Canon PowerShot A80 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 119
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 On: 2008-06-22
I purchased this camera back in 2004 for $350 from Best Buy. It has served me well through the years, and while it still works I am now in the market for something smaller & newer and am having trouble finding something that I think will live up to its standards.
One of my best friends liked this camera so much she bought a newer almost identical looking version of a Canon in 05, unfortunatly her lens shutter was broken by her kids a few months ago, but she too really liked the camera and will be inheriting mine if I ever can replace it!
Pros:
I love the flip out screen, this is not a feature you can find often on newer cameras, probably bc it requires a larger camera size. Its really handy if you are someone like myself who doesnt like to ask strangers @ Disney World to take my picture.
It runs on AA batteries! New cameras seem to only run on the rechargeable lithium ion batteries (again to make the camera more compact), which normally I would prefer, but I am about to go to Europe for a month and I hear that finding a reliable power converter is difficult, so most likely I will have to take the Canon with me there.
It has a viewfinder!! I hate that new digital cameras that arent SLRs dont have a viewfinder! I may not be a photographer, but I dont wanna just use the screen either!
Easy to use, although there are a LOT of features on it which I have never even tried to mess with.
Cons:
Battery life. This I think is due to the age of the camera, bc I dont recall having such issue with it in the past as I do recently.
Start up time. It always seemed a little slow to start in picture viewing mode but now the camera is older it also is slow in picture taking mode & to view pictures takes almost a minute.
Size, but for the time period when it was made, it was considered small then.
It uses Compact Flash cards not SD. Poor Canon made the wise choice back then to go with CF not SD for its memory, this has since changed, but it sucks for people stuck with their older cameras to have to pay more money to get outdated technology.
On: 2008-05-10
Over all I think this is a pretty good camera, I got it in the beginning of 2004 and have used it and dropped it many times... it didnt stop working until earlier this year when I dropped it on a concrete floor and it has since refused to turn on... I was very abusive to it, so I expected it to one day just die and it did... over all I took very good photos with it, it was a bit slow after taking the picture, but over all pretty good... top of the line for 2003/2004... now a days I just got a better and faster one for 1/2 the amount I brought this one for...
On: 2008-04-02
Ive had this camera for around four years now. Its been taking excellent photos the entire time. The reason I got this camera is because the PowerShot series was (and maybe still is) the only series of low-mid-range cameras that actually have manual focus abilities. In fact, this camera has a full range of manual settings: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and of course focus. All of these work well, and are reasonably easy to access. It also has automatic settings, of course! The only annoying thing about it is the fact that the videos are limited to about 2min 30sec.
 On: 2008-03-26
I bought this camera new in 2006 based on reviews at the time. Since then I have a much more accurate review to submit.
-Metal case is sturdy and looks great. This is true. I dropped the camera and the only thing that broke was the plastic, zoom thingy which snapped like a twig.
-Takes wonderful, clear pictures. Yes, if you can get it to turn on. Mine comes on about 75% of the time. The rest of the time the lens extends and thats it. No display and no pictures. I wrote to Canon because a lot of reviewers have had the same problem and Canon said that they had never heard of that problem. There are now lots of reviews of people that have bought this camera and it wouldnt turn on. Dont miss a photo moment because your stupid camera wont turn on!! I missed a picture of a bear because of it.
Right now my on-screen display wont work. You should be able to choose between view standard settings, view detailed settings or off but mine doesnt work at all which means you dont have any idea of your settings, cant change your settings or use any of the functions.
After about a year the zoom, set, menu, func. disp., and camera/play buttons became very hard to move or push. I have a chunk missing out of my thumbnail right now because I took the camera on a project and had to switch between camera and play a lot.
For the money, you can buy a much more reliable camera.
 On: 2008-01-22
I got this thinking it would be substitute for SLR. I needed to decrease bulk and weight on trip to Europe. It was successful for that but it lacks in ability to capture special shots. It is ok for occassional user. Operations not much different than SLR. Close up and telephoto add on lens are a joke. You can buy smaller cameras to accomplish decreased size, but go with SLR if want flexibility.
On: 2007-07-19
I was given a Canon A80 as a gift 2+ years ago. I actually used it happily for that time. Then, when I had been using the camera and downloading photos from the camera, suddenly I received a warning that there was "no memory card" in the camera. I had not removed the memory card. I wrote to Canon Customer Service, followed their detailed instructions for fixing the problem, but their directions were completely flawed and could not fix the problem. I see from others comments that this camera only lasts several years--I believe Canon should build a product that lasts and doesnt have to be replaced so frequently.
On: 2007-07-18
I was given a Canon A80 as a gift 2+ years ago. I actually used it happily for that time. Then, when I had been using the camera and downloading photos from the camera, suddenly I received a warning that there was "no memory card" in the camera. I had not removed the memory card. I wrote to Canon Customer Service, followed their detailed instructions for fixing the problem, but their directions were completely flawed and could not fix the problem. I see from others comments that this camera only lasts several years--I believe Canon should build a product that lasts and doesnt have to be replaced so frequently.
 On: 2007-06-23
Like many other reviewers, I loved this camera until it recently stopped working. It keeps telling me to change the battery pack and turns off after a few seconds. This is after I put in new batteries. The support center told me that it would be over $100 to fix and that if I send it in, I will be offered an upgrade to a reconditioned A530 for only $125.00. I checked the Amazon price and the A530 sells new for $119.00!! I guess Ill discard the A80 and try another brand.
On: 2006-11-19
I have taken countless pictures of 6 grandchildren for over 3 years without a single problem! 6 yr old granddaughter loves to run around taking lots of pictures with it and have to say this is NOT a fragile camera. Want to find another to give to an 8 year old for Christmas. LOVE this camera... especially like the vari-angle LCD monitor. It really helps to keep the monitor from being damaged.
On: 2006-09-12
I have used this phone for about 3 years (ive taken close to 1500 photos and about 30 video clips) and its still the best phone Ive ever owned! Durable and utilitarian, it satisfies all amateur photographic needs (takes zoom, panorama, night shots, b/w, sepia, self-timed.) The video function though limited & grainy is useful for short recordings. The screen is small, but thats a minor disadvantage. Its a little bulky, but still small enough to fit in your pocket (a big pocket), though it is heavy. The price is very reasonable. Battery life is only adequate (4 AA).
Two absolute additional accessories and add-ins- the Samsonite camera case (see my other reviews) and a larger memory card (at least 512 MB). The 32 MB card that comes with the phone is useless.
Highly recommended....
On: 2006-09-11
We used this camera for taking general purpose family pictures. Nice design and good feature set. At 2yr mark it completely stopped saving pictures to CF card. I cant find any information on canon site. Bummer, I was really hoping to upgrade to a EOS this year. Probably no more Canons for me.
On: 2006-08-04
We had our PowerShot A80 less than 2 years and the internal hardware failed so the camera could no longer take pictures....despite the fact that we took excellent care of it. Same problem as others have reported -- the image sensor apparently failed because the camera would only take totally BLACK IMAGES. You could only see a black blackground through the LCD viewfinder when the power was on.
We paid several hundred dollars for this camera and it didnt even last 2 years! Canon does NOT stand behind their cameras when they fail after one year so their tech support line told us that we would have to pay the shipping and repair costs which are quite expensive. We will NOT pay Canon another penny in the future when we buy cameras, photo printers, etc.
Save yourself a lot of frustration and expense -- buy another brand of camera!
On: 2006-03-16
I have always brought Canon products because I find them to be good quality products for the money. This camera is no exception it take superb pics (it is just awesome) and it is worth the money paid. Need a great digital camera try canon, you wont be disappointed.
On: 2006-02-12
I have had this camera for two years. It was a very good camera until recently. It began to intermittantly show only black through the camera and only take black pictures. Now, the camera will not work at all. Canon thinks it is a harware problem and it will be expensive and time consuming to fix. The camera has been well treated and never dropped or exposed to harsh conditions. I expected more from Canon. You can bet that my next camera will not be a Canon!
On: 2005-11-11
The camera took good pictures in various lighting conditions. Color balance good as reported by various reviews. Shutter lag is annoyingly slow as reported by others. But the biggest complaint is the camera stopped working right before a big vacaction. The camera was only two years old with less than 500 pictures taken. The camera simply stopped taking pictures as if the shutter was stuck in the close position. The camera does seem fragile. I would think twice now before purchasing another Canon.
On: 2005-09-30
this error does indeed exist for those you that still doubt. i purchased this camera in july of last year and just last week, the camera lens stopped retracting and the screen displayed the dreaded "e18" code. approximately 2 months after the one year warranty ran out...so just about right on schedule so that canon wont fix it nor acknowledge the seemingly widespread existence of it. cameras shoudlnt break this easily with normal use.
 On: 2005-09-20
We love our A80, so when the LCD screen cracked after a fall, we were bummed. We decided to send it in to Canon through their online repair service system. It was GREAT! They charge a flat rate of $108 no matter what the problem is. They replaced the screen, and I just got it back today ... about 1 week after they received it. I wish I hadnt waited a few months to do it.
On: 2005-09-02
This camera is almost perfect. I have owned this camera for almost 2 years and it performs as promosed so far. It is a little heavier than other models, but the use of AA batteries is one of the best features! So no complaints.
However, the image quality is a little weak when using with the flash. But I suppose you cant really ask that much at this price range and it seems to be a weakness for most digital cameras anyway. The flaxible viewing window is also excellent and Ii is clearly visible outdoors. Although the viewing LCD is a little smaller, but it also helps on the battery life, so again, no complaints. The image quality is in general pretty good under normal light conditions. The only drawback is that the nine-piont focus cannot be manually adjuested.
Overall, this is an excellent and durable camera.
On: 2005-08-09
This camera takes terrific shots and is easy to operate. The memory cards are affordable and the feature set is robust enough even for advanced photographers. The swivel screen is a nice addition and I have used it more than I thought I would. The only thing I would change would be to increase the display size to that of the competition (this kept me from giving it 5 stars).
On: 2005-06-08
Lifelon Canon customer (I have had an EOS SLR for about 10 years now with no complaints). This camera is absolutely wonderful, but Im concerned about the quality. Ive had it about a year, and its been great up until recently when the lens got buggy. The memory card door and battery doors are now loose, and the lens has trouble sometimes closing. At this point in the digital camera game, Im ready to upgrade to a digital SLR, but Im ready to look at brands other than Canon.
On: 2005-05-21
I bought this camera over a year ago and I have taken some totally awesome shots with it. So far I have shot about 5000 pictures, and it still works like brand new. Everybody in my family wants a new camera so they can take pictures as good as this camera. Canon has been in the photography business for years, and they know what they are doing. As long as you choose a Canon, you will be in good shape. The rest is up to features.
