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Canon Powershot A520 4MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 166
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 On: 2008-07-06
I got this camera 2 years ago.
I did not like it from the beginning. It was cumbersome to use,
difficult to adjust the settings, and worst of all, the fact that it takes for ever to take the picture. The only way to make take the picture fast is if you have the continuous option, but then
you do not have any control as to which pictures you want.
The movie option is very poor.
To top it all up, the camera had a problem with the memory card reader and I had to send it back for repair exactly before a trip with my family.
Later models of the camera seem to be much better, but this is the worst of all.
 On: 2007-12-04
Ive had this camera for a while now (2.5 years). It still works great! I got my moneys worth and more. I have abused this camera so much and it is still fine . It is a good beater camera that i can take everywhere and i dont have to worry about (since i only bought it for $120 new at Target). Ill keep this camera till its dead, get stolen ,or lost. Well worth it!
On: 2007-10-30
After my Canon Powershot A520 stopped working, the first place I went to try and figure out how to fix it was online. Other than formal reviews from PC and photo magazines, it seemed to me that the most common other finding from extensive searches were customer reviews describing the exact same problem I was experiencing (camera refuses to power up or stay on) with little or no explanations or ways to troubleshoot. Go ahead an do a google on it, youll likely find more than a few customer complaints on it. My camera will not turn on anymore, and I gather that it is not worth it to try and fix it.
It should be noted that before I had this problem, I definitely did like this camera quite a bit. It wasnt the best in its class, but, although it was a gift, it is more affordable than many options, and had more different kinds of options and gave the amateur photographer a lot of different options. Just consider that youll probably only get a year or two out of this thing at most before it breaks down. Thats not necessarily a bad trade-off if you take a lot of pictures.
On: 2007-07-31
My wife and I were very happy with our Powershot A520 for the year and a half that we had it. However, the camera died with an E18 error during our friends wedding, and it has not worked since. A quick web search for "Canon E18" or even "E18" will show you that this is a common error (with a number of different Canon models). We have never dropped it or abused it in any way, and it has spent most of its life in its protective case. While the camera seemed to be great before the moment it died, I would not buy this camera again. Do not get this camera if you dont want to have to replace it in 18 months like so many other users.
On: 2007-07-09
This camera has worked like a dream since I purchased it a couple of years ago. The picture quality is unequaled in its class, and the battery life is quite long when using lithium batteries. In fact, I have been able to take many professional-looking photos and order enlargements up to 8x10 without any pixels appearing. At the current "used" prices, this camera is a steal.
Its hard to find anything negative to say about the Canon Powershot A520: I did crack the LCD screen, but was able to replace it myself by ordering a new screen directly from Canon. Compared to more recent cameras, this one is a little bulky--it wont fit in your jean pockets, but will fit easily into your coat pocket or purse.
On: 2007-06-26
I purchased this camera as an upgrade to my A70. In the year after I purchased it I had to return it 3 times for warranty service because of the stuck lens cover reported all to often here. I was informed by the repair shop that by using the camera outdoors I was probably getting dust particles stuck in the lens cover. For $260 Id expect more than just taking birthday photos. Shortly after the one year warranty expired the camera stopped functioning all together (I suspect the CCD died) and it is now a paperweight.
I recently replaced it with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) which Im very happy with.
 On: 2007-06-18
I paid $279 brand new and after 6 months my lens stop working, i send the camera to cannon for rapairs. After a year the screen just goes black and it happens almost all the time. I will not recommend******************
On: 2007-06-03
THIS IS WRITTEN FOR CLUELESS PHOTOG DUMMIES LIKE ME- IF YOU ARE NOT CLUELESS, SKIP THIS REVIEW!
Got this camera last year, knowing only a few of the most basic features to look for, & having satisfied those criteria, chose based upon availability, price, comfort/convenience (lightweight, has a wrist strap, & felt good to handle for use in taking pictures of my child. I had no idea it was such a highly rated/high tech/quality camera! The bottom line is, this is an absolutely FABULOUS, easy to use, dummy can-do camera! BTW, the features I knew to look for were:
1) Decent MP resolution (ie 3 or above, which just isnt an issue anymore- any/all real cameras have at least 3 MP resolution, this one has 4. In laymens terms this means how many tiny grains per area, or how sharp the photo quality will be- allowing for larger pictures overall to be nice & sharp, vs. photographed subjects/objects dulled at the edges).
2) OPTICAL zoom resolution, at least 3 or 4X. This Canan PowerShot A520 has $X OPTICAL zoom. Again, in laymens terms, this means an actual zoom lens that you can adust from where youre standing in relation to the subject of the picture youre taking. So you can zoom right in on that mean eating lion, & make it look like youre in the cage with him at the zoo. Alternatively, you can zoom out, and take a more panoramic (larger range) photo. Digital zoom resolution, on the other hand, simply means that the cameras software zooms in- its really practically a meaningless term- of course a digital camera has digital zoom! You really want to make sure you have OPTICAL zoom. Decent cameras have both. Cheap/undesireable cameras have ONLY digital zoom.
3) Battery type- some accept only hard to find/expensive to replace batteries (Sony is guilty & known for this- apparently thinking the Sony name can carry them to additional profits by requiring only Sony-specific batteries, counting on clueless people like me who just unquestioningly have trusted the Sony name over the years... No more!) This Canon PowerShot accepts readily available non-name rechargeables, and/or drugstore AAs. Battery power is decently long lasting, DEFINITELY bring along spare/back-ups for any important event, or for a trip. (Or just bring your second set of rechargeables, camera takes 2, 4 fit in a standard re-charger). Im realizing that after a year, my rechargeables have about outlived their re-chargeable capacity, & I just need to purchase a replacement: ~10-$20. NBD for a years worth of picture taking!
3) Ease of software installation & use: Self explanatory. Couldnt be simpler! Easy to initially load camera software & plug in using USB port (you need to make sure youre using a decent/recent PC- if its more than a few years old (this means 2 or 3 years at most!), your Desktop is outdated, and youll likely have compatibility problems- this means youll spend hours becoming increasingly frustrated because youre too cheap to buy a decent, entry level PC, & your camera will not work with your computer. Provided your PC & your camera are compatible (if unsure, call Canon before buying, or before opening packaging, to ask!), its SO easy to install software/configure camera, take & upload pictures, learn to modify them in all sorts of ways to improve them, etc., easy to attach them as e-mail attachments &/or send photos independantly, etc. This is really a 4 year college degree in itself. But you can easily learn & use the basics, such as red-eye elimination, cropping photos, etc. If you do run into software/useability problems, just call Canon right away for technical assist. (Make sure you call RIGHT away- after the return period has elapsed, & later the warranty period, theyre less & less desireous of helping you). This has a zillion photo settings, including a highlighted Auto selection- Hello! Works great!
4) Lightweight, small (fits in purse), wrist strap, easy to carry with you without severely weighing you down. Feels right in the hand to snap photos.
5) GREAT sized screen on back for both original picture taking- can use either actual eye-view hole, OR the digital screen, to see what youre photographing. ALSO needless to say, this screen is FABULOUS for playback/review. You can set it a gazillion different speeds, as well as other options- I just left it at the factory setting, works great!
6) THIS AMAZING LITTLE CAMERA EVEN HAS BRIEF MOVIE MODE! You can take up to 3 minutes of sound enhanced movies-my daughter LUVS this feature! (Its a power hog though, to use this function). Works great! Camera itself has limited memory capacity, and a card slot for insertion of a 512 MB (or up to 1G? Unknown?) for dramatically increased memory capacity- translation- you can take & store a lot of pics, using a memory card (VERY readily available & inexpensive), before the card is full, & then you have to stop, upload those stored pics on your PC, clear (reformat) the memory card, & start anew. EASILY delete, organize, file, & store photos on your PC w/ the software provided.
7) Lastly, even the complete dummy (me) can turn out (PRINT on professional, glossy, photograph/cardstock weight paper) directly from your printer attached to your PC. No need to have a matching Canon printer, although theyre good too- I have just an inexpensive HP printer/copier/scanner (digital, not laser), it produces incredible quality, color saturated, high resolution photos! (Tip- while youre learning, set the printer setting to fast draft- this will use dramatically less ink & produce a much less color saturated picture, while youre getting the hang of it. Once youre ready, change the printer setting to a higher level, & youll get a more colorful, professional looking photo.) Ive found that of the 3 printer settings, using the highest level just plain pours out the ink, wastes ink, saturates paper, smears before drying, etc. So I just use the middle setting.
Im tired now, this camera is FABULOUS beyond my expectations! I recommend without hesitation!
On: 2007-05-25
We bought this camera in Oct 05, right before we moved to HI from VA - we wanted to be able e-mail all of our friends photos of all the cool tropical things we were going to encounter. Well, the camera worked great for about 6 months. Overall, I was happy with the pics. We had put off a digital camera because I really liked the depth and feel of print film.
Now, for the bad things. Slow between shots and seems to be getting slower. The camera goes through batteries in no time - if were on a trip I plan replacing them at least twice! Occassionally we get a message that says, "no memory card" - if we power down, remove and reinsert the card it normally corrects the problem. The problem, however, that has me really wishing I could give less than one star is that after less than 2 years the lens cover has had the same problem of sticking. We sent in to be repaired Aug 06, while it was under warranty - no big deal, except that were in Hawaii, so it the shipping took awhile. Two weeks ago it started acting up again and now it wont open fully at all! I called Canon, was told they would e-mail a shipping label and repair request form. I was transferred to the factory repair people and told that I would have to pay to have it repaired because it is no longer under warranty. When I brought up that the camera had this same problem less than a year ago, I was told it didnt matter - repairs are only covered for three months, regardless of the fact that this seems to be a recurring problem that they "canon" seem unable to fix properly. At this point I was not to kind to the rep - didnt use profanity, but did use what my kids refer to as my "grouchy mom" voice. The rep started to yell at me and tell me to calm down and listen to him - all he did was repeat the script that was provided him. I asked for his supervisor, which at first he refused - then he put me on hold for 20 min. I hung up and got on-line and plan on posting this review on every site that rates this camera.
