7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Affordable Camera with Quality
Date of Review: Mar 25, 2007
The Bottom Line: This is a Fun Camera, Easy to use with many Great Features and takes awesome pictures.
The Canon Powershot A530 Digital Camera has brought me so much fun capturing memories in a higher than average quality that I can review for years to come.
I bought it because I wanted a digital camera but didn't have allot of money to put out. My Mom has a really nice very high quality Canon Powershot Digital Camera so is why I went with Canon. I paid $250 Cnd from Compusmart.
The camera came with a 16M Multimedia Card, so I also purchased a 512 MB Multimedia card at the same time, since I intended on taking allot of pics.
The camera is so easy to use, I was in business right out of the box before I even got it home. After which I had to consult the manuals to learn certian functions.
I have had this camera since May 2006 and I am still learning. I use the camera pretty much everyday.
The package comes with software and two manuals, one for the camera and one for the software. Actually four manuals but I read and speak english so I don't use the french versions but are there for those who would. Included is an AV cable to get your pictures to the T.V. and a USB cable to download the pics to your PC.
Apparently the software is supported on Win98 but I don't use Win98 anymore. The software manual has instructions for Windows98, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP as well as Macintosh.
I use Windows XP and have no problems installing or using the software. It is very easy to install and use.
You can set the ISO to either 80, 100, 200, 400 or 800. White Balance settings to either Auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent or fluorescent H. Drive mode to either one shot at a time, continuous and a self timer. Can set colors including black and white, vivid and so on. Set Flash output and more. You can shoot either 2592X1944 large format, 2048X1536, 1600X1200, 640X480, postcard or 2592X1456 wide angle and either Superfine, Fine or Normal.
Can turn flash on or off, manual focus on or off and Macro (telephoto)and that is all just on the Manual setting but is way more one can do. The different settings one can choose from are Auto, Program, Manual, Video, Scene, Stitch, (make panoramas) Portrait, Night Scene and Landscape, all with the turn of the Mode Switch. The camera has an on and off button, Zoom, Power lamp, Shooting and Playback. In playback one can magnify the image as well. An exposure button to set the f-stop. There is allot one can do with this Camera.
It does take two AA batteries but one can easily employ a handy battery charger like the one I have. "See my review of the
Handy Targus Battery Charger."
The camera comes with a carry strap and ability to set on a tripod as well.
The Canon A530 is jammed packed with features and am satisfied I got my moneys worth and more!
A great bargin with more than just the ability to capture the odd picture by an average photographer. Will keep the enthusiast busy. This isn't a professional type camera but sure acts like one. Takes great pictures too.
Take pictures using the view finder or the display screen.
Night shots are allot of fun. It takes great time exposures (time delay-night shots), views sunsets really well and takes awesome portraits and moving objects.
I have entered photos in contests that I have taken with my A30 and have had pleasant reviews!
