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Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 245
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 On: 2008-06-24
This is a great point and shoot Camera:
Pros:
- Sturdy, literally unbreakable. My kid has thrown this camera around but no damage done.
- Takes sharp pictures for a 6mp Camera. I will upload some of the pictures I have shot with this camera.
- For manual control freaks, this camera has enough manual control to play around with.
- Uses 2 AA rechargeable batteries. Buy a 15 minute charger and you are all set. No need to buy li-ION batteries.
Cons:
- After handling the Elphs, this one looks a little bulky, however I have not complaints with its size what so ever.
- Is an old camera so is definitely slower between two pictures, again I have had not complaints with that.
All in all, for the price this is a great great camera. I upgraded to an XTi and bought an ELPH, but this camera is staying with me. I also have a previous version of the A540, the A520 extremely happy with that one also.
On: 2008-04-20
Excellent Camera the Picture quality is perfect. It has many functions that can be used for business purposes or just for fun indoors and out door. It has a automatic Red eye removal function that helps if you dont want to spend too much time reediting your photos once taken.
The zoom is excellent 4x its a bit poor on memory but you can buy more quite cheep. It runs on butteries which help when you are up and about with the camera. A must have for the out door mobile enthusiasts.
 On: 2008-01-14
Bought this camera for my parents (70+ years old) about a year ago. It was fairly easy for them to learn and use. It takes good pictures. Batteries do not last long indoors using flash, so you definately need to get a good set of rechargable batteries for indoor use. Would recommend for anyone needing a medium to low end digital camera of good quality.
On: 2008-01-09
I wanted to use this camera for a while before reviewing it because it is my first camera and I am rather new to photography. But I have been doing my homework...
First the good stuff:
--I have to say the battery usage, or lack thereof is incredible. I bought rechargeable NiMH batteries and I have managed to fill up a 2GB card two and a half times with photos and video (occasionally using flash, almost always with the LCD on) and I have only had to replace the batteries _one time_. On a typical day of shooting for 3-4 hours I may replace the batteries one time. This was an issue I was concerned about, but I have been incredibly surprised, impressed and overjoyed by this. With the regular alkaline batteries that came with the camera, I took only 200+ pictures with the LCD on, flash on part of the time.
--6MP and 4x optical zoom, thats pretty good for cameras today. For most consumers this is as much as you will ever need, perhaps more than you need. Of course, give it a year and all the cameras will have 8MP and 6x.
--The user interface is pretty intuitive and easy for the average user to figure out, especially if you have used Canon before. The only camera I have ever used was my mothers A70 and I was easily able to navigate through the controls to do what I needed.
--The pictures look very good, the colors are beautiful and generally they are very sharp. The pictures I took last fall were very good. I found some of the automatic "scene" settings to be helpful as well, the "foliage" setting worked great to put emphasis on outdoor colors.
--An advantage over the A530: The user can manually select things like shutter speed and aperture priority. There is also an auto setting. For someone who is trying to learn photography a little instead of simply take pictures, this has helped me to experiment. Often I find that at times I may want less exposure time and am willing to sacrifice some brightness for the resulting sharpness.
--The camera does feel light and rather small in the hand, but its comfortable to hold.
A Few cons:
--Probably the main problem that would affect most people is that 5-7 second delay when using the flash. I can see how this would be an issue for some people who have children or want to take a lot of pictures in darkly lit areas. I rarely do this but if you are wanting to take a lot of pictures with flash in succession, this could be a major issue.
--In low light settings the photos are not great, something I had read about ahead of time in reviews. Taking good pictures on a rainy or overcast day can be a challenge. I was surprised how good some pictures looked when I recently went out on a dark foggy morning and took pictures.
--In movie mode there is noticeable motor noise picked up by the microphone when the camera adjusts to light changes and when zooming in and out. A minor quibble for those mostly wanting to take photos, but may be an annoyance for others who occasionally want to shoot video with the camera (like me, although I am not overly concerned with high quality video as with high quality pictures). A side note, movie mode does tend to take up a lot of memory, but you have the option to take fewer frames per second (15fps/30fps) and you can decrease the resolution.
--The memory card included with the camera is pretty worthless. Canon has included 16MB cards with cameras ever since the A70 and before, and yet the number of megapixels has more than doubled. Is it not time to increase the size of the card included? I found a good deal on a 2GB card and with that on the highest resolution and quality compression rates it will hold around 750 pictures.
--There are two instruction manuals included, one is a basic manual and the other a "advanced." I have to say that the advanced one is not as detailed as I would like. It explains what things do without telling you exactly why you would like to use this or that setting or when.
--Another minor quibble, I have noticed some "barrel distortion" (if you dont know what that is you probably do not need to worry about it, or you can look it up online) on close up pictures, this inevitably happens with every camera though, and is probably no more exaggerated here than with others.
The value for the money with this camera is very good. I managed to get it for $168 in January 2007.
On: 2007-12-18
I received this camera in 2006 as a Christmas gift and have been using it ever since. The great results that I get from this camera are comparable to most any other 6 megapixel compact digital camera. I have had a number of prints made, and pictures that were exposed properly (per the command of the photographer) produced an amazing amount of detail.
This camera boasts something that wasnt too common among non-DSLR digital cameras: manual functions. For those who are more hands-on and like to have a little more control over how the camera exposes the picture, this was great. I have been able to use this camera to my advantage to explore the effects of shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, etc. It has led me to seek the expanded capabilities of a digital SLR.
But the advanced user aside, the general person who needs a way to capture great shots in most situations will love the relatively small size and great picture quality of this 6MP camera.
Ill be using this as a companion/backup camera alongside a DSLR because the quality of the images is just too great to pass up right now.
Pros:
* Great image quality
* Good color reproduction
* Basic and advanced controls
* Uses AA batteries
* Comfortable to hold, seems well-built
* Can be used with optional adapters and filters
Cons:
* Generally poor flash performance indoors, not much help in daylight
* LCD has a somewhat low resolution; screen looks grainier than it should
* No image stabilization
* Flash recharges slowly on most batteries
On: 2007-12-14
This is our first digital camera and has worked out great. There are many more options than I will ever use, but why complain about that? I have been very pleased with the picture quality, zoom capabilities, screen size, and ease of uploading the pictures to my computer. Our batteries seem to run out often, but I always carry an extra set and it isnt a great expense since it uses two AA batteries.
 On: 2007-11-29
The camera worked all right for the price for half a year. Then it died. I used it very carefully, never hit or exposed to the elements, but it still died. It may be that I am spoiled by the quality and longevity of products Canon made me appreciate itself for, but I am extremely disappointed.
On: 2007-11-29
We really liked this camera until yesterday and we got the famous Canon Lens Error. (do a search on the web for Canon e18 error). My wife took a picture of the kids for Christmas and switched the camera to play mode to review the shot and it blacked out the LCD with a message that said LENS ERROR, RESTART CAMERA. She did so, and it started making a grinding noise. The camera is now junk and not worth fixing. THANKS CANON!
On: 2007-11-17
This is a great camera.The shipping was faster than I expected. I would recommend it to everyone.
On: 2007-11-02
Great little camera, very powerful and functional in a very small package.
The viewfinder is great to use on sunny days when you cant see the view screen. The features are many and easy to use. The 6mp is more than enough for 5x7 or 4X6 prints. I have a 2gb memory card enough for more 1000 pics. The only downside is the weak flash and very slow recovery time. If you plan to shoot a lot of distance flash this camera is not for you, if you plan to shoot rapid flash sequences this camera is for you. The 4x optical zoom is not very powerful so if you do a lot of distance shooting look elsewhere. Every other feature is outstanding. If you can get the camera for under $200 do it!
On: 2007-10-19
I was using my brothers A520 for a while, but had to give it back to him... This is a great camera - wonderful zoom, video quality. It takes great pictures in daytime or nighttime, indoor or outdoor - Ive never had a problem with it. Even got some good shots at a concert, though I guess it does struggle some with city scapes at night.
Its small and hardy-feeling - the best you can get if you want a AA-powered camera, which I did for the ease of use when traveling etc. I hate to be without battery.
I would highly recommend it. Better than any camera Ive used before. Also, my brothers 520 had a problem that seems common with those -the shutter stuck after a while, turning it on and off. That was annoying.
No problems with this one at all!
On: 2007-10-17
The image quality is amazing and all the features are really good. Quality-wise, you cant really ask for more at the price. However, it is pretty bulky and, it might just be the old rechargeable AA batteries Im using, but I always seem to get terrible battery life.
On: 2007-09-21
The picture for the price is outstanding. I would definately buy another Cannon. I got this for my wife and she uses to take pictures of her artwork to share with others and it allows others to see the real detail and color when she shows them to other people.
On: 2007-09-19
The camera makes great photos...simple to use....but memory card is way too small! Figure in the additional cost of new larger memory card when purchasing this item.
On: 2007-09-14
Bought this little ditty for my mom for Christmas last year and after getting used to whole digital concept, she loves it! It takes great pictures and she just loves being able to take 100s of pics with one card. The controls are easy to use and the menus are user friendly...(for someone who is not technically savy). Good little camera for beginners!
On: 2007-08-23
Unfortunately , I bought this camera, My earlier camera was Sony and wanter try for a Canon .
Picture is so blur and always a rose color background.As per my understanding each canon camera has different lense makers . I dont recommend this model to any one
On: 2007-08-15
My sister owns this camera for a while and shes really enjoying it. Its lightweight, compact, and has great features. Highly recommended.
BUT- try to find a different place to buy it. $599.00 is way too expensive.