If you have this camera do not expect canon to be helpful. The lens cover sticking seems to be a common problem that they know about, but instead of doing the stand up thing and recalling it, they are putting to their customers!
 On: 2007-05-24
It is nice to have a digital camera after using the Cannon AE-1 for 20 years. However, since I bought it the lense shield always sticks partway closed. I have to flick it with my finger until it is open all the way. This is a real pain especially when I want to get a quick picture.
Also night pictures have large spots all over, not noticed when taking normal pictures.
On: 2007-05-23
It is nice to have a digital camera after using the Cannon AE-1 for 20 years. However, since I bought it the lense shield always sticks partway closed. I have to flick it with my finger until it is open all the way. This is a real pain especially when I want to get a quick picture.
Also night pictures have large spots all over, not noticed when taking normal pictures.
On: 2007-05-16
This camera was a good camera for the first year. I did not use it very much. The first time I tried to use it after the warrenty was up the camera broke. The lense became off track. The cost to fix it $90 plus shipping and handeling.
On: 2007-04-10
I also had the battery problem that others experienced. Within one year, the lens would not retract and I lost all the pictures on the camera. It doesnt work at all. It costs more to fix than to buy a new camera. Ill never buy a Canon camera again.
On: 2007-04-06
I recieved the A520 as a gift. After about 3 months the lens would not retract (sound familiar?). The batteries died with the lens extended. After replacing them the camera would not power up and and the lens would not retract. I suspect that this is firmware bug. Cannon e-mail support suggested keeping batteries out for 20 minutes, but that didnt help. I dont have a receipt and so am unlikely to send it in for repair.
Before I buy another digital camera I will ask the sales person to power up the floor model then take out the batteries to see if it restarts when the batteries are reinserted.
This was my 1st digital camera. Akaline AA batteries dont last long. Importing images & movies to iPhoto is very easy. The 4x zoom helped a lot. The included 16MB memory card holds 8-10 photos. Latency is long compared to film. Most shots came out very nice. Red-eye reduction flash didnt work very well as most shots needed touch up. I thought the colors were bright, rich, vivid and accurate.
This is also my first movie camera of any type, even though its core functions are for stills. My kids thought the movies were a hoot - couldnt stop laughing.
On: 2007-03-09
We paid $176 for ours, cant remember if shipping was included. Consumer Reports rated this camera the best in class and had the price as under $200 too. And remember, more megapixels does not mean a better camera, in fact it can be a worse camera.
 On: 2007-03-05
PROS:
1) Very versatile for the price (Dont Pay $399 though - I paid about 165). Ive had my camera for just over a year.
2) Good entry level digitial camera or for those transitioning to the digital world.
3) Im quite satisfied with the quality for the price.
4) My main need was to be able to use the camera much the way I was accustomed to using my film-based Nikon 35mm. I like to experiment with f-stops and shutter speeds but I like the ability to hand over the camera to anyone for use as a PHD push-here-dummy camera. The average person was too intimidated by my Nikon 35mm with the bells & whistles.
CONS:
Get a much larger SD card immediately. The one provided is tiny.
The A530 is smaller but has fewer features - go figure!?
On: 2007-02-20
I received this camera as a gift and it had worked
wonderfully for about a year or so. I noticed some
reviewers noted issues with the lense...mine became
stuck and would not retract into the camera. Unfortunately,
the issue would cost more to fix than to buy another
camera & I do not have a usable warranty. I have tried
replacing the batteries (BTW-I found battery life on this
camera to be really bad) to no avail.
Im giving Kodaks V603 a try-it also has a lense that extends...
so if I have this issue again, I think Ill be permanently scarred
and will have to buy one of those flat fronted cameras.
On: 2007-02-19
Good quality pictures, the only problem is that sometimes the lens cover opens halfway when you power up the camera.
On: 2007-01-18
Awesome camera. Its a consumer reports best buy. It beats high priced brands easily in simplicity, ease of use and picture quality.
On: 2007-01-07
very easy camera to use, from point and shoot to using the manual features for a more specific touch. Zoom is very fast, and write time to the memory card is quick. Size is small enough to carry, but a good size for a mans hands. Canon makes a great product, and this is no exception
On: 2007-01-04
It is simple to use and it makes great pictures.
On: 2007-01-04
This is a good solid camera except for 1 weakness - The lens cover sometimes opens just halfway when you power up the camera. I returned 1 camera to Amazon with this problem, but the camera I exchanged this for had the exact same issue.
On: 2007-01-03
I received a Canon Powershot a520 last Christmas in 2005 It had to be sent in six months later because the shutter kept sticking and camera wouldnt take pictures. Came back repaired under warranty and again had to send back at Christmas this year for THE VERY SAME PROBLEM!
Canon wouldnt honor warranty as it was a few days out of warranty. When I said it was for the same problem again, they wouldnt budge and the fee was 98 dollars to fix. They offered me a choice of buying a refurbished one for 99 dollars so I bought that so i could get at least a six month warranty. I feel this camera should be recalled and that this is a racket. They need to improve the quality of this camera and stop ripping off people. Buy another brand!!!
On: 2007-01-03
Good features, allows manual operation also. No problems with it, clear bright pictures.
On: 2007-01-03
nice and easy to use, very magable and last but not least is a power shot
On: 2007-01-02
I received a Canon Powershot a520 last Christmas in 2005 It had to be sent in six months later because the shutter kept sticking and camera wouldnt take pictures. Came back repaired under warranty and again had to send back at Christmas this year for THE VERY SAME PROBLEM!
Canon wouldnt honor warranty as it was a few days out of warranty. When I said it was for the same problem again, they wouldnt budge and the fee was 98 dollars to fix. They offered me a choice of buying a refurbished one for 99 dollars so I bought that so i could get at least a six month warranty. I feel this camera should be recalled and that this is a racket. They need to improve the quality of this camera and stop ripping off people. Buy another brand!!!
On: 2006-12-27
I love the camera itself but there seems to be a problem with the shutter sticking. This is the second time Im having to send it back for the same problem. I feel like this should be a " recall " product!
On: 2006-12-19
i agree with the fisrt review.. my camera has shutter problems i sent it back once they fixed it and it came back.. i would recommend searching another one.. allthough thsi cameras resolutin isnt that bad. but it has a lot of small dumb things.
On: 2006-12-16
Although this camera has some great functions I, like many others, have had problems with a "sticky shutter" (ie. the flimsy lens cover gets stuck and you have to pry it open). Ive already sent it back once to be fixed and the problem has reappeared. If you dont want to keep sending your camera in for repairs I wouldnt get this or any of the A series.
On: 2006-12-15
Although this camera has some great functions I, like many others, have had problems with a "sticky shutter" (ie. the flimsy lens cover gets stuck and you have to pry it open). Ive already sent it back once to be fixed and the problem has reappeared. If you dont want to keep sending your camera in for repairs I wouldnt get this or any of the A series.
On: 2006-12-14
I love it...I am not a Pro, but I have been using this camera for months and I can say: Never been dissapointed! Excelent Pictures and easy to handle...Its great!
On: 2006-12-14
The camera worked perfect for the first year and half. Now when you take pictures it takes a lag of almost 8 Secs + i.e. after you click the picture it takes the shot after 8 seconds..
I showed the camera at bestbuy and circuit city both could not help figure out the problem. I am not so happy with such problems from Canon.
I purchased it from Dell because it was cheap and now I repent...!!
On: 2006-12-02
The A520 Camera does take good pictures but the batteries dont last; i dont even have this camera a year yet and the batteries keep dieing. Canon is a very good name but i dont recommend cameras that take regular batteries, they die out way to quickly.
On: 2006-11-30
We bought this camera some time ago and love it. Canon has great optics and a great processor, so the pictures are great. The camera is easy to use, yet there are also many features that advanced users will love, like the ability to change the way the camera focuses, settings for flourescent lights and settings for action photos. The camera uses AA batteries, so using rechargeables is efficient and you can always use regular batteries in a pinch. The camera is well made and sturdy. Cant think of much more you could ask for!
On: 2006-11-29
Ive had this camera for precisely a year, and its already collapsed entirely twice and been sent back for repair. There were also smaller breakdowns I just chose to live with, like the card cover coming detached. Great when its working, but it doesnt stand up to serious consumer use.
On: 2006-11-26
This is a great camera. My sister had the 3.2 MP model so I bought this one as I was getting a good price for it.
Now that I have had it for a year, there are tiny problems creeping up- the shutter response time/lag has increased and when I take a picture, I have to press the button a couple of times - HARD- for it to snap. This is the press-halfway- then-all-the-way type but ... its giving me problems.
On: 2006-11-20
Well, weve used this camera for almost a year now, and I confess that I still prefer my old Canon S200 Digital Elph. The A520 takes decent pictures, and has a nice menu like the S200, but it is larger and doesnt seem as well built. We had to send our A520 in for warranty service after several once-in-a-lifetime shots were lost due to the built in lens cover not fully retracting. We didnt realize this was happening until too late. To their credit warranty service was prompt and problem has not recurred. I also dont like the non-disposable batteries. It goes through alkaline batteries like a demon, unlike the Digital Elph (rechargeable). I guess its ok overall, it does have better resolution than the S200, and if your batteries die, at least you can readily get more AAs.
On: 2006-11-11
This was my first digital camera. I received it as an anniversary present; My Fiance thankfully has *Great* taste.
Anyhow, This particular camera took by far the best photos I have ever seen! The pictures were EXTREMELY crisp.
I thought the camera was very user friendly and a lot of fun to use. I used it for 13 months without a single problem. Until it was stolen. :(
So now I have decided to upgrade to the Canon SD700. By the way, I have tried out all of my friends and familys digital cameras just to compare theirs to my canon and not a single one of theirs could compare to the pictures that my canon A520 took...
So try it out, you wont be disappointed!!!
On: 2006-11-11
Since this is my first digital camera, I really cant compair it to others out there. However, it does everything I need it to do and has more features than I make use of! Ive never had a problem with it.
