The Canon Powershot A4000 IS is a compact camera with an 8x optical zoom lens and a slim metal body available in a number of colours.

8x optical zoom lens; Compact metal body; Excellent macro mode; Excellent colour

Optical zoom not available on videos; Lacks panoramic mode; Low resolution screen

If you think it's about time you finally moved into the digital camera market but you don't want to drop your whole salary on the purchase then the Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a top notch replacement for your old film camera or upgrade from your mobile phone.

Tradition dictates that anyone looking for a really compact Canon should buy themselves an IXUS. That line has recently returned to its roots, in the shape of the IXUS 510 HS, with its sharp corners, glossy finish and truly compact body. Already, though, it's facing competition from within the Canon camp, in the shape of the PowerShot A4000 IS.

The Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a very compact camera that's easy to use, with dedicated help screens for beginners. It features a high resolution and a long zoom but there's more noise in the results than there ought to be, and some light streaking in movies. While very well priced, spending a little more would pay dividends.

Compact design; Accurate colour reproduction; Inexpensive.

More noise in some results than there should be; light streaking in movies; No optical zoom in video mode.

The Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a 16MP camera that sits at the top of Canon's A-series of affordable, beginner-level compacts. And It really is a compact camera: viewed from the front, the Canon A4000 is not much bigger than a credit card.

The Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a 16MP camera that sits at the top of Canon's A-series of affordable, beginner-level compacts. And It really is a compact camera: viewed from the front, the Canon A4000 is not much bigger than a credit card.

The A4000 IS is a neat compact camera that's incredibly easy to use and, as such, will appeal if you're a photography beginner -- particularly if you can't afford an IXUS.

Compact design; Accurate colour reproduction; Inexpensive

More noise in some results than there should be; Light streaking in movies; No optical zoom in video mode

Canon's PowerShot A4000 IS crams an 8x optical zoom and image stabilisation into its small body. But can this budget point-and-shoot compact deliver where it counts? The PowerShot A4000 is a fairly no frills compact. It's aimed squarely at those who want the camera to take control.

Close-up macro; budget price point; centre focus works well; includes AF-point zoom in to confirm focus

Misfocusing in auto mode; face detection can go haywire; slow focus and shot-to-shot times; competition offer more extensive features

Camera manufacturers have started to come to their senses and called a truce on the megapixel race – something that has been fairly disastrously for compact cameras' image quality. However, a new battlefront is being drawn over zoom ranges.

The Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a very compact camera that's easy to use, with dedicated help screens for beginners. It features a high resolution and a long zoom but there's more noise in the results than there ought to be, and some light streaking in movies.

Gud camera