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submitted: Aug 7th 2008 | by: DanFeildman | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 534 | |

One of the latest editions to the Canon family is the 4-megapixel Canon PowerShot A520. This nice little camera is smaller and lighter than the PowerShot A85 that came before it. By adding a longer zoom lens and additional new scene modes, this camera is nicely equipped.

The Canon PowerShot A520 still provides features for both newbies and savvy shutterbugs. As with the A85, the Canon PowerShot A520 is a great value-for-money buy and certainly one you should consider if you're in the market for a camera.

The only true design change with the Canon PowerShot A520 is in its size. It is essentially a compacted version of the A85 as a result of this model operating on two double-A batteries whereas the A85 operated on four.

Outside of size, the only other obvious differences are that the AF assist lamp on the front has been relocated to the opposite side of the optical viewfinder and if you look close, you will notice the microphone is slightly shifted.

The LCD remains at 1.8 inches diagonally, but the lens has been modified to a f/2.6 to f/5.5, 5.8- to 23.2 mm (35- to 140-mm, 35-mm equivalent), 4X optical zoom lens.

It is clear that the optical system of the Canon PowerShot A520 has been thoroughly thought out to make great photos simple. A 4.2 megapixel resolution along with the 4X optical zoom is provided and the Canon PowerShot A520 also features an ISO range of 50 to 400 and a shutter speed range of 15 - 1/2000 sec. making it an impressive choice.

The Canon PowerShot A520 preserves the exceptional level of manual control of previous A-series models, including Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, and Manual modes, available via the top-mounted mode dial. The dial also offers five universal shooting modes (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Slow Shutter, and Fast Shutter), as well as Stitch Assist and Movie mode.

A combination of ease of use and plentiful options are still available from the unchanged menu system with the only suggestion being to illustrate the scene modes with on-screen help and sample images such as that found on Casio models like the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z55.

The Canon PowerShot A520's battery life using the two included alkaline double-A batteries is admirable and the camera is rated for up to 300 shots according to the CIPA standard (using NiMH double-A batteries).

Pictures are stored in SD memory cards with the Canon A520. It is considered standard in digital cameras today to be equipped with at least a 512 MB memory card and may are supporting a 1GB card. With the USB 2.0 interface, transferring pictures from the camera to the PC is simple.

As with almost anything, there is at least one notable issue with the Canon PowerShot A520. Confirmed reports have stated the A520 controls are not responsive enough leading to the camera to being quite slow. A button frequently had to pressed more than once to perform the chosen function.

Hopefully, this review of the Canon PowerShot A520 has been of help to you. If you're looking for a decent digital camera to start your photography adventures, the Canon A520 might be tough to beat. Of course, do your own research first before shelling out your cash.

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