Canon's 2004 ultra-compact — 4MP CCD, 3x 35-105mm equiv zoom, optical finder, sold as SD300 in US
The Canon Digital IXUS 40 is an ultra-compact digital camera from 2004, part of Canon's style-led IXUS line. It was sold as the PowerShot SD300 Digital ELPH in North America and the IXY Digital 50 in Japan. Its metal-bodied, credit-card footprint made it one of the definitive pocket cameras of the mid-2000s.
It combines a 4-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor with the DIGIC II processor, then shared with Canon's professional EOS-1D Mark II. The 3x zoom covers a 35-105mm equivalent range at f/2.8-4.9, and framing is via a 2-inch LCD or a small optical viewfinder - a feature later IXUS models dropped. Shutter speeds run from 15 seconds to 1/1500, images record to SD cards, and power comes from the rechargeable NB-4L lithium-ion battery.
The IXUS 40 appeals to collectors of early digital compacts and shooters after the CCD colour look in a genuinely pocketable metal body. Four megapixels is ample for prints and social sharing, and the optical viewfinder is handy in bright sun. Expect slow operation and limited high-ISO ability by modern standards.
Check the NB-4L battery holds charge - cells this old often need replacing, though third-party batteries and chargers remain easy to find. The camera predates SDHC, so it needs SD cards of 2GB or under. Inspect the lens barrel for dents and the LCD for bleed, and review a test image as some CCDs of this era developed defects.