On: 2007-07-25
What a Wonderful little Camera. I have had this Canon Powershot A540 for about 8 Months now. And it Works Great.This is my first Digital Camera. The battery life is great,you need to use the rechargeable batterys. I like it because it only takes 2 batterys and that makes the camera have a very nice feel to it. I did purchased this at Amazon and the shipping was very fast and nicely packed.The display screen is large and nice to see your pictures in. You may have some problems with Red eye.
Mostly in animals,but I have that problem now uner control.You just need to play around with the ajustments some. This camera is a Winner and a great one to start with if you have never had a digital camera.
One thing you will need to get for this Camera is a Charger. I would suggest the Sony BCG-34HE4 Super-Quick Battery Charger it comes with 4 rechargeable battery and it is a Great Charger. You can get this also at Amazon too. You will be very Pleased if you do.
On: 2007-07-04
Do not purchase this camera from Amazon. It is less than $200 at EVERY other vendor Ive looked at. Amazon currently has it priced at more than $500!
On: 2007-07-02
A540 is great but I cant download into cpu with UBS cords or card reader.
Something about non-compatability of my 2002 Gateway and softwear?
On: 2007-06-29
Though this review might prove a bias view toward Cannon products, I found their cameras to be very user friendly. The picture quality is superb for the non-professional photographer and with the easy upload to any personal computer, one can view their masterpieces in no time.
On the downside, it would have been nicer if the product came with a larger SD card.
On: 2007-06-17
Nice little camera that took great pictures. After 2 months, with camera in mint condition, lens cover suddenly wouldnt open completely. Sent in (extremely well packaged) for warranty repair and Canon said it would cost $93 to fix because the lens ring was dented and it wasnt covered under warranty. When I protested it was in perfect condition, they said they could give me a 10% discount on the cost of repair. I asked Canon to return it to me unrepaired. Amazingly, it now contains a very visible dent in the lens ring. No dings, dents or scratches otherwise. I guess this is how Canon can avoid doing warranty repairs. I trusted the Brand, but wont again. If considering buying, do your research. The internet contains lots of information, including a threatened class action suit, against the Canon A series cameras because of lens problems.
On: 2007-06-17
People have different views on how the camera takes pictures and how it works with flash on and off etc. The biggest thing I have noticed with these reviews are the arguments on batteries. I have noticed that the normal alkaline batteries last 35-45 pictures. However, the lithium batteries last MUCH longer...like 200 pictures more. Lithium isnt a special battery you have to order, they are sold at any store that you can buy this camera and they are moderately priced too.
On: 2007-06-09
Very easy to use, great pictures, fun. I think the price was unbelievable for the quality. Would definitely recommend for anyone considering a digital camera for the first time.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-06-08
These PowerShot "A" cameras are Canons attempt to deliver the quality and features of its more expensive PowerShot "G" and PowerShot Pro "S" lines (such as full zoom lenses) at a budget price. The results, though, are a mixed bag. The entry-level A460 is lousy, but the rest of the line gives you a lot for the money. (How do I know all this? Because Ive actually gotten to use all of these cameras. I earn my living shooting photos at Walt Disney World for a travel guidebook, and nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShots.)
Heres my opinion of the "A" series line:
Canon PowerShot A460 5.0MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Silver)
Yuck! This 5MP camera is like a relic from five years ago: the simple but poorly designed controls -- a little joy pad surrounded by four buttons -- make it far too easy to do things like change the zoom setting when you set the flash. I have fat fingers and I mess things up almost every time! Also, Ive seen photos taken with this camera, and they often have that purple fringe around their highlights, which are typically blown out. On the plus side, the camera does have an optical viewfinder.
Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Looking for a good bargain camera? Take a look at this one. Its a 2006 model, but it works just fine. You get 20 shooting modes, a full set of manual controls and can record low-res sound video at 60 frames per second. Before you buy it, however, check Amazons price of the better, and newer, A560. It may be cheaper.
Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
This basic camera isnt that bad, but theres no reason to buy it. For about $25 more you can step up to the PowerShot A560 (see below), which has the same body, sensor and lens but Canons much better Digic III processor. Buy this one and, yes, youll save a few bucks, but your photos wont look as good.
Canon PowerShot A560 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Here is a nice camera! Featuring Canons acclaimed Digic III processor, it includes the companys face-detection metering system and a decent red-eye removal.
Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Same as the A560 but with optical image stabilization and the ability to shoot manually.
Canon PowerShot A630 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. You can do a lot with this sweet little camera. It has a flip-out LCD panel and lots of manual controls. The shots Ive seen from this model look great. Keep your ISO under 800 and you wont get any noise.
Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
Same as the A630 except 10MP.
Canon PowerShot A710 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. This fully-loaded model has all the toys, including a full-range zoom (35mm film equivalent of 35-210mm), adjustable flash power and optional second-curtain flash. This last features means you can make the flash fire at the end of a long exposure, instead of the beginning, so moving subjects streak into focus instead of out. Much more for your money than the A640.
By Mike Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.
On: 2007-06-06
This camera is lightweight, takes excellent pictures, and is a treasure to have. There are better cameras on the market, but if youre not a "serious" photographer, grab this camera!
On: 2007-06-04
Let me start by saying, I am not a die hard "love my Canon" person. However I felt compelled to post this review and specifically address my experience with the A540s battery life: mine has been excellent. We are a family of 6, high income, tech/gadget group. Between us, we currently have 8 digital cameras in use. Various brands and models, Fuji, Canon, Nikon both pocket & DSLR and Kodak. We are very happy with Canon. I too did a lot of research before buying and went to several stores for a hands on. Price, for me, was no object- I just wanted a good camera that felt right. My hand kept coming back to the A540. I love mine.
I have taken lots of pictures under various conditions including some video. All have turned out well. We do not experience blur and my batteries last a good long time. In the last year I have only changed the batteries three times. The camera can set, turned off and in its bag, for over a month- I get it out, take 2-3 pictures, come back in a month and do the same and its always ready to go. I have upgraded to the highest NiHi batteries I could find and a 1 gig. card.
I put this in the 1 Star group because I wanted the people reading the negative reviews first, as I do, to understand that these are not typical problems , that people are complaining about.
No, Im not affiliated with Canon in any way. In fact, even though I love reading reviews on line before I buy something, this is the first product review Ive ever written. 5 stars for this camera.
 On: 2007-05-11
The Canon PS A540 is a great camera IF you can buy it for $129.00, You can buy a Fuji that takes better low light pictures for $139.
On: 2007-05-08
I brought this camera as a gift item and before I ordered this item, I did an extensive research and compared this camera with other brands which had same MP. And, I was so convinced that for a price of 175$ and a Canon camera that is, this would make a better camera than any of its competitors. Sadly, it turned out to be a lil disappoinment when I received it. The only problem am facing is that in Auto mode whenever I take a snap, its always shaky. And thats one thing I hate most. Now, I take all snaps in Kids & Pets mode which is intended for taking moving objects. Also, theres this problem of having to set the date and time everytime the cameras power is turned on. I thought these would subside with days of usage, but its still occuring. And, I dont think a great product should have a very obvious defect like this. I expected more from Canon. But, with the price I guess this is bound to happen.
On: 2007-05-07
I had previously owned a Canon Elf, that was no longer working properly, so I decided to buy another Canon, as I had always had good luck with their other products. My sisters both owned a version of this camera, so I thought I too would give it a try. I love it. I like the photos it takes, the various zoom features and the ease with which I can download the pictures to my PC. It is very easy to use, and unlike the Elf, it takes regular AA batteries. I like that because I dont have to worry about the charge going on me. I just carry extra batteries, and I am good to go.
 On: 2007-04-26
I researched before I bought this camera, but after using it a month, Ive
been very disappointed. The resolution was not sufficient, and the outdoor color was washed out looking. A lemon? I dont know, but Amazon allowed me to return it, Thanks Amazon!
All in all, I could not recommend this camera.
On: 2007-04-13
I purchased this camera as a gift after extensive research. The recipient ended up buying themselves the same camera before I could give it to them. Lucky me. This has been a great little camera. It is great for a beginner and for those that want a camera that is portable.
On: 2007-04-13
I own this camera for about 8 months. It takes great pictures. The menu is somewhat complex, but can be learned. However, the camera appears to be unreliable.
5 months after I bought it, I used it on my vacation. The shutter mechanism started occasionally malfunction and pictures taken at those moments had only narrow diagonal strip with image. Returning from vacation, I sent the camera for warranty repair. It was repaired quickly, but after one day of the camera use, the shutter mechanism malfunctions again and, this time, not occasionally, but consistently.
I am sending the camera back for warranty repair. Perhaps, it is a lemon, but might be not. I would hesitate to buy another Cannon digital camera.
On: 2007-04-11
This is my first digital camera and I really love it. I am enjoying using it so much. I recommend this camera highly!
On: 2007-04-10
Bought this camera to replace my 35mm camera. Am pleased with the trade up that I made.
The shape is similar to my old film camera. Thought this would make it easier to adjust to the smaller size of it. It has made the transition relatively smooth. Im sure there are smaller cameras out there, but this one is small enough. The display is also a good size - bigger than most that I looked at.
I am not a genius at computers, so I was concerned that I would need to adapt to downloading pictures from the camera to the PC. But, all I need to do is plug in the cord and click a button. Very easy to follow any instructions.
I did notice that the display "freezes" for a second or two after a picture is taken. This is not generally a problem for me as most pictures are posed shots. I did run into some lag time during an Easter egg hunt this past weekend, but still managed to get about a dozen good shots.
