOV format. VGA (standard-def) clips and iFrame movies are also supported.

Drive/Burst Mode

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Calling it burst mode is a stretch, but the A3400 IS can eke out 0.8 full-resolution frames per second in continuous drive mode, or 2.7 reduced-res frames per second in Low Light mode.

Timer modes include a Face Self-timer, 2-second and 10-second delays, and a curiously versatile custom timer.

Playback Mode

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Playback mode is standard issue for Canon compacts. See our recent notes on the A810 for more.

Picture Quality & Size Options

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Maximum resolution clocks in at a bloated 16 megapixels in a standard 4:3 aspect ratio. Three smaller options are available, as is one widescreen resolution.

Focus

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS uses through-the-lens autofocus. Users can control the focus range—either normal or macro (close up)—but not the AF area. Face detection is available. Manual focus is not supported.

Exposure & Metering

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The maximum aperture is f/2.8 (W) - f/6.9 (T), and the shutter speeds range from 1/2000 to 1 second, or up to 15 seconds in Long Shutter mode. Users have no manual control over aperture or shutter.

Evaluative, Center-weighted, and Spot metering modes are available. Exposure compensation can hit +/- 2 stops in increments of 1/3EV. AE Lock is available for a tiny bit more exposure control.

ISO

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 1600. The camera will self-select the setting in Smart Auto and most shooting modes, though it's user-adjustable in Program mode.

White Balance

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

White balance modes include Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, and a custom setting. It can also adjust WB according to face detection.

Image Stabilization

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 IS is equipped with optical image stabilization. It's one of the features that gives this model a leg up on some of the cheaper options in the A-series lineup. In practice, it'll mostly help to steady indoor shots, and can be very helpful for folks with shaky hands.

Picture Effects

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

All of the scene modes and picture effects are combined into a general shooting modes menu. They include Portrait, Low Light, Snow, and Fireworks in what we'd consider traditional scene presets, and Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome, Super Vivid, and Poster Effect among what we'd usually count as effects or filters.

Other Controls

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Live View Control lets you adjust brightness, color, and tone with onscreen sliders. It's like a "light" program mode with no photo knowledge required. It was available on a bunch of last year's A-series cameras, too.

Lens & Sensor

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The lens and sensor combination is the same as the rest of this year's A-series lineup, including the A810 and A2300 but excluding the 8x-zooming A4000 IS.

It's built around a 16-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, which is typical for a point and shoot (and probably the same as last year's A3300 IS). The lens is a 5x-zoom, 28mm-wide unit. It also uses the Digic 4 image processor, used in a number of high-end Canon compacts until they upgraded to a newer version recently.

LCD

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The 3-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD is one of the A3400's key features. All of the cheaper models use 2.7-inch screens. It's the same display used in last year's A3300 IS as well as the new A4000 IS. It's pretty big for a budget-friendly model.

Flash

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The built-in flash is only powerful enough to light up a small room and not much else. It's rated for just 10 feet of effectiveness at the wide angle, and only 6.6 feet at the telephoto setting. Canon also notes that the flash can take around 10 seconds to recharge between shots, which is pretty sluggish. A Slow Synchro mode is available.

Jacks, Ports & Plugs

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

A single port pulls double-duty as a USB and A/V hookup.

Battery

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The A3400 runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It seems to be the same battery used in the A2300 and A2400 IS, but since it's powering a larger screen on the A3400, it's rated for a relatively meager 180 shots per charge.

Memory

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

No surprises here, the A3400 records to SD/SDHC/SDXC media cards.

Conclusion

Smartphones are the new snapshot cameras for most people, but some folks still prefer a standalone point-and-shoot camera (they tend to occupy an older demographic). Canon still sees some value in offering those potential buyers plenty of affordable, easy-to-use options, including a model the PowerShot A3400 IS—one of a half-dozen new entry-level cameras this year.

Like all of the A-series models beneath it, the A3400 has a 16-megapixel CCD sensor, 720p HD video capability, and a 5x zoom lens, but its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, optical image stabilization, and in particular, a larger 3-inch LCD screen help it to stand out. Those are all reasonably solid specs for a $179 camera.

But if it were up to us, we'd probably cut it out of the lineup. It's only $20 cheaper than the A4000 IS, which packs an 8x zoom lens—worth every extra penny. Or for $20 less, there's the A2400 IS, which has a smaller LCD at 2.7 inches, but is otherwise identical. The A3400's bigger screen is a decent reason to spend a bit more money, but we'd probably recommend either of those other two models before this one.

We may or may not end up getting this model into our labs for testing; point-and-shoots don't draw as much interest as they used to, but it's still important to test a few of them out for interested readers, and at least as a reference point for what more expensive cameras should be able to offer for the price.

{{product.vanity}}

Sample Photos

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Specs

{{manufacturer_specs_table}}