On: 2006-11-10
The Powershot A520 On Switch stopped working right after I started using the camera.
On: 2006-11-06
For average people who want a camera that just works-and takes good pics you should not buy this. I dont know about the specifics, but like other reviewers mine got stuck and quit working for no reason after a couple of months. So, I dont really see what all the bells and whistles are for if it doesnt even take a picture. It was fine while it worked, it ate batteries but the pics were good.
On: 2006-10-05
I have owned several Canon digital cameras and like them very much. I purchased the A520 as a gift for a family member. After several months the lens cover problem that everyone writes about started happening. It would stick paritally open or closed or all the way open. The key word being stick or stuck. I took it to a Canon Service Center and they repaired it under warranty. After trying to use it for the 1st time several weeks later the lens cover was stuck open and would not budge. I took it back to the Service Center and they repaired it again. While looking at the paperwork after the repair they stated courtesy repair only and not under warranty. It was under warranty and had 90 days from the date they did not repair it the first time. After emailing Canon they said to just email them if I have a problem and they would see what they could do. Very POOR. I like Canon digital cameras but wish I had never purchased the A520. I bought it because of its low price, which was a big mistake.
On: 2006-10-03
This is my third digital camera, I bought it after my tot dunked my previous camera under water. I did a lot of research before I bought this and it was highly rated in Consumer Reports.
After a few months of ok pictures (the macro setting is not very good though) the lens cover started sticking but I learned to live with it. I would manually open up the lens cover each time. Then the lens cover got stuck in the open position and I was learning to live with that. But now the camera is almost completely dead. It will not power up properly and sometimes it beeps.
My camera was under warranty so I sent it in and Canon claimed that I did not send a reciept or address with the camera. It took several months but finally Cannon repaired my camers and sent it back to me camera came back with the reciept and paper work that they said I did not send???! Less then a month later the lens cover sticks open again.. :(
They should have replaced the camera with a non-defective model!
On: 2006-09-11
Im getting ready to purchase my third powershot and feeling like a glutton for punishment. My first, the A510 was awesome, took great pictures and never gave me a problem, then it got stolen. I immediately tried to replace it, but could only find the A520. All went well at first, the same ease of use (although the night shots/redeye seemed a lot worse). The lens cover would sometimes get snagged and remain open, but I was always able to help it along with a finger. I was still happy enough to buy into a proprietary option like the underwater housing($150), but then the lens mechanism froze up completely and would not extend, and the display seems frozen on the canon splash logo.
From reading all the negative posts about this, I can see that they obviously had some kind of design flaw. Due to the low purchase price vs. potential repair, the kids and I dissected it for fun but still didnt get it working (doesnt seem to be mechanical flaw). Unfortunately for me, I use it underwater a lot and the cost of a closeout A520 is still cheaper than getting another brand of camera and a new underwater housing...so it looks Canon will get me for another $100.
On: 2006-09-10
the cover over the lense broke/small lcd screen/ pictures are pritty good/battery life is pritty good/some images can come out a bit blurry if theres no flash and your hands arnt that steady/takes nice portaits/ easy to use/ has a veiw-finder.
On: 2006-08-23
I bought this camera on the recommendation of a store technician over another HP digital. The camera has spent as much time in the repair shop as it has being used. The delay between pictures is incredibly long. The lens/shutter doesnt open properly. (Two other family members who own Powershot A520s are having the same problems.
On: 2006-08-18
I have been a 35mm film person for the past 30 years. I bought this camera in Oct 05 as I have family members in Iraq and Kuwait this year and wanted to be able to email them pictures asap. I found picture color to be accurate and the flash coverage good, even for a recent church wedding. The size is nice -- big enough to have a firm, safe grip on the camera yet small enough to want to take everywhere. But....most pictures have red eye, even when red eye reduction is on. The sharpness of the pictures is so-so. They just dont seem to have the absolutely sharp, in-focus look to them that I am used to with my film pictures. I have not had the lens sticking problem I have read about in other reviews but, due to picture quality, I only use this camera for those need-to-send-now pictures. If you want an inexpensive camera/are new to photography this is an ok camera. If sharp pictures and minimal red eye are important to you keep looking elsewhere.
On: 2006-07-01
Loved my Canon Powershot A10 -- an oldie but goodie. Still takes absolutely great photos even tho the hinge on the battery compartment is broken, and Im using tape to hold it shut.
Bought the 520 with high expectations. What I got was disappointment.
1- I have thrown out many photos. Many blurry, even with flash, even with subjects sitting still.
2- Noisy chime when you turn on the power -- very disconcerting when in a quiet setting.
3- Long delay on flash shots -- subjects must remain still for several seconds before photo is actually taken.
4- Recycle time is excruciatingly long between flash shots.
Overall -- very very disappointed in this camera.
C.
On: 2006-06-26
We bought this because it was on sale with the purchase of a printer. I am amazed at the clear photos. Almost never come out fuzzy. Also the photos have very good coloring even in auto. Very good camera for taking landscapes picts. And uploading to the computer is a snap.
But not wonderful at taking close ups.
The worst flaw would have to be the pause you get when you take a picture. Even though its just a few seconds you may miss the target. But every thing else is great! I think its Good Buy
On: 2006-06-24
This is my first digital camera. I didnt know anything about digital cameras before this purchase but I am satisfied with my decision. I wanted something small and lightweight and easy to use to take on a family vacation with me. This camera worked out great.
On: 2006-06-22
My camera worked fine for about 5 months and one day I turned it on and it had a memory card error, E 30 shows up on the screen. It wont do ANYTHING, not even properly turn on and I am in London for the summer and really getting screwed by this Canon camera. BE CAREFUL with this model, there is already a lawsuit going up against Canon for problems with the memory card.
On: 2006-06-16
I was really surprised about this camera, I needed a new digital one and was looking at a diff. kind, this one came with a printer and was on sale (not sure how often I will use the little printed) but its nice to have.
The camera takes REALLY good photos, the pictures are clear and sharp and color is great. Even if you arent the steadest picture taker, (like me) lots my past photos were a little blurry even with a bigger camera, BUT Not with this one, I even tried to make them blurry and they turned out GREAT.
I really like this camera.
So.... if you want a really good digital camera for a good price that will have you taking nice clear, crisp photos this is the one for you.
It really easy to use, and to load the picture on the computer, it also take nice little movies, great for having little kids and catching those little moments quick.
On: 2006-06-14
Overall, a small inexpensive point and shoot camera with general features.
On: 2006-06-12
This Canon is easy to use. Just point and shoot. The photos are crisp and clear. They can later be cropped by using the excellent software included. You can zoom in real close, chop off what you dont want, all without creating distortion.
I dont care much for the pause in the clicker (the button you push to take the photo). Ive missed many good shots because of it. To take a picture, you push the clicker halfway, wait for the light to flash, and then push it down the rest of the way.
This camera has more features (13 shooting modes) than I know what to do with. I wont list them. Its already been done several times over. I cant imagine the average person needing more features.
The memory card that comes with it is useless. If memory serves me it holds seven pictures. Canon could have done better than that. I had to purchase a decent memory card that, in my opinion, should have come with the camera.
I love the slope on the cameras edge. Its the perfect grip for carrying the camera. Wrist strap prevents you from dropping it. The cameras zoom lense works beautifully if you have a steady hand. If not, take the shot from a distance and use the software to zoom in. Both produce fantastic results.
Its easy to immediately review and delete any photos you dont want to keep.
Its a bit tricky opening the battery case to change batteries though. The lid doesnt pop up like I think it should. I have to poke and pull at it before it opens fully. Its an annoying quirk.
All in all, its a great little camera.
On: 2006-06-04
The number one quality that I was looking for was an easy camera to use at the blink of an eye, and that is exactly what this wonderful camera is!!
The reason I chose this model over the newer, higher pixel Cannon digital cameras is because this 4 mega pixel camera is mostly made with metal; the newer models are made of plastic.
The view-finder picture screen is large, making picture-taking and viewing easy.
The size of the camera is perfect...not too small to handle but small enough to fit into a pocket or a purse.
If you are looking for a great camera that shoots top quality pictures and doesnt cost an arm and a leg, this is the choice for you.
I highly recommend this camera to anyone and everyone.
On: 2006-06-03
This is my first digital camera and Ive been disappointed more than once with it. I purchased this camera for the hundreds of new baby photos Id be taking of my first child. After we got home from the hospital, with those oh so important photos in the camera, and I tried to review them, I got a weird code and it said that there were no photos to review. When I looked up this code in the cameras manual, it listed it as some sort of memory card "anomaly". Imagine how I upset I was at losing the hospital photos of my newborn baby - this was a brand new camera and a brand new memory card. After years of using a manual "film" Pentax 35mm camera and being overly impressed with the picture quality, Ive been let down by this Canon. The pictures are fuzzy and the colors look surreal - they have an unnatural quality to them. Just take a look at the sample pictures included on this page. For the life of me, I cant photograph my daughter in purple without it turning out in the photos as blue. Despite the red-eye reduction feature, I get red eyes in my photos as well. I selected this camera because it had so many features that I wanted and I didnt want to sacrifice quality, but Im really considering going back to film because of this cameras peformance.
On: 2006-06-02
I bought my first Canon A510 last fall and it performed flawlessly for several months. The pictures were amazing, it was easy to use and I liked the convenience of using regular AAs or rechargable batteries. After about 5 months, though, the camera simply stopped working. When I press the on button, the LCD screen lights up for a few minutes with the bright blue Canon screen and then goes grey. NOTHING I did would make it work. I was so disappointed...but then I bought a second A510 on sale. It too, performed well for a few months, and then, last week, developed the SAME PROBLEM!! I tried several new batteries, I cleaned the terminals, and I checked the battery and memory card covers. Nothing worked again. To say the least, I am very frustrated....Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, what did you do to fix it? Many thanks...
On: 2006-06-01
My son bought this camera for me at
christmas. I have never owned a digital camera. I am very, very happy with it. It is easy to use and takes great pictures. Canon customer service was very helpfull when I had questions before buying the camera. It is so simple to use, I have not had to get help. I recommend this camera for someone has never used a digital camera.
