Howard_Creech's Full Review: Canon PowerShot A570 IS Digital Camera
Canon's "A" series digicams have been number one in U.S. sales for the past five years because they consistently provide consumers with class leading features, super images, and amazing ease of use. Canon's "A" series digicams reliably offer more flexibility, superior feature sets, and better performance than their competition. The newest member of the "A" family is the Canon PowerShot A570IS (the A570IS is an upgraded version of Canon's recently introduced A550).
Canon is the most modular of the major digicam manufacturers and their product development folks have a broad catalog of proven components (sensors, zoom lenses, LCD screens, processors, etc.) to draw from when creating new models. The A570IS's third generation DIGIC III processor first appeared on Canon's upper tier dSLRs, the 7 megapixel CCD sensor and IS system first appeared on last years superb A710 IS, earlier versions of the A570 IS's 4X zoom graced several Canon digicams (including the superb A640) and the A570IS's 2.5 inch LCD screen has also appeared on other Canon digital cameras. This impressive level of component interchangeability (modularity) allowed Canon's product development folks to build several new models (A550, A560, A570IS) without the need for a lengthy (and very expensive) R&D (research and development) phase.
NUTS & BOLTS
Viewfinder/LCD
The A570IS's coupled (zooming) optical viewfinder is sharp, fairly bright, and useful - but it is a bit squinty and only covers about eighty per cent of the image frame. There's no diopter adjustment for eyeglasses wearers.
The A570IS's 2.5 inch (115,000 pixels) TFT LCD screen is a bit grainy, but it is sharp enough to get the job done. The user selectable LCD Grid-Line display is a nice touch. The A570IS's LCD screen is bright, hue accurate, relatively fluid, and it automatically boosts gain in dim/low light.
Zoom
The A550 features an 5.8mm - 23.2 mm (35-140mm in 35mm equivalent) f/2.6-f5.5 all-glass optical zoom. When the camera is powered up the zoom extends automatically and when the camera is powered down the zoom is fully retracted into the camera body and a built in iris style lens cover closes to protect it. The A570IS's zoom is dependably sharp, hue accurate, and fairly quiet.
The A570IS's zoom displays some minor corner softness and negligible barrel distortion at the wide-angle end of the range. Pincushion distortion is very well controlled (and essentially invisible) at the telephoto end of the zoom. Chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is slightly above average, especially noticeable in high contrast color transition areas. Overall, the A570IS's zoom is surprisingly good for an entry-level digital camera. This zoom isn't threaded for filters or add on lenses, but users can (after purchasing the optional Canon LA-DC58F Conversion Lens adapter) mount auxiliary wide-angle, telephoto, or macro lenses and inexpensive 52mm filters.
Auto Focus (AF)
The A570IS features the same TTL Contrast Detection 9-point AiAF (Advanced intelligent Auto Focus) system as its predecessors. In all automatic exposure modes the camera analyzes the scene in front of the lens and then calculates camera to subject distance to determine which of the 9 AF points is closest to the primary subject (closest subject priority) and then locks focus on that AF point. Users can also opt for the 1 AF point (center) AF for classic portraits or traditional landscapes. AF performance is consistently quicker than average (for entry level digicams). In low light the focus assist beam helps illuminate the subject for more accurate focusing.
Enable the A570IS's Face Detection AF function (which recognizes and focuses on faces in the image frame) and the camera will isolate, lock on, and track (multiple) human faces. Although it takes a little getting used to Face Detection AF works nicely, but it only works when the subject(s) face the camera (so it won't help with those dramatic/artistic profile portraits).
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
The A570IS is Canon's cheapest Image Stabilization digicam. The A570IS's Optical Image Stabilization system reduces blur by quickly and precisely shifting lens elements (gyroscopically) to compensate for camera movement. IS allows users to shoot at shutter speeds up to 3 f-stops slower than would have been possible without IS. For example, if a shutter speed of 1/500th of a second is required to avoid the effects of camera shake (without image stabilization) the S3 can capture a reasonably sharp image of the same subject (everything else being equal) at 1/60th of a second.
Image stabilization can also be a very useful asset when shooting at dimly lit indoor events (like weddings and concerts) where flash is inappropriate or prohibited and where higher shutter speeds may not be possible. In addition, Image stabilization combined with higher sensitivity (like the A570IS's ISO 1600 option) dramatically increases exposure options in low/natural light and dimly lit venues. Users also benefit outdoors when shooting handheld (where even the slightest camera movement is magnified) at full telephoto in good light because the image stabilization system automatically compensates for virtually unavoidable camera shake at the longest telephoto setting.