I have used the movie feature to record my cousins play. They say you cant use the zoom while you are recording, but if you zoom before you start recording it will stay zoomed.
I very seldom use the fully auto setting, instead I use the Program AE and keep the ISO set at 50 with the flash off. Make sure you always set your white balance before shooting pictures. If you do this, your pictures will look as lifelike as possible.
The only drawback about the camera for me is the small maximum aperature size. When zoomed out all the way its fine, but when I zoom in I have lost shots because I couldnt use a flash and keep the same look to the pictures.
On: 2005-05-13
Ive been very happy with my purchase of this camera. This is my first digital, which I researched before buying. I used to own a Minolta film SLR, which was also a nice camera. But, this Canon for "normal" prints (5x7 or so) is about as good as that Minolta was. And because its digital, Im saving $$ over a film camera.
I expect this to be my "bread and butter" camera. The everyday, pictures of the nephew and niece camera. When I can afford it, Ill get a digital rebel.
Also when I can afford it, Ill get a Canon printer. Maybe two: one for the desktop, and a second portable one. Seems to me that a portable printer with this camera is about as close to a Polaroid as the digital world has to offer.
It will take you some practice to learn how to hold the camera steady. Two tricks Ive discovered. 1 - buy a little tripod. For about $10 you can get an 8" or so tripod which is great for estting the camera up on a table or car or whatever. 2 - use the 2 second delay so that pressing the button does not interfere with the shutters movement. Im not at all sure this "problem" is unique to this camera, I suspect its true with most digital point-and-shoots.
This camera is not very big, in fact its smaller than many film point and shoot cameras Ive seen, but Ive found that some people prefer something smaller. Id suspect the Elf would make most people happy.
On: 2005-03-24
Ive had my A80 since November of 2003 and Im still happy about my choice. There are so many positive things about this camera that I dont know where to start. The colors are extremely vivid, the macro is crisp, the flip out screen is an added bonus plus the camera gives you so many choices for every picture taking senario that it makes for a great picture no matter what. The digital zoom doesnt pixel out like most so its great for closeups. Its one of the only cameras out there in its price range that has the option of a lens upgrade. Ive read most of the reviews and as for the negative ones: Read the manual. Study the camera. Its been over a year and Im still learning. If youre looking for a basic point and shoot this isnt exactly the camera you should choose. The salepeople will tell you its a great camera for a newbie but it isnt. The construction is better than some of the reviews. Mine has been dropped probably 50 times and I havent had one thing go wrong. Ive found that it works best with a Canon printer as well.
On: 2005-02-01
After 10 months use, I noticed the top cap was coming loose.I sent the camera back to Canon to get it fixed before something went really bad. Canon said I dropped the camera on its top left which made the cap loose. After our confrontation on the phone and they wanted $155.00 dollars to fix it ,I said dont fix it send it back. After I received it back from Canon, I noticed I had a dent on the bottom left of the camera, then after I started taking pictures again , the button you push to take the pictures fell off .I wouldnt buy another Canon they dont stand behind their product. Luckly the store I bought it from will let me trade it in for a Kodak!!!
On: 2004-12-22
Great pictures, many features, overall easy to use. The flip out screen was very convenient on vacation when having to shoot pictures over the heads of people in front of me. I just flipped it out and tilted it. Great camera! The Powershot A95 is the more recent upgrade so you might want to look into this model as well. Only drawback-- it is a little heavier than some other models since you use 4 AA batteries. The perk to that would be that these batteries can be found anywhere (even out in the middle of no where) which can be a plus when on a long trip. Love it!
On: 2004-12-10
I have been using this camera for 10 months now. It has given me no trouble at all. Batteries last well. There is enough sophistication built in if you want to be more professional. But it is also very user-friendly for the novices. The quality of photos is exceptional. The reversable LCD is good because a) it conserves battery, b) it protects the screen, and c) it allows you to take selfportraits without the guesswork.
The ability to take 3 minute movies with sound has proved invaluable for documenting classic moments at Madonna dance parties.
The camera is light, and not too big. Sure, there are smaller ones, but for the price and the feautres, I for one could not ask for more.
All in all, a great camera.
My one tiny gripe is that I wish I could make the flash less bright. At times, the flas can wash out an image, but I find that if I use the high speed setting without flash, I can get a great picture 80% of the time.
On: 2004-12-08
I have owned this camera for over six months now and I am very impressed. There are a ton of features to customize nearly every aspect of your shot composition. However, there is a very easy to use point-and-shoot mode as well that functions well.
This four megapixel camera produces images that are beautiful. They are of such quality that enlargement prints of 8 x 10 or even 11 x 14 are possible with no image degredation.
This camera does pack a lot of features into a fairly compact package. I really like the fact that this camera uses AA batteries. I purchased some rechargeable NiMH batteries and a quick charger and I have been VERY impressed so far as to the battery life of the A80. I have taken well over 100 shots most with flash and the LCD display illuminated and the batteries still had juice.
A wonderful feature on this camera is the flip out LCD display. This may be the most underrated feature on the camera. The display is capable of flipping out, rotating and pivoting so you can hold the camera in all sorts of creative positions but have the display adjusted so you can see it.
The image quality that this camera produces never fails to impress. Nearly every time I am showing someone some shots I took with the A80, they make comments like, "How come my camera doesnt take pictures that good?". Colors are rich and the contrast is very good.
There are only a couple of negative points about the A80 that I have discovered. There is a slight delay between the time you press the shutter button (button to take the picture) and the time the camera actually snaps that picture. Its probably less than 1/2 second, but occasionally when I have wanted to snap a quick shot of something moving, it was unable to capture it in time. Not a huge problem, but if you plan to shoot a lot of action pictures, this may be a consideration.
Overall, I would definately recommend this camera. Comparing features, picture quality and price, the Canon A80 is a fantastic value and should be considered by anyone interested in a low-mid range digital camera.
On: 2004-12-07
I love this camera!!! It took me a long time to get up the nerve to invest in a digital, but I have no regrets about this one in the least, and I am thrilled at my picture quality. A couple of things: I havent tried it with lenses yet. A friend has the A70 and has used a macro lense on it; she didnt think it worked as well as it should... I dont know if Canon A80 will have similar issues, but the macro shots on the A80 without lenses are good enough I dont think I care! Plus, even the capability of using additional lenses on a camera this size and price blows me away. The flip-out screen is Worth It. Yes, that cute little addition is actually worthwhile. Go for it. The automatic setting on this is great -- I havent improved on it (but will try the P setting adjustment mentioned in another review - thankyou!), but the landscape, portrait, and different color settings are great additions. Ive only had this camera 9 months, but I have already learned a ton about photography, and this camera challenges me to keep improving! It has plenty of room to grow on! This camera is easy to understand, very adaptable, allows all the control one can expect in a camera at this level and then some -- and most of all, makes beautiful pictures even with no effort at all. Buy It! Buy It!
On: 2004-12-04
I shopped for weeks to find an affordable digital camera that would perform well, and I found it with the A80. It is a nice compact size, easy to understand, and performs well. And you can purchase additional lenses for even more features. I would recommend any of the "A" series Canons.
On: 2004-12-03
I shopped for weeks to find an affordable digital camera that would perform well, and I found it with the A80. It is a nice compact size, easy to understand, and performs well. And you can purchase additional lenses for even more features. I would recommend any of the "A" series Canons.
On: 2004-11-29
When i received mine it was made in China. The earlier models were from Japan and they are different. you can tell just by comparing the two. Performance so far OK
On: 2004-11-29
I love this camera. I bought it for myself about six months ago. It takes fantastic pictures, great video with sound. Im a (very) amateur photographer, but this camera has encouraged me to learn more. It has so many features, and is virtually idiot-proof. I love the optical zoom, the flip-out LCD screen. Everyone Ive used this camera around always asks to see it. Both my brothers bought one after seeing the pictures I took of their kids after our last family gathering. I give this camera my highest rating!
On: 2004-10-22
This is by far the best digital camera I have ever used. I also bought the underwater housing. This camera is great for underwater pictures and the quality is excelent.
On: 2004-10-21
This is by far the best digital camera I have ever used. I also bought the underwater housing. This camera is great for underwater pictures and the quality is excelent.
On: 2004-10-17
From an amateur who has never had a digital camera before, I LOVE the A80! I purchased the camera to simply take pictures of our new baby and easily email them to family and friends.
Initially, I appreciated the auto-focus feature, swivel LCD screen and 4 mega pixels to print great large-size photos (up to 11x14" photo quality).
After owning the camera for 5 months, Ive discovered many more features worth using -- portrait mode, night scene shooting, short videos (a few minutes long with memory card upgrade), black and white, and even manual exposure shooting. The cons of this camera are few (see below).
PROS
* Easy to use for an amateur, but has additional features for more advanced photographers
* Lightweight, extremely portable and feels solid
* Great swivel LCD screen changes the angles of the shot without moving the camera itself
* Can turn flash and red-eye mode on and off quickly
* Has a "one touch" close-up focus mode
* Has a self-timer mode (2 and 10 seconds)
* USB hook-up to download your photos to your PC is simple (even for computer-challenged folks)
* The bundled software is decent enough for the average persons purposes
CONS
* You will need to upgrade the low-space 32MB memory card to 256MB CompactFlash card (budget approx. $50-$70 for this)
* The pause between shots (called "recycle time") seems long when trying to capture several shots quickly
* Does seem to eat regular batteries quickly (needs 4 AAs). I advise buying rechargeables.
* Does not come with a camera case
I did a lot of research and recieved glowing recommendations from several friends when buying this camera. I would definitely purchase this camera again.
On: 2004-09-22
The A80 is a wonderfully simple-to-use digital camera, yet has all the manual adjustments a semi-professional (or serious amateur) photographer could ever want. I bought this about six months ago as a replacement for my Canon A40, which also produced amazingly good quality pics, but is only 2.0 megapixels. The A80 is 4.0 MP, which gives you the headroom to create slightly larger prints, at least up to 8 X 10 with excellent quality.
Canon has rethought the user interface on the A80, and the camera is simple to use. The "Auto" setting works quite well for many occasions, but there are plenty of setting for special situations, or complete manual control if you want it. There are even two user-customizable settings. Forget the 32MB CF card the camera comes with- get yourself a couple of 256 or 512MB cards, and youll be set for a weeks worth of vacation snaps.