Overall, I like the camera and only wish I had gotten up the courage to go digital sooner.
On: 2007-04-08
After a week the cammera did not work. The shop has a return police, but they did not send a RA number needed to return the item. They asked me an adress in the USA, and whwn I sent it they did nor answered. In my country, Argentina, the local distributor said the garantee is not valid for them.
On: 2007-04-01
The Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera worked great right out of the box. It is very easy to use and delivers great pictures. The view screen is very large and I really like the option of using the view finder to take pictures. I took 330 pictures with my first set of batteries that came with the camera. At the price point of $175, I do not think there is a better camera on the market.
On: 2007-03-29
I bought my Canon A540 recently from Amazon and am completely satisfied. I added a 1Gb SD card for $11 from Ebay and a charger with 4 2500NiMH AA batteries from the supermarket. The images are clear and large. You have the options of full automatic, various manual settings up to full manual and a wide selection of preprogrammed modes.
At work we needed a new camera to record tiny scratches and imperfections in our manufactured product, so I took my camera in to demo. Using the standard lens (a macro lens is available but I dont have it yet) we photographed a quarter using only ambient light. In less than a minute we had the image on the screen and were able to blow it up until the date filled the screen and still maintain good detail. As a result we are now buying one for work with a macro accessory lens.
I totally recommend it as an excellent all rounder.
On: 2007-03-24
When I purchased this camera I was really conflicted on wheather I should get a digital still camera or a digital video camera. So when I decided still and found out the Canon PowerShot had a video feature, I was pleased but had very low expectations. BOY WAS I SUPRISED! This camera has so many fun features for both still and video pics. And the quality is awesome for both! There is a video email option so you dont have to guess if your videos are going to fit into an email. But if you want you can create some really good quality video with a quick adjustment. And all of it transfers easily to my computer.
Plus with still pics there are lots of easy features to choose from so you can quickly set up for any kind of shooting sinario.
On: 2007-03-21
This little camera was my first digital. It was the quality of the on line samples that convinced me. The colors are true to life, not that pastel look. This is what Ive been looking for. A digital point and shoot that renders true colors. It has a very good clear view finder. Unfortunately, it has no diopter. But the view finder on this one is very clear. A lot of you may not have a problem with no diopter. I wrote to canon expressing my concern that view finders & diopters are still in demand. The LCD screen on this washes out in bright sunlight. The movies that this camera produces are very good for a camera of this type. Im still learning about how to use the scene modes, so not much to share with you there. I do like the "P" mode for changing ISO settings & "vivid" colors. The ability to change the "EV" settings in certain lighting situations is a big help, as "auto" doesnt always achieve what you want. You have the ability to change the focus & light metering. Bottom line, you get a lot of bang for your buck here. If you are looking to get started with digital as I was, this will certainly open lots of fun & interesting doors. Experiment. Take lots of pictures. You can have fun while learning. I did.
On: 2007-03-20
I would recommend this camera in the sub $200 price range. Easy to use, multiple settings and user friendLY controls. I am very happy with this camera.
On: 2007-03-19
I had a Samsung digital in which the instructions were incoherent. I speak with just a little authority of the english language while holding a degree in Avition maintenance.Cannon is far more superior.
On: 2007-03-19
This camera has a few problems in dark but that is true for all digital cameras in this range.
On: 2007-03-18
We have sent me camera does not work and sent the camera to him, and after two weeks of waiting to learn that he did not send irreplaceable
On: 2007-03-18
Takes great pictures even indoors (not like a lot of other cameras getting distorted colors).
Reasonable battery life (AAs, not a rechargeable block).
On: 2007-03-17
Until now, Ive been a died-in-the-wool SLR user. Thinking it was about time I learned about digital photography, I bought this camera on the advice of friends. I have not been disappointed. Its size took a little getting used to because, when compared with an SLR, its a little small. But this camera certainly is not small potatoes when it comes to easy of use, cost to operate, and quality of pictures! It is a little slow in the area of recovery between shots, but thats hardly a significant drawback. This great little camera can be had at a great price and produces great results. What more could you want? I highly recommend it.
On: 2007-03-16
Hi
I was not quite satisfied with my buy becuase the camera takea a long time before it can snap the next photo. I am not sure if this just with my camera or a generic problem.
The pics are good.
thanks
Ashish
On: 2007-03-16
Excelent camera for novice photograph. Little perhaft the two AA batteries and very good speed to shot.
On: 2007-03-15
Basically thats it! It has all the functions needed as an ametuer photographer. I use and abuse my cameras. It stays in my purse without a case at all times and I take easily 100 pics a month. I am so happy with my purchase!
On: 2007-03-15
For travel, this camera is light weight and easy to use. I love that I now have a camera that i can dowload to my canon printer and/or computer.
Great Camera, not quite professional photos but very clear and very good for vacations and family events
On: 2007-03-14
I have that for few months and I have taken quite few pictures with it. Awesome screen size and picture resolution I love that thing, and the price for under $200 and over $150. Pretty good deal for a camera like this one, I recommend it I have always had Canon Cameras and I would never get any other kind. CANON is the best
On: 2007-03-12
Amazing features set at a great price. Great in low light conditions as well as outdoor daylight.
On: 2007-03-12
A mighty midget in picture-taking. Easy to operate and giving superb results in terms of quality in colour and definition. An all-round pleasure.
On: 2007-03-11
The Canon Powershot A540 digital camera is great little camera that take very good quality 6 megapixels photo.. Granted the quality doesnt compare to my Canon 1D mkii professional camera. The only thing lacking was the resolution on 2.5" inches LCD screen, but really great price.. Take 2 double batteries..
On: 2007-03-11
I had an older version of a Canon digital camera and bought the A540 to upgrade. I have not been disappointed. This camera is great for just "point and shoot" pictures, as well as adjusting for portrait, landscape, etc. The 16x zoom gets very close and the screen is very clear! Im very happy with this camera. This Canon is great for people like me who just like to take pictures and be able to zoom in, but who also dont like to have to adjust many settings just to get a good picture. I highly recommend this camera. Extremely user friendly!
On: 2007-03-10
Bought this camera for my wife for Valentines day since she was intimidated by my Canon Pro1 and wanted a more user friendly digital. It took a few minutes for her to start using it and its amazing how it has many of the features of my $1,000.00 camera. The pictures came out beautifully. I like the fact that it has a built-in lens cap, ability to zoom while in movie mode and the automatic features for shooting under various conditions e.g. snow, beach, fireworks etc...You cannot go wrong with this camera!
On: 2007-03-09
Great to have the mix of the good optical as well as digital zoom. Handy camera, light, and perfect for everyday type use.
On: 2007-03-08
I would recommend this camera to everyone seeking to buy their first digital camera. It is easy to use and takes fantastic shots. Get yours today!
On: 2007-03-08
Canon makes good, dependable cameras at a good price. I had the older version of this same camera for several years. It was 2.1mp and still works fine but I needed to upgrade. I gave the old camera to my daughter and now use the A540. It takes great pictures and movies even in low light situations.
I consider it a huge advantage that the A540 uses 2 AA batteries. I have several sets of rechargeables and I can get a lot of pictures from each set. Also, a big advantage of AAs over specialty batteries is that if you are on a trip or have an emergency and need batteries fast, you can purchase AAs almost anywhere in the world.
One other thing I have always appreciated about my Canon is never having trouble downloading the pictures. I can connect my camera to any computer running XP and my camera has always been detected. This has not been true of other brands of digital cameras at the place where I work.
I also purchased a 2 gig SD memory card. This is the maximum size card that you can use with the A540. I did not get the most expensive, high speed card and so far I have not noticed any problems.
Finally, I chose this camera because it will take pictures in total, mindless "AUTO" mode or you can take complete control of all settings. It allows for aperture and shutter speed control and even manual focus. Very cool.
On: 2007-03-08
The A540 is easy to use, even its more advanced features, and it takes great pictures. A large memory card (1 GB and up) is a good idea if you want to take videos over a few minutes with sound in addition to still pictures. Rechargeable batteries are a must! My only complaint is the flash recharge is a little slow.
On: 2007-03-08
In need of a replacement camera all the reviews both consumer and commercial raved over this camera. Relative to my prior camera this camera (with a higher pixel rating) excels. Ease of use, quality of pics and an affordable price make this a definite winner. I totally recommend this unit to anyone wishing to have a dependable and versatile digital camera in their arsenal. :-)
On: 2007-03-05
Amazing camera. The quality of the movies is as good or better than most camcorders. I used this camera, mounted on a tripod, to transfer my old 8MM movies to digital (I used a projector, a Dalite screen, and this camera). They came out better than with a video transfer adapter. I have also did the same thing with slides, using a Fuji 2800Z camera. The results are far superior to scanning, or lab processing.
The features of this camera put it on a par with most professional models.
Another thought: NASA has determined that 2-mega-pixle is equal to 20-20 vision. (The Mars explorer robots are equiped with 2 MP cameras.)
So, unless you are going to do some wild cropping, go easy on the file sizes.
Another plus: It uses AA bateries.
On: 2007-03-04
buy something else. this camera complelely stopped working after 3 weeks. Ive heard 3 other people have had the same experience with this model. I returned it and bought a Kodak Easy Share- not quite as good but it works and was 2/3 the price.