Does Image Stabilization really work? Yes, users can consistently shoot sharper images at shutter speeds up to two (and occasionally 3) f/stops slower than would have been possible using a camera without IS, but IS isn’t magic (it won't neutralize sharp camera movements or reduce blur caused by rapidly moving subjects or too quick panning), but it does make a noticeable difference and that difference could result in capturing that once in a lifetime shot rather than missing it. A570IS purchasers should keep in mind that IS noticeably shortens battery life, so a back-up battery may be a good idea. The A570IS provides three IS modes: Continuous (IS on full time), Shoot only (IS is only activated when the picture is taken) and Panning (only stabilizes up and down motion) for horizontally panned exposures.
Flash
The A570IS's on-board multi mode flash provides an acceptable selection of flash options, including : Auto (fires when needed), On (fill flash), Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Synch, and off. Canon claims the maximum flash range is a bit less than 11 feet (3.5 meters) and that appears to be a fairly accurate assessment based on my limited use. Canon's optional HF-DC1 auto (slave) flash provides users with an enhanced slate of lighting options and extends maximum flash range to about 30 feet.
The A570IS's on-board flash is VERY slow to recycle (about 10 seconds) during which time the camera (in any auto flash mode) is locked. Savvy users will disable the flash, except when supplemental lighting is needed.
Memory Media
The A570IS saves images to SD, SDHC, & MMC memory media. SDHC cards are designed to support higher capacities (4GB to 32GB) than standard SD cards. SDHC cards look like standard SD cards, but they will only work in SDHC compliant devices. Canon includes a 16 MB SD starter card in the box.
Connectivity
USB 2.0 High Speed, A/V out, and DC in (with optional AC Adaptor).
Power
The A570IS is powered by two (2) alkaline, NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride), or lithium ion AA cells. Canon claims 120 shots (full time LCD use) or 400 shots (using only the optical viewfinder) with available anywhere Alkaline AA’s. Once the included alkaline AAs were exhausted (after a mere 61 exposures) we switched to a pair of 2300 mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries, but I didn't keep track of exposures with the re-chargeables. We used the LCD screen and optical viewfinder about equally for compositional chores (plus occasional flash use and shoot only IS). Overall, the A570IS's power management is pretty good, but the addition of IS noticeably shortens battery life (when the A570IS is compared to the very similar A550 I tested a couple of months back).
EXPOSURE
The A570IS utilizes the same practical, easy to understand, and highly sophisticated exposure system that made its predecessors so popular with consumers. Exposure options include Auto (Point and Shoot mode), Program (Auto exposure with user input), Aperture Priority mode, Shutter Priority mode, and Manual mode. The DIGIC II (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) processor combines most primary camera functions (image interpolation and processing, auto exposure, White Balance, JPEG compression, gain control, and power management) in one chip which improves efficiency and that makes for quicker startup, faster processing, and near real time shutter response. DIGIC II (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) image files are optimized for bold, bright, saturated colors and balanced contrast.
Canon’s exclusive iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology produces consistently excellent exposures in all scene modes. The camera instantly matches the scene in front of the lens with an on board database of known scene types and then compares that information with the specific scene's subject distance, white balance, contrast, dynamic range, lighting, and color (just before the image is recorded) to determine the best exposure. In all Scene modes the camera's CPU automatically optimizes all exposure parameters (aperture, shutter speed, white balance, sensitivity, etc.) for the specific scene type selected. The ISAPS system works hand in hand with Canon’s DIGIC III processor and AiAF "smart" auto focus system to quickly capture properly exposed images with accurate color, balanced contrast, and tack sharp focus.
Movie Mode
Canon PowerShot A570IS users can record video clips (with audio) at 640x480 @ 30 fps with duration limited to 1GB/60 minutes. The A570IS can also record up to 60 seconds of fast frame rate QVGA (60 fps) video clips and several lower resolution video options. In addition, there’s a voice-notation mode so users can add audio notes (up to 60 seconds) to their images.
Metering
The A570IS's (default) evaluative metering system is consistently accurate in all but the most demanding lighting. Casual photographers won’t have to worry about metering at all and more experienced photographers can opt for either Spot metering or Center-weighted Averaging metering for more demanding/creative compositions or for a more traditional "look" in portraits and landscapes.
White Balance (WB)
The A570IS provides experienced users with a decent selection of white balance options including TTL Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H. Like all Canon consumer digicams the A570IS’s Auto WB setting produces slightly warmer than average colors.