The A80 uses a lot of battery power, so a set of alkaline AAs should be used only as emergency back-up. (Its also handy that theyre sold in every store all over the world.) But get yourself a set or two of Powerex 2300 mah rechargeables and a MAHA charger, and you will get 800-1000 charges on each set. For about $50, youll have battery power for at least five years! Get your batteries from Thomas Distributing (easily found on the web)- they are good people and very knowledgeable and reliable.
Using the camera with the LCD screen shut off saves a lot of battery power. Good for when youre being touristy and dont need to review every shot. The swiveling LCD screen is very handy for shooting over crowds, pets and small children, and the inevitable self-portrait. Its nicest feature is that it swivels closed so the screen is shielded by the camera body. Get some of those little plastic protectors anyway, for $5 the LCD screen will remain in like-new condition for years.
The Canon A80 is an EASY-TO-USE camera, shooting EXCELLENT QUALITY pictures in AUTO mode, with complete MANUAL ADJUSTABILITY. It is highly recommended for anyone.
On: 2004-09-16
I did a lot of research on the internet prior to purchasing my first digital camera and Im glad I did. I highly recommend this camera to anyone, whether a seasoned pro who wants a nice, pocket-sized camera or a beginner who needs a little experience taking quality pictures. I highly advise anyone who hasnt owned a digital camera to take a lot of shots before using it for something important. I found it to be quite different from a film camera and it took a little getting used to. Once I got the hang of it, however, I was glad I took all of those "wasted" shots. I recently returned from a trip to England. All in all, I took anywhere between 500 and 600 pictures, but some of the shots are so amazing that they could be postcard material. My neighbor, who is a professional photographer, was so impressed with the color and clarity I was able to get with this little camera that she is thinking about getting it for the times she doesnt feel like lugging her heavy camera equipment around. The only down side to this camera is what I feel to be a slow "reset" after each shot. I couldnt really get a quick sequence of shots on some things that I really wanted to, but luckily the quality of the pictures I did get almost negates the necessity for it. Ive had this camera about 3 months and I still have many gadgets that I havent discovered, but so far Ive been impressed.
On: 2004-09-15
I did a lot of research on the internet prior to purchasing my first digital camera and Im glad I did. I highly recommend this camera to anyone, whether a seasoned pro who wants a nice, pocket-sized camera or a beginner who needs a little experience taking quality pictures. I highly advise anyone who hasnt owned a digital camera to take a lot of shots before using it for something important. I found it to be quite different from a film camera and it took a little getting used to. Once I got the hang of it, however, I was glad I took all of those "wasted" shots. I recently returned from a trip to England. All in all, I took anywhere between 500 and 600 pictures, but some of the shots are so amazing that they could be postcard material. My neighbor, who is a professional photographer, was so impressed with the color and clarity I was able to get with this little camera that she is thinking about getting it for the times she doesnt feel like lugging her heavy camera equipment around. The only down side to this camera is what I feel to be a slow "reset" after each shot. I couldnt really get a quick sequence of shots on some things that I really wanted to, but luckily the quality of the pictures I did get almost negates the necessity for it. Ive had this camera about 3 months and I still have many gadgets that I havent discovered, but so far Ive been impressed.
On: 2004-09-12
I got this Canon A80 about a month ago. I was a little disapointed a litlle bit because of the pictures quality comparing to my Olympus (C5050). After trying many difference shooting modes; manual, Tv (you set the shuttle speed and the camera will select the proper aperture), Av (apeture priority), and Auto, the pictures are good but not great (pictures came out like the 35mm Canon Sureshot instead of SLR quality like my C5050). Yesterday, I set the camera on the P mode (program)and adjust the exposure compensation by +1/2, BANG!! voila the photos came out perfect awsomely colorful and details (very close to my C5050!!). This setting also works exellent with backlight; I use this mode a lot to shoot the travel photos because it give my kid faces more relaxing look (the flash fire up automaticaly!!). Mission acomplished!!! I just got an awsome back up. The Con. on this camera is the 9 point auto focus system; sometime it locks on the wrong subject; but this is only a minor thing, you can do the half click again until you have it right. I give this one a 5+ for the picture quality. This camera required a learning curve but so does my C5050. If you dont have one yet, this will be the great choice.
On: 2004-09-09
I love this camera since it has all the features you would want..
The swivel screen helped in a lot of ways to take pictures from different positions.
Pictures are crisp, clear
Gives decent battery life
Has lot of options to customize and get great photos
On: 2004-09-04
I bought this camera little over a month ago. I am very happy with the results. For best use, i recommend buying rechargeable batteries, such as the ones from energizer, 8 total. They last a long time per charge, and you always have an extra set. If you plan on taking large pictures, i also recommend buying a larger card, i have a 256MB, but 128MB does the job fine as well. I have heard some concerns about the rubber part of the USB connection, and its really no big deal if you take care of it, it plugs neatly back into place. I also recommend buying an USB card reader, such as the dazzle. This helps you not drain your cameras batteries while downloading pictures onto your computer. There are two problems with this camera, neither of which are a problem. First, it is fairly large, compared to the elf and other cameras, but it is not HUGE, it is smaller than a typical film camera, yet 100000 times better. The only other problem is sharing the pictures, if you have a slow connection. to solve this, just take smaller shots, simple as that. All in all an awesome camera, especailly for the price
to see some of the work ive done with this camera, i have them uploaded onto this website: http://worldisround.com/home/grantb18/index.html
On: 2004-09-03
I bought this camera in December 2003 -- and I am so glad I did! I have shot hundreds of photos with this camera -- and the best thing ever is NOT paying for the ones that suck. (DELETE!) I love the quality of this camera, and the size is pretty good. I didnt get to hold it in my hand until I bought it -- and sometimes wish Id opted for the Powershot just so it would fit in my pocket without a bulge (Im sure my cargo-pants-wearing boyfriend would appreciate my being able to carry my own camera as well). That being said -- the only complaint I have -- is that it takes too long to snap pictures. Ive missed tons of shots because the camera cant move fast enough. A friend has an HP digicam, and if she presses it half-way it focuses -- and then presses again, it takes the shot IMMEDIATELY. I really wish this one did that. But now I know what thing to look for when I upgrade someday to an SLR-style digicam.
On: 2004-09-03
I feel like Im the last person to convert to digital cameras, but Im glad I waited and found the Canon Powershot A80 at supersale price. I knew there had to be a catch, so I did my research and checked up on reviews by both customers and professionals. I wanted something easy to use, but not something cheap that would only last me a few months. My studies showed that there was no catch, this camera had the features Ive been looking for but could not afford. This was definitely the right choice for me.
The 4.0 megapixel A80 is the perfect camera for a beginner who does not want to look like one. In addition to its sleek style, its easy to use (point and shoot) but also has features that I yet have to learn. Im very impressed with the quality of the photos as they came out bright, sharp and vivid. I dont understand the complaints about the battery life (from many reviews) as Ive taken over 100 photos during my vacation and Im still on my first batch of batteries (love the AA batteries!). Just be sure to turn off your camera when its not in use. I also enjoy the tilting/swivel LCD screen which allows you to shoot from different angles. All my friends seem to envy that feature in particular. Its also small enough to carry around but not too small that it would be easy to lose/misplace. It also has a movie mode with sound, but I havent tried that yet.
The only cons I have with the camera (but I can live with) is that the monitor seems too small and its hard to see images in daylight. I wish it had more zoom as well. The CF door seems very fragile and each time I open it, I feel like its going to fall off.
Other than that, I highly recommend the A80 to those who are new to digital cameras but would like the extra features of a more advanced camera. Wonderful, brand-name camera for a low price. Look out for bargains!
On: 2004-09-03
I bought this camera little over a month ago. I am very happy with the results. For best use, i recommend buying rechargeable batteries, such as the ones from energizer, 8 total. They last a long time per charge, and you always have an extra set. If you plan on taking large pictures, i also recommend buying a larger card, i have a 256MB, but 128MB does the job fine as well. I have heard some concerns about the rubber part of the USB connection, and its really no big deal if you take care of it, it plugs neatly back into place. I also recommend buying an USB card reader, such as the dazzle. This helps you not drain your cameras batteries while downloading pictures onto your computer. There are two problems with this camera, neither of which are a problem. First, it is fairly large, compared to the elf and other cameras, but it is not HUGE, it is smaller than a typical film camera, yet 100000 times better. The only other problem is sharing the pictures, if you have a slow connection. to solve this, just take smaller shots, simple as that. All in all an awesome camera, especailly for the price
to see some of the work ive done with this camera, i have them uploaded onto this website: http://worldisround.com/home/grantb18/index.html
On: 2004-08-20
This camera is pretty much everything you will ever need for 98% of all your picture taking needs. The picures are crisp and full of color. I was highly impressed by how the auto focus fixed lighting problems and knew when to utilize the flash or not. Wonderful feel in the hand and the LCD screen on a swivel is one of the best features youll find on a digital camera. Finally you can take a picture of yourself and a friend (while pointing the camera at you) and you can see exactly what you are taking. Marvelous!
The software for this product is all self-activating. You plug your camera in, download you pics, and then manipulate them if you wish. So easy its scary. I was looking at the Casio line for is small size and couldnt be happier I went with the Canon A80. I was worried about indoor pictures coming out darker (as with the apparent problem with the Casio line), I NEVER had a problem.
I am sure people could come up with this and that for why one camera is better than this one, but for the money and the tools, this is the BEST overall camera, period DOT.
On: 2004-08-19
Absolutely great user friendly camera. Pictures taken are nice and crisp and colorful. Very nice for a beginner. Software is very user friendly also. Lightweight, easy to carry. Love it!!
On: 2004-08-18
Absolutely great user friendly camera. Pictures taken are nice and crisp and colorful. Very nice for a beginner. Software is very user friendly also. Lightweight, easy to carry. Love it!!
On: 2004-08-17
First of all i want to thank Amazon.com for there reliable shipping. This is my first time ordering online and was hoping i could get my Canon A80 on my Sons Birthday, and Amazon didnt disappoint me. All of the good review for this camera are all correct and much more. I love the display view and also the type of shooting modes and functions. The 3 minutes video record is also good enough to manage all my clips, aside from other camera who only offer 30 secs clips.
All in all if youre looking for the best brand and model + affordable price, i recommend you this Canon A80.
On: 2004-08-16
My new Canon A80 showed up at my doorstep the day before hurricane Charley did the same thing. Fast delivery and timely.
I can tell you from experiance that is does a fine job in low light and catches the action of wind blowing outside of a window during a hurricane. Excellent value and very good results. I needed something in place of my Nikon D70 for trips where I didnt want to carry a larger bulky camera but one that was reliable and very good. The A80 did the job just fine. Very happy with it. The software works well and is easy to use. Impressive images and the price is less than 1/2 the cost of the last point and shoot type camera I bought 4 years ago. Id recomend it to anyone who wants a great point and shoot.
