Thin and pretty aren't everything.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Thin, pretty, lightweight, great video, good photos, wide angle lens.

Cons: Short 4x zoom, processor not fast, light sensor not too big, menu hard to use.

The Bottom Line: 
Auto is ok, ISO is hard to access, speed and zoom are just ok, still need flash in low light. Thin and pretty are primary benefits.

Author's Review
This camera takes very good photos and HD video because of it's excellent wide angle lens, image stabilizer and image processor. But it's shooting speed isn't fast, it has limited zoom range (4x) and it needs a flash in low light and it's not cheap.

It's big selling point is the fact that it's thin, light and pretty - like many of the customers who buy it to fit in their thin, pretty purses or pockets.

It's big drawbacks are value, zoom, speed, flash requirement in low light and ease of use.
The 1400 and 1300 both use the same scene mode menu button. It's not easy to press or navigate through and it takes a lot of effort to make adjustments. But it's so smooth and flush and stylish, like an iPhone! Big deal.

The sx230 ($70 more than this) doesn't use a complex and difficult to push menu button for everything, it uses an actual scene mode wheel that you turn with your fingers! And contrary to common misconception, the slightly protruding wheel will slip into your pocked and won't rip your pants open.

Then there's the just "average" speed to take a shots (and in between shots) for the above average price because it uses the same image processor as the 1300. And it's only got a 4x zoom - not helpful with landmarks or scenery that's far away.

The 1400 and 1300 also have the same CCD light sensor, not the better CMOS light sensor in the sx230 which better uses all available light to accuratly capture natural low light scenes without a flash.

Because the 1400 is so thin and pretty, it's buttons on the top are also too flush to be easy to use for all but the tiniest Paris Hilton Chihuahua hands. And the camera is so small that can be hard to hold and is easy to drop.

Form rides high above function and value with this camera.
Because for $100 less you can get the exact same image processor and photo quality in the sd1300 with video that is still very good and stable, just not HD, and in only a slightly thicker, older body style and a few fewer shooting options.

And for $70 more you can get the sx230hs which has a much longer zoom (14x) for impressive shots far away, a better light sensor for low light photos without a flash and GPS photo tagging for easy flickr mapping or location placing later. But while the sx230hs is certainly pocket friendly for such a long zoom, it's somewhat heavier and bigger.

No touch screens are available in these cameras, but instead, you get better quality components that matter for taking better photos than competitors in this price/thinness class. All three cameras mentioned auto rotate portrait photos you've taken to fit the screen when you tilt the camera.

Miniaturizing high quality components to fit into the newer body of the sd1400 costs more money to make than eqaul quality components that don't have to be as miniaturized. That, along with the extra profit potential of more desireable aesthetics is why the 1400 costs so much more than the 1300, it's not because of the HD video and it's not because it takes better photos. Likewise, because the sx230 is not as miniaturized, it can offer more features that do cost more to make like the 14x zoom and the CMOS sensor and a mechanical scene mode wheel for relatively little extra money. And the body of the sx230 is largely carryover from the 210.

Verdict?
If thin, pretty and lightweight is more important than ease of use, better low light shots without flash, long distance shots, faster shooting speed or price then get the 1400.

If ease of use, versatility, shooting speed, zoom and low light shots are worth the weight/size/$70 price penalty of the sx230, get that one.

If you just want good photos, don't need HD video and don't care if your low light shots need a flash, get the 1300.