The Canon PowerShot A520 specifications are: 4.0 megapixels (effective), 4x optical zoom/3.2x digital zoom, auto and manual focus, program and manual exposure, JPEG file format, ISO range 50-400, 2 AA batteries, movie mode with sound.
We have gathered summaries of reviews and user comments for the Canon A520 from across the Internet for your convenience.
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[Canon's Official PowerShot A520 Product Page]
[Full Canon PowerShot A520 Spec Sheet at Digital Camera Info]
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DC Resource - What I liked:
Excellent photo quality 4X optical zoom lens Full manual controls, unusual for a camera in this price range Compact body feels solid for the price Support for optional conversion lenses, external flash, underwater case Above average battery life Plenty of scene modes Nice software bundle
What I didn’t care for:
Poor low light focusing, despite having an AF-assist lamp (worse than old models) Redeye (worse than old models) Movie mode still needs some work Noisy images at ISO 200 and above LCD doesn’t “gain up” very much in low light Including rechargeable batteries would’ve been a nice touch
[DC Resource Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
DP Review - It would be hard to find a more suitable first digital camera for the novice digital photographer than the PowerShot A520. No matter what the situation, the A520 turns out perfectly exposed and focused results shot after shot. And the fact that as well as idiot-proof ‘point and shoot’ modes and scene modes you get a full array of manual options means it’s a camera that you can grow with as your skills develop.
[DP Review Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
Photoxels - The Canon PowerShot A520 can be used as a point-and-shoot camera in Auto or Program AE mode, but it’s attractiveness lies in the flexible exposure control it allows: Shutter-Priority, Aperture-Priority, full Manual, plus easy to use scene (Image Zone) modes. Operation is fast and control is intuitive.
[Photoxels Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
Imaging Resource - Featuring a 4.0-megapixel CCD, automatic, partial, or fully manual exposure control, and a wide range of preset shooting modes, the PowerShot A520 is another fine addition to Canon’s A-series of digital cameras. Built on the same long-tested design as many A-series predecessors, the Canon A520 offers a lot in its compact package. Its combination of automatic and manual features make it very approachable for novices, but interesting for experienced users, the net result being a camera that will satisfy a broad range of interests and provide a good path for novice users to expand their photographic horizons as their experience grows. I’d like to see it equipped with a more accurate optical viewfinder, and its image noise at ISO 400 was on the high side, but the bottom line is that this is a camera that will meet the needs of the average consumer very well.
[Imaging Resource Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
Lets Go Digital - It won’t come to you as a big surprise; the Canon Powershot A520 is a recommendable digital camera. It offers value for its money, has a few minor points that need improving, but in general it delivers an excellent result. The compact size offers many possibilities, turning itself into a versatile camera, and actually exceeding its own class. The possibilities that the A520 offers ensure keeping the camera in sight and in use! The Canon A520 is a worthy successor to the old Canon A-series digital cameras!
[Lets Go Digital Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
PC Magazine - If this camera weren’t such a slow performer, we might give it a higher rating. It could also use a little better dynamic range, though you should keep in mind that we test using only automatic settings, so your results may vary from ours if you take advantage of the manual controls—which we really wish would be included on more cameras in this class. This camera is not a bad buy, and it’s a worthy successor to the A85. But despite its flexibility, we still prefer the image quality and speed of our Editors’ Choice among 4MP cameras, the Kodak EasyShare LS743.
[PC Magazine Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
PC Magazine - If this camera weren’t such a slow performer, we might give it a higher rating. It could also use a little better dynamic range, though you should keep in mind that we test using only automatic settings, so your results may vary from ours if you take advantage of the manual controls—which we really wish would be included on more cameras in this class. This camera is not a bad buy, and it’s a worthy successor to the A85. But despite its flexibility, we still prefer the image quality and speed of our Editors’ Choice among 4MP cameras, the Kodak EasyShare LS743.
[PC Magazine Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
CNET - The 1.8-inch LCD washes out under direct illumination and displays the usual ghosting during camera or subject movement. The optical viewfinder gives you a reasonably big, bright perspective. It represents an acceptable alternative for everyday viewing, except when you’re shooting close-ups, as it suffers from parallax problems that make composition difficult.