On: 2004-08-16
This is an excellent camera. The only reason I give it fewer stars is because of potential quality issues (yet to be determined). Canon recently changed all production for this model to China. The general perception is that Made in Japan is of much better quality. Regardless as to the truth of the perseption, it is very true that things made in China are made at a much much lower cost to thing made in Japan. So far my camera has functioned well, however only time will tell. I feel cheated since all my research (online, in stores, etc) was based on the Made in Japan version. People will tell you they are identical, however that is usually not the case. Even if the parts are the same the quality control usually differs.
I feel cheated by Canon and retailers by this change. The main point is to realize that if you are ordering a new one now that it will be Made in China.
On: 2004-08-16
First of all i want to thank Amazon.com for there reliable shipping. This is my first time ordering online and was hoping i could get my Canon A80 on my Sons Birthday, and Amazon didnt disappoint me. All of the good review for this camera are all correct and much more. I love the display view and also the type of shooting modes and functions. The 3 minutes video record is also good enough to manage all my clips, aside from other camera who only offer 30 secs clips.
All in all if youre looking for the best brand and model + affordable price, i recommend you this Canon A80.
On: 2004-08-15
I purchased this camera for my fiance who is going to Iraq for the military. I wanted to get her a camera that would take very good pictures, but at the same time be at a reasonable price. For several months, I have researched other cameras through independent sources (Consumer Reports recommends the Canon A80) and have found this camera to be the perfect one.
Well, I cant be happier! The camera is very well built and perfect in size. Although some say the LCD screen is on the smaller size, I think it is fine. I have NO problem at all viewing the menu or pictures. Also, the swivel ability is great. If for any chance you are in a crowded area and need to take a picture over someones head, the swivel option allows you to hold the camera high above your head and at the same time point the LCD screen downwards for you to see. Its an excellent option! The 4.0 megapixels is also awesome. The quality of the pictures are excellent and comparable to higher megapixel cameras. Plus, you can take a video of up to 3 minutes long with sound.
Overall, I totally recommend this camera. You cannot beat the price and quality, and the camera is great for beginners.
One thing I recommend is buying a higher capacity storage card (Sandisk 512MB is what I bought through Amazon) and also a battery charger. Other than that, do not hesitate to purchase!
On: 2004-08-13
This camera is absolutely amazing. Whether you are a point and shoot person or a budding amateur, this camera is for you. The camera has preconfigured settings for different situations (i.e. Portrait, Landscape, Night time, etc.) and the menus are easy to navigate as well. If youre becoming more of an amateur photographer, there are also custom settings that you can save.
The image quality is superb and the flip out screen has turned out to be surprisingly useful. You can take your own picture or lift the camera above your head (like at concerts) and still be able to see what your shot would look like. The LCD is a bit small, but it still gets the job done.
All in all this camera is extremely useful, easy to use, and worth the money. I highly recommend it.
On: 2004-08-05
I ordered the camera on the 1st of August and it arrived yesterday. Really very quick. Camera is really nice. Taken a few pictures and looks really good. Also you need battery charger, just to let you know.
On: 2004-08-04
I shopped around for months and have had this camera now since February. It has been fantastic! I love the size (not too small or large). The features are so neat. I have even used the tilting lcd screen much more than I ever thought I would. It is great to hold over your head when you arent tall enough- you can capture that shot without pushing through the crowd.
I print my pictures through York- they have come out fabulous! I havent been disappointed yet and Ive been shooting tons of pictures in all kinds of light- action and portrait.
The AA batteries will not last long so youll need a charger,but that was a very small investment. I put in the rechargable batteries and took probably 500 pictures before they had to be charged again.
On: 2004-08-04
ok, so I read all the reviews and decided to go for this camera. I could live with all the shortcomings - small lcd, heavy etc - except camera/picture quality.
I received the camera and found it was "Made in China". now I read some of the earlier reviews which warned against this one and had recommended "Made in Japan" but of course, I did not have a choice here. anyway, the camera was good in every respect except a small dark spot in the LCD which turned even darker and smaller - very noticable when zooming. it was almost like a dust spot on the lens! except the lens was clean and I double-cleaned it. it was like the dust spot was inside the lens. and must be quite some dust as it was very noticeable in every picture. (...)
I have requested a replacement and hope that the new piece is better - given all the home work I did on this model, I really want this to be good!
UPDATE 08/07/2004: Amazon promptly shipped me a replacement camera. and even though this one is also made in China, the lens dust issue is not there in this piece.
There is an occasional "vignette" issue i.e. if you take a picture against a white wall or sky, the corners come slightly darker than the center. I am told (by researching the web) that this is even an issue in semi professional cameras, so given that I must say this camera does quite a good job at it.
The flip out LCD is good, but resolution is poorer than other 1.5" LCD, for example the one in the S400/410 series.
Overall, I would rate the camera 4 stars, however, somehow Amazon does not allow me to update the rating. but then I would also rate my Canon S400 a 4 stars as well. given the price, this would be a 5!
On: 2004-08-04
Ordered the camera on July 25th and arrived on 29th. Really very quick. Camera is really nice. Taken a few pictures and look good. Main drawbacks are CF card, which is 32MB which comes with the card. need atleast 256MB. Also u need battery cahrger. Instead of 4AA batteries, Canon can give atleast 4 Ni-MH batteries.
On: 2004-08-03
Ordered the camera on July 25th and arrived on 29th. Really very quick. Camera is really nice. Taken a few pictures and look good. Main drawbacks are CF card, which is 32MB which comes with the card. need atleast 256MB. Also u need battery cahrger. Instead of 4AA batteries, Canon can give atleast 4 Ni-MH batteries.
On: 2004-08-03
I have had a Canon s100 2.1 megapixel for the past 3 years and loved it, but wanted to get something that had more manuel controls, better resolution etc. I made the mistake of trying a Sony DSC W1 first, I was solid on all of its features and 2.5" LCD, but returned it after 3 days of shooting very soft/fuzzy pictures. So I went for the Canon A80, $100+ less, loads of features, great pictures! The A80 doesnt have the big LCD but does have one that flips out and rotates 180 degrees so you can always see what your shooting. Also, if you have small children that you can never get to look at the camera, just flip out the screen so they can see themselves, works AWESOME. I have only had this camera for a few days, but the first couple of dozen pictures have been great. Plus you can get wide angle and telephoto lens that you can attach with an adapter. The other great thing with the Canon is the software, it is simply one of the best in the business, the Sonys is terrible. I could not be happier with my purchase now.
On: 2004-08-02
I have had a Canon s100 2.1 megapixel for the past 3 years and loved it, but wanted to get something that had more manuel controls, better resolution etc. I made the mistake of trying a Sony DSC W1 first, I was solid on all of its features and 2.5" LCD, but returned it after 3 days of shooting very soft/fuzzy pictures. So I went for the Canon A80, $100+ less, loads of features, great pictures! The A80 doesnt have the big LCD but does have one that flips out and rotates 180 degrees so you can always see what your shooting. Also, if you have small children that you can never get to look at the camera, just flip out the screen so they can see themselves, works AWESOME. I have only had this camera for a few days, but the first couple of dozen pictures have been great. Plus you can get wide angle and telephoto lens that you can attach with an adapter. The other great thing with the Canon is the software, it is simply one of the best in the business, the Sonys is terrible. I could not be happier with my purchase now.
On: 2004-07-30
My only regret is that the Amazon price fell $55 in the 2 months since I bought it from here. But I suppose thats just the way it goes with technology (though a $55 drop in 2 months (about 17%) is a bit drastic even for technology).
Technically, its a great camera. Snap it up for $275, which is what its going for now. Great pictures, easy to use.
You should also get a case for it, and you should get rechargeable lithium AA batteries. And you need to get a 256MB Compactflash card - the included one is absolutely irrelevant, and is only good for about 20 pictures at the good resolution.
On: 2004-07-26
After using the A80 for about 2 weeks, I am very happy with my purchase decision.
The nicest things about this A80 camera are:
1) The canon lens give very clear pictures with good natural color [especially in day light];
2) It uses AA type battery for power. Although the alkaline battery give poor power, the high capacity AA NiMH rechargeable batteries last at least 200 picture talking with LCD on.
But in emergency situations, (you have choice) you can pick up some AA alkaline batteries in gas stations or supermarkets;
3) Its metal case is good to hold and look at (most digicams, under $300) dont have enough metal on them.
4) Canon A80 can allow us to get the lens adapter and matching lens to do wide-angle, closs-up shoot;
5) Its 270 degree swivel LCD screen is very very useful when shooting pictures at some odds position, like shooting an object behind a crowd of people or fences;
6) Its 4.0 megapixel resolution and 3X optical allow user to print good clear pics at least 8x11 size. for a camera under$300;
7)A80 has extra mode like: aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual mode to shoot pics. They are very handy for advance skilled users to take pics in all different situations;
8) A80 uses Compact flash memory card, CF card is the most popular flash memory card and you can always get CF card at very good prices online.
I use windows xp to install canon A80 software and driver, never have problem to download or what so ever. If people blame on Canon A80 driver or software, they should fix up their windows xp before bashing the camera.
My suggestion for all A80 owners: Get a CF card with at least 128MB capacity or 256MB if you plan to travel with A80 for days.
Always use NIMH rechargeable battery to save money in the long run. You can get 4 AA NiMH batteries and fast charger from Walmart or Target for around $20.
I owned Canon A40 before, I loved and used the old A40 for 2 years. But this new A80 is a gem, and the $280 I spent on this camera will give me years of pleasure.
On: 2004-07-22
I bought this camera as a present for myself Christmas of 2003. Ive been very pleased with it since then. I really have never taken pictures before other than straight point and shoot standard cameras. This camera allowed me to switch to digital (which I love) and try out some of the more advanced settings. While I havent ventured too far from the preset options, I do enjoy being able to zoom and flip a switch to get the camera ready for a nighttime shot or an action shot. Two things that Ive realized I didnt know enough about before purchasing the camera include:
Zoom: The 3x zoom doesnt zoom nearly as much as I thought it would - but that is an error on my part, not Canons.
Action Shots: I took some photos at an indoor basketball game and was disappointed in the quality of the photos. A friend of mine who understands much more about photography explained some various things to me that once again, points to the fault lying with me and my expections.
I have been very pleased with photos that I have printed on my fairly inexpensive inkjet printer. Ill even frame a couple to put up.
I would purchase this camera again and recommend it for people looking for a digital camera (possibly even a first digital camera) to take the majority of standard shots.