On: 2006-05-20
Canon replaced my A70 (which took beautiful sharp pics) with this one when my A70 died due to the CCD problem. I HATE THIS CAMERA! Only about half of my pics are in focus...and no, its not operator problems. I am not new to digital photography. I have tried different settings and tripods, in an effort to get pics in focus consistently. Sometimes they are acceptable when I run them through the Photoshop sharpening filter. I have sent it back once and they worked on the "optics" but that did not help. The shutter lag and lag between shots is not acceptable. I dont understand why it gets such good reviews, although you will note the reviews mention its "soft focus" which I think is a code for "blurry."
On: 2006-05-19
Canon replaced my A70 (which took beautiful sharp pics) with this one when my A70 died due to the CCD problem. I HATE THIS CAMERA! Only about half of my pics are in focus...and no, its not operator problems. I am not new to digital photography. I have tried different settings and tripods, in an effort to get pics in focus consistently. Sometimes they are acceptable when I run them through the Photoshop sharpening filter. I have sent it back once and they worked on the "optics" but that did not help. The shutter lag and lag between shots is not acceptable. I dont understand why it gets such good reviews, although you will note the reviews mention its "soft focus" which I think is a code for "blurry."
On: 2006-05-07
We found this cameras 3MP brother (the A510) on closeout for $150. At that price, its an incredible value. I like that it uses regular AA recharables, so its easy to have spare batteries with you. Its very easy to operate, I find Im able to set up shots with it pretty quickly. A 1GB card easily holds days worth of snapshots and short movie clips. At this price, its also a good first camera for kids learning to take pictures, or in rough travel situtations where you may want to leave your "good" camera at home, but still have something that takes decent snapshots.
On the downside, its a bit bulky compared to Canons Powershot SD series, and the LCD screen on the back is pretty small.
On: 2006-04-28
This camera performed beautifully. It took great pix, and I had ZERO complaints. Then, only four months after buying it, it inexplicably stopped working. None of the buttons functioned and Im not spending at least half the cost of the camera to get it fixed. But if repairs dont bother you, it really was a great camera.
On: 2006-04-27
It looked like a nice camera and it was lightweight, but as soon as I put the batteries in and turned it on, the lens cover would not open. I had to return it.
by: roksyserg On: 2006-04-26
This is one of those cameras you wont be excited when you move from 35mm film cameras into digital world. Noise is horrible. I mean I can see noise even at lowest 50 ISO setting while using flash. I am silent about other higher setting. Yellowish tint. I think that Canon photo department is suffering from yellowish tint with its cameras, printers (I have pixma ip 4200) and all photo equipment. It seems that most of the pictures this camera produce have yellowish tint, with kind of warming yellow filter effect. And it does all the time. Highlights that are supposed to be white are slightly yellow. Most people wont notice this, but if you are photographer youll see it right away. Auto focus poor too. In all, maybe good camera for 4 by 6 prints in a broad daylight. Otherwise stay away from this underperforming camera.
On: 2006-04-22
I checked out the digital cameras in several stores as to which is the best at close ups (macro shots) and the A520/A530 were the best (heard the A510 is the same but didnt try it). Nothing else compared to the A520/A530 really. I mean you can even use this as a scanner for copying text from a magazine and it comes out perfectly clear! Try that with any other camera! Canons new line uses the Digic II instead of the Digic I sensor chip and is supposedly better and even takes good macros down to a centimeter! I might just upgrade in the future but for now Im perfectly satisfied with Canon. The picture quality is great, the workmanship is great, the ease of use is great, downloading pictures is simple, it all adds up to a great little camera.
Ive had Toshiba, HP, Nikon, and Casio and Ive liked this better by far. I was especially disappointed in the Casio Exislim camera I had. Seems you sacrifice alot for the "pocketability" of smaller cameras, IMO. Anyway, be sure to check out Canons line before you buy especially if you need to take alot of close ups!
On: 2006-04-16
I got my first digital camera in 2001: a Canon PowerShot A10, with 1.3 MP. Miraculously enough, it still works beautifully, and the image quality is still superior to many other digital cameras on the market. As an upgrade, and because I began to print my own images, I received the A520 as a gift. What can I say? I love it! It is easy to use, the image quality is solid, and now I finally have a camera compact enough to put in my pocket (or that doesnt serve a double function as a paperweight, you make the call.)
The only downside: sometimes it has a delay before allowing you to take another picture, but I find that this is a "Canon quirk," if you will. It doesnt happen often, but sometimes the screen goes black and the little light blinks in a "thinking" sort of mode before returning to the live screen. Other than that, I have NO complaints whatsoever. The battery life is fantastic (I reccommend rechargable batteries) and the image quality is great. Small, light-weight, and an overall good deal.
On: 2006-04-11
All the features and functions of this camera operate perfectly, but there seems to be a problem with the lens cover (lens cap, as Canon calls it) on some cameras. I bought two A520s for work, and BOTH cameras had malfunctioning lens covers, meaning they would not always slide fully open. If you touched the cover with the tip of your finger that would open them, but who wants to do that every time you turn on the camera?
But, I called Canon Factory Service and they were great. I was on the phone for maybe five minutes total. I returned the first camera for warranty service (I waited too long to return the cameras to the seller) and the camera was back in the office 12 days later with a new lens cap and barrier plate.
Five stars for Canon Service and the A520, but only 4 for the record because of the inconvenience.
On: 2006-04-07
Initially I wonted to buy a 6-7 mp digital camera, but I liked it, the pictures are so clear and nice, I had alot of fun with it, it is so easy to operate it, in fact I it recommend for every body.
On: 2006-03-26
I tell ya, every time I use this camera I am happy I bought it. I have yet to learn more about it, so in a nutshell a new-comer to the digital camera world can operate this immediately. It has become my new toy. Downloading the pictures on the computer is a snap and they are terrific. The down side...well, Im here because Im looking for a new memory card. The card that comes with it doesnt hold much....10-13 pictures if I remember right.
Still....this is one of my best buys for myself!
On: 2006-03-20
We bought the A520 to replace our 4-year-old A20 just prior to leaving for a month long vacation to SE Asia. After getting it home I messed around with it (even read the manual, amazing what kind of information you can find there), taking probably 150-200 photos, checking out exposure etc. and it seemed to work and I was impressed with the quality of the pics and the ability to manipulate the exposure. The control of exposure is remarkably similar to my old Elan II 35mm. I have owned Canon equipment since 1978.
But from there it was all down hill.
The problems started while waiting for the plane at JFK. I pressed the button to turn the camera on and found the lens cover only a quarter open. Turned it on and off and it was fixed, I thought. Once in Bali it continued to hang up every once and while for the next day or two but it was tolerable, and we are on vacation (good), long way from home (good) t too many camera repair shops there (bad).
A couple of days later another problem cropped up, it wouldnt retract the lens when you turned it off. Ok, I could just push it in.
A day later, it wouldnt obviously focus so it wouldnt take the picture, very frustrating. After getting back home I found that even photos that looked in focus on the LCD were actually out of focus but just a little. Shortly after that the zoom quit working too. And we still had three weeks left. Groan
What to do? We tried finding a repair shop in several towns but to no avail. We soldiered on with it screwing up regularly and with us getting a couple of decent photos here and there. We also looked at shops to buy a replacement. As an aside. Why dont cameras cost less in Southeast Asia? You think they would. The A520 is made in Malaysia, about 3 hours away from where we were. We never found any better deals than what you can find here and usually it the same camera was significantly more expensive????
On the next to last day in Indonesia it completely broke down, with the lens stuck almost all the way back in. We were without a camera for those two days and the three we spent in Hong Kong. And us with no camera to document the 15-hour flight back to JFK. Ugh to the flight and Bummer on the camera.
Called Canon (and actually talked to a person, wow) once I got back only to find out I had to pay for the shipping and insurance to their repair shop. Oh well at least its covered by warranty but I am going to rethink my allegiance to Canon. They need to get better with their quality control as I see others have had the exact same problems. Photography is an integral and incredibly important part of our vacations and we are deeply disappointed with Canon.
Positives were
Good battery life. Message to others, dont even try to use alkaline batteries. You have to use rechargables in cameras.
I like it only uses 2 batteries instead of 4 like in the older cameras.
Nice size, I dont like the real small cameras as they dont fit my hand but this still fits in a pocket easily.
Control of exposure is great lots of choices with all the priorities just like the big boys but I would like exposure compensation instead of 1/3.
Flash compensation is nice, another thing I found out after reading the manual. Amazing piece of literature, with a wealth of information.
Additonal info. *********
It broke again. This time I literally tossed it in the river. So long Canon.
On: 2006-03-19
We bought the A520 to replace our 4-year-old A20 just prior to leaving for a month long vacation to SE Asia. After getting it home I messed around with it (even read the manual, amazing what kind of information you can find there), taking probably 150-200 photos, checking out exposure etc. and it seemed to work and I was impressed with the quality of the pics and the ability to manipulate the exposure. The control of exposure is remarkably similar to my old Elan II 35mm. I have owned Canon equipment since 1978.
But from there it was all down hill.
The problems started while waiting for the plane at JFK. I pressed the button to turn the camera on and found the lens cover only a quarter open. Turned it on and off and it was fixed, I thought. Once in Bali it continued to hang up every once and while for the next day or two but it was tolerable, and we are on vacation (good), long way from home (good) t too many camera repair shops there (bad).
A couple of days later another problem cropped up, it wouldnt retract the lens when you turned it off. Ok, I could just push it in.
A day later, it wouldnt obviously focus so it wouldnt take the picture, very frustrating. After getting back home I found that even photos that looked in focus on the LCD were actually out of focus but just a little. Shortly after that the zoom quit working too. And we still had three weeks left. Groan
What to do? We tried finding a repair shop in several towns but to no avail. We soldiered on with it screwing up regularly and with us getting a couple of decent photos here and there. We also looked at shops to buy a replacement. As an aside. Why dont cameras cost less in Southeast Asia? You think they would. The A520 is made in Malaysia, about 3 hours away from where we were. We never found any better deals than what you can find here and usually it the same camera was significantly more expensive????