Sensitivity
The Canon PowerShot A570IS provides an excellent range of sensitivity settings. Savvy photographers will have no problem shooting indoors without flash and at faster shutter speeds (to freeze action) outdoors. Sensitivity options include: Auto, High ISO Auto, and user selectable settings for ISO 80,100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600.
In-Camera Image Adjustment
In-camera image adjustment options are often overlooked by casual or first-time digicam purchasers, but savvy users know the ability to make subtle color/contrast/exposure adjustments is a very important creative tool and a simple and effective way to overcome minor exposure problems. The A570IS provides shooters with a useful range of built-in exposure tweaks.
Very light or very dark subjects can trick light metering systems into underexposing or overexposing images. The A570IS's Exposure Compensation mode allows users to subtly modify exposure parameters over a 4 EV range ( /-2 EV) in 1/3 EV increments allowing users to easily lighten or darken exposures to compensate for difficult lighting and subject/background reflectance/non-reflectance problems or to compensate for environmental exposure variables.
The A570IS's "My Colors" mode provides several creative color options: Positive Film (which mimics slide film color, saturation, and contrast), Neutral Film (which mimics print film color, saturation, and contrast), Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Color accent (shifts images to B&W, except for one user selected color), color swap (allows users to switch one color for another), custom color (users can adjust color balance for red, green, blue, and skin tones /-2 arbitrary steps in 1 step increments) and Photo effects (vivid or neutral color saturation, low sharpening, sepia, and B&W).
CONTROLS, DESIGN, ENGINEERING, & ERGONOMICS
The Canon PowerShot A570IS Digital Camera bears a conspicuous family resemblance to its "A" series siblings. It's an attractive, relatively compact, and sturdy (polycarbonate body shell) digicam. The control layout is logical and quickly becomes intuitive. All controls are easily accessed and the ergonomic handgrip provides stability (for right handed shooters) and nicely balances the camera in use.
The Canon Powershot A570IS digital camera is built around Canon's third-generation DIGIC III processor. DIGIC (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) technology efficiently combines image processing, power management, and most primary camera functions (Exposure, White Balance, JPEG compression, gain control, and most auto functions) in one chip to more effectively manage camera operation. The A570IS's DIGIC III processor produces images that are optimized for sharp resolution, balanced contrast, and bright colors. The DIGIC III chip is also responsible for the camera's faster start up, quicker autofocus essentially real time shutter response, and more efficient power management (which results in enhanced battery life). The A570IS's DIGIC III processor has a more aggressive noise reduction/management algorithm than earlier "A" series PowerShots.
Experienced photographers should have no difficulty using the A570IS right out of the box and beginners should be able to capture impressive images after a short familiarization run with the camera and brief scan of the user's manual.
Technical Specifications
Resolution: 7 Megapixels (3072x2304)
Viewfinders: 2.5” LCD screen and Real Image zooming optical viewfinder
Zoom: f2.6-f5.5/5.8mm-23.2mm (35mm-140mm - 35mm equivalent) all glass 4X optical zoom Auto Focus: 9 AF point AiAF
Manual Focus: no
Image Stabilization: Yes
Flash: Built-in Multi-mode
External Flash Shoe: No
Exposure: Auto, Program AE, Scene modes, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual mode, and Movie mode
Metering: Evaluative, Center-weighted, & Spot
Exposure compensation: Yes /- 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments
White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H
Sensitivity: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 ISO
Image Storage Media: SD/SDHC/MMC
Connectivity: USB 2.0HS out, AV/out, & DC in
Power: 2 AA batteries
MSRP - $280.00 Street Price Range - $240.00 - $280.00 (average price should stabilize at around $250.00 by late Spring or early Summer)
Included
16MB SD card, 2 AA Alkaline batteries, wrist strap, USB & A/V cables, software CD's, user’s and software manuals.
Optional
Canon NiMH Rechargeable AA Batteries & Charger Kit CBK4-300, AC Adapter Kit ACK900, High Power (slave) Flash HF-DC1, Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC58F, Canon WC-DC58N 0.7x Wide Converter lens, TC-DC58N 1.75x Tele-converter lens, 250D 58mm Close-up Lens, and Canon soft camera case.
In the Field/Handling & Operation
I regularly test cameras with an old friend who sells new and used digital and analog photographic equipment. Between us we have more than fifty years of hands-on experience with an incredibly wide variety of of cameras, lenses, flashes, and tripods. My friend was recently able to get his hands on a brand new Canon Powershot A570IS for us to assess. Our first chore was to run some color tests. We use a homemade macro stage and a selection of brightly colored (red, green, yellow, blue, orange, and purple) plastic children’s beach toys photographed against a white background to check color accuracy and the precision of each camera’s white balance system. The A570IS's Auto White Balance (images were viewed on a NEC 19" CRT monitor) is a bit warm, which is not surprising in a camera targeted at advanced amateur shooters. Colors are bright and hue accurate, but a bit oversaturated (especially red and blue) with hard contrast.