On: 2004-07-13
This is an amazing camera that never fails to come up with a great picture. I am far from a pro. but this cameras function and quality enable me to take shots that look good anyway. It even has a quality mic. that allows you to record and add sound to a picture. The only gripe I have with it is that in order to actually use it for more than a day you have to purchase expensive rechargable batteries.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-12
When I bought it 3 months back, everything looked good...now, my pictures come dark under indoor lighting...after doing some checks, I found that the flash is not working...it works ok in outdoor day light...now, I have to see, whether I can get this fixed under warranty...By the way, I am surprised that the price dropped from $350 to $270 in 2 months, on Amazon! Any particular reason!!I am yet to test how the digital prints are...when, I got some 10 prints printed in a small shop, they were not as good as the non-digital camera prints...also, they are not as good as they look on the camera LCD screen...I dont know whether I can expect atleast same kind of prints as non-digital/film camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-09
I initially had the Nikon Coolpix 3100 and had a warranty and the front of the lens broke off so I went back to the store to exchange and I was told that it was no longer sold. The new model was 3200, well I spotted the Canon A80 Power shot and I ran home to read reviews on the camera before I bought it. Its a little heavier than the Coolpix, but it has so many wonderful features. I did a comparison of the two and I feel as though the Canon is a wonderful choice. Not being a professional photographer, I wanted a camera that I could just aim and shoot and get quality pictures without a lot of work. My Canon also has a lot of scenery modes which have helped me tremendously. The quality of the pictures are awesome and you dont have to put a lot of effort into it. My boyfriend took some pictures in the park and it was like the color was just coming through the camera. My one negative is that some of the indoor shots are a little dark, but you can learn to adjust your settings and lighten them up. Also, the software is wonderful. I am having a ball making online movies and albums and just being creative. This is definitely a wise choice that will make the user happy.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-07
I paid about $270 for this camera. Really nice picture quality. You can use rechargable AA battery for this camera, which is nice. Outdoor pictures are great, but sometimes the indoor picture is not that bright. Overall if you are paying less that $300, it should be a good deal.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-04
Nemrég vásároltam meg a gépet több operatõr kollegám tanácsára, és nem bántam meg. Nagyon pontos gép. nagyon szépen dolgozik. Ãrdemes a legnagyobb pixelszámmal dolgozni.
Viszont zabálja az elemeket, érdemes mielõbb 4 tölthetõ elemet vásárolni,
és egy 512MB os memoriakártyát.
Két hetes nyaralásom alatt rengeteg fotót készÃtettem, és még maradt is hely ezen a nagykapacitású kártyán.
Magyarországon jelenleg a készülék 69.000Ft-ért+ÃFA vásárolható meg. Ezt azért érdemes tudni!
On: 2004-07-01
Nice camera but mine was scattering red dots throughout the pictures. I bought it from Amazon two months ago. I had to package up and send my camera to the Canon Factory Service Center in Illinois 3 weeks ago, then surprisingly I get this repair estimate for $160, a return envlope, no return phone number that anyone answers, and I am to advise them to repair, dont repair or discard. What happened to the good old days of companies standing behind their products with a warranty?
Now I am on the treadmill. They wont give me a direct phone number to the Service Center, so I have to go through the 1-800 finger-punching-talk-to-three people transfer process. Three days of calling the Service Center and I have yet to get this issue resolved with anyone that knows anything. One guy promised to check on this problem and return my call within the hour. That was 48 hours ago. Wish me luck and beware of what you may have to go through.
On: 2004-06-28
I knew nothing about digital cameras, but after researching and reading many reviews, I decided on this one. I was also considering a Nikon and the full Kodak package with the printer dock.One clear standout feature is the LCD screen. I almost never even look through the viewfinder anymore. It allows you to take shots with much more ease and more quickly than you would with just a viewfinder. Another thing thats good is that you can use the auto feature if you dont want to have to worry about any details, just want point and shoot, or you can switch to many other modes if you want more control over things, as you learn how to use the advanced features. Thus, no matter how skilled you are, you can have great pictures. I also like that there are all sorts of easy to use effects, like sepia and black and white, panoramic/stitch together. You can be pretty artistic right away. You can also take 3 min. movies with sound. The software is easy to use. You just install it on the computer. The cables come for you to connect the camera to the a USB port, and when you do that and turn on the camera once the software is installed, it instantly recognizes the camera and asks if youre ready to download pictures. Once you do, they are saved to a folder and you can view them, manipulate and edit them, and even send them directly to an e-mail message. The program interacts directly with my MSN browser automatically. You can also create little booklets and albums and cards and things with the other software that comes with the camera. I cant wait to get a color printer cartridge and some photo paper to see how that works. You also get a cable to view your pictures on tv. BTW, a friend of mine has the Kodak system and is generally happy with the camera and quality of pictures, but said that the software often messes up on their system. I dont know if all software does this, but I like that you can take some pictures, download them, take some more pictures, and the software knows only to download the new ones even though the others are still on the card. Picture quality is typically excellent. I took some very casual pictures of my son just fooling around the house, and I was amazed at the clarity and color that was captured. His skin looked beautiful, and his pink lips and each long eyelash were captured stunningly, making me wish he didnt have on a juice-stained shirt. He seemed to look better on the picture than I even noticed him looking in person. I am sure that soon the house will have professionally developed photos of him all around it that Ive taken. Id highly recommend the camera to anyone who likes ease of picture taking and good results, plus the ability to grow as a photographer also. You will not be disappointed. One thing that I was concerned about after reading reviews was that the battery compartment hatch might be fragile. It isnt, you just have to follow the arrows telling you how to open and close it, because you have to slide a lever over and THEN lift, and theres a little spring so that when you close it, you have to push and then slide back over. It is different than other compartments, but you have to follow the instructions, and its not hard at all once you do it once. Dont let that scare you. It isnt flimsy at all, and its not going to break easily. You just cant be ham-handed with it and forge ahead without noting what you need to do first. I would buy the soft case for it, available for under 10 bucks I think on this site. I didnt go for the full kit because I found a fast charger that was cheaper, and NiMH batteries from anyplace will do. I have 8 NiMH batteries, and I keep one set charged and in the front pocket of the case and one set in the camera. These batteries last a good long time, but using the movie feature can eat through them more quickly. Im totally satisfied with this purchase.
On: 2004-06-27
So far Ive taken some wonderful snapshots using the automatic settings. Using the "functions" and "menus" has been a challenge-- there are too many buttons: set, menu, function, display for a gadget that is, for the most part menu driving.
On: 2004-06-26
This camera takes pretty good pictures once you figure out its unique quirks. Moving from one digital to another does take time to figure out the camera and how each camera will meter a scene. In manual mode this camera cant take the same beautiful pics as my Olympus C-2100UZ, but if I tweak the settings to compensate I can get shots just as good (without the long zoom of course). The automatic settings work extremely well, and Im happy with them. This camera has some unique features that make it stand out tall for me, being compact with a little heft it feels like a camera and yet fits in a cargo pants pocket. The camera uses AA batteries which are a big plus for me, as these are very generic and I could always buy or borrow when I run out. All the cameras in my house use AAs, so that reduces cost right there, and we never have to worry about one camera running out. The flip out LCD has gotten me some pics that I otherwise wouldve never been able to take... very nice.But the camera does something else, that I never thought I could say of a many digital cameras. It can take a licking a keep on ticking. I foolishly one day was walking with the camera strapped around my wrist and the camera went flying through the air, a mere 2 weeks after I bought it. It landed in the middle of the road, and I heard a crash and I had to look away as I thought there went a few hundred US dollars. When I picked it up, there were a few visible dents and the camera looked like it wanted to rest in peace. The body pressed basck into place with a few finger presses, and the dents remained on the edges, but the camera started with no problems to either the lens, internal electronics, CCD or the LCD. That flip out LCD comes in handy at times like these to protect your screen. The Canon kept on ticking! For that alone, Ill give this camera 5 stars.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-21
The A80 is an impressive camera, but most typical snap shot users will find it a bit frustrating. First, it takes a long time to get an exposure reading and focus in AUTO mode. And for those who are trying to shoot children, this will be a BIG problem. Secondly, when shooting an MPEG, you get lots of time but the zoom doesnt work during shooting and the exposure doesnt change if the lighting does. You would expect a camera this expensive and sophisticated would have these features. It takes great pictures and the software is good. Buy a 256K compact flash card or you will be running our of space a lot.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-16
Delightful gizmo! I have had this for 6 months now. I am not a fan of teeny tiny electronics. This does have a bit of size and weight (when you put the 4AA batteries in) but thats why I love it. Everything works so well, the colours are vivid and rich, taking video and pictures is a breeze. My printer reads my CF card so I just remove that, upload my pics to my desktop and we are ready to go again. The little flip out screen is great. No more scratches like you get on the A60 (which I used to own). There are loads of features packed into this device and if you want to know what every last thing does, read the manual that comes with the camera. Everything is clearly explained in there. Just to get up and running though, just put in some batteries (included), the CF card (included) and hit that on button! Hope you have as much fun taking pictures with this as I do.
On: 2004-06-16
I purchased this camera a few days ago and so far, it is really nice. It seems well constructed, though it is smaller than I thought it would be. I am by no means a photographer, but the auto modes seem to work just fine for me. The camera seems fairly simple to operate, yet there are a good many functions for the photo enthusiasts. The video mode isnt the greatest, but this camera wasnt made for high quality video. The only thing that disappointed me so far was the fact that you cant get the date/time imprinted on the pictures. If you use the software that came with the camera, which isnt the greatest, you can print out the pictures with the date/time below the image (like a postcard or something), but I would prefer it on the actual image. Overall, though, I love it so far.