On the next to last day in Indonesia it completely broke down, with the lens stuck almost all the way back in. We were without a camera for those two days and the three we spent in Hong Kong. And us with no camera to document the 15-hour flight back to JFK. Ugh to the flight and Bummer on the camera.
Called Canon (and actually talked to a person, wow) once I got back only to find out I had to pay for the shipping and insurance to their repair shop. Oh well at least its covered by warranty but I am going to rethink my allegiance to Canon. They need to get better with their quality control as I see others have had the exact same problems. Photography is an integral and incredibly important part of our vacations and we are deeply disappointed with Canon.
Positives were
Good battery life. Message to others, dont even try to use alkaline batteries. You have to use rechargables in cameras.
I like it only uses 2 batteries instead of 4 like in the older cameras.
Nice size, I dont like the real small cameras as they dont fit my hand but this still fits in a pocket easily.
Control of exposure is great lots of choices with all the priorities just like the big boys but I would like exposure compensation instead of 1/3.
Flash compensation is nice, another thing I found out after reading the manual. Amazing piece of literature, with a wealth of information.
Additonal info. *********
It broke again. This time I literally tossed it in the river. So long Canon.
On: 2006-03-18
I think this camera takes great, clear pictures, and its really easy to download them on to your computer. It is pretty easy to use, although all of the different settings can be kind of confusing, even after reading the manual a few times.
My critiques of this camera are:
1. It eats through AA batteries really fast. Would be a good idea to use rechargeables and always have fresh batteries on hand.
2. The memory card it comes with does not hold many pictures. Plan on buying a bigger memory card.
Overall, Im pretty pleased with this purchase.
On: 2006-03-18
Love it. Got many compliment on how sharp the picture it. Does take a little time to be able to take another picture.
On: 2006-03-17
The quality and the ease of use of this camera is remarkable. Even though I have not learned most of the ins and outs of it, I can still use it to take great photos with tremendous resolution. I look forward to learning about all the other features, but until then, Im having a lot of fun shooting away and emailing them to all my friends.
A couple of caveats: the memory card they give with the camera is too small to be practical. Ive already bought the Viking 512 and it holds an unbelievable amount of pictures. Another negative is that the camera uses up AA batteries pretty quickly. As soon as I use up my Costco-size supply of Duracells, Im going to buy some rechargeables. The last negative comment I have is the only one I wont be able to fix: there is too much of a delay between the time I press the button and when the picture is actually taken. It can be a pain if you need to take a lot of candid or action shots.
Over all, I love this camera, and in fact, I just bought another as a present.
On: 2006-03-15
Excellent camera, simple to use but has many features - probably more than will be needed. Great price for such a multifunction camera. Battery life is a little disappointing but with display turned off, battery life is adequate. HIGH Quality pictures in a variety of conditions.
On: 2006-03-15
This is a terrific first user camera. Now i know when you first look at the camera and the settings on the top you might feel a bit overwhelmed, however just look over the users guide which is very easy to read and youll find what your looking for. If you have a specific topic you want identified then it is easy to look up in the glossary. The camera is very easy to use and once you figure everything out then its all good. Ill list some pros and cons that ive found so far
Pros:
-Very easy to use and figure out. Users guide tells all and is easy to find things
-takes high quality shots
-has photo and video capabilities
-has a view finder and decent size screen
-easy to install programs and USB capabilities
-not too big, not too small
-able to change lens if you want a better zoom or whatnot
-comes with TV AV cables
-has tripod capabilities
-zoom works nicely and focus does as well
Cons:
-takes awhile for the flash to load, so shots taken in a row might not go as fast as when the flash isnt on
-doesnt come with a DC plug however it does have the hole for it
-it comes with a small memory card, so youll have to buy a bigger one
-no battery indicator, it doesnt show up until the battery is critically low, and when the battery dies the lens doesnt retract until you press the power button again.
-Does suck up a lot of battery power. One night of constant useage might just eat your batteries.
-flash doesnt work at great distances, but many stock ones dont anyhow.
-flash might overwhelm at close distances
all and all this is a terrific camera. Everything has its pros and cons, there will be no camera that fits absolutely wonderful in every aspect but if you are looking for that entry level camera that takes wonderful pictures and is fun to use, this is it!
On: 2006-03-14
I purchased this camara October 2006. I have only used it indoors a couple of times, and it now does not work. I get an error message, and the company just informed me I have to pay shipping and insurance to send the camara to them, where they may or may not fix it under the warrenty. It will take me longer to get packaging material and mail the camara, then the time spent actually using the camara. I am very disappointed with this waste of money.
On: 2006-03-11
I purchased the Canon Powershot A520 4MP Digital Camera for a family member to replace an older, Nikon 2MP unit, which was passed down. The Cannon pictures simply blew away those made from the older, Nikon unit. Of course the additional resolution contributed somewhat to this but the camera handles flash phoitography much better. The camera allows you to set it up a a simple point and shoot unit or you can, if you are so inclined, change many individual settings to address special photography or hobby needs. Great unit.
On: 2006-03-11
I bought this after returning a Fugifilm camera I was unhappy with. For just a few extra bucks there is a world of difference. Pictures come out crystal clear. There are a wide variety of settings for anything you could ever want to photograph. With the flash, without the flash, lots of motion, no motion. It doesnt matter all the pictures come out perfect. It has an awesome zoom. Everything is easy to figure out and use. The screen is a nice size and the software it comes with is very helpful. I am now a fan of Cannon and will conintue to buy Cannon Powershots if I ever have to replace this one.
On: 2006-03-09
This is my first digital camera, and I love it! Apparently, Im not much of a photographer. I have tried to use the manual settings, however, I found my pictures turn out better if I leave it on automatic. There is about a 3-5 second wait time between pictures. I dont take action shots, so this is not a big deal. I purchased additional memory because the memory provided only allowed for approximately 15 pictures. All in all this is the perfect point and shoot camera for an amateur like me!
On: 2006-03-09
I love the fact that this camera has a 4X optical zoom and manual settings, both unusual in the usual compact point-and-shoot. There are other nice design features, like the specific design of the zoom feature. It also takes really good pictures. But I fear for its longevity. In particular, the switch between taking photos and playback feels really flimsy and plastic.
On: 2006-03-06
i purchased this camera for regular usage after conducting considerable research for an overall good camera. This camera was rated a consumer reports best buy and I must agree that the camera has performed well. Although the menus can be annoying at times i am more than satisfied with the quality of the pictures. High resolution pics and movies are great but the small memory card sucks.
On: 2006-03-03
I received this camera as a gift for Christmas. If I must say so myself this is the best camera ever. I am new at digital photography, but I am really glad that I was able to get this one. It has built my trust in digital photography and Canon this is why:
PROS
1. The dial function is so easy to use. To achieve the best quality photos from different situations such as portrait, landscape, auto and fast moving objects (just to name a few).
2. The quality in the pictures I shoot are always bright and crisp no matter what condition.
3. Easy to use functions within the camera such allowing me to shoot pictures with fireworks, kids and pets, in the dark and even snow.
4. The function button is located in a convenient place for switching between lighting and continuous shooting etc.
5. The video function is excellent I was weary of whether or not I would actually obtain high quality videos but it did.
6. With this camera you can personalize by changing the start-up picture, the operation sound, the shutter sound and the start up sound.
I could go on and on about how wonderful this camera is but you would be here reading forever!
Now here for the bad news, the only thing I can really find wrong about this camera is the eating of the batteries. The first day of learning its features, I needed new batteries. I eventually bought rechargeable batteries.
On: 2006-03-03
A simple camera that caters to the needs of the hectic life of a busy college student. Good quality photos - I use it for photography for the school newspaper. A smart buy if you want a digital camera but dont want to spend lots of money.
On: 2006-03-02
I have so many problems whenever I ask someone to take my picture. They either cant figure out how to hold the button down to take the picture and try to tell me the camera doesnt work or return the camera to me thinking they took the picture when they didnt. Or they take an out of focus picture. This is a major problem if you travel or like taking pictures with your friends.
This camera eats up batteries so fast! It takes 2 AA batteries, yet it seems like Im replacing them every week!
You cant take continuous pictures because the camera needs like 15 seconds after you take the picture to recover. Trust me that seems like an eternity sometimes.
All in all I dont feel my photos are as sharp as my pictures from film.
On: 2006-02-28
I LOVE this camera! After reading existing Amazon reviews and looking at some of the pictures taken by others, I decided to purchase the A520. I had bought another brand, and after becoming totally confused about how to operate it, I gave it to my daughter for a graduation gift. I thought Id never be able to use a digital camera.
But this one is great!! I started taking pictures immediately, and Ive loaded them onto my computer with ease, and Ive emailed them to my family with no problem! It is a breeze to use, and the pictures are perfect!
On: 2006-02-25
You cant beat the price for this incredibly user friendly camera. It takes FANTASTIC pictures!! With a baby on the way shortly, I know we will get plenty of use and memories out of this camera!
On: 2006-02-25
Great price - great product!
On: 2006-02-24
The photos are very fine, and the video is very acceptable. It works almost like the A95 Powershot.
On: 2006-02-24
Buy it for a friend. Picture quality is fine for a Canon under $200.
On: 2006-02-22
Well, compared to other cameras in the market, it is actually not so little, but is still an excellent buy. The actual trend is very much directed to make digital cameras smaller every time, but nonetheless this one has a good size. It is not one of the tiny little narrow ones, but it is not bulky either. It is narrower than its older brothers on the "A" series from Canon, because it uses two AA batteries instead of four. It will still fit in your jacket pocket.
Some people call this the Canon "economic" series. I think that is true if you compare them to the Digital Elph series, and this is mostly because of the use of plastic cases and several plastic parts instead of metal. Like one reviewer stated, the tripod mount is made out of plastic, and yes, I dont understand why it is in the corner. If your tripod is very light and the tripod head is small, it might cause the camera to tilt to the side and find it difficult to make it sit straight. To me this is a major flaw which I noticed at once at the moment of using a tripod, which I do often. You have to be real careful when you screw it on and off the tripod, frequent use might wear the plastic screw receiver.
