Good price, Solid Camera, good entry level dig cam.
Written: Jan 08 '06
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
Battery Life:
Photo Quality:
Shutter Lag
Pros: Relatively inexpensive, digital zoom, vid capture, battery life
Cons: Next shot delay, no battery level indicator, flash range
The Bottom Line: Recommend, high reviews on consumer reports and this camera met my goals for it. But shutter lag and next shot delay may be slow at times.
psufan0066's Full Review: Canon PowerShot A520 4.2 Megapixel Digital Camera
Info from: (http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/psa520/index-e.html) very useful page if you own this camera
The PowerShot A520 is the successor to the PowerShot A85 with enhanced compactness and functions.
This camera is equipped with an approximately 4.0 million camera effective pixel 1/2.5-inch Charge Coupled Device (CCD). The DIGIC Imaging Processor speeds precise image handling, and when teamed with iSAPS technology, results in the best image control.
This camera is equipped with a 4x optical zoom lens, which covers a 35mm film equivalent focal length ranging from 35 mm to 140 mm, and has an f/2.6 to f/5.5 aperture. Therefore, its optical shooting range is even wider than PowerShot A85 with a 3x optical zoom lens.
This camera succeeds the basic shooting ability of the PowerShot A85. Adoption of an AF (autofocus) system lets you focus easily by simply pressing the shutter button. You can choose either "9-point AiAF" where the camera automatically chooses AF frames to focus from 9 available points or "1-point center AF" where the camera focuses the central subject which you aim at with greater certainty.
Also, as well as the PowerShotA85, this camera has a [Postcard] option in the resolution options of the FUNC. menu. When this option is selected, images will be taken at the optimum size and quality for printing on postcard sized or smaller paper. In addition, the date and time can be embedded in the image data so that they appear when the image is printed.
This camera is equipped with a Print/Share button. This button lets you easily print your images and download images directly from the camera to a computer (Windows® only) by connecting the camera directly to a direct print compatible printer(*1) or connecting the camera to the computer.
This camera is equipped with the same 13 shooting modes as the PowerShot A85. And with newly added "Kids & pet" and "Night snap" in the Special Scene modes(*2) you can shoot an image with the most appropriate settings for the scene.
Also, as a "Custom Self-timer" setting was added to this camera, you can set the self-timer countdown time (up to 10 seconds) and the number of shots (up to 10).
This camera complies with the PictBridge(*3) industry standard and has an additional function for multiple image layout.
This camera is equipped with a 1.8 inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
As a new function to switch images back and forth while magnified was added to this camera, its operability in playback mode when images are magnified is advanced remarkably.
This camera operates with two AA batteries (four batteries are used for PowerShot A85) and MultiMediaCard or an SD memory card for a recording media. In comparison with PowerShot A85, the main body of this camera is miniaturized (approx. 10mm shorter in width, approx. 7mm shorter in depth) and the weight (approx. 180g) is approx. 20g lighter. Its weight in use with batteries and a media is approximately 230g, which is much lighter than the PowerShot A85 (approx. 300g).
Software for transferring your pictures to a computer, organizing pictures, laying out pictures for printing and editing still pictures and movies is included with the camera. This software is available for both the Windows and Mac OS platforms(*4).
Various accessories sold separately such as conversion lenses and a waterproof case are available. In addition, the high-power flash that extends the range of flash shooting is available as a brand-new accessory sold separately.
1: Direct print compatible printers include the Canon Compact Photo Printer CP series (Canon Direct Print and PictBridge compatible), the Canon Bubble Jet series (Bubble Jet Direct and PictBridge compatible) and non-Canon PictBridge compliant printers.
2: Special Scene modes: [Foliage], [Snow], [Beach], [Fireworks], [Underwater], [Indoor], [Kids & Pets], [Night Snapshot]
3: PictBridge is an industry standard for direct printing that allows you to print images without using a computer by directly connecting digital cameras and digital camcorders to a printer, regardless of the devices' brand and model.
4: Windows 98 SE/ Me/ 2000 SP4/ XP (including SP1/SP2), Mac OS X (v10.1.5-10.3)
Pros: Inexpensive: this camera was $250 now down to $179 from circuit city. I paid $200. I say inexpensive because of the advertised abilties of this camera compared in cameras in this price range. 4x dig zoom, battery life (read in consumer report, top 5 camera 2005)
Digital Zoom: I personally dont like digital zoom because it lowers the overall quality of the picture so your best bet would be try to be as close to the object as possible. But none the less the 4x dig zoom was highest you get in the $200 price range
Vid Capture: The salesman did not inform me most cameras do have a vid capture feature which is nice to capture a couple clips with audio. You cant zoom once the video starts recording but you can adjust the zoom before you start filming. Zoom although does decrease picture quality and you need good lighting due to no external light on the camera.
Battery Life: I have duracell rechargable batteries and the batteries lasted for about 200-250 pics last night with use of the LCD. The Duracell are also one of the cheaper rechargeable batteries you can buy and I would recommend buying rechargable batteries they will pay for themselves within a year and should last you for longer with proper use.
CONS:
Next Shot Delay: It advertises that it has a 2-3 second next shot delay. When the batteries start losing life that delay can be as long as 7 seconds. thats bad and annoying.
No Battery Level indicator: This seems so simple and I'm not sure why they didn't add this feature. The only way I know my batteries are running low is that the camera starts running slower.
Flash Range: It's hard to complain about this but I wanted to take pictures at a highschool football game and i was standing right behind the side line and the pictures did not turn out clear when the players were in the middle of the field. So basically if you plan on taking pics with low light you need to be upclose.
Overall: Overall Im satisfied with this camera, it does what I need and takes good quality photos. Realize before you buy a digital camera if you want pro level camera you need to spend pro level money. I would also recommend the Nikon Cool pix dig cam that goes for $250, I cant write a review because its not mine but it has the same features than this Canon but is much more compact.
Bottom line: Good product
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 200 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
4.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 11 x 15-inch prints 4x optical zoom, 9-point AiAF, 13 shooting modes Large 1.8-inch display...More at Amazon Marketplace
CANON POWERSHOT A520 DIGITAL CAMERA A-520 NEW USA WARAN CALL US AT 800-586-8955 Features: A World of Detail in a Light, Compact Body The next generati...More at eBay
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