On: 2007-02-26
Great camera. Is my 3rd canon and is getting better and better. Ill never switch to another brand. Very happy with my power shot A540
On: 2007-02-24
I purchased this camera prior to a vacation in order to leave my dslr in the bag. For 150$ you REALLY cant go wrong with this camera. I took this everywhere on my hip(in a holster), including the beach, yachting, diving, etc. The pictures taken were well exposed, accurately colored, and crisp. I actually had this camera in a zip lock bag held over my head while I swam into shore on numerous occasions. I figured after this trip, the camera would be ruined. However, it in fact still performs as well as the day I recieved it after weeks of abuse on the beach, and boat.
If you are looking for an inexepensive vacation alternative, I would highly recommend this camera. The only gripe I have is that the shooting modes are geared towards the casual point and shooter. Advanced users will quickly become irritated when having to enable\\disable custom shooting functions(which are available). Overall, this camera was well worth the money spent. What you sacrifice in convenience and speed is made up for with cost effectiveness and reliability.
On: 2007-02-21
It stopped working after 15 days. Since I was on travel in different country I happend to pay around 50$ to get it repaired.
It is not reliable.
On: 2007-02-20
Much has been written about this camera so I need not repeat all its praises and criticisms. I like it. It is easy to hold, has a big viewing screen, has good zoom range, takes AA batteries (nice for the world traveller), and has great features. I also like the sharpness of the lens and have used Canon digital cameras for many years (my personal favourite is the G5 for all its features--and Ive learned to live with its shortcomings).
For the lolly, you wont go wrong with the A540. This is the prefect entry into digital photography. Id be happy to use this as my primary digital camera (I bought this for my wife who is planning a working trip to China this summer).
On: 2007-02-19
Very easy to use for first timers and yet enough functions to satisfy an amateur like me. Great for hiking and backpacking with nice handle for ease in shooting. Pics are comparable to my Sony and cant beat the price! As long as youre not blowing up 8x 10s, this a great compact to have in your arsenal.
On: 2007-02-19
the first one i got kept flashing low battery. so after calling and getting help from canon i had to send camera back. they sent me another one but not until i called to see when the next one would be sent. i love the camera and did get in time for a family get together. i like the how quick it takes and the front is not straight across. its easier to hang onto with one hand. i did not get it until 6 days ago so i have not had the time to figure out all settings. i like the quality of pictures and so far i would recommend it to others. they did send me a label to return first camera so i didnt have to pay postage.
On: 2007-02-19
This is a good camera. My only problem is that it eats batteries - uses them up too quickly. THis can be inconvenient, and can get expensive.
On: 2007-02-17
I have had the camera for over a month and have had no problems. Takes great pictures and easy to use. I would recommend this camera to anyone. I also like the large 2.5 digital display.
On: 2007-02-14
This weekend marked my debut with digital cameras, as I picked up the Canon Powershot A540 which was onsale at the local big box store. This camera represents an excellent value for the money, and should be heavily considered by anyone in the market for a new camera.
First impressions are extremely positive. The camera comes with a small 16MB memory card, AA batteries, AV cable, USB cable, photo software disc, a quick reference manual, and a more detailed manual that explains every feature the camera offers. Camera set-up took no more than 2 minutes: insert memory card (pay close attention to the directions for proper alignment), insert batteries, power on, and set time and date and you are ready to go. I would recommend a 1GB or 2GB memory card if you plan on taking more than 20 pictures. Photos look really nice, red eye flash and normal flash light the images nicely, in all conditions. The camera has 20 picture modes, some of which like color accent and sepia tones I am eager to explore even more. But for auto picture mode, it is easy for even the neophyte. Camera is elegant looking and fits nicely in the hands, especially for those with big hands.
Negatives are very very minor. The battery case has a little play in it, which can be distracting. The zoom switch also has some looseness in it. You may want to turn off the digital zoom and rely on only the optical zoom, as the digital zoom pixelates in anything other than daytime conditions. The camera eats AA batteries quickly. Stick with the rechargeables or the more expensive disposible lithium AAs.
Though I have yet to fully explore this cameras capabilities, right off the bat I am glad I purchased this one. Price wise it is very reasonable; for a $200 price point I got this camera, a 2GB memory card, and batteries. The camera is light, easy to use, and does everything I need it to do, and probably more. A serious contender for top customer camera choice, and one you should carefully consider. Highly recommended.
*UPDATE*
After a full week with the camera out in California, and well over 300 hundred shots, I really really love this camera. The ability to adapt modes quickly allows for lots of flexibility, blur is minimized even without a tripod, and with disposible lithium Energizer batteries, I got the whole week and 300 frames with flash and the batteries are still going. Pictures look great and the macro feature is awesome. Enjoy this one!
A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO
On: 2007-02-13
This is perfect novice camera. It is not too complex, but puts out a quality product. I am having lots of fun with it. Canons are good cameras... this is a great model for the money.
On: 2007-02-12
When asking for a digital camera for christmas I was stressed out as to what to specify and scared that low price would comprimise the quality of the camera....I am a photo student and this camera has a maual setting that meets all of my needs (painting with light...so much fun).
The video quality isnt bad either!
On: 2007-02-12
This camera offers the best combination of features at the perfect price. Dont be surprised if you find yourself paying around $400 for a camera with similar features and quaity.
On: 2007-02-12
Ive only taken a few pictures with my Cannon, but the ones Ive taken are exceptional in quality. This is my first digital camera after the Fuji 35 mm died and the picture quality difference between the two is like comparing regular TV and digital plasma......yes, that dramatic.
Plus I wasnt too worried because Consumer Reports and the reviews here rate it so highly and accurately. I just took it out of the box and used it. Liked what I saw, took the chip out, ran down to my local Walmart and printed the photos I wanted. While I was waiting, I picked up a $15.00 SD memory chip that allows 80 pic storage. Sweet!
But the best part? I saved so much money here at Amazon, I was able to buy a battery charger with 4 nicad batteries too and still paid less than what my local Walmart wanted for just the camera.
I cant wait to use it more!
On: 2007-02-11
This camera is a very nice item for snapshots as well as some more sophisticatied photography. Reasonable price. Good 4x optical zoom, which is better than most. Large and fairly bright screen for composing and reviewing photos. What I really like, with my aging eyes is, when you change modes, the way it briefly displays a large icon on the screen identifying the new setting. The icon then fades to its smaller size and peripheral location. Older Canons didnt do this.
On: 2007-02-11
First let me say, that this was my third Canon Powershot Digital camera in 3 years, and in general, I prefer Canon above all other brands in terms of the quality of their cameras, and the photos Ive been able to take with them. While the camera worked great in Automatic mode, Im the kind of person who likes to experiment a little with photography, and the Program mode has been a great feature for me in the past. I just returned this camera due to dissatisfaction with a feature in Program mode that I particularly like to use, Center Spot metering (focusing at a point in the very center, and then framing the picture). In my other Canon Powershots, the A40 in particular, if I selected this feature, it would always work without issues, focusing on the center spot of the image. But with my A540, only about 40% of the time did the center spot focus, normally other ajacent areas would be focussed. I contacted Canon Customer support, explained my problem, and the technician insisted that the camera should focus on the center as instructed all of the time, and that perhaps mine was defective. I share this here in case others find the same trouble, so that you can return/exchange your camera while your receipt is still valid. Many may never need to consider this if you just like the Automatic modes, for the Canon A540 is an excellent buy. Good luck!
UPDATE 11 Feb 2007
I have to apologize for an error, and admit that due to ignorance I confused the Metering settings with the Auto Focus Settings. I received an email reply from Canon indicating how to fix my problem. Here it goes: "...Please disable AiAF by pressing MENU, going to the RECORD tab, selecting AiAF and selecting OFF. This will allow you to only use the center focus point."
In short, I was mistaken, and now I wish I had not returned the camera. But then again, I get another chance to catch another sale! Sorry if I confused anyone out there! Good luck!
On: 2007-02-09
Pretty decent digital camera. It is not a professional grade one but good enough for vacation and family get together pics.
On: 2007-02-09
All I can say is WOW! They really got this one right. The Cannon A540 is as close to the old "point-and-shoot" 35mm film camera as it gets. Ive owned an HP 735xi, 3.2 MP digital for over three years and decided it was time to upgrade. The A540s built-in software is user-friendly and most functions are intuitive i.e. can be figured out without the manual. Speaking of the manual; it is very comprehensive and loaded with tutorials for taking the best pictures in all sorts of settings, as well as how to interface the camera for downloading photos to a PC, viewing on a TV, printing, etc. The only problem I had was trying to find a camera case. Can you believe it, none comes with the camera and although there are many availabe in the stores, I couldnt find one that was just right for this camera. Cannon should include one with every camera. If you dont like it, fine, get another, but at least you would have protection from the get go.
On: 2007-02-08
I bought this camera for my wife. Its amazing, she showed it to our friends and they all went out and bought the same camera. Its simple to use a great beginners camera. For her this was her first digital camera, she loves it. I use it from time to time as well. TWO THUMBS UP! I highly recommend this camera to beginners, the pictures are crisp and clear.
On: 2007-02-08
I got this camera for Christmas, but returned it because the SD600 is smaller and has one improvement over this one... the videos.
The issue is this camera makes an annoying clicking noise during videos, and it shows up on the files when you watch them on your computer. The reason for this is the microphone inside picks up the sounds of the cameras internal pieces clicking and whirring. The SD600 does NOT have this issue with videos.
Buy the SD600 instead!
On: 2007-02-08
Ill be honest here, I have only had this camera for about two days, but after taking some 60 shots of my kids, and a few movies, I am satisfied with this camera. The features are quite unbelievable for this price.
