Pros: Great digital intro camera, auto & manual modes, price, battery life
Cons: shutter sticks once in a while, LCD screen in bright light
The Bottom Line: For price and features you won't go wrong with the Canon PowerShot A520.
You can now see photos taken with this camera at http://epi-cmaw63.pbwiki.com/Electronics
cmaw63's Full Review: Canon PowerShot A520 4.2 Megapixel Digital Camera
Need a good digital camera but don't have a clue where to start? Maybe you already have the knowledge, but are overwhelmed with the multitude of digital camera options. I had never held a digital camera, let alone used one when I was given the Canon PowerShot A520 Digital Camera as a Christmas present 2 years ago.
Canon PowerShot A520
The thing I like the most about this camera is that I was able to remove it from the box and figure out how to take pictures right away. The auto-mode did all the hard work, I just had to pick out the subject of the picture. I made sure the dial on top of the camera was set to auto and started snapping. Pushing the shutter button down half way allows the camera to pick out the right settings. When it is ready a green outline of a box will appear in the center of the viewfinder or LCD screen. Depress the button fully and you have your picture. If a yellow box appears, release the shutter and try again.
If your flash setting is on auto (pre-set option) and the camera is on auto, you're set to start snapping photos. Simple as that. The other flash options are red eye reduction, fill in flash and off.
When I became more familiar with the Canon PowerShot A520 I ventured into the pre-set options. From the large dial on top of the camera I can choose from auto, portrait, landscape, night scene, fast shutter (for fast moving objects), slow shutter (for shooting moving objects to make them appear blurred), special scene, stitch assist (to help put photos together to make one panoramic picture) and movie (with sound) mode. I have a camcorder, so have not used this for video purposes. I have used the fast shutter mode several times and love it. Pictures of my horses running in the pasture, dogs playing and other fast moving subjects come out clear and posed in mid action.
Beyond all of those options the scene mode includes: beach, fireworks, underwater, indoor, kids & pets, night snapshot, foliage and snow choices. I have found that most of the scene modes give true color and sharpness when I use them. The night scene leaves a bit to be desired. The pictures I've taken while using the night options with the Canon PowerShot A520 are noisy and take a lot of post processing to make them decent. For underwater shots you will need to buy an underwater casing for the camera. Don't submerge the camera and expect to take pictures.
There are manual modes to choose from, also. Shutter speed priority, aperture priority and manual exposure give me greater control on choosing how a picture will be shot. For my use, I generally stay with the pre-set options.
Some of my best shots were taken with the macro setting. I've taken pictures of bees in flight with pollen filled legs, ladybugs on a plant and others. Some of my macro pictures have been good enough to win honorable mentions on a photography site that includes both amateur and professional photographers that have much more expensive equipment. This camera can keep up with the big dogs in macro mode.
With 4.2 megapixels the Canon A520 gives nice clean photos. The only problem I've had with noise, as mentioned above, is on the night pictures. I still haven't figured out how to get a clear photo or if the camera just isn't capable of taking clean night shots.
The 4X optical zoom is another nice feature. It has allowed me to get close up pictures, even when I wasn't close to the subject. There is an added 3.6X digital zoom, also. I choose not to use the digital zoom as it makes my pictures appear somewhat grainy. They can be cleaned in post processing on my computer, but I'm happy with the results from the 4X optical zoom.
The LCD screen is 1.8 inches. I, usually, use the viewfinder as I take a lot of outdoor shots. When I'm shooting in bright sunlight the LCD screen is almost impossible to see. Indoors or cloudy days it has a nice display of the subject, though.
Two AA (double A) batteries are all that's needed to get the camera taking great pictures. The battery life (rechargeable batteries) is good. I've gotten 200 to 250 pictures with the flash and screen on full display.
The Canon A520 uses an SD memory card. I like that they are widely available and fairly cheap compared to other types of memory cards.
A usb cable comes with the camera to connect it to your computer. The Canon A520 is compatible with Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 98SE, Microsoft Windows ME, Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. I run Windows XP and it recognized the new device and installed it without any other software needed.
I have, also, bought filters and a fixed 2X telephoto lens for my Canon A520. It's easy to connect the adapter tube, for the accessories, to the front of the camera by unscrewing the ring around the shutter lens and clicking the tube into place. I can then screw a filter or my 2X lens onto the adapter.
Problems?
The only problem I've had with my camera is that the shutter sometimes only opens half way. If I shut it off and on again, it will open all the way.
Great Personal Use Camera
In the 2 years I've been involved in digital photography I have seen and used many cameras, helping my family and friends get acquainted with their new cameras. I feel the Canon PowerShot A520 Digital Camera is one of the best in it's price range and better than some of the more expensive cameras. My husband paid $199 for it 2 years ago. I've seen the Canon A520 on sale as low as $129 recently.
For someone wanting to take great personal pictures, this is an outstanding camera. I have been more than happy with the photos I've taken. I did choose to "upgrade" to the Canon PowerShot S2 IS Digital Camera as I have been entering photo contests and wanted more megapixels and zoom. After two years, I still use the Canon PowerShot A520 for family get togethers and personal photographs and it works just as good as it did when new.
You can now see photos taken with this camera at http://epi-cmaw63.pbwiki.com/Electronics
For the price and features you won't go wrong with the Canon PowerShot A520 digital camera.
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