One of the latest editions to the Canon family is the 4-megapixel Canon PowerShot A520. This nice little camera is smaller and lighter than the PowerShot A85 that came before it. By adding a longer zoom lens and additional new scene modes, this camera is nicely equipped.
The Canon PowerShot A520 still offers features for both novices and seasoned photographers. In the same lines as with the A85, the Canon PowerShot A520 is a great value-for-money purchase and without doubt one you should think about if you’re in the market for a camera.
In terms of its design, imagine a compact version of Canon’s A85. The Canon PowerShot A520’s body is basically the same only conforming in size to operate on two double-A batteries as opposed to the A85’s four.
The only other noticeable differences are that the AF assist lamp on the front has been moved to the opposite side of the optical viewfinder and the microphone has been moved ever so slightly.
The LCD is still the same 1.8 inches diagonally but does have some differences. The LCD is now an f/2.6 to f/5.5, 5.8- to 23.2-mm (35- to 140-mm, 35-mm equivalent), 4X optical zoom lens.
It is clear that the optical system of the Canon PowerShot A520 has been thoroughly thought out to make great photos simple. A 4.2 megapixel resolution along with the 4X optical zoom is provided and the Canon PowerShot A520 also features an ISO range of 50 to 400 and a shutter speed range of 15 - 1/2000 sec. making it an impressive choice.
The Canon PowerShot A520 preserves the exceptional level of manual control of previous A-series models, including Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, and Manual modes, available via the top-mounted mode dial. The dial also offers five universal shooting modes (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Slow Shutter, and Fast Shutter), as well as Stitch Assist and Movie mode.
The menu system is also unchanged and still provides good ease of use balanced by abundant options, though we’d like to see the scene modes illustrated with some on-screen help and sample images, as in Casio’s excellent menus on the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z55, for example
The Canon PowerShot A520’s battery life using the two included alkaline double-A batteries is admirable and the camera is rated for up to 300 shots according to the CIPA standard (using NiMH double-A batteries).
The Canon PowerShot A520 allows your pictures to be stored in SD memory cards. These days, its pretty standard practice to have at least a 512 MB memory card in your digital camera (or even a 1 GB card). You can also easily transfer the pictures from the camera to the PC via the USB 2.0 interface.
There have been confirmed reports that the Canon PowerShot A520 is generally quite slow. The controls are not responsive enough - frequently one had to press a button more than once to perform the desired operation.
Hopefully, this review of the Canon PowerShot A520 has been of help to you. If you’re looking for a decent digital camera to start your photography adventures, the Canon A520 might be tough to beat. Of course, do your own research first before shelling out your cash.