I do agree a bit regarding the wuality of the batter y cover as noted by another reviewer. IT does feel a little flimsy, but the camera itself is quite nice.
Will update this after this weekend when I get to shoot quite a few pics in varying conditions.
But so far, I am staying with the 5 stars.
On: 2007-02-07
This is a great camera, especially for a noob like me. Ive had little crappy cams from wallyworld before but this is my first REAL digicam. It does take a lil while to reload after it takes a pic but the pics are great and the vid is way better than i expected from a nonvid cam.
great choice! buy it now!
On: 2007-02-07
I bent the lens on my wonderful Nikon Coolpix and was unhappy to find that it was no longer made. Repair was to be $175. For the same amount of $$ I purchased the Canon. What advances in 2 years! A big viewing screen that occupies 3/4 of the camera back. Very simple operation with options for high tech changes. The camera is quite narrow and fits easily into a shirt pocket. Most amazing is the ability to take movie "shorts" with sound! Picture quality is excellent. Hard to imagine a better camera at this price - or $100 higher.
On: 2007-02-07
I am not a camera expert. Thus far I have used the camera only a few times. It has been entirely satisfactory. I have been favorably impressed with its design and quality. Canon telephone technical support for help with learning camera functions has been excellent. I chose this line of camera because it has a viewfinder. I am glad that I did, because trying to use the LCD screen to frame a shot in bright sunlight would be very difficult.
On: 2007-02-06
I absolutely love this camera! Its my first digital, but its performance has far exceeded my expectations. My pictures are crisp and clear and using the various exposures, Ive taken great low light pictures as well as full-light pictures. Ive recommended it to two friends, who have also purchased it and who have been just as excited over it as I am. I highly recommend it.
On: 2007-02-06
I really like the ease of use of this camera. It has many features but are so easy to figure out. I have used it for my sons school play and was able to take very nice pictures.
On: 2007-02-06
Construction is a downfall here. Pictures are marginal. Better solutions for the money!
On: 2007-02-06
Great Camera for the price. Still have to read through the manual to learn all the features.
For someone like myself (first digital camera) it will take some time to get used to the functionality (not totally user friendly), but the basic functions (point and click) are very simple to use.
On: 2007-02-05
Love the camera. Its small but packs alot of features. The camera is easy to use, no difficulty with the instructions either
On: 2007-02-05
I needed and easy camera to use while riding my motorcycle. Being an art director and motorcycle enthusiast this was an awesome camera user friendly for one hand operation while on bike, and all the advanced features an Art Director would prefer. Very pleased.
On: 2007-02-04
Great camera with lots of functionality and capabilities. Easy to use, compact, light weight, and functionality that rivals SLR cameras. I like the large screen size, but the screen resolution is fair to poor. It handles only 2 AA batteries (versus 4 on other cameras) The manual states you can get up to 90 images with AA Alkaline batteries and up to 360 images with NiMH batteries. My experience with this camera is poor battery life if you use flash and the movie feature. You will need recharable batteries for this camera because Alkaline batteries wont last. I took 20+ pictures and a couple 7 sec movies with new Alkaline batteries and the camera warned me that my batteries were low. A battery charger is extra and the camera doesnt come with a carrying case. This is a great, inexpensive camera, but the poor battery life and the low screen resolution are real detriments.
On: 2007-02-04
I looked at all the cameras out there with the fancy features. When it came down to it I want to power the thing on and take a picture. Canon a520/30/40 can not be beat for this. Great camera that takes wonderful video and pictures. Cant beat it. Buy if you need something to capture life
On: 2007-02-04
I needed a camera which had manual settings for aperture and F-stop, was easily portable, had good colors, and could use other lenses.
The PowerShotA540 does all that.
There are even more lenses available for it other than the ones Canon makes. I highly recommend the macro lens. It enables you to take astounding shots.
On: 2007-02-02
EASY TO USE AND WE LIKE THE LARGER VIEW SCREEN. QUALITY OF PHOTOS IS GREAT.
On: 2007-01-31
Excelent product, clear pictures, easy to use, and years of use granted.
If you are looking for a really good digital camera (not profesional, but ideal for afficionate), this is your best choice.
You will not regret.
On: 2007-01-31
I bought this camera after reading many reviews here and on other sites. It is a great starter camera! I havent read the manual in detail as yet and even so i am pleased with the photgraphs I have taken. Everyone who has seen my collection cant get over how clear my pictures are...and i am a basic camera user.
On: 2007-01-31
Cool camera/ need to purchase more memory pix cards / dont need printer
On: 2007-01-30
For the benefit of fellow Mac users, heres a Mac-centric review of Canons A540.
First, rest assured, youll have no problem using it with an OS X Mac. (The Apple Store even sells it, although for more than Amazon.) It works flawlessly out of the box, automatically opening iPhoto when you attach it via the provided USB cable. I didnt even bother to install the Canon-supplied software. Theres no need. And its so small, about the size of a box of kitchen matches, I store mine in a padded case designed for iPods.
Second, it helps to have version 10.4 of OS X. If you do, the only serious limitation (which is also a Windows limitation) is that you cant transfer more than 1000 photos directly from the camera to your Mac. That limitation doesnt apply to card reader-to-Mac transfers, and if youre taking that many pictures, youll want a card reader anyway. Its about two or three times faster. Also, sound "memo" files wont transfer with iPhoto, but will transfer with Image Capture. Memos are a good way to label photos, so you know where you took them.
With 10.3 theres one additional limitation of importance. Images shot with a shutter speed of 0.3 to 15 seconds wont display right in Image Capture. But youll only use those speeds, if at all, for time exposures in the near dark. The solution is to upgrade to Leopard (10.5) when it comes out in 2-3 months.
With 10.2 before 10.2.8, theres a limit that hurts. Movies longer than 15 Meg (which is just a matter of seconds) cant be downloaded. But Apple will let you update to 10.2 to 10.2.8 for free online, so thats not an issue.
When you get it, youll find its a delight to use. When I traveled in Europe for four months some years ago, I lugged around about 10 pounds of SLR plus multiple lenses. That heavy load, which I hated, couldnt do much more than what this shirt-pocket sized camera will do. And if you stay in hostels, its far easier to keep something this small from getting swipped. With three or four 1 gig SD cards, youll be able to record even a lengthy, once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
Last but not least, theres a nifty feature I hadnt expected. In bright sun, you wont be able to see the LCD screen to frame a photo (a problem common to all digital cameras). In those situations, when you use the look-through view finder, youll find that, although it doesnt look through the camera lense itself, it does zoom in and out with it.
My only gripe are the manuals, which were written by someone who knows so much about Canon cameras, hes forgotten these are entry level cameras for people who need clarity and completeness. But since pictures are free, you can learn by doing. And if you dont like complications, you can take photos in most situations by leaving it set to automatic.
In short, unless your needs as serious enough to require a professional camera, you wont regret buying this camera. Its so small, youll take it with you in situations where youd never lug a digital SLR.
--Mike Perry, author of Untangling Tolkien
On: 2007-01-26
I was looking for a small camera to take to Europe that was not too expensive. The reviews I read on this one seemed favorable so I bought it. I was not disappointed. It takes great photos, is easy on batteries (about 300 shots per pair of AAs) and was easy to carry. Very happy with it.
On: 2007-01-26
My 17 year old daughter requested a digital camera for Christmas, and since weve never owned one before, I agonized a fair amount over finding the right camera. Various reviews pointed me in the direction of this one. It was definitely the right choice. She took to it right away and uses it all the time. The only negative issue seems to be the fairly frequent occurrence of red-eye with the flash, and her softwares redeye reduction doesnt help much. But she thinks there may still be remedies for that if she explores further in the directions. What she said, though, is revealing: "even though there is that problem, this camera is way better than my friends cameras." Two things she mentioned as being better were the larger screen for viewing the shots, and the video function.
On: 2007-01-25
I am a novice photographer, and thus need the assistance that a point-and-shoot camera provides; the A540 creates great shots in auto mode. I have taken shots in low light, in snow, indoors, etc. All come out well, although details are lost at high magnification. But at the price, that is to be expected.
I am also attempting to make myself into a better photographer. For that, the manual controls offered by this camera are perfect. They allow me to adjust only aperture, only shutter speed or aperture, speed, and focus together. Its a great chance to learn what adjusting each of these features does to a photo.
A few final notes. The camera starts up quickly and the time between shots (without flash) is rapid. With the flash enabled, time between shots is a bit longer than I expected, but under 5 seconds. The body of the camera seems rugged, and the extended area over the batteries provides for an excellent grip while shooting. The controls are easy to use and are laid out well on the camera. Overall, a very nice machine for the price.
On: 2007-01-23
I love this camera. Canon is always our camera choice brand. Well worth the money. Its also very user friendly.
On: 2007-01-22
I may be too lenient with my rating because I bought my first digital camera early on in digital photography so I know how bad things can be. My Nikon Coolpix 900 does nothing well but who knew back then? I finally replaced it with this Canon A540 and am I impressed! For less than a quarter of the Nikons cost I now have a terrific little camera that out-performs it in every way.
"Auto" mode works spectacularly well and may I suggest the "Scenes" mode with the Indoor setting (flash "off") to get nice indoor shots without using the potentially annoying strobe. Experiment in your environment to see if it will work, I use it all the time.
Ive now had it a few weeks and still cant find the bad bits. Ok, if I could I would add a Preview button like Panasonic has. There, I found something Id change if I could but there are easy work-arounds for this weakness.