On: 2004-06-10
As with most electronic equipment, price points make all the difference between relative consumer evaluations. That said, given the price point of the new(er) Canon Powershot A80 digital camera, most recreational users will not find a much better camera with the multitude of features for the price. And, consumers seem to be proving Canon right given the immense popularity of the A80, an enviable successor to the extremely popular A70.The basic A80 package comes decently loaded, but youll definitely want to spring for a few goodies (upgrades). The basic package comes with the camera, cabling (A/V and USB), software (for photo manipulation), and a 32MB CompactFlash card. The first few items I purchased (actually concurrent with the camera purchase) were: - a 512MB CompactFlash card,
- Canon A Series Accessory kit,
- Canon conversion lens adapter (for peripheral lens transition),
- Canon wide converter (wide-angle lens), and
- Canon tele converter. While most recreational photographers will easily be able to get by with the standard A80 bundle, I would recommend strongly the Accessory kit and wide converter (which will require the conversion lens adapter). The Accessory kit has a custom-fit A Series case, but more importantly, it has a compact battery charger and 4 NiMH rechargeable batteries. Inasmuch as AA alkalines life expectancy is relatively short, rechargables become a must. The wide converter translates into much better landscapes and group photos. The A80 comes standard at 38mm, while the wide converter improves this to an advertised 24.5mm, a significant improvement. And, while the memory upgrade and telephoto addition can wait, the others, at least in my opinion, really make the A80 sing. Some of the really cool features of the A80 include: the swiveling LCD (a fabulous addition to the A Series), a built-in lens cover (eliminating the need for a lens cap), and, of course, the infamous Canon lens expandability. For you skindivers, Canon offers a waterproof case, allowing you to take your A80 up to 40 meters underwater (advertised). For me however, the nicest convenience is the fact the A80 is PictBridge-enabled allowing direct printing to photo printers (supporting PictBridge-which most photo printers do these days). If you havent seen the direct photo printers yet (printing directly from your camera to a photo-quality printer), take a look. Theyll knock your socks off! Canons software bundle appears to be at the head of the pack, which includes access and compatibility for both Mac and Win users. Mac afficionados will love this and feel less discriminated against to boot! The absolute only issue I have with the A80 is the lack of compatibility with an external flash unit. The onboard flash is...adequate. All-in-all, the A80 is a little hotshot in the mid-priced digital market. I am really enjoying this camera and, although Im certainly not a professional, I always want to shoot the best photo possible as the moment is lost if the need to "reshoot" arises.
On: 2004-05-28
Im a total amatuer, but have been using digital cameras at work for several years starting with the Sony Mavacia with 640x480 max resolution and most recently using an Olympus 3.2MP camera. Id refrained from buying a digital camera, limping along with a point-and-shoot 35mm instead because the resolution didnt seem great and the prices seemed too high. With the birth of our first grandson though, I suddenly felt the need to own a digital camera! Without too much research I bought the A80 and Im totally satisfied with my choice and maybe even a little pleasantly surprised by some of the extras. First, just so I dont forget--it takes great pictures! Really great pictures...I feel like the only limitation is my own ability to completely use all of the available features. If youre reading the other 50 plus reviews youll see a lot of technical info, so let me just hit my own personal highlights. It doesnt come with a bag...but I got a great small Samsonite camera bag with snaps and straps and pockets and zippers for less than $6.00 at Walmart. Any digital camera will eat batteries--go rechargable. The best Ive seen are 2300ah NIMH batteries, youll need 8 and a charger {Walmart again} which will pay for themselves in a month or two (and trust me, when you do break down and buy it youre really going to kick yourself for all the money youve been wasting on regular batteries). The memory card they provide is too small, but at the second highest resolution, it will get you started with 30+ pictures and act as a interim backup. I like the 256mb size as an upgrade, and will eventually buy a second one as a backup. Sandisk had a price for well under $50 and a lifetime guarantee--so the backup card could come in handy if yours ever fails! The camera comes loaded with features, including manual shutter and aperture modes and more automatic and manual modes than you will learn to use in weeks if not months or years of ownership. In the meantime, just setting it on Auto or Nite mode makes you look like a freaking genius anyway. The flip-out LCD screen is one of those things that you dont know you need until you have it, and then you wonder how you ever did without! It protects the delicate screen when not in use, rotates so your wife can take centered pictures of herself (instead of the off-center ones she usually got with a regular camera), and it is great for candid pics when you dont want to spook the subject by looking directly at them with the camera or when you want to alter the angle of your photo to get a bugs eye or birds eye view. The USB connection to my computer is a huge improvement over the floppy disks the Mavacia used and even a full card of 256mb downloads quickly (plus you can upload pictures to transport them to another computer). The included software for cataloging and modifying shots is adequate and actually quite an improvement over what Ive seen in the past. Considering that its free, Im not complaining. {If I want better software, Id rather choose what I want anyway.} I started this review by noting that Id been holding out for a high resolution camera with a decent price--I got that and more. This is the perfect camera for an amatuer like me, and it will tide me over quite well until the price of a 10MP digital SLR gets down to under $400! And best of all, the pictures of my grandson make a great screensaver slide show!!!
On: 2004-05-24
I know nothing about photography, but wanted a camera that had some advanced features but was also very simple to use. This is that camera. The picture quality is wonderful at the highest resolution - you wont be disappointed. Friends that see my pictures over the net (Ive never tried to PRINT or DEVELOP any yet, so I cant attest to that - however, I imagine the prints should look exactly the same provided you choose a decent development shop?) usually say first - "WOW, that picture quality is amazing." When they know the picture is one that I took with a digital camera, I suppose they are trained to think this is going to be a so-so image.In fact, many of the pictures that I take seem to turn out better than the original scene. I dont know how to describe this, and it may just be b/c Im not a camera or photo buff, but the camera sometimes seems to add a gloss to the pictures that makes them seem more professional. Point being, I love the images! As another reviewer said = "Grab this camera, a camera bag, 8 AA NiMH batteris and a charger, a >=128 MB CF card, some lens addons, a tripod, and a digital photography book, and youve got yourself a relatively complete digital photography setup." I purchased all these things for an additional $100 after I got the camera and I do feel now that I have a complete package and ready for any shot. Be warned though - this is not 35 mm and digital cameras wont be for a long time. You can still tell quite easily the difference in picture type. That isnt to say, however, that the picture quality is worse, but it is simply *different*. I wish I could elaborate better. Personally, I will always prefer being able to take 100s of pictures without worrying about film costs, development costs, etc to knowing that Im shooting with 35 mm.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-21
I looked for two months comparing many cameras and this rose above all the others in its market. This is very user friendly and worth every penny. I bought this for my wife on Mothers day and she loves it. Thank you for reading and please help others by keeping all of our write ups short sweet and to the point, most importanly is honesty. Thank you
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-21
I got this camera from OD. It has got nice features. It takes good pictures in low light. I love the macro mode in the camera.
It eats battery power. You need plenty of backup when you go on vacation.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-19
Now Im new to photography, but I began with my ideal set of features without looking at what cameras were out there (too many to count). I set pretty high standards for myself. They were:1) 3+ MP
2) Great in low-light/no flash situations (i.e. weddings)
3) CF Flash 1 & 2 (least proprietary, many uses)
4) AA-battery standards (least proprietary, many uses)
5) Highly compact/light enough for my pocket
6) Point and Shoot
7) Manual controls so I can grow into taking pictures
8) Swivel LCD (Candid shots that youd never get otherwise)
9) Minimal shutter lag (works like non-digital camera)
10) Good Construction
11) 10x Optical Zoom
12) Optical zoom focus (rotary like professional cameras)
13) 640x480+ DV video
14) Waterproof
15) Made in Japan (best quality control process, I think)
16) Camera doesnt limit speed based on brand of memory card
17) Nice web sites demonstrating how to use the camera best
18) Wireless/Phone connectivity
19) Hot shoe
20) Lens thread for lens filters
21) $350 or less Now, I went to the list. I bought this camera after months of research, comparing all sorts of brands from Sony, Kodak, Olympus, etc. So now, Ill address all the features and how this camera stacks up. 1) 4MP: Perfect
2) One of best in low-light/no flash; I generally dont like the lighting with flash even on professional cameras. Ive gotten great dim pictures of animals sleeping with this. Note: Must be steady [See Recommendations]
3) CF Flash 1; Thats still good & cheap, but not as fast as CF2.
4) 4 AA-battery; A number so heavy, but multi-purpose
5) It fits my pocket, but its a bit heavy with the batteries
6) Yup, but I think Sony does a better job with auto mode
7) Few cameras have manual and Im still learning with this. Note: Having a manual mode means that theres a fairly steep learning curve, but fortunately theres auto if needed
8) I cant tell you how many candid shots Ive gotten with the swivel LCD. Its a must!
9) Arg. This camera has lag. Maybe 1-2 seconds worth. No camera for this price seems to minimize this. Maybe in a few years?
10) Alright, but batteries/CF door a bit flimsy
11) 3x optical zoom so thats just fair
12) Uses digital motor to zoom, which is slow. Not available on consumer cameras though.
13) 320x280 video mode, 3min max is ok, but even the A70 had 640x480 so this is just bad
14) Even with the so-called waterproof case, this is just bad. Just avoid moisture or get an el-cheapo camera for water situations (what I did)
15) Yup. Land of the Rising Sun. High QC
16) Actually improves based on the memory card
17) Yup, there are plenty of sites that demonstrate hot to optimize the manual modes
18) Probably not in the near future
19) Nope.
20) Yes, so I can possibly apply a UV filter or whatnot Recommendations:
-Tripod
-Rechargeable batteries
-256+ CF card, 512MB /1 GB recommended
(I know a lot of people like the 256 MB card, but once you get into this camera, you can finish off a 256 MB card in one night i.e. 200 pictures + 3/4 video clips)
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-17
I take alot of photos, and have had an Olympus for the past 3 years. The Olympus 2.1 has never let me down so I was hesitant to not buy another Olympus. But when I started my search for a 4 Megapixel camera the Canon A-80 caught my attention. Just about every review I read was positive, and it had features no one else had. After I bought this camera I saw what everyone was raving about. The picture quality is second to none. Ive taken pictures outside,inside all lighting and even on the auto mode they come out flawless.It has a solid quality feel. The swivel display is super, youll wonder how you ever got by without one. I was at a concert and took pictures over everyones heads with it. I could never had done it with a standard display. Buy this camera, you wont be disapointed. Im sure this camera will give anyone years of great photos. The only things I bought was a camera bag ,256 flash memory card and rechargable batteries. Get those few items and your set to go.