For our first outing with the new A570IS we chose nearby Cave Hill Cemetery; the perfect place to shoot some spring scenics. Cave Hill started out as a small family farm on the outskirts of the city and became Louisville's primary burial ground in the mid 1840's. Cave Hill is Louisville’s unofficial arboretum and one of the country’s best remaining examples of 19th century U. S. landscape architecture. The cemetery’s 300 acres are home to an amazing variety of exotic (and not so exotic) flowers, trees, bushes, and shrubs. Cave Hill is a popular destination for local photographers because there is almost always something interesting to photograph. Cave Hill is filled with exotic plant life, thousands of weather worn old headstones, dozens of ornate mausoleums, a rustic groundskeeper’s cabin, and a small lake with hundreds of resident ducks, geese, and swans.
The last couple of weeks we've had some really crummy weather here in Louisville; unseasonably cold with lots of rain, but the weather gods smiled on us and provided a classic Ohio Valley Spring day (mid 70's, blue skies, puffy white clouds, and super afternoon light) for our first outing with the A570IS. We drove around the oldest part of the cemetery, stopping to shoot anything that looked dramatic - including a time tilted and lichen encrusted early 19th century hand carved native limestone headstone surrounded by an ankle deep carpet of Bird's Foot Violets, Dandelions, and Spring Beauties. We spent about two hours shooting a wide variety of subjects. The A570IS does a dependably excellent job outdoors, especially in good light.
After we finished up at Cave Hill we headed for nearby Cherokee Park and followed the scenic loop as it wound through a couple miles of steep hillsides covered with old growth trees. We didn't find anything particularly interesting along the deeply shaded area of old growth trees parallel to Beargrass Creek, but once we got into the open meadows the area was filled with runners, skaters, bikers, and dog walkers. We parked and spent about two hours shooting folks enjoying the lovely weather before we called it a day. During our first outing with the A570IS we used the camera in Program mode, with WB set to auto, sensitivity set to Auto, and quality set to the highest resolution. All shots were handheld. We shot each subject first without IS and then enabled IS and tried to duplicate (as closely as possible) the first shot.
When we got together Sunday morning it was gray and overcast, but we didn't let that discourage us as we headed out for Old Louisville, an architecturally diverse area of late 19th and early 20th century Victorian houses along shady tree lined streets. The residents of Old Louisville are an eclectic bunch and it is not at all unusual to see preppy professionals, aging beatniks, musicians, artists, and tattooed Goths sharing tables at the Dizzy Whiz restuarant or sitting on adjoining stools at the Mag Bar.
We shot some floral displays in Central Park and lots of architectural details in St. James Court. When the lighting started to get better at lunchtime we adjourned to the nearby Dizzy Whiz for burgers, fries, and cokes. After we finished eating we headed for Butchertown. Butchertown is one of Louisville's oldest neighborhoods. Residents fill their tiny front yards with flowers and colorfully paint architectural details and exterior trim - so there is almost always something interesting to photograph in this part of town. By the time we got started the early afternoon golden light was working nicely for us. After a leisurely loop of Washington Street, we headed for the nearby Extreme Sports Park to shoot some action.
The Extreme Park is the go to place for local photographers looking to get some action shots. The kids at the Extreme Park love to show off for the camera. Skateboarders, BMX bikers, and roller-bladers are drawn to the park 24-7 to perfect their moves and hone their techniques in the industrial sized full pipe, 5 interconnected bowls, assorted ramps, and the twelve-foot half pipe.
We spent about three hours shooting skateboarders and BMX bikers, which may seem like a lot of time, but optimal framing/timing (centering the boarders in the frame and stopping the action in mid air) is very difficult. I used the A570IS's optical viewfinder full time since the LCD screen is very hard to use when shooting high-speed action - especially in bright outdoor lighting.
The A570IS's image stabilization worked really well, allowing us to shoot at fairly high shutter speeds and use the IS to counter camera shake. We had to move in pretty close because the A570IS's 4X zoom doesn't provide enough reach to allow shooters to stand off at a safe distance and still get frame-filling shots. Image Stabilization won't counteract sharp jerks or hard shifts and it can't defeat the blur inherent in too rapid panning or trying to lock on to moving subjects, but it does beat most of the hand-held camera stability problems associated with shooting action. You'll still get lots of blurred images, but you'll also get a few sharply focused images that you almost certainly wouldn't have gotten without IS.
