Samsung's 2004 budget Digimax — 4.2MP CCD with 2.8x optical zoom, 2in LCD and flexible AA power
The Samsung Digimax A400 was announced in autumn 2004 as part of a six-camera Digimax launch, positioned as an affordable four-megapixel family compact. It should not be confused with the later Digimax A402, which removed the optical zoom; the A400 kept a modest zoom lens and a slightly larger screen.
The camera couples a 4.2-megapixel CCD with a 2.8x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, framed on a 2in LCD. It records VGA 640x480 movie clips with sound at up to 24fps, offers five scene modes plus nine photo-frame overlays, and focuses down to 5cm in macro. Samsung advertised unusually flexible power: AA alkaline, lithium or rechargeable cells, CR-V3 packs and an optional I-Pack battery all work, alongside SD card storage.
As a used buy it is a basic but self-contained snapshot camera for collectors of early Digimax models or anyone wanting cheap mid-2000s CCD output. The 2.8x zoom covers everyday framing, though the small screen and leisurely operation date it clearly.
Condition checks are the usual AA-compact set: insert fresh cells before declaring it dead, confirm the zoom motor runs the lens out and back without sticking, and test the flash. Use a plain SD card of 2GB or less, check the battery compartment for alkaline leakage residue, and inspect the LCD for bright-line defects.