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Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings By manufacturer:
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The Canon PowerShot A510 is a new 3.2 megapixel camera with a 4x Optical zoom and 20 shooting modes. It will be in shops in February.
Buy the “Canon PowerShot A510 3.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom”
See Sample Images of the Canon Powershot A510
DCRP also reviews the Canon Powershot A510 and writes - 'First, the good news. Despite being smaller than their predecessors, the A510 and A520 offer a bigger zoom lens. Where most cameras have 3X zoom lenses, the A-series models offer a 4X zoom. Not satisfied with that? The cameras support wide-angle, telephoto, and close-up conversion lenses. A new optional feature on these models is an external slave flash, which attaches to the side of the camera. For people who take a lot of flash shots, this may be worth the $100 price. While the A-series cameras offer a new �zoom flash� feature, that doesn't necessarily translate into better flash range. It does, however, focus the light on the subject while you're shooting at the telephoto end of the lens.'
'Digital Camera Info' reviews the Canon PowerShot A510 Digital Camera and writes - 'The Canon PowerShot A510's small compact frame will greatly please the point-and-shoot user looking for an introductory camera that performs. The simple physical design comes equipped with a wide variety of manual control options - a surprising trait for a point-and-shoot camera which is currently available online for $179.95. Equipped with a 1/2.5 inch 3.2 MP CCD, the camera performs in line with the conventional Canon reputation. Unlike many PowerShot models before it, the A510 effectively suppresses noise in higher ISO ratings and works well in auto mode. The A510 is also quite flexible for an introductory digital camera, allowing for the application of external �slave� flash and conversion lens units. Still capture capabilities on the A510 greatly exceeded expectations, but unfortunately the video recording mode did not. Interested consumers will have to make the sacrifice. The A510 records full resolution video at 10 fps, which is a third of the rate needed for full, fluid motion, so you can imagine how choppy the final clip appears. With a slow shooting rate, users will also have to pick between quality and speed. The dismal shot to shot lag time is significant enough to be problematic for many shooting situations.'
DP Review has a review of the Canon PowerShot A510 and writes - 'Everything we said about the PowerShot A520 applies equally to the A510; it would be hard to find a more suitable first digital camera for the novice digital photographer on a budget. No matter what the situation, the A510 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.
PC Magazine reviews the Canon PowerShot A510 and writes - 'The A510's manual controls and low price may make this a solid choice for someone who wants to explore digital photography beyond the basic point-and-shoot functions. Image quality is good, and although 3.2 megapixels is starting to seem quite a small number, it's still sufficient for the average casual shooter's needs.'
Megapixel reviews the Canon Powershot A510 and writes - 'With its 3.2 megapixel resolution, the PowerShot A510 is definitely �entry-level�. Yet, it is also proof that the term �entry-level� is not always a euphemism for �lower performance�.
Unlike many other entry-level cameras, the A510 is feature-rich. A full selection of program modes and a manual mode are included, as are scene modes. The A510 also offers a panoramic mode (Stitch Assist) that is easy to use, and which, when the images are assembled using the software Canon provides, gives very good results.
The A510 is also feature-rich when it comes to the controls available to the photographer. The white balance has all the basic settings, plus a user-set mode; metering can be done with any of three patterns, and exposure compensation is available, as is a burst mode.'
CNET Reviews has a review on the Canon PowerShot A510 and writes - 'This budget shooter manages to outdo its more expensive sibling in most performance categories except shutter lag, which was still decent at 0.65 second under high-contrast lighting and a good 0.95 second under low-contrast illumination, thanks to the focus-assist lamp's aid. Its first-shot time and shot-to-shot clockings were marginally better at 3.6 and 2 seconds, respectively, but like the PowerShot A520, this camera required 6 seconds or more to recycle its flash between exposures.'
Compact and powerful
13% smaller and 20% lighter than its predecessor – the popular PowerShot A75 – the PowerShot A510’s 4x zoom lens uses Canon’s Glass Moulded Optics (Gmo) lens technology to deliver uncompromising, high clarity image quality at a fraction the size of conventional lenses. Extending reach at the telephoto end, the powerful 35-140mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.6-5.5 zoom lens also features a new rear-focus system for more efficient focus that limits power consumption. A redesigned flash unit, optical viewfinder, and a move from Compact Flash to SD memory card also contribute to a lighter, more elegant and compact body.
The build quality is excellent, the results - though probably a little 'over-processed' for purists (and almost all are in need of a little sharpening in post processing) are perfect for the target market; bright, colorful and contrasty. Our only serious complaints are to do with some aspects of the speed of operation - focus can struggle in low light at the long end of the zoom (sometimes taking up to two seconds to find its mark), the shot-to-shot time (when not in burst mode) feels very slow if you're trying to grab shots quickly, and the flash recycle time is frankly unacceptable.'