You also have to be careful when you pull up the rubber strip that covers the inputs and outputs to transfer your pictures to your computer or view them on your TV screen. If you pull it too far back, this may cause the little rubber hinge that attaches it to the camera to break, with which you will loose this cover forever and beyond repair. I have seen this system before on several cameras and camcorders of different brand names and I think it is too fragile and should be changed.
This are maybe the main reasons I didnt give it five stars, because otherwise, I am very much pleased with mine. I got it about four months ago and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I had a Nikon 3100 for two years before the Canon, and I liked it a lot, but I must say this is a better camera overall.
The fact that it has a Digic processor instead of a Digic2, like more expensive models, is true; but hardly noticeable by most users, given the excellent picture quality that it delivers.
The 1,8 inch display has a very nice size and is very clear under most light conditions. It doesnt scratch easily, which did happen with the Nikon 3100 (read my review on this).
Battery life is great. Last weekend I took more than 200 pictures in the M1 setting which is 1600x1200 quality, the second larger available (it fills your computer screen), on a single pair of AA rechargeables, and they are still going.
I very much recomend the wide angle snap-on lens that you can get from Amazon at... 20 bucks!! It makes a world of difference when you are shooting landscapes or... whatever!! Besides a memory card (I use a 256MB and it stores hundreds of pictures), a carrying case (it does protect your camera), and a battery charger (it WILL save you a lot of money), this is definitely the best accessory you can buy.
The camera has a huge menu of manual settings, effects, scene modes and more that, I must admit, I havennt figured out or used totally yet. But, does anybody ever?
I did a lot of online and offline research before I decided myself on buying this one and I am very happy that I did. You wont find a better camera for this price. Trust me.
On: 2006-02-20
This camera was wonderful - it was easy and intuitive to use and provided crisp, clear pictures. I truly loved this camera. However, today, after using the camera on maybe 4 occassions for the past 2 months, the infamous E18 Error appeared on my screen - the camera started beeping loudly, and the lens will not retract. My camera is now completely inoperable. Luckily, it is still covered by the warranty, and I will let you all know how Canon responds to this problem. However, I am extremely disappointed by this malfunction. I used my camera only a few times, and I was very careful with it each time. It should not already be broken.
On: 2006-02-19
Easy to use, good pictures, good value for the money. Whats not to like?
On: 2006-02-18
I have own this camera for 5 hours now.
Biggest problem default picture size is 1024 x 768 with the 16 Mg card supplied that means 14 Pics.; of course first 2-3 are wasted working the controls.
Default should be 800 x 600 and the base card supplied should be at least 32 mg.
Yes, I know read the manual, come on, I wanted to take pictures. That is why I bought it.
The reviews had been good, and I figured I would be happy.
Well I was able to get a few pictures and they turned out much better then I expected. I only wish that while in the moment of a new camera I could have experienced more then 10 pictures before it told me "NO MORE".
Ok, Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, but damn. I got the camera 20 miles from home and could not offload the pics.
Even a film camera gives you 24 - 36 shots out of the gate.
PS: Picture Capture is very slow, I had heard that but decided to see for myself - Do Not Make this Mistake; get faster SD cards right from the get go.
On: 2006-02-17
Nothing exciting about this camera. Got this as a Christmas gift. Not a bad one though. My brother has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 and Ive used it a few times. If I were to pay for a camera, I wouldve bought the LZ2. A recent Business Week article mentioned LZ1 & LZ2 as the best selling cameras in Japan immediately after introduction. Lumix LZ2 must be good....So far, I dont have any complaints about A520; its just an average camera.
On: 2006-02-11
I bought this camera over four months back.
Here are the pros
It takes good pictures when the ambient lighting is good
Here are the cons
It does not take any good pics when the ambient lighting is bad and hence you get grainy images. I have used a Olympus e volt SLR and seen the kind of images you can get. I guess asking the same of this is asking too much from a point and shoot
After some time the zoom started to jam up. Now a days sometimes the aperture does not open fully. I have to shut down and reset the camera and still this is not always the cure. (Heck I even used my fingers to open the aperture !!! =)) Contacted Canon Support, they say that they are aware and that I can only send the camera back if only the zoom freezes permanently. Hope the camera remains under warranty till the time this happens &*(^%$#
The body is flimsy and so is the place to hold the AA batteries. It can break if you mishandle the camera a bit. Suffice it to say it is not robust
And finally the thing sucks up batteries like its main function is to finish these up even when you are not using the flash.
In summary no matter what you hear of Canon and its Quality Assurance practices dont buy this model. Spend a few more bucks and buy something else which does not have the definitive problems that this model has
cheers
~k
On: 2006-02-09
The PowerShot A520 is advertised as "The Right Camera For Any Person" which I will testify as true. Since I have gotten this digital camera I have never waited around for expensive film to be developed, but instead I print out my pictures right at home. This product comes with software that allows me to format and manipulate pictures the way I would like them to be. The crystal clear 1.8-inch display shows me the picture I have taken within seconds whereas many other brands and models like the Samsung Maxima dont even have a screen to view the moment I just captured. The convenient switch from taking to viewing pictures just takes the flick of a switch. While the screen may not be as large as the 2.5-inch screen of the Olympus SP-350, it gets the job done. Size does matter when it comes to cameras, the smaller the better. You dont want a big, bulky one to carry around during family picnics and Christmas gatherings. The A520 model is wide but not awkward compared to the Canon A610 at a massive 2.9 pounds. Zooming in is exceptional for a camera of this small size; this camera may not have the focus of a professional photographers camera, but it is perfect for those in-the-moment party pics. Many would expect the above features to be standard, but the random, personal features are a bonus. This camera allows you to choose themes for your camera like planets or birds. These themes allow for fun sound effects when taking and viewing photos. The thirteen different modes may also seem like a bonus, but theyre not necessary. These modes let you chose the setting you are taking a picture in to get the optimum quality. Thirteen is a bit much if you ask me; I just leave it on auto, which works well enough. This camera has all the necessary fundamentals and then some to satisfy all of your digital camera qualifications.
On: 2006-02-07
When I finally broke down and bought a digital camera this winter, I did lots of research first. I was looking for good quality pictures with a relatively low price and I found that in this camera. 4 megapixels is pretty good; the print quality is comparable but could be a little better. For the amatuer digital photographer, its very easy to use. Ill be upgrading in the next year or two to another Canon, and the only thing I would change is the megapixels. Last note--get rechargable batteries becuase it goes through regular AA batteries for lunch!
On: 2006-02-06
This is my fourth digital camera. I am happy with the right amount of features packed in a small package. The quality of the pictures turned out to be reasonable for this type of camera.
The real disappointment was the quality of assembly. There are five white flakes visible by bare eyes between the clear protection cover and the LCD screen. The largest one was more then 0.5mm. It is annoying to look at the pixels blocked by these flakes when taking pictures.
I took apart the back cover of the camera and cleaned up the annoying flakes on the display.
Ive taken 500 pictures with this camera in 10 days.
+ the 4x zoom gives a wider angle to take group photos in a smaller room
+ the high sensitivity allowed me to take most of the indoor pictures without the need for flash
+ the use of AA battery makes it easy to carry spares
- the zoom control moves too fast
- the rubber strip that covers the connectors does not snap in place securely
On: 2006-02-05
I wanted this camera for my scuba diving. Now I have it, I am very disappointed. The camera came with a Canon!!! branded 16MB multimedia card. After the 1st shot I got a "memory card error". I could not format it in the camera. I used an external USB drive and after several tries I reformatted it. Afraid that the SD card had a problem I bought a new SD card (Kingston 512MB) with "life time warranty" I used it for weeks and weeks and hundereds of pictures without problems. Then one day we went to a photoshoot and after about 40 pictures the camera said "memory card error" and then "no images". In other words, all the unique pictures I spend a lot of time on were all gone. I read also other Canon cameras seem to have a memory card reading problem. I dont understand why Canon cant fix their problems once and forever Now I am afraid to use this camera for any "special moments" , specially for scuba diving.. What a waste of money for the camera, weights and the waterproof case. I may need to use my old and very reliabile DC290 again for making pictures.. I dont believe its the SD card. 2 different ones and the same problem. Canon, please wake up!
On: 2006-02-04
Canon is always the best when it comes to photography and this one is yet another example! crisp and bright pictures, long battery life and very easy to use... great buy for the price.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-02-04
The Canon A520 is a grea camera for many reasons. First of all, it takes many pictures on many different resolutions! Second, it can also take at least 10 minutes of videos! Also, you can see what youre taking a picture of on the back screen of the camera! What a awesome camera!
On: 2006-02-01
This is a great camera. Easy to use and takes very good digital pictures.
On: 2006-01-31
The Cannon Software that comes with this camera is not very user-friendly.
I personaly have had a horrible nightmare with the software and currently Canon Tech support is unable to remedy the problem.
Picture quality, the "standard" setting takes pictures that are very "overexposed" or white looking.
Must have add-ons .... the 16mb memory card included only holdl hold 8 to 15 4 mpeg pictures.
You need to buy rechargeble 2500 mah batteries, standard batteries will take about 20 pictures with flash on.
Overall unsatisfied customer, i only paid xxx.xx and i believe that was too much.
Best wishes
Matt
On: 2006-01-30
this camera is a little big for the price and some pictures I took came out very bad quality. I tried to take a small passport photo and was unable to make a good one. I returned it for a camera with more than 3mps
On: 2006-01-30
I have had this camera for a month now and absolutely love it. Totally delivers! I have found it just like the other reviews describe it - very intuitive manual controls, great picture quality, light weight - great value for money. With 4MP, prints come out really great. Video mode is decent. Yes there is a slight wait time between pictures but hey I am not one who uses multiple shots very often. Battery life is not too bad either. I just bought a Sony 15 minute charger so hopefully wont have to worry about batteries running out now! All in all - a great buy
On: 2006-01-30
The A520 is a great buy especially for those who have never owned a digital camera before. The camera is easy to use and takes great pictures.