When the Extreme Park started to get a bit overcrowded we drove to nearby West Main Street, (which is lined with three and four story 19th century warehouses sporting decorative cast iron fronts) and spent about an hour shooting architectural details of the colorfully painted old cast iron building fronts lit up by the oblique afternoon light. We then moved several blocks east and shot a couple of the nifty late thirties/early forties industrial Art Deco factory buildings on East Market Street.
After we finished up downtown we reviewed everything we'd shot over the course of the weekend on a 19" NEC CRT monitor. Both of us were impressed with how good the majority of the images were. We put the A570IS through its paces (from full Auto to full Manual) and it delivered consistently. We both felt the outdoor images were dependably well exposed (although there is a slight tendency toward over exposure) and the overall image quality was as good as any 7 megapixel P&S digicam either of us has used to date. We printed one on an Epson Stylus Photo 2200 (on Kodak photo paper) and it showed very good resolution (sharpness), slightly hard contrast, bold color, impressive shadow detail, and decent highlight detail.
PERFORMANCE
Image Quality
Image quality is the single most important consideration (for most consumers) when researching a digital camera purchase and the A570IS delivers dependably in the image quality department. We put the camera through its paces and it consistently produced well-exposed images with good dynamic range. Reds are a bit warm and blues are a little bright, but most casual/amateur photographers probably won't consider this a fault.
ISO 80/ISO 100 images are indistinguishable - both show bright colors, slightly hard edged native contrast, and very low noise levels – ISO 200 images were also very good, but with a little less pop. At the ISO 400 setting noise levels are noticeably higher and there's a perceptible loss of detail. ISO 800 images are noisy, but they should be OK for e-mail and non-critical 3x5 or 4x6 prints - ISO 1600 images are way too noisy to be useful for anything aside from record shots. There was some visible chromatic aberration in the color transition areas between dark foreground objects and bright backgrounds (like the sky), but most of our images didn’t need any post exposure correction.
Shutter Lag/Timing
The A570IS is pretty quick, equal to or faster than any camera in its class and as quick or quicker than some more expensive cameras. Start up time is a bit less than 2 seconds (pretty quick for a digicam that has to extend a 4X zoom) and the A570IS can move its 4X zoom from the wide-angle end of the zoom range to full telephoto in less than 2 seconds. AF speed is dependably quick in all but the most difficult lighting, typically less than half a second. Shutter lag shouldn’t be a problem for most shooters thanks to the DIGIC III processor. Shutter fire is essentially real time with pre-focus and (according to Canon) 1/10th of a second from scratch - a bit slower than a dSLR, but experienced photographers should be able to capture impressive action shots by slightly anticipating the critical moment and tripping the shutter just before everything comes together. Shot-to-shot times and write to card times are also a bit quicker than average.
A Few Concerns
My only serious concern with the A570IS is that the camera locks-up after a flash shot – users must wait until the flash recharges completely, typically about 10 seconds. Savvy users will leave the flash in “off” mode, full time.
Who is the A570IS best suited for?
The A570IS is well suited to beginning and casual photographers who want a digital camera that will consistently provide first-rate digital images at the touch of a button. The A570IS is also an excellent choice as a primary family camera and it is a very good choice for travelers who want a tough, lightweight, "go anywhere" digital camera that runs on universally available AA batteries. The A570IS is also an excellent choice for anyone who wants a digital camera that they can grow into as they learn more about photography.
Conclusion
About ninety per cent of the functionality and capability of the $280.00 A570IS is available on the under $200.00 A550. So, if Image Stabilization and a larger LCD screen aren't really needed - thrifty consumers can pass on the A570IS and buy an A550.
For definitive advice on How to Choose a Digital Camera
The observations, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions provided in my digital camera reviews are based on more than 30 years experience as a photographer and extensive hands on testing of each of the cameras reviewed.
If you would like to see a selection of images that are very similar to and typical of the sort of test pictures I shoot for my epinions digital camera reviews, click on the first link under Favorite Links on my profile page (to get to my EPS profile page, just click on my name – top right side of this review). The Favorite Links URL will take you to my forum page at DCR. Click on find all posts by Howard Creech (under Forum Info). My DCR reviews each feature a selection of my images. I receive no compensation from DCR.com for your visit or any subsequent purchase you may make and you can return to epinions at any time - either open the link in a new window - or hit your back button.
Recommended:
Yes
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints DIGIC III Image Processor with improved Face Detection technology and R...More at Amazon Marketplace
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