Anyway, the point is that I have saved enough with this purchase (and have a terrific camera for snaps) that I can indulge in something a little more elaborate for other types of shooting. Im thinking that one of those "superzooms" look like fun. The Canon S3 IS has to go to the top of the list after the good experience Ive had with the A540.
Get a Canon A540; you wont break the bank and will get good family and vacation pix, etc., in the bargain.
Update; I recently ordered and received the Canon pouch/case for this camera and it may be an essential accessory. It has a little compartment for spare SD card or batteries. It has a belt loop so you can wear it "hands free." I took this combination camping at Pismo Beach last week and it was a convenience I know I wont be able to live without. Bike riding on the beach, hiking in the dunes, whatever you can think of, the camera is out of the way yet always ready. Think about ordering together to get the most out of the free shipping offer.
On: 2007-01-22
Im hardly a camera expert but I find this camera suits my needs perfectly. Easy to operate, small and lightweight and takes very nice pictures. My only complaint would be that I have to wait about three seconds between photos when using the flash--longer than I would want. However, everything else is great--picture quality, size, weight and reasonable price! I recommend this camera very highly and use it very frequently for all types of shots, even short videos. Another great purchase from Amazon . . . and all the previous reviews helped me to decide, so thank you to those who posted earlier.
On: 2007-01-22
The product arrived on time, contained everything needed, and beat the price in the big box store.
On: 2007-01-22
Pros: easy to use, lots of features, good zoom quality,it has a view finder & a large color view screen.
Cons: It needs a larger memory card I recommend 1G, It does not come with a carrying case & the autmatic lens cover is sensitive in dusty conditions. The cover started sticking partialy closed at a dusty softball game.
On: 2007-01-20
What I realy like about this camera is; first and fore most its a canon,second is I couldnt beleive how user friendly it was, and last but not least it doesnt take a college education to install the software suite, read the quick set up guide, or operate the camera.
I was taking impressive photographs right out of the box.
This camera is off the chain!
On: 2007-01-20
This camera is fun! I got it with the 1G Ultra SD card, and it is sooo much faster and easier than my old camera. Its easy to navigate, the screen is large so pix are easy to see, although it is a little grainy. I enjoy the features and different settings. Should be foolproof picture taking under varying circumstances. I like that it has a viewfinder, which is very hard to find nowadays, so when you are in the sun, you can frame the picture and not guess if you are pointing the camera right. And I wanted a better zoom, and this has it. I think the longer zooms are not as steady. This one has been great. The movie mode is even easy, so I can catch the kids quickly when I want to. I love this camera!
On: 2007-01-20
This is an awesome camera. Worth every penny. The quality is stunning. Shutter speed is so fast. I would highly recommend this as a starter cam.
On: 2007-01-20
Read the manual and read it again, get to know this fine piece of equipment and read the manual again, you will have outstanding pictures! I have owned quality 35mm cameras (Nikon) and I would rate this one on top of the list. You cant go wrong for the price, anyone can use it, the only difference in the quality of your picture will be how well you understand what this camera will do for you. PS; get at least 1GB of memory.
On: 2007-01-20
The order went just fine, it arrived unharmed and on time. The supplier is very easy to deal with.
On: 2007-01-19
I was very disappointed to discover the Canon A-series is now made of plastic! I was expecting the same solid feel of the older Canon sureshot.
I called Canon and they said it is made of a "durable plastic" in order to make it lighter. I think that should be mentioned in the description.
Oh, and the lens is also made of plastic, which I didnt know (glass is superior but of course would cost more). My only complaint is that once again, there is no mention of that in the description.
On: 2007-01-19
I bought this camera when my old Sannon was broken. I thought it was good but once I got it I regretted it immediately. Because the monitor is 2.5 and the camera is run by 2 AA batteries the batteries never lasted long at all. I had to change them 3 times from Christmas Eve morning to Christmas night. That is way too much. I sent it back and purchased a Cannon SD630 Elph. It was a little more money but well worth it.
On: 2007-01-19
I bought this camera because my little one got stolen 2 weeks before my vacation. I ordered it from Amazon along with a 2Gb chip and they arrived early even though it was just 2 weeks before Christmas. Im really pleased with the picture quality, the user interface and the quality I expect from Canon. Its a little bit bulkier than my little one, but worth the increase in quality and the 4x optical zoom is good to have.
On: 2007-01-19
I havent learned everything about this camera but so far it is great. Very user friendly and quick response. The memory chip it came with was useless (holds only a few pictures) Youll have to factor in the extra cost for a bigger memory chip and rechargable AA batteries.
On: 2007-01-19
Those who want a camera with the ease of a point-and-shoot, but with enough creative tools available to satisfy an advanced amateur or budding professional photographer, this could be the camera for you.
I bought this camera for myself for Christmas having done extensive research first. I wanted something that was affordable, but more than just a point-and-shoot. I checked out Nikons, HPs, and Sonys just to name a few, but none had the range of features available. What I find particularly good in Canon products is the accessibility of features.
While my Sony PowerShot of several years ago was good, the menu navigation was clunky and hard to use. Compare this with the A540, and all of the features are literally at your fingertips. And while I did like the looks of the Digital Elph models, this model not only was slightly less expensive, but also had more manual controls.
As a bonus, with the right addition of a sizable memory card, you can take several minutes of video footage which was a first for me, since Ive never owned a video camera.
All in all, one of the wisest purchases Ive made.
On: 2007-01-19
In short, this is an excellent camera. We were originally considering the Canon SD600 or another really compact camera but are happy we went with this one instead. First, the A540 allows complete flexibility over how you take your pictures. The novice user can put the camera on "auto" and get great results, while the expert user can set everything manually to get the desired shot. Second, the camera is ergonomically the right size (we found the SD600 to be a bit small) and so is easy to hold and use but is still small and light enough to carry everywhere. Third, unlike the SD models that use the Lithium Ion batteries, the A540 only uses 2 standard AA batteries so it is easy and cheap to find replacement batteries. Finally, the 4x optical zoom is nice to have, it may not seem like much more than the standard 3x but when youre using it you notice it.
As is the case with most Canon cameras, the picture quality is excellent (much better than the 7MP HP camera we tried before we bought this one) and while few people ever mention it, the image management software Canon provides with the camera is loaded with features and is extremely easy to use.
Overall, we couldnt be happier with our purchase.
On: 2007-01-18
This camera is great for the money. The photos are big and crisp and the effects are not complicated to figure out. It is not hard to figure out how to use it.
The drawbacks are typical for cameras of all the cameras of this price range, regardless brand name. (I have used Nikons and Olympus versions of the same.) The big screen on the Canon is real nice, but not bigger than other brands version of the same camera.
The drawbacks are simple:
1) The flash has a narrow range of effectivness indoors. Too close, you wash out. More than 5 feet away? Too dark. You practically have to be an expert in Photoshop to be able to use indoor photos taken in medium dark to dark conditions.
2) Delay. If you want to take action photos with the flash, forget it. There is a 1-2 second delay (depending on battery power). Again, you cant get around this with other brands. It is pretty much the same for all brands at this price range. This doesnt mean i dont recommend this camera, just to realize its limitations and work with and around them.
3) Battery drain. The flash and screen suck out battery power faster than you can say "cheese." BUY RECHARGEABLES NOW. Otherwise you will be wasting a large amount in double As.
If you are mostly taking photos in well-lit outdoors type situations, these types of cameras are great. You probably will be frustrated if you want to do more than occasional photos indoors, but again, this doesnt have to do with Canon or any particular brand. If you want better you will have to spend more.
On: 2007-01-18
THIS IS A GREAT CAMERA , I USE IT AT LEAST TWICE A DAY AND TAKE 20 TO 30 DETAILED PICTURES EACH SESSION FOR MY BUSINESS AND IT ALWAYS DOES ITS JOB PERFECTLY. VERY EASY TO USE AND VERY DURIBLE !!
On: 2007-01-18
We love the simplicity of use and the ability to use more features as we grow more used to them. I reserved one star from the rating because the direction manual is written so poorly and the fact it came without any sort of carrying case...I would have been happy with a cloth bag I could have used until buying something better.
On: 2007-01-18
I only have about 2 months experience with this camera and its my first digital camera so, of course, Im very impressed. I held off buying this digital camera until the technology and the market became "mature". I bought an 8 mm. Canon camcorder in Dec. 1990 which went south on me by sometime in 1996 with only 40 -50 hours (taping time) estimated usage. It cost about $1000 so you can see why I was reluctant to buy earlier. Actually I surprised myself by deciding to go with another Canon camera but after reading these reviews (and other reviews on the Internet) and comparing features with other comparable brands I decided this camera was the one. I am very satisfied with the 2.5 inch viewer, standard AA battery size, 4X optical lens (many are 3X optical in this price range), and manual control features. So far the only difficulty I have from time to time is opening the latch on the door to gain access to the batteries and the SD card. I believe the real test which I cant comment on now is the reliability of this camera over the next few years and will it pay to get it fixed.
On: 2007-01-18
This is an outstanding little camera. Its so user friendly that my 4-year old can operate it. The picture quality (6 megapixels) is outstanding, and the interface between the camera and computer is as easy as 1-2-3. I recommend the Canon Powershot (no matter how many megapixels) for any beginner or family camera. You will not be disappointed in any way, especially with the "price to quality" ratio. Great camera for a great price.
On: 2007-01-18
This is a great little camera. I really enjoyed learning about all of the different functionalities - including playing with the color swap, which allows you to select a color in a video and then then change everything from that color to another color of your choice. Great pictures, good manual control, good automatic control.