On: 2004-05-08
I bought the A80 and its a great camera. It is so easy to use, Im relieved. In the past, Ive borrowed my dads ($900. plus Nikon), and my sisters $600. plus whatever) and they took great photos, dont get me wrong, but ease of use did not exist. The A80 is fabulous. I took it out of the box, got it ready and the camera is so self-explanatory, it was great. I had great photos emailed to friends the hour after I got it. One problem was the movie mode didnt have sound. Turned out I got a defective camera, BUT...I called Amazon and they sent me another one right away. I needed it for vacation and they had it to me in two days. They are the best customer service ever. Im very happy with my A80, and with Amazon. Thank you.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-05
I shopped around for a digital camera for a few months, 4+ megapixels is the way to go, other cameras looked nice but were too pricey, ergonomically awkward or confusing to use. Not so with this little gem! The canon A80 has all of the features I wanted, it is small (hand size), easy to use, takes HIGH quality pictures and gives me confidence to experiment and enjoy photography without wasting money on film & developing costs. The A80 is very simple to use, the menus and function screens are navigated with ease. The camera offers a wide variety of modes for every situation and setting. The A80 can take movies, landscapes, macros, portraits, high speed action pictures, photo-stitching-panoramas, and many more. The A80 comes with software for both PC and Mac. Although I tend to use the iPhoto program that comes with my Mac. I did buy some rechargeable batteries and charger, and a couple extra memory cards. The A80 uses 4 AA batteries, you should get some Nimh recharge batts as back up. You might also want an extra memory card, the camera uses Compact Flash (type 1) cards, this type of card is inexpensive compared to other flash storage cards, a 256mb card is a must in my opinion since the A80 is sold with only one 32mb card. The A80s only drawback is that it does not come with a camera bag, it has a camera strap, but no bag, so I had to buy my own. Overall, I have to give this camera 5 stars, it does everything as advertised, and the picture quality is FANTASTIC, simply follow the directions for each type of picture you are taking et voila, HUGE digital prints, the detail is phenomenal! This camera is worth every penny! SImply put, this is the best camera I have ever owned.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-27
I have had the A80 for only 3 weeks and already the battery door is broken.In taking about 100 pictures, I was very disappointed at how slow it is to focus. Sometimes it seemed like it was 5 seconds between when I pushed the button and when it finally took the picture. Often the opportunity was long gone by the time the image was acquired. Otherwise, the pictures are ok, and I like the software that came with it. So, Im off to FedEx to send it for repair.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-26
I have only had this camera for a few days, but have tried to use as many options as possbile to test it out. It has tons of features that must be for more professional photographers, but perhaps Ill learn how to use them sommetime.It takes great pictures. The zoom is great, even the digital zoom. The pictures are clear, all the way to 11X. On the "auto" setting, pictures dont take long to take or save. I have tried some of the other settings (the ones I dont understand) and they can take a little longer, but its not that much of a hinderance. I love the flexible LCD. You can protect it when you want, or have it exposed while taking pics. It also easy to take those impromptu shots of you and your friends while you are holding the camera because of the flippable LCD. All in all...this is a great camera. I use to have an Olympus CamMedia 3.2 MP, and I thought it was a great camera, but this one is much better. Stronger case (metal), better features...just get it.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-26
I have owned this camera for about 4 months now and have shot well over 1000 photos with it. Its my first digital camera, and it has exceeded all of my expectations for a reasonably priced digital.You see, Im a film person who prefers his film cameras all manual for the control it gives me. So, as you can imagine, I have been very skeptical of digital. I held out for several years before buying a digital camera in part for this reason, and in part because until recently I could not find a digital camera that met my needs at the price I was willing to pay ($300-$400). The Canon A80 is that camera, and Im very happy I waited for it. Since your needs may not be the same as mine, I should explain what I wanted in a digital camera: at least 4 MP
full manual controls along with the automatic ones
compact size (I take most of my photos while hiking)
reasonably rugged and well built (for the same reason)
excellent optics and picture quality
uses AA batteries
good battery life A fairly tall order, but the A80 fits the bill. Its small and fits really well into my hands, making it easy to handle even one-handed. I considered the Canon S400 and S50, too, but their proprietary battery and less ergonomic shape (and the lack of manual controls on the S400) tipped the balance in favor of the A80, even though the A80 is slightly larger. The A80 takes great pictures on program or automatic settings, but allows full manual control, too. I have found, to my embarrassment, that I actually use the manual controls rarely (they are rather cumbersome on the A80--lots of buttons to push--but Im still glad I have them). Shutter lag is minimal compared to other digital cameras I have tried out, and the automatic focus works very well. The A80 also takes spectacular closeups in macro mode. The flip-out LCD has turned out to be far more useful than I expected, and also protects the screen when folded in. I do not care much about, flash, indoor shots, or moving subjects (I shoot mostly landscapes) so I cant say much about them, except that it is nice to have these capabilities, and I have gotten a few great shots of wildlife with the A80. Battery life is excellent. I use 1800ma NiMH rechargeable AA batteries in it, and though I have shot all day on more than one occasion (250+ shots), I have not yet run out of power in the field (I always start out the day with a fully charged set of batteries). The fact that it takes AA size batteries makes for cheaper batteries and greater flexibility when your rechargeable NiMH batteries run out of power and you have no charged replacements. My only quibble is a tendency to blow out highlights (bright areas) of some photos, and some purple fringing where dark areas meet much brighter areas in a photo. I understand there are adjustments one can make to avoid both, but I have not yet achieved this level of expertise. In short, this was a great choice for my first digital camera. Im having a lot of fun with it and discovering that in some respects digital gives you even more control over your photos than my old all manual Nikon does. Ive found the photo software Canon includes to be quite adequate, though youll want Photoshop or equivalent for more complex work with your photos.
On: 2004-04-25
Canon makes the best digital cameras in this price range, no doubt. I purchased this beauty before studying in Mexico for three months. As a student, price was a large factor. I wanted more than just point-and-shoot.I took 700 photos in Mexico. The camera never missed a shot. Photos all come out so perfectly you dont even need ot access the many manual options. The only manual option I used was the black-and-white, which took black-and-white pictures and gave me control over exposures and the like. My black-and-white prints look better than my friends, who used 35mm cameras. My color prints, well I blew a bunch up to 8x10 and they are absolutely perfect, amazing considering I wasnt even using the highest-quality option! I love the swivel-screen. When traveling alone, you can have the screen on the front of the camera and take a picture of yourself. It was also helpful for seeing over large crowds. The camera is NOT heavy, I dont know why so many reviws say that. Its heavier than other digital cameras, yes, but I like that it feels SOLID. I have picked up many digital cameras that felt flimsy. This one is solid metal, very strong. I love that it uses AA batteries, because if your batteries run out its always easy to find more. If you use energizer e2 batteries the camera is very light. Batteries typically lasted me 2-3 weeks, and I was taking hundreds of photos. There are a few cons to the camera. The screen is hard to see in direct sunlight, and it feels a little too small. Also, I find that the knob on the top to choose picture-taking options moves too easily - I often moved it unknowingly and then took a photo on the wrong setting. I also find that the auto-focus often focuses on the wrong object. Still, I would buy this camera again. My friends cameras simply did not compete. I had so many more options, and my auto-shoots pictures were just better. When we compared prints, you could not tell mine were from a digital camera but theres had imperfections. Buy this camera. If not this one, stick with Canon.
On: 2004-04-22
I am a mom of a toddler and also a scrapbooker so I wanted a camera that would take excellent pictures. The Canon A80 is a bit more than I needed~ I am a point-and-shoot person and didnt care to get involved in manual modes. The Canon is fairly small and easily fits in my diaper bag~ it is a bit heavier than some other cameras but this is due to the fact it takes 4 batteries, which are well worth their weight in battery life. Even in auto mode I can take excellent pictures~ Ive taken close up shots of my pets that just blow me away with how detailed they are. The colors are gorgeous and true to life. This is my third digital camera (had Kodaks before) and I can honestly say the quality of the pictures far surpasses the other two cameras I have owned (the CX6330 and the DX4900).I do have a few complaints, though~ first, the flash is a bit TOO powerful. When I take pictures of my toddler (my main photo subject) I have often gotten shots where her eyes are half-way closed, resulting in a kind of drugged out look. It was suggested to me to turn off the red-eye reduction (a preflash which could be making the subject blink) and this has helped somewhat, but I still get an occasional drunk look. I have compensated by staying farther away from my subject and using zoom. The flash output can be adjusted but ONLY in manual mode, which I find irritating (I think this should be something you can adjust in auto mode as well). The only other option is to turn off the flash, which is not always possible indoors. My other complaint is the shutter lag~ there is a LONG delay between the time you press the shutter button and when the shot is taken. This can be avoided if you press the shutter button half-way and do a focus lock first and keep holding it half-way until you are ready to take a picture. The problem with this is when you have a toddler that is on the move you dont want to be chasing after her and worrying about doing a focus lock; also often you have just an instant to take a picture before a toddler moves her head/walks away/etc and pictures have been lost due to this shutter lag. While all digital cameras have some shutter lag, the Kodaks I owned were MUCH, MUCH faster than the Canon, with almost no lag whatsoever. I wish Canon would improve upon this! If Kodak can do it, Im sure Canon can. There are a few ways to try to speed up the shutter~ by turning off AIAF autofocus system, turning off red eye reduction, turning off the flash, or going into manual mode (I learned on a camera site how to go into manual mode and program snap mode which has a faster response time)~ however these all can compromise the picture, especially in low-light conditions. It can result in blurry pictures. Aside from those 2 complaints, I am very happy with my Canon A80. Ive resigned myself to learning the manual stuff so I can have control over the camera~ I know once I am comfortable with the different settings I will probably be able to overcome the issues Ive had, however I really would have preferred to stay in Auto mode. It doesnt make sense to me why in Auto mode you cannot even adjust the color settings (vivid, neutral, etc.), however you can adjust these in the P mode or in manual mode. I seriously considered returning my Canon to get another Kodak b/c of the two issues above, but I honestly find the quality of the A80 far superior to the Kodak line. I did a ton of research on camera review sites, as well as looked at many picture samples from Pbase Photo, and the Canon just takes breathtaking pictures. As Im growing in my knowledge Im finding Im taking much better pictures and working through the few problems Ive encountered with shutter lag and flash output. Oh, one more thing~ the battery life is outstanding. I use my camera a lot (!) and I am just in awe at how long it lasts before I have to recharge the batteries. It is simply amazing! All in all, I think this is an excellent camera for both beginners and pros alike.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-20
In a nutshell....this is a great camera. Let me start by saying that I am a "film" person so was skeptical to begin with about digital. I have tried many (friends, work, etc...), shopped around, looked at more and finally just bought this one and what a buy it was! I cannot tell you how happy I am with this camera. Easy to use, takes a terrific picture and has made taking pictures a whole lot more fun. Do yourself a favor an get this camera. Great buy for the money!
On: 2004-04-20
Ive been very satisfied with Amazon.com and my Canon digital camera. Amazons prices were lower than the local stores with a great deal on a memory card too. I received the camera very shortly after I ordered it.The Canon Powershot A80 has great resolution and holds tons of pictures. I love how the screen rotates out for better viewing. The camera has many manual features for the more advanced photographer. The photos upload quickly to the computer and is very simple for anyone who isnt very computer literate. The only complaint I have is that the flash seems to be a bit bright at times. Many peoples eyes in pictures are squinted because of the bright flash. I might try taping a piece of tissue paper over the flash. But thats it. Everything else seems to be great. Im very happy with the camera.