Only cons are that the AA batteries drain fast, I would suggest purchasing a battery recharger, which will save $$$ in the long run. The other con is that it comes with a 16 MB SD card, I upgraded to 512 MB straight away (look for rebates they are out there!)
This is my second Canon Digital Camera purchase (also bought an A40 5 years ago which is still working perfectly as when I bought it. Their products are high quality and superior.
On: 2006-01-29
I bought this camera as a gift. Actually this is the 2nd A520 Ive bought in 3 weeks. Both of these A520s were defective - the lens cover would not open all the way on either of them, so I of course returned the original and the replacement. In general, I like Canon cameras. You get a lot of camera for the money compared to some other cameras. For this reason, I ordered a Canon A610 and so far it has worked beautifully. My husband and I both have Canons and have never had problems. After my experience, however, I would not recommend the A520. Ive seen good reviews of it in several magazines, but for myself, I will not go for a third try!
On: 2006-01-17
Ive owned this camera for six months now, and a lot of my happiness with this camera has faded. Others have discussed many of the reasons I bought this camera - great size, great zoom, great price. I especially like how it autofocuses in portrait mode.
However, as I look over the photos Ive taken, the photos arent even close to the quality of the five-year-old Kodak DC4800 that this camera replaced. The photos arent as sharp, even when on a tripod, and when I handheld the camera I had a lot more blurry pictures. Worse, the camera has to save each picture as it is taken, you cant snap two or three pictures rapidly, then let the camera save it. Im constantly waiting for the camera to catch up with me.
Perhaps Im expecting too much for the price, but five years in the technology industry is a long time and I was disappointed that this camera was such a step backward. Ill be giving this camera to the kids and buying something else to get the picture quality and speed that Im looking for.
On: 2006-01-16
This camera is perfect for the beginner or casual user. You can not beat the price and ease of this product. I have problems turning on my laptop, so to say this camera is easy to use is BIG! The drawbacks are (1)the battery needs replacing frequently, but luckily uses cheap batteries, not these expensive(what size is it???) variety. A upgraded memory card is a must! I found one at Tiger direct for $18.00 (reg. $80.00). I am pretty happy with the quality, but not excited with the zoom option; I would give it a C rating. However, overall I do like my Cannon very much, especially since it is slim and carryable!! It is perfect for the Mom on the go that likes to carry her camera around for that perfect pic!!!
On: 2006-01-16
Canon is probably the best buy when it comes to digital cameras. I have several and bought this one as a gift for my sister in law.
She love sthis camera. Compact, easy to use (a trained chimp can use this camera!!!) Nice basic features.
If you lose it you wont feel like you lost an arm and a leg.
However, you get what you pay for. SHutter speed is not comparable to Cannons high end cameras (S or SD series) but comes with the package.
On: 2006-01-15
A lot of quality for the price. My daughter uses it for college. It has just the right amount of manual adjustments without being too complicated.
On: 2006-01-11
Ill keep this short. Before you invest in a Canon Powershot camera (regardless of model number) please take a few minutes to Google information about the notorious "E18 error" that occurs on these cameras. This is a major defect and Canon knows it. It took less than two weeks for my new camera to become unoperational.
In all fairness, during the two weeks that it worked the camera did take great pictures.
On: 2006-01-09
I like a lot of things about this digital camera:
*Cute, small, easy to hold and comfortable to operate.
*Simple controls, easy to use and understand.
*Very clear LCD display.
*Takes nice crisp pictures and the flash works well.
*Great sound quality on the movie mode.
The reason we are not going to keep this digital camera is that the shutter speed is a joke. I like to take funny pictures of things to share with people, like when my cat is trying to teach my dog manners... well by the time the camera powers on, and the shutter decides to snap a picture, the action is over, the sun has gone down, and the moment is over. This is not the camera to use if you want to capture sponaneous moments, it is fine if you want to take a picture of a flower, a work of art, or a posed photo- but be warned, the shutter takes its time to click and that time is too long for me.
On: 2006-01-08
I needed a camera for a college course, and I was sick of borrowing the cameras from the school. That however was why I bought this camera. The school gives out the same ones for people to borrow.
So I bought the camera and have been using it on my terms the last few days. The picture quality is great. Its easy to use, even my roommate got the hang of it quickly. Also it uses SD.
I say the use of SD is a plus because I have an SD reader on my computer. This saves me from what I read is a complaint with the camera. Having to install the software. I just pop out the SD card and put in in the reader. No software required.
I do recommend you buy a bigger storage card. The one is comes with is a slow 16MB MMC card. Its basically worthless.
All in all its a great camera for anyone who isnt a professional, and wants great photo quality.
On: 2006-01-07
Do a search on google "canon memory card error". Canon has a major problem whether it is brand new cards, in my case, or used cards. The card reader has major problems. I just bought a new 512 kingston pro sd card and it does not work in the camera. Others, many others, have had similar problems with various Canon models in the past.
On: 2006-01-07
This is my first digital camera for myself though I have bought several for other family members. After spending a little time with the camera and a good book on how to use it, I am amazed at all the features packed in this camera. It takes amazing pictures in auto mode but still has the flexibility to allow even a seasoned photographer to accomplish professional quality photos. The only shortcoming of this camera is its movie mode, but this is a digital still camera not a video camera so who cares!! If you are looking for a camera that is just point and click, buy this camera. If you are looking for a camera to get started in photography, buy this camera. If you are a semi-pro, buy this camera, you wont regret it!!!
P.S. I would also recommend buying "How to do everything with digital photography" by Dave Huss, as it seems the book was written for this camera.
On: 2006-01-04
Ive had this for about a week now. Im very happy with it so far - here are the main points:
Pros:
o Reasonably good optical viewfinder.
o Manual exposure and white balance controls.
o Small.
o Good exposure metering.
o Reasonable battery life.
o Adequete depth of field.
o Good in bright daylight, portaits, good macro.
Cons:
o Small memory buffer.
o Flash recycle time.
o Weak flash, slow lens, indoors is challenging. Dont use
over 100 ISO equiv.
The important thing to remember - this is a small point-and-shoot camera. For what it is supposed to do, it is very good. There are few things my Nikon D70 does that this cannot. If you are looking for a small camera for your pocket/purse, this is ideal.
As others have said, 2500 mAh NiMH batteries and at least a 256 MB SD card are mandatory.
The zoom feels like 30-130 mm 35mm equiv (not sure what it actually is). This is good for a p&s - the optics really arent fast enough for anything longer.
On: 2006-01-01
For an amateur, point and shoot kind of photographer, this is a good camera for me. I got it from my husband (who owns a 5060 Olympus and and D70S Nikon SLR) for my birthday.
Several factors to remember when buying a point and shoot camera :
-You cannot expect it to work amazingly fast like an SLR camera. It is after all, point and shoot.
-The features of a point and shoot camera is usually basic and if you need it very much to take good videos, then get a digital video camera to fulfil the purpose.
It is true that Canon requires for their software to be downloaded, like many other digital electronics, but you also have a choice to configure the options in your computer on where you would like to store your newly uploaded pictures and you can use other softwares (like IrfanView) to view and crop the pictures. To tell you the truth, I dont use the Canon software to view my pictures.
This camera fulfils my purpose. My pictures look awesome and I dont have any problems with it. And again, if youre looking for a camera that is fast and gives more features, get an SLR camera (which doesnt have a video feature)which is super fast or pay more for the higher end of this product.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-01-01
I bought this camera recently at CompUSA. I have been VERY satisfied with it.
PROS:
Excellent photos
Awesome movie mode- it has audio!
Many different shooting modes- they are impressive!
Superior flash
4x optical zoom, 3.5x digital zoom, 14x COMBINED ZOOM!
Made by Canon!!
Small and lightweight (about as long+wide as a large flip cell phone)
Moderately large LCD
Simple controls
Convenient location of zoom control
Many more PROS!
CON:
Takes 1-5 seconds to take a picture, but cameras that take pictures fast cost big $$$, so you try to live with it
On: 2005-12-31
I was so excited to get this cute lil camera for Christmas until I tried to move the pictures to my hard drive. Thinking that its a standard USB drive, I plugged it in and no go. I had to install the software that came with it to get my pictures. Okay, fine. Ive used Canon software before, its annoying, but I can deal. I installed all the software, went to the directory to open it and much to my horror, the only software on my *entire* machine was Canon. Microsoft Office, gone. WinAmp, gone. Trillian, Macromedia, etc, all gone. It completely wiped my drive of any other application software, including previous Canon software Id installed. And to add insult to injury, it borked my DNS servers so I couldnt even get on the internet to find a fix. In the end I had to re-format the hard drive and re-install Windows. This thing is going back ASAP and Im getting a Nikon!
On: 2005-12-30
My wife bought a Canon A520 a couple of months ago after doing quite a bit of research. The camera takes good picutes and has many exposure options. Being able to use standard AA batteries is especially useful if youre traveling or outdoors and dont have ready access to a charger. I have been using a Dimage X for the past 3 years and have been very happy with it; however, the Dimage provides relatively few exposure options and movies are limited to about 20-30 seconds. The Canon offers many more features.
So far I have found 2 major drawbacks with the Canon A520:
1. You cant zoom while making a movie. The 3-year-old Dimage provides this feature. This is frustrating, because while the Canon provides seemingly unlimited recording time compared with the Dimage you dont get enough control while filming.
2. The Canon does not emulate a Windows disk drive when you connect it to a computer. To download picutres you have to install special software that Canon provides or use another program compatible with the TWAIN standard. This is a big inconvenience if you want to use the camera on different computers, as I often do. (I have sometimes used the Dimage as a USB disk to share files with others while traveling on business.) Copying images with the Canon software works ok, but it seems slow - and thats one more piece of software that you have to install and manage. When I connected the camera to a computer that lacked the Canon software, but had Adobe Photoshop Elements, I could use Elements to get the images - but it took forever: dont just go out for a cup of coffee; take a long lunch.