The problem is that in five days of playing with it and taking maybe 20 pictures and maybe 10 minutes of video, I went through 8 sets of Duracell batteries. So when I got home, I bought some 2400mAH NiMH rechargeables. Took 5 pictures and the next morning it said my batteries were dead, so back to the store it went (I got it from Best Buy, which I will never do again. Their return policy is 15 days for cameras and a 15% restocking fee if its opened. Costco has a longer return policy on chicken salad).
On: 2007-01-18
We couldnt be happier with our Power shot.
Easy to use and were saving a lot on film.
On: 2007-01-18
I dropped my A520 (which i really liked) on a hard floor... and had to replace it. This A540 outdoes the A520 in all aspects.
Better:
* higer resolution
* larger screen makes menus easier to navigate
* key controls farther on the right... easier to use
* camera auto-rotates pictures on the review screen (even as you rotate the camera)
The only negative, shared with the A520 is that the wrist strap does not have a cincher... so the camera can slip out of your hand... past the wrist and to the floor (guess how the 520 died...). i will be adding a fastener to this one.
Card note: with larger file sizes (due to higher resolution), i recommend using a high speed card in the camera (needless to say, the 16MB card Canon includes is beyond patheticly insufficient). Based on my last vacation (and if you take any videos at all), a 2GB card is not overkill for a 10+day vacation.
On: 2007-01-18
A good little camera for a reasonable price. Its small enough for the pocket but large enough to be held comfortably. No stylus needed to navigate things like the tiny cameras out now. Good pics, decent video, and easy to use. Id buy it again.
On: 2007-01-17
Got my new camera a few days ago and so far Im very impressed with what it can do. Its got lots of different options but its not really difficult to use. The zoom is a great tool and the quality of the pictures is excellent. For far I havent had any battery problems and my 64mb memory card is holding up pretty well with a medium quality setting. From what I see, its a great camera for those who have a simple digital camera and are looking for one with more functions and quality.
On: 2007-01-17
This camera is really great - especially for the price. I upgraded from a Kodak easyshare and it has better low light capability, optical zoom, etc. also love the big lcd screen.
My only complaint is that the menu functions are pretty complicated to use - I think more than they have to be.
On: 2007-01-17
I brought this camera as a gift. But I had to play a little with it, to show them how to use it. the Screen ITs AMAZING!. the quality is great and I love the zoom.
Im planning to get another for me too.
On: 2007-01-17
So far, so good. I just have a problems with directions. Arent any of these books written by people who speak English??? It took me an hour to figure out how to stop the flash. But as soon as I opened the box at Christmas I was able to use it and the pictures came out great. I am sure with a little more reading and working with the camera it will be even better. I had an Olympus...really easy to use and this one comes close with a few more bells and whistles. I am happy with it so far! I am not great with all the computer stuff, but have been able to take, save and print my own pictures just from previous experience. Not a bad deal for the price.
On: 2007-01-17
I dropped my A520 (which i really liked) on a hard floor... and had to replace it. This A540 outdoes the A520 in all aspects.
Better:
* higer resolution
* larger screen makes menus easier to navigate
* key controls farther on the right... easier to use
* camera auto-rotates pictures on the review screen (even as you rotate the camera)
The only negative, shared with the A520 is that the wrist strap does not have a cincher... so the camera can slip out of your hand... past the wrist and to the floor (guess how the 520 died...). i will be adding a fastener to this one.
Card note: with larger file sizes (due to higher resolution), i recommend using a high speed card in the camera (needless to say, the 16MB card Canon includes is beyond patheticly insufficient). Based on my last vacation (and if you take any videos at all), a 2GB card is not overkill for a 10+day vacation.
On: 2007-01-16
This is the 3rd digital camera Ive owned and by far the best in picture quality. Feature rich and yet easy to use, from fully automatic to full manual. Battery life (not using LCD) is very good. Light weight and pocket size. Great camera!
On: 2007-01-16
Easy to use right out of the box. Good pictures. Good size. Used the batteries very quickly, though.
On: 2007-01-16
this is a terrific first digital camera because it has the basics and opportunities to be a bit more creative as a photographer. Ive used it for everything from family candids to portraits to action shots and it has been terrific! I would recommend this to others.
On: 2007-01-16
I gave this camera to my wife for a Christmas present and she we are both pretty happy with it. It takes great photos and the "macro" feature is an excellent addition. It allows for some creative photographing when you are in the mood. The processing speed can be slower if you dont "format" your digital media card before using it (learned from experience on this). Otherwise, a great camera for the price!
by: Anonymous On: 2007-01-16
This was a gift for my brother this xmas. What a great camera - there is virtually nothing you cant do with it. Really easy to use with great menus and a HUGE viewing screen. Downsides - it chews through batteries, even the ones meant for digital cameras. I would highly recomend getting rechargeables with it. There is no image stabalization technology with this camera. Which is probably why it is a less expensive than others.
I own two other Canon Digital cameras (3.2mp elph and 8mp DSLR rebel)and have never regreted buying canon.
On: 2007-01-16
I am using the camera as a point and shoot right now, until I have a chance to really look at more advanced settings. (I know theyre possible). One thing I find hard to get used to is that you have to flip the switch off of camera in order to display the photos in memory and delete them.
On: 2007-01-16
After lots of research, found that Amazon.com had the best price and
received the new camera within 2 days after ordering and that was
during the busy holiday season. Camera is easy to use and takes
great photos.
On: 2007-01-16
I bought this model after using the canon powershot A95. I was satisfied to find that the quality of Canon remained the same irrespective of the size of the camera. All the features that come with Canon were there and the ease of using the camera did not go down by even 1 iota. All in all I am a Canon customer for life.
On: 2007-01-16
This camera is a great for those just wanting a everyday camera. Its screen is a little bit fuzzy but that did not really matter to me otherwise I think the camera was very good.
On: 2007-01-15
The pictures taken indoors are bad. Too many red eyes , despite using red eye reduction. Will not recommend this product for indoor use.
On: 2007-01-15
I love my power shot A 540. It take great pictures and allows you to go all the way to full manual to experiment. It does make some red eyes but all of them do. Just remove the red eyes with their software or photoshop. You will be pleased with the picture quality.
On: 2007-01-15
To date, it works great!
On: 2007-01-15
I purchased this camera because I already had the A520 and found the A520 to be reliable and provided really decent photos. Plus, it had all the features I wanted. Then my son got that camera and I bought the A540. More megapixels and the same features as the A520. There is one major detraction: the battery life is poor. Ive researched this and found that others have complained about this.I will contact Canon and see if they can fix it.
On: 2007-01-14
BACKGROUND:
This camera replaced our older Canon A70 (3.2 megapixels) which was, in most respects, an older version of the A540. The 540 upgraded us to 6 megapixels, 4x optical zoom (instead of 3x), more options for manual exposure control, a larger LCD screen and only half the batteries (two AA instead of 4 AA) for less weight and a smaller, lighter camera casing.
GENERAL REVIEW:
Weve used the A540 for about 3 months and it is as good as I expected. Even with only two batteries the battery life has actually been as good or better than our older A70 that required four batteries. (We compared battery life using the same generic NiMH AA rechargeables from our A70.) As with our older A70, we have a significant amount of control over the A540s exposure settings. My wife most often uses the simple point-and-shoot full-auto mode while I tend jump between various auto and manual settings depending on the shot. We also make great use of the video recording feature -- quite nice when a full-on video camera is not handy. [...].
PROS:
- Impressive number of exposure options for advanced users.
- Operates on standard AA batteries.
- Battery life is very good even when using flash and LCD screen.
- Optical viewfinder in addition to LCD means you can turn off LCD to save battery life or to make camera use less distracting in a dark room.
- Highly-rated for image quality.
- Can add (some) additional lenses and/or filters if desired using a lens adapter.
CONS:
- Can only use SD memory cards up to 2GB in size. With memory prices continuing to drop it would be nice to be able to use a 4GB or 8GB card in the camera. This would be especially helpful for recording longer video clips.
- The A540 ships with a tiny 16MB memory card that only holds about 10 default-resolution photos.
- Card slot shares same area as batteries meaning the batteries will be loose when inserting or removing the memory card. Not terrible but I find it annoying compared to our older Canon A70 that had separate areas for batteries and memory card.
- We replaced our older Canon A70 due to problems that developed during its 3rd year of ownership. The A70 was well-cared for. If we expect the A540 to be similar in other respects to the A70, we have to expect that it ay also develop age-related problems sooner than anticipated. However, we liked the A70 so much that we bought another Canon despite our eventual A70 problems.
On: 2007-01-13
Canon has always but out great stuff, and this is just another example.
On: 2007-01-13
My title states good camera, not great camera.
I was looking for a point and shoot digital that is pocket size. I have a Canon EOS 20D so this wouldnt be my go to camera. I was looking for something easy to carry while doing outdoor activities.
So, my comparison wouldnt be fair if matched against the 20D. However, with that said I was disappointed with two items. The recycle of the flash unit is painstakenly slow. But that can with lived with except for the write speed or recycle of the camera for a follow up shot. You cant take two consecutive pictures or even two within 2-3 seconds.
The other disappointment is trying to catch an action shot. I use the other camera for sports photography, but occasionally the A540 was all I had. You cant catch "a moment" with that camera. The focus takes 2 seconds before the shutter opens (film camera term) when you push the shutter button. I cant get use to that slow reaction for capturing the moment.
This camera is great for posed portraits and landscapes. The focus is sharp. The settings are good with the automatic settings. Watch out for low light without the flash. It will chose a slow shutter and could blur the subject. The video recording works good (Ive only used it twice). The sharpness of pictures is fantastic.