On: 2004-04-15
Disclaimer: Before I begin let me say that I love taking pictures but am a total amateur and will not be able to explain the fine technical diffrences.I have had an A80 for 4 months now. I got it for a cheaper price than Amazon through bizrate.com at a NJ camera store. I made sure it wasnt one of the bait and switch stores through user rating and reviews. They did ask me to buy accessories but when I declined they just sent me the camera the next day. I had an A70 for about 8 months before I got caught in heavy rain and the camera CCD was damaged due to the water after giving me about 3000+ good pictures. So I went to buy another camera and thought of buying another brand and model. However after some heavy research I came back to Canon as I love the Photostitch and the other manual and photo modes. So I bought the A80 and here is the difference between A80 and A70 through the eyes of an amateur. A80 is heavier than the A70 and the corners are less well rounded. Its squarer and is surprisingly heavier than A70. But you get adjusted soon and I like the weight as I dont carry it in my pocket anyway. The plastic parts of A 70 have been replaced by metal in A 80 which explains the weight and it has a more solid feel to it and is more resistant to scratches. The flip out screen is a good addition and I have twisted it in another angle about 25% of the times. For example when you want to capture a group of people from the outside. Then you can hold it above your head to get the center of the group and still compose your shot as you can see the screen. Or when you are taking pictures of kids and dont want to neel on the ground. You can just lower the camera in your hand and twist up the screen. The same goes for landscapes. It does allow for more creativity in composing shots. The rubber flap which covered the outlets for your cable has been reduced to about 1/5th the size. And there is a better navigator button which allows you to scroll through pictures/menu etc. In the A70 the 4 buttons at the back also serve as the navigator buttons. Now they need not. And the on/off button which was very flush with the top in A70 is more raised in the A80 and more easily found in dim light. The picture modes have not changed much over the A70 except there are now 2 more modes C1 and C2 which can be customized to your liking. The biggest difference however is in the 9 point AiAf autofocus. I see that the indoor pictures taken by A80 on Autofocus are harsher than the A70. Outdoors I do not see a big difference and the pictures taken in daylight are as clear as the A70 but the indoor pictures are quite different. The white is whiter than it was in pics taken with A70 in autofocus, if you know what I mean. Overall, I like the A80, especially as I got it for only a few bucks more than what I bought the A70 for (from Amazon). But I havent quite figured out how to use it to its full advantage especially indoors. And I do prefer Canon A80 over what was available in the same price range.
On: 2004-04-09
I cant say enough about how much Ive enjoyed this camera. I actually lost it for two days (note: dont put digital cameras in checked luggage) and decided that Id use the airline settlement to upgrade to a better camera.After comparing to many of the 5MP cameras in the $500+ range, I realized that the A80 matched those cameras feature-for-feature in nearly every category (except MP of course)! Just when I had resolved to re-purchase the very same camera, the airline found my bag and I got my killer camera back (everybody wins)! My favorite high-end features:
* Picture stitching (make one HUGE picture by combining several individual photos) right on the camera
* Multi-point auto-focus - note that you need to pay attention to where the camera tells you it focused -- you may need to adjust your shot
* Corrections for white-balance, EV compensation
* Nice tight macro shots!
* Its not a digital camcorder, but with a large memory card, the camera takes a pretty decent full-motion video
and most importantly ...
* Put the dial on "P" and it takes perfect pictures 99.9% of the time! Other features I like:
* The folding LCD is great - protects it from scratches, allows you to hold the camera at funny angles but still be able to see your shot
* Uses 4x AA batteries. You can find AAs just about anywhere, and you dont have to carry around a charger!
* Heavier construction makes for a nice solid feel -- doesnt feel cheap. Minor gripes:
* The little viewfinder is pretty much worthless as far as Im concerned. You just gotta use the LCD.
* People have complained in other reviews about shutter lag -- its true, but you can learn to compensate for it. Keep in mind taking a picture with this camera is a two-step process:
1. Frame up the subject and hold the button half-way down to get the picture and the focus set
2. Once #1 happens, push the button the rest of the way down to fire the shutter -- its almost instant.
Ive decided the delay with this camera is the focus time and/or exposure calculation. Once youve got the green focus boxes on the LCD, youre ready to rip!
* The multi-point auto-focus sometimes makes "interesting" choices in what to focus on. If you have a tough time getting it to focus on the right thing, you can always scale back to center auto-focus and force it to focus on what you want it to
* The LCD is great, but they really coulda made it just a little bigger ... Your first three purchases after this camera should be:
1. LowePro z10 camera bag. Perfect fit and it only costs about $10
2. A 256 MB (or larger) CF card. Save the 32 for trips to the drug-store when you order prints
3. 8 rechargeable NiMH batteries. Its a little bit of an investment, but you can take TONS o pix (and review em over and over) on one charge!
On: 2004-04-08
I finally decided I was going to get a digital camera, and I knew nothing, absolutely zero, about digital cameras. I pretty much focused on the Canon series from my previous experience with them. So I read and read, and the first night decided on the Elph S400. It was a simple, fairly cheap camera..just what I needed. But then being curious, I looked around some more and thought the G5 would be the one since I could use my Canon Speedlite flash on it and it had 5 MPs. The price was higher though, and I knew I probably would never figure out all the extras it had on it. So I then latched onto the new S1 SI with 10x optical zoom. Wow. But it was so new there were hardly any reviews on it, and it wasnt cheap. So I went back to the S400 Elph, telling myself I could learn on that and maybe one day get a more advanced digital camera. I went to the store to buy it and while there the A80 caught my eye. The S400 seemed so small and that LCD screen just looked so easy to touch and mark up. Still, the S400 was cheaper than the A80 and I hadnt done any research on the A80, so I bought the S400. As soon as I got home I dashed to the computer and read how almost everyone loved their A80. It has everything the S400 does, and more and would only cost me $30 more. I fiddled around with the S400, but kept thinking about the swivel LCD screen on the A80 and the greater options it had for photo shoots, portrait, sports, landscape... I must have subconsciously known the S400 wasnt for me as I never opened up its sealed manual. Instead, a few hours later I was back at the store exchanging it for the A80. The A80 just feels better in your hand and I dont have to worry about picking it up with my finger on the LCD screen. It was easy to set up and start. With the camera set to AUTO, I could take photos right away. Already I am impressed with the flash, from what others said I was worried it wouldnt do well in darker areas. I took a photo of my daughter hiding under a table and it looked nice and bright, I even took a photo in a room lit up solely with a night light and a faint flashlight. AFter I clicked the shot and looked at it on the LCD screen, it looked like the lights had been on in the room when I took it...and they werent.
Loading the software somehow wasnt flawless, my download from the disk got interrupted repeatedly and I still am not sure if it is completely installed in my computer. I was able to download photos from the camera, that was easy...after reading the manual, and I know there are tons of things I will continue to discover. I printed out some photos and yes, the ones taken in the darker room are not as sharp as the ones I took outside, but I know I never could have taken a photo in a dark room like that with my 35 mm Rebel and its built in flash.
I cant bash the S400, it just wasnt for me, maybe because I am so new to digital cameras, I just couldnt go from a full size 35mm SLR to a teeny camera. The A80 is definitely heavier and bulkier, but that wasnt an important factor for me.
With this low price you cant go wrong. I would definitely buy it again. I also have the option of adding on a wide or tele converter lense in the future for more fun and excitement.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-03
Have spent quite sometime reading from the net on which camera to buy, finally made up my mind and got my A80, worth every cents spent. Image quality is excellence. Great features. Only thing is the lack of RAW option, but personal view, I think it has enough features to play / explore / experiment or simply to learn photography with it.
On: 2004-03-28
Purchased through amazon and although the camera takes nice photos, the presentation for purchase is misleading; does not include ac adaptor nor a card with decent memory. The one included takes 16 photos.. very disappointed and very misleading and quite expensive given the small memory card. I should have purhased it locally. I will reconsider buying anything else via internet/amazon. Nelson Martinez
On: 2004-03-24
Took the Powershot A80 on vacation and took over 200 pictures on the first set of batteries. There have been absolutely no dissappointments with this camera, outdoor, indoor, portrait, every picture is great. I could not recommend it more.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-19
I was always told that the flash is the most important part of the camera, and this flash is good, but sometimes too good. Ive had several experiences in the few months that Ive owned this camera when Ive taken pictures of friends, only to look at the playback and see that they are totally bleached out. Then Ill retake it without a flash and it will be too dark. Ive tried several settings and havent found a solution. Its disappointing because there have been times when after having everyone stand there for several pictures, I still dont end up with a good one and have to give up.
On: 2004-03-11
I had to purchase a digital camera in a hurry for a school project. This camera was easy to use. The pictures were easy to load into my computer. I especially liked how it takes regular AA bateries. Rechargeable batteries are recommended.
On: 2004-03-06
I will not address photographic quality because I believe that it is very good, but I was confronted with a significant, in my opinion, constructional defect. Namely, I found the CF card door being very flimsy. My camera was in my leather bag, but under what I consider a very small impact, the CF card door cracked. So, think twice before buying this camera, especially if you have young children around!
On: 2004-03-05
For a camera in this price range it offers quite a number of features, including those found on the more powerful G series. While its probably too big to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket, it is nonetheless a lot lighter to carry around than the G series. Ive taken a large number of shots with this camera, and I have been pleased with the results. The quality is very good, the only problem is that jpeg compression tends to obscure minute details, and it is missing the RAW/uncompressed images options. That is not much of a problem until you start to do a lot of editing of the photos, and each successive save as a jpeg results in further image degradation. This is exacerbated by the fact that the unit has a weak flash which means youll use the higher ISO settings, leading to the use of noise reduction software. The pros of the camera:
Relatively small
many G series/EOS series features
excellent picture quality
conservative ISO levels
relatively "smart" camera in auto mode
flip-out LCD
Lens add-ons The cons:
no flash hotsync, so cant use a good external flash (granted some good flash units would probably approach the cost of the camera itself)
smallish LCD, though not a problem for me
Tight viewfinder, I actually find it hard to use the viewfinder to compose shots, since it is not TTL
manual focus is a hassle
movies limited to 320x240; the A70 can do 640x480
optical zoom limited to 3x
limited to f4.9 at full telephoto
poor auto-white balancing except in daylight, but it does have a custom function for those who absolutely need white to be.. well white.
bundled photo editing software is very limited. I think even Jasc Paintshop Pro wouldve been a better choice, if not some Photoshop variant. minor quibble:
no raw image capture mode There are reports that Canon cameras tend to blow out the highlights, but the fix is to use center-weighter metering instead of full metering. Grab this camera, a camera bag, 8 AA NiMH batteris and a charger, a >=128 MB CF card, some lens addons, a tripod, and a digital phot |