If these 2 features arent important to you by all means consider the Canon A520.
On: 2005-12-28
This is my third digital camera and I am well versed in computers. I had been lusting for a Canon A510 for about 8 months when I finally broke down and came to Amazon to buy it. The A520 had come out a few months ago and was pretty much the same price. I was going to stick with the A510 but upon hearing the A520 was lighter, smaller and used 2 batteries as opposed to 4 I decided to take the plunge.
There is a TON to like about the camera. The pictures it takes are excellent, the most important aspect of a digital camera. The controls are very intuative, and I find it to be the perfect size for a grown man. There are smaller cameras out there, but having used them I find it difficult to hold them steady and keep my fingers out of the way of the lens. The number of accessories for the A520 (and A510) is second to none for anything its class (and above). Lenses, flash packs, underwater skin, etc.. are all very readily available. Most excellent.
Now, for my complaints. I wish the processor was faster. It definetly is slower in compressing and storing the photo than my friends modern digital cameras (3 and 4 MP cameras of the past year or so). My other complaint is in Canon software. I had no intention on actually using the included software to download pictures. On every other digital camera I have attached to my computer, the memory card appeared under "My Computer" and I could freely move or copy pictures from the memory card. Not possible with the Canon A520. I was forced to install the TWAIN software for the camera, which does work fine with the Canon downloading program. Unfortunetly the included TWAIN driver crashes Picasa which is my picture manager of choice. Sigh.
A great price for a very good camera. Im not sure I would buy it again if I had to do it over again. Im aggrevated with the two flaws (IMO) but I havent found anything I like more in my travels.
On: 2005-12-27
We bought this camera for our 15 year old daughter after having very positive experiences with other Canon cameras. It died with the "E18" error on Christmas Day after she had taken a few dozen pictures. I then Googled Canon and E18 and discovered just how common this problem is. I guess Canon is cutting some design/manufacturing corners. Too bad since their cameras take great pictures. I guess Ill be sending this camera back under the warranty and hoping for the best...
On: 2005-12-26
We bought this camera for our 15 year old daughter after having very positive experiences with other Canon cameras. It died with the "E18" error on Christmas Day after she had taken a few dozen pictures. I then Googled Canon and E18 and discovered just how common this problem is. I guess Canon is cutting some design/manufacturing corners. Too bad since their cameras take great pictures. I guess Ill be sending this camera back under the warranty and hoping for the best...
On: 2005-12-23
I have S400 so I did not beleive when many people mentioned here that A520 is slow.. But I regret it today. It is very slow between clicks.. I tried a very fast SD card.. no use, still it is slow.. On average it takes 5-6 sec between clicks. sometimes much more..
On: 2005-12-20
If you ever need to take indoor shots in succession, DO NOT buy this camera. I loved my last Canon and went with this one which was newer, but in the same series. The recharge time for the flash is terrible between 7 & 15 seconds and really makes a difference when youre trying to capture the perfect shot. The reason seems to be that this model only uses 2 batteries. The A620 is entirely worth the extra $100 since it has 4 batteries and the fold out screen.
On: 2005-12-20
After a long hold out, I bought this as my first digital camera.
This camera is worthwhile for a entry level digital photo enthusiast. I got this for $159 from [...] (including some coupons).
Tips:
1.Buy atleast 512mb sdram from online(example: newegg)
2.Need to buy rechargable AA batteries, since this camera runs with 2 AA batteries. This is mandatory because digicams uses lot of juice while LCD is used.
Following are the haves and have nots for the product.
Has:
1. Comes with Wrist strap,USB cable,A/V cable
2. Comes with CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solutions, ArcSoft Camera Suite, and drivers
3. Theres a built-in lens cover on the A520, so there are no messy lens caps to worry about.
4. Despite having a more powerful zoom lens, the A520 is quite a bit smaller than their predecessors.
5. Support for optional conversion lenses, external flash, underwater case
6.Excellent photo quality, period.
7.4X optical zoom lens
8.Full manual controls, unusual for a camera in this price range
Negatives:
1. Takes a long time(about 10 secs) to move onto next snap, due to having only 2 AA batteries.
2. Poor low light focusing, despite having an AF-assist lamp (worse than old models)
3. Redeye.
4. Movie mode still needs some work
5. Noisy images at ISO 200 and above
6. LCD doesnt "gain up" very much in low light
For the price and picture quality it provides, you can not go wrong with this Canon product. Sure suitable for casual digital snap requirements.
On: 2005-12-20
This camera and all Canon A-series cameras should be avoided. Do a search for "canon e18" on Google and you will see complaints from thousands of people talking about an error these cameras experience that renders them useless. Essentially what happens is the retractable lens gets stuck and the camera ceases to function. I have recommended a Canon A-series to two friends and both have had this problem. The worst part is Canon refuses to acknowledge the problem and wont do anything about fixing your camera if its out of the one-year warranty period.
I am a huge Canon fan and this is a really great camera until it has the E18 problem. You are taking a gamble if you buy this camera.
On: 2005-12-19
If you ever need to take indoor shots in succession, DO NOT buy this camera. I loved my last Canon and went with this one which was newer, but in the same series. The recharge time for the flash is terrible between 7 & 15 seconds and really makes a difference when youre trying to capture the perfect shot. The reason seems to be that this model only uses 2 batteries. The A620 is entirely worth the extra $100 since it has 4 batteries and the fold out screen.
On: 2005-12-19
This camera and all Canon A-series cameras should be avoided. Do a search for "canon e18" on Google and you will see complaints from thousands of people talking about an error these cameras experience that renders them useless. Essentially what happens is the retractable lens gets stuck and the camera ceases to function. I have recommended a Canon A-series to two friends and both have had this problem. The worst part is Canon refuses to acknowledge the problem and wont do anything about fixing your camera if its out of the one-year warranty period.
I am a huge Canon fan and this is a really great camera until it has the E18 problem. You are taking a gamble if you buy this camera.
On: 2005-12-17
This is my first digital camera, purchased for a recent trip to Europe. First off, the batteries that come with the camera will last just long enough for you to play with the little memory card, maybe two hours. You will need a bigger card, and lithium AA batteries will last much, much longer. In fact, I didnt need my back-up set of batteries during my week in Prague (and no need for an adapter and converter for rechargables, either). Perhaps Im spoiled by my old 35mm camera, but I found the slow shutter speed annoying, especially at night with the flash. The camera would click just in time to catch some random person walking in front of me. Good thing I can preview and delete the bad photos. Once I got the hang of it, the A520 did very well (and the prints impressed my co-workers) and I look forward to learning how to best use the extra features.
On: 2005-12-14
It should be noted that if you have a Mac with something less than OS X you will be unable to download the software that comes with this item.
You will need to purchase a memory card reader.
On: 2005-12-12
This is my first digital camera and I like it very much. I find it easy to use and although it is not as small as some of the ultra compact ones, it is still quite small. The main difference being, I believe, the thickness of this camera. But in my opinion I would not want anything thinner as it would be very difficult to get a grip on. This camera is very light and it is shaped somewhat ergonomically on the right side to provide easy grip while shooting (assuming youre not a leftie). Makes it stable to shoot using one hand if necessary. If you use the flash it does take several seconds to reset itself. An absolute necessity is an upgraded memory card as the 16mb that comes with the camera will only hold about 13 pictures which is absolutely useless. Canon should up the price of the camera and include a card that is actually useful and save their consumers the extra time and steps of buying another card. The zoom is very nice, the pictures are clear and crisp and using standard AA batteries is great. Buy yourslf at least 4 rechargeable ones and you will be set. A great little camera for the average camera user, family pics, vacations etc. Also, the Canon A510 was rated by Consumer Reports as a best buy. The only difference between that camera and this one is the # of megapixels.
On: 2005-12-12
I used to have a Powershot A70, until it was stolen. Even though it was only 3.2MP, I think it provided crisper pictures than the A520 (at least up to 5x7). The biggest drawback with the A70 is an unbelievably long time for the flash to recharge between shots (often 30 seconds), making it impossible to shot any type of sequence photos. The A70 didnt have the problem (because of 4 batteries vs. 2 batteries in the A520). Plus, the A520 eats batteries and doesnt work well with rechargables. Im definitely in the market to replace this thing.
On: 2005-11-29
I bought this camera after a lot of poking around the stores and researching on the net. I read a lot of reviews about all the cameras. I made comparision sheets of all the cameras that I researched and went to all the stores and used every single camera that I could lay my hands on. I finally bought this camera from Amazon and boy what a neat little package this camera is. No wonder it features as the number one all the lists and is the largest seeling. Canon does make some of the most awesome cameras. The camera is very user friendly and easy to use. If you want to get a little professional well the camera accomodates this yearning of yours very eaisly. The bundled software is top notch and lets you play around quite a lot with the photos and the camera too. Although the camera is a little bulkier than the SD200 (which costs around the same as the A520), the features of the A520 are far better. The red eye is very limited when compared to the SD200. I took quite a lot of pictures in the dark and the photos turned out very very good. Overall the image quality is unparalleled. The feel of the camera is good and it is comfortable to hold and shoot pictures (even with one hand). The protected 1.8 inch LCD is perfect in size and works wonderfully under different light condiditons. Oh! and before I forget, this camera features a 4x optical zoom which is very rare for a "less than 5MP" camera.
The A520 uses the standard AA batteries and is suprisingly long lasting. Better to buy rechargeable NIMH batteries but it is not necessary to buy the Canon brand. Other lower priced ones work as good. As with all digital cameras today a seperate flash memmory is requried since the supplied 16MB would not be sufficient. Thei camera is comaptible with both the MMC and SD cards.
some cons that I found are that the movie mode is not that great but hey this is just a Digital Camera so I dont care about that since I shoot my movies on my camcorder.
If you are looking for a top class digital camera with everything that you wanted but at a very affordable cost then look no further than the A520.
On: 2005-11-24
Searched awhile for first digital camera, and this seemed to be best value overall. Excellent camera in all respects for the money, except as noted in other reviews the lens cover sticks and doesnt always fully open on its own. Annoying and you would think | | |
