Canon PowerShot A520 Review
- ️@dpreview
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Announced just before PMA in February 2005, the PowerShot A520 is the replacement for the PowerShot A85, and continues the line of best-selling budget models that goes right back to early 2001 with the A10 and A20. The changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary; a reduction in size and weight (it's 13% smaller and 20% lighter), the inclusion of a new four times optical zoom lens (the A85 had a three times), zoom-linked flash, a shift from CompactFlash to SD card for storage and a drop to two AA batteries from four.
- 4.0 megapixel CCD
- 4x (35-140mm equiv.) zoom lens
- Manual, semi automatic and fully automatic exposure
- 20 exposure modes
- New 'hold' function
- Zoom flash
- 9-point AiAF focus
- Optional underwater housing, external flashgun and add-on lenses
- AA battery power
Canon PowerShot A520 vs A85 (main differences)
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|---|---|---|
| Sensor | • 1/2.5-inch CCD • 4.0 million effective pixels |
• 1/2.7-inch CCD • 4.0 million effective pixels |
| Lens | 35-140mm equiv. F2.6-F5.5 | 35-105mm equiv. F2.8-F4.8 |
| Storage | SD/MMC card | CompactFlash Type I |
| Dimensions | 91 x 64 x 38 mm (3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 in) | 101 x 64 x 32 mm (4 x 2.5 x 1.3 in) |
| Weight (inc batteries) | 230 g (8.1 oz) | 300g (10.6 oz) |
| Continuous Shooting | 1.9 fps | 1.5 fps |
| Maximum Movie Size/Frame Rate | 640 x 480, 30 secs, 320 x 240, 15 fps, max 3 mins | 640 x 480, 10 fps, max 30 sec |
| LCD screen | • 1.8-inch • 115,000 pixels |
• 1.8-inch • 118,000 pixels |
| Power Source | 2 x AA batteries | 4 x AA batteries |
Canon PowerShot A520 Key specifications
| Street price | • US: $270 • UK: £175 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" Type CCD • 4.0 million effective pixelxels |
| Image sizes | • 2272 x 1704 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480, max 30 sec • 320 x 240, max 3 mins • 160 x 120, max 3 mins • With audio |
| Lens | • 4x optical zoom |
| Focus | • TTL autofocus • AF illuminator • 9-point AiAF or - point AF (center) • Manual focus • 5cm macro mode (Wide), 30cm (Tele) |
| Shooting mode | • Auto |
| Shutter speeds | • 15 - 1/2000 sec • Noise reduction for shutter speeds slower than 1.3 sec |
| Apertures | • F2.6 / F3.2 / F3.5 / F4.0 / F4.5 / F5.0 / F5.6 / F6.3 / F7.1 / F8.0 (wide) • F5.5 / F6.3 / F7.1 / F8.0 (wide) |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom |
| Image parameters | • Picture adjust (Vivid, Neutral) • Sharpness (2 levels) • Color effects (Sepia, Black and White) |
| Continuous | • Single • Continuous (1.9 fps, max 8 images) * * Large/Fine with LCD off |
| Flash | • Built-in • Modes: Auto, On, Off • Slow Sync: On/Off • Red-Eye reduction: On/Off • Range (wide): 0.45 - 3.5 m (Auto ISO) • Range (tele): 0.45 - 2.2 m (Auto ISO) • Zoom-linked |
| Storage | • SD / MMC card • 16MB SD supplied* |
| Viewfinder | • Real Image Optical |
| LCD monitor | • 1.8" TFT, 115,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 1.1 • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Power | • 2 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (alkaline supplied) • (Optional AC adapter) |
| In the box* | • Canon PowerShot A520 |
| Other features | • Spot, Center-weighted & Evaluative metering |
| Weight (excl batt) | 180 g (6.3 oz) |
| Dimensions | 91 x 64 x 38 mm (3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 in) Excluding protrusions |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
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