A495

The Canon PowerShot A495 is a very good value for the price. The only lack is image stabilization which is a problem only if you are taking pictures at slow shutter speeds without camera support.

The camera otherwise is a stellar performer.

For a low cost camera this Canon A495 is an excellent bargain. I would strongly recommend using rechargeable batteries or lithium AA's as the life of the batteries it comes with is much shorter than when using these recommended batteries. Also flash recycling time is shorter with these.

If you want a convenient camera this would be a good camera for you. It takes a great picture without requiring you to do anything but turn it on and snap the picture.

The pictures are easy to retrieve from the camera and I have not found the battery consumption to be a problem. It helps conserve the batteries if it is not left on continuously. I turn it off if I am not planning on taking a picture for a few minutes.

It is small and I like the blue color. It is designed well ergonomically.

Compared to the very closely priced Sony DSC-S930 and S950 released last year, the Canon is able to produce much cleaner and sharper pictures at any given ISO (even though there is no ISO 3200), and the quality of the images closely matches those of the very expensive Sony DSC-WX1 with EXMOR-R sensor, which comes as a surprise to me.

To take advantage of all the features this camera has to offer you owe it to yourself to learn how to use the options available in Program AE mode.

Shooting is mostly automatic but you have control over settings such as ISO, metering mode, white balance, exposure compensation, etc. In less than ideal lighting conditions these options will allow you to get great results without a flash.

If you're not already familiar with Canon cameras you should definitely take a look at the User Manual on the CD

.Would have preferred it came with a memory card, but that is easy to get. I'm enjoying it.

The Canon A495 price is an amazing value. Which wouldn't matter if the photo quality wasn't there, but it is. This is another excellent Canon camera.

With its low price point and high quality images, the Canon PowerShot A495 makes a perfect gift for any casual photographer, and for someone who's just getting into photography, it has enough features to become a back-up camera with its ability to use AA batteries straight out of a convenient store.

I have owned this camera for a while now. It's a great compact camera and takes good photos for the money. The only thing is the focus needs adjusting after a while and the shutter speed could be faster.

The battery life is ok and the charge unit that comes with it is very nice.

I take this camera with me everywhere and I have used it for big events. If you have the right settings you almost can't tell the same photo taken with this camera and a much more expensive model with lots of features.

With a good set of rechargeable batteries the camera easily met the factory claims for pictures. The start-up is a bit long, but that was fine.

Video does produce a reasonable quality product, but the compression algo. must be only so so because file sizes were quite large.

In daylight, the pictures are very good and night snaps with the flash were OK with expected levels of noise. The same can be said for snaps without flash in low light.

I am very happy with the results. So the Canon A495 price to performance ratio is unbeatable. If you have to take low light pictures, use a tripod and some noise removal software.

I bought this camera knowing about it's battery limitations. But it takes AAs Come on now!!!

Over the years I've grown used to the fact, point and shoots don't take good low light pictures, so it is better than I was expecting.

Coming back to the battery life. The reason why it gives poor battery life is this thing is not programmed to 'pause' focusing when not required. So as long as you have the lens open it keeps trying to focus onto something or the other.

You will constantly hear the servo spinning and lens clicking as it tries to focus on what it 'thinks' you are looking at (even if you are not looking through the view finder). Once you realize this the fix is easy. After you have taken your pictures, put it in playback/preview mode. Then it knows for sure it need not try and focus and stops wasting battery

The A495 is perfect for stuffing in your bag to be ready to take quick photos so you don't miss documenting anything, but it's pretty inconvenient to carry around all the time. The quality of the photos is actually really very good especially for the price.

Brand Name: Canon
Model: A495 Blue
Optical Sensor Resolution: 10 MP
Optical Sensor Technology: CCD
Optical zoom: 3.3 x
Maximum Aperature Range: F/3.0-5.8
Minimum focal length: 6.6 millimeters
Maximum focal length: 21.6 millimeters
Lens Type: Zoom lens
Optical Sensor Size: 1/2.3"
Included Flash Type: Built-