SD400 Noisey Photos & Slow Repeated Picture Taking

[Precious Jennie]

I've had my Canon SD400 for almost 2 years and I love it. I've played with all the fun options that it offers. It takes gret, clear pictures. However, recently, I've noticed my pictures were coming out grainy. I didn't know that it was called "noise" so I thought that maybe the lens was dusty. I cleaned the lens and all seemed okay with it. Well, recently, I've had some more issues, either slow consecutive picture taking or noise again. I played with the setting and switched between manual and auto mode, playing with the shutter speeds. It will work on one mode and then I have to change it back because it was giving me issues. Recently, I brought it back into Best Buy to use my extended warranty. They sent it in to get looked at and it will take about 2 weeks!! Anyway, I was wondering if this is an issue with the camera or my settings. Also, what are the chances that this issue can be fixed? If they can not repair it or it's not worth it, they will give me store credit and I can get another camera, which I might get the SD800 or SD1000. So, it's not bad but I don't want to be researching the other cameras if mine can be fixed. Please tell me what you think. I'm going to try to post some pictures to show you the difference.

Okay here are my pictures, before the issue, the issue, after, and then again.
Before:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/PreciousJennie/IMG_3000.jpg

Noise:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/PreciousJennie/IMG_3037.jpg

After but good again:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/PreciousJennie/IMG_3164.jpg

Noise again:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/PreciousJennie/IMG_3508.jpg

And still noisey pictures:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/PreciousJennie/IMG_3540.jpg

[Micky Daeus]

Just a thought and I may be way off but what ISO setting are you using. It looks like the AUTO or 400 setting is being used resulting in lots of 'noise'. On my S3 the ISO can be set to 80, 100 etc or AUTO or HI AUTO, if you have the camera still try forcing the setting to 100 or 200 to try to drop the noise.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/noise.htm