[CNET Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
Digital Camera Info - With a 1/2.5-inch 4.0 megapixel CCD, 4x optical zoom lens, and full range of exposure modes, the A520 has a lot to offer consumers for less than $300. While there is significant competition within this price bracket, the manual controls are what set the A520 apart from the rest. The typical features touted within this segment of the market - large LCD, long battery life, internal memory, and strong movie mode - are relatively void on the A520. Rather, Canon has opted to cater to a niche demographic of compact camera consumers and design a camera that appeals to those seeking a portable sub-$300 alternative with extensive control. For those users, the A520 will provide custom settings, manual control, accessory flash and lens alternatives, and can even shoot with the camera tethered to a computer. If manual control appeals to you, there really is no greater value out there in this price range.
[Digital Camera Info Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
DigiCam Review - The camera is compact and is designed well - the camera feels comfortable in my hands. The camera is fairly compact and has a good zoom range. The camera is easy to use, the menu system is easy to use and there is a fairly good layout of buttons and controls. There is a good choice of features and options to suit all levels of experience, manual focus, shutter/aperture control, scene modes, as well as manual white balance. The camera speed is okay, but slightly on the sluggish side.
[DigiCam Review Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
Pocket Lint - The Canon PowerShot A520 might look a style icon compared with some of its brethren, but it is probably the ideal model for anyone buying a digital camera for the first time. It’s simple to use, has resolution enough for prints of up to, say, 8 x10in and it takes cracking photos too. It also has a good range of auto and manual controls, so that as you become more confident, you can grow with your photography without quickly outgrowing the camera. Last and best of all, it’s a cracking price too.
[Pocker Lint Canon PowerShot A520 Review]
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[Circut City Canon PowerShot A520 User Comments]
[Epinions Canon PowerShot A520 User Comments]
[Amazon Canon PowerShot A520 User Comments]
[DP Review Canon PowerShot A520 User Comments]
[PC World Canon PowerShot A520 User Comments]
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February 1, 2005 - Two weeks after the announcement of the Canon PowerShot A510, Canon announced another A-series PowerShot today. The 4-megapixel Canon PowerShot A520 replaces the A85 and improves upon it with more megapixels and a longer optical zoom lens. The digital camera will be available in March 2005 for a retail price of $299.99. The point-and-shoot goes slightly beyond the realm of compact cameras with lots of shooting options, a 4x optical zoom lens, and a host of optional accessories.
“We created the A520 model to give consumers an enhanced level of image quality and resolution without sacrificing the flexibility, freedom and fun that digital photography can be,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A.
The Canon A520 is equipped with 13 shooting modes, including manual, priority, automatic and scene modes. Like the A510, the new A520 has an Underwater mode for shooting with the optional underwater housing that can go to depths of 130 feet. Other scene modes include Fireworks, Foliage, Beach, Snow, Kids & Pets, and Night Shot. The VGA Movie mode records with audio and allows users to edit movie clips in the camera.
Earlier A-series PowerShot models accepted CompactFlash cards, but the newer models - the A510 and A520 - accept smaller and lighter SD or MMC memory cards. Canon also worked on improving the camera’s grip to make it more ergonomically efficient. These design changes result in a camera that is 13 percent smaller at 3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches and 10 percent lighter at 6.3 ounces.
The Canon PowerShot A520 comes with a 1.8-inch LCD screen and a Hold button that allows users to extend the display of the most recent image without entering the Playback mode. The 115,000-pixel screen can also display real-time histograms.
An assortment of accessories are available for the Canon A520. The aforementioned underwater housing is available, as well as a slave flash unit. The flash unit is effective to 30 feet, while the built-in flash is only effective for 11 feet. The camera can sync with multiple flash units also. Wide angle, telephoto, and other conversion lenses are available for the Canon PowerShot A520.
The newly released PowerShot A520 is identical to the two-week-old A510, except for the megapixel count and price tag. The A510 has 3.2 megapixels and a price of $199.99. However, both cameras have the same wide range of options and accessories available. Consumers who don’t print anything larger than 8 x 10 inches may want to save themselves a hundred bucks and go for the A520’s baby sister.
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