I bought a 1MB card for it because I take a lot pictures. I will take other reviewers suggestions and try rechargable batteries. Alkalines are not bad, I just change them more often than I recharge my 20D. I get 150+ pictures while using the screen in back to center the shot. Turn it off and use the viewfinder and get a lot more battery life.
Again this is a good camera for its intended use, not a great camera.
On: 2007-01-13
BACKGROUND:
This camera replaced our older Canon A70 (3.2 megapixels) which was, in most respects, an older version of the A540. The 540 upgraded us to 6 megapixels, 4x optical zoom (instead of 3x), more options for manual exposure control, a larger LCD screen and only half the batteries (two AA instead of 4 AA) for less weight and a smaller, lighter camera casing.
GENERAL REVIEW:
Weve used the A540 for about 3 months and it is as good as I expected. Even with only two batteries the battery life has actually been as good or better than our older A70 that required four batteries. (We compared battery life using the same generic NiMH AA rechargeables from our A70.) As with our older A70, we have a significant amount of control over the A540s exposure settings. My wife most often uses the simple point-and-shoot full-auto mode while I tend jump between various auto and manual settings depending on the shot. We also make great use of the video recording feature -- quite nice when a full-on video camera is not handy. [...].
PROS:
- Impressive number of exposure options for advanced users.
- Operates on standard AA batteries.
- Battery life is very good even when using flash and LCD screen.
- Optical viewfinder in addition to LCD means you can turn off LCD to save battery life or to make camera use less distracting in a dark room.
- Highly-rated for image quality.
- Can add (some) additional lenses and/or filters if desired using a lens adapter.
CONS:
- Can only use SD memory cards up to 2GB in size. With memory prices continuing to drop it would be nice to be able to use a 4GB or 8GB card in the camera. This would be especially helpful for recording longer video clips.
- The A540 ships with a tiny 16MB memory card that only holds about 10 default-resolution photos.
- Card slot shares same area as batteries meaning the batteries will be loose when inserting or removing the memory card. Not terrible but I find it annoying compared to our older Canon A70 that had separate areas for batteries and memory card.
- We replaced our older Canon A70 due to problems that developed during its 3rd year of ownership. The A70 was well-cared for. If we expect the A540 to be similar in other respects to the A70, we have to expect that it ay also develop age-related problems sooner than anticipated. However, we liked the A70 so much that we bought another Canon despite our eventual A70 problems.
On: 2007-01-13
For the money this is a tough camera to beat. Very good photos and most important it has a optical viewer and large LCD. Without the optical viewer bright sunlight pictures would be almost impossible. The camera is small, but easy to grasp with with good positions for most all the necessary buttons.It takes AA batteries and SD memery cards, both are cheap and readily available. Just set on auto,snap and I am you will be happy with the results.
On: 2007-01-12
quality brand equal quality pictures
do not bother buying one of those cheaper lesser known brands
I had a cannon AE 1 35 MM SLR from cannon
Nothing has changed. they still make great cameras
On: 2007-01-12
This camera is very easy to use and has many different options available. I would highly recommend this camera for anyone.
On: 2007-01-12
We love this camera, I did a lot of reserach and becuase of the quality of print, reliablity and ease of use we selected this camera. Glad we did!! Took a family photo in the park and printed it out at 10 x 12 looks profesionaly done...
On: 2007-01-12
This camera replaced an older Canon model A70 digital camera. We have found the A540 to be markedly improved over the older one. The A540 is much easier to navigate throught the choices like flash or no flash, and delting images. It has a simplified rotary mode switch that is easy to use. The screen is larger than the A70 and appears to be sharper. Overall, the Canon A540 is a very good lower-priced digital camera. We are very pleased.
On: 2007-01-11
I have had this camera for about one month and have loved it so far! It takes great pictures and the ones I have had printed have been great. Because I enjoy art and photography, I love all the extra settings (color swap, color accent, etc). Also, it is great that you are able to add on lenses to get closer shots. All in all, for a lower end camera it is great. I would recommend it.
On: 2007-01-11
An excelent camera for a very good price.
In my opinion the only problem is the Flash, which takes to much time to be ready and it is not very powerfull.
On: 2007-01-10
This is second Canon I had in last 2 years. I like it very much. The big LCD is a plus. The manual controls gives me a feeling of SLR.
On: 2007-01-10
Purchased as a gift for our son, his first digital. Relatively simple to operate, super size display screen, all around excellent camera and at a STEAL of a price. He has called twice to tell us how much he is enjoying his Christmas gift. Couldnt be more pleased.
On: 2007-01-10
Awesome camera! This is one of my best purchases.
On: 2007-01-10
The camera works fairly well. The only thing I would recommend is buying a tripod to go with the camera. It seems that many of my pictures were a little blury even with a steady hand. Other than that, the pictures were good. The manual mode works really well. The different settings are really useful and the the video mode works quite well.
On: 2007-01-10
For an advertised "point and shoot", I find this camera much more difficult than it needs to be. I also wish it came with a dock for recharging instead of a battery charger. The pictures it takes are nice, though.
On: 2007-01-10
A very good little camera that packs lots of features for the money. Pictures are really clear and good quality, movie mode is really nice. Icons on display however are a little bit confused, if you dont have the manual to look up.
The camera does not work well in low light situations where the flash could not be used or at night with outdoor events. Without flash, the camera could not capture clear pictures, but the movie mode still works well. With this, the night shot mode seems to have no effect. Macro mode is also not as clear as it should be.
Also, forced flash does not work in "auto" mode, the feature is just disabled. The camera has to be set in "program" mode for forced flash to work. This is a minor inconvenience.
Overall, the camera is one of the best for daily point and shoot. Just remember to change the setting to "P" to force the flash on in case you capture an object against the light source.
On: 2007-01-10
I OWNED A CANON POWERSHOT A40 AND WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH IT I DECIDED TO BUY A NEWER MODEL CANON A540=WHAT A GREAT CAMERA.I HAVE FOUND NO FAULTS WITH IT AT ALL.I HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER AND HAVE TAKEN HUNDREDS OF PICTURES WHICH ALL TURNED OUT EXCELLENT.I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS PRODUCT TO EVERYBODY.I DID BUY A 1 GIG MEMORY CARD WHICH ALLOWES ME TO TAKE AT LEAST 100 OR MORE PICTURES.I USE ENERGIZER 2500 MAH RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS.BUY 4 RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES [2 TO USE & 2 FOR SPARES]WITH A 1 GIG MEMORY CARD AND YOU HAVE A EXCELLENT CAMERA THAT CANT BE BEAT FOR THE MONEY,OR QUALITY.=bill
On: 2007-01-10
This camera is perfect for you - unless you want bulk, proprietary batteries, complicated operation. This little gem uses AA batteries, and has an AUTO setting that seems to work every time! If you feel the need to do your own settings, there are lots of options. (I cant comment on these, because it works so well on AUTO).
On: 2007-01-10
I love this camera! It is so easy to use & takes great shots. A lot of camera for a very resonable price.
On: 2007-01-10
Picture Quality is excellent. You can use as point and shoot on fully auto mode or set to one of several situational modes....or switch to manual settings if you like.
Only negative is that memory card that comes with camera is inadequate. You will need to purchase a memory card. The good news is that memory is getting cheaper all the time. I purchased a 1GB card....which holds 300 pictures or more.....
On: 2007-01-10
For the price, you cant beat the Canon PowerShot A540 6MP w/4x zoom. It is small enough to fit in your purse, but big enough not to easily drop. Fits in your hand perfectly. Takes great pictures!! The zoom allows you to get nice close shots which can be cropped to get even closer. Very user friendly w/movie taking capabilities. We bought it for our 17-yr old and she loves it!!!
On: 2007-01-10
This is a great product from the size of the screen to the loaded features. There is a huge LCD display, 10 sec. delay feature, and a short reset time between shots. I previously had a Powershot A520 and the 540 is SO MUCH BETTER!
On: 2007-01-10
The Canon PowerShot A540,is a nice camera with great setting options, but it EATS BATTRIES. I use 2 X 2500 mah Energizer rechargeable batteries and I dont find that I get enough use out of the batteries, before I have to charge them up again.
Other than that the Camera takes nice photos and has a nice and easy size to move around with.
Roger (Caribbean)
On: 2007-01-10
Picture quality is great! Zoom is good. But, I think the speed is poor overall. Even an upgrade to a high-speed card didnt speed things up for me. Speed is OK with outside photos but super-slow when using flash. Also, invest in a high-output rechargeable battery!
On: 2007-01-10
This camera is very user friendly and easy to use. The viewing screen is easy to see and very clear. The pictures are clear and good color. Compared to other digital cameras we have used, this one if definitely superior and we would highly recommend.
On: 2007-01-10
I bought one of these for my wife.It worked so well, I got the same outfit for myself. It is a simple but versitile camera, Light, easy to handle and good quality images.This is one of my best purchases.I recommend it heartily.
On: 2007-01-10
I bought one of these for my wife to use exclusively underwter with the Canon underwater case. It worked so well, I got the same outfit for myself. It is a simple but versitile camera to use with its underwater case. Photos are excellent. There are conditions where the underwater mode cannot automatically adjust quickly, but these conditions would also lead to poor photos anyway, i.e., murky water.
i am having more fun with this than most of the camers ive used for 60 odd years.
On: 2007-01-10
its a good camera for the money. its does alot of different things, it takes good video.
but its a littl | | |