Shooting modes
For maximum versatility and ease of use, Canon has given the A510 a total of 20 shooting modes. These include eight ‘Special Scene’ modes which help produce stunning results in difficult lighting conditions by optimising the camera’s white balance, exposure and other settings for specific shooting situations. Scene modes include ‘fireworks’, ‘foliage’, ‘beach’, ‘snow’, ‘underwater’ (for use with the camera’s optional 40m depth case) ‘kids and pets’ and ‘night snapshot’. Movie clips of up to 3 minutes can be recorded, complete with sound and with the option to cut and edit in-camera. Manual mode allows more experienced or adventurous users to take control of settings such as white balance, exposure compensation and shutter speed.
Enjoyable and convenient
For enjoyment, convenience and ease of sharing images while shooting, a new ‘Hold’ function allows users to extend the display of newly shot images on the large and bright 1.8“ LCD indefinitely after taking a shot, and to delete them immediately if necessary without the requirement to switch to replay mode. When the shutter button is pressed again, the camera returns to shooting. Ease of use increases with an improved, simple and more intuitive button layout.
Floating lens barrel
Another advance on the PowerShot A510 is the floating lens barrel retention mechanism, which works in conjunction with the optional Wide and Tele converter lenses. By allowing minute lateral shifts in lens position parallel to the sensor surface, the mechanism ensures that adaptor lenses are precisely aligned along the optical axis for perfectly sharp results.
Zoom flash
In a first for its digital camera line-up, Canon has introduced an optional zoom flash, the HF-DC1. Linked to the zoom lens, the zoom mechanism narrows the flash’s angle of throw to extend flash range at the telephoto end and further extends the options for night and indoor shooting. With a guide number of 18 (ISO 100 metres), the slave flash automatically fires in-sync with the camera’s in-built flash, ignoring any pre-flash. It can be adjusted to three power output settings based on the aperture value of the camera. The unit attaches to the camera with a supplied bracket that maintains the ability to mount both camera and flash on a tripod.
Print/Share
The camera features Canon’s Print/Share button, which lights up when a successful connection is made between the camera’s USB port and any PictBridge compatible printer. Pushing the button when lit initiates a print of the currently displayed image, without the need to navigate a menu. The Print/Share feature also simplifies uploads to any Windows PC.
Extended print functions
When linked to printers such as Canon’s SELPHY CP400 Compact Photo Printer, the PowerShot A510 allows for super fast, super convenient 85 second photo prints without the need to first upload to computer. Extended print functions available with this camera include a ’Movie Print’ mode, which divides the selected movie clip into equal parts and prints up to 63 equally spaced thumbnail frames onto a single sheet of Postcard Size Paper (100 x 148 mm). This feature is ideal for analysing a golf swing or tennis serve, for example. An ‘ID Photo Print’ function prints a number of durable passport photo size images (of selected height and width) to a single sheet.
Fast auto-focus
With 9 focus points distributed across a wide area of the frame, the cameras AiAF system is capable of fast focusing, even when the subject is off-centre. Users can also switch to single centre-point AF and manual focusing. An auto-assist beam helps to focus in low light conditions and the camera has a 5cm closest focusing distance. The flash can be synchronised to a slow shutter speed and includes red-eye reduction. 2.3 frames per second shooting speed can be maintained for up to a 12 shot burst at Large/Fine resolution with LCD monitor off.
Great speed, great results
The PowerShot A510 features Canon’s critically acclaimed, powerful DIGIC processor for superb image quality, responsive camera performance and low battery consumption. Like an in-built photographer’s assistant, Canon’s iSAPS system analyses composition factors such as zoom position and luminosity in order to predict the type of photo being taken. This results in faster auto-focusing, more accurate auto-exposure and precise auto white balance. An Intelligent Orientation sensor detects the orientation of the camera as shots are taken, optimising the image quality and automatically rotating the image for playback.
Accessories
In addition to the converter and close-up lenses, optional accessories include a waterproof case that offers underwater protection up to 40m depth and defence against dust, sand and snow. The case incorporates a flash diffusion plate to help eliminate the ‘snow’ effect caused by foreign particles suspended in the water. A 16MB MMC card is supplied with the camera.
Software and access to CANON iMAGE GATEWAY
Software supplied includes ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Mac) for viewing, managing and archiving images. Other software includes PhotoStitch and PhotoRecord, plus photo manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoStudio. Drivers include TWAIN (Windows 98/2000) and WIA (Windows Me). Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) support allows the camera to connect to any Windows XP (SP1 – 2) and Mac OS X (v10.1.5 - 10.3) system without the requirement for a driver installation.
Camera ownership entitles the purchaser to register for 100MB free storage space on the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online gallery where images and movies can be stored in albums and shared with selected friends and family. New My Camera functions (such as shutter sounds and start up images) can also be downloaded to the camera from CANON iMAGE GATEWAY.
Posted by Darren in our Canon category on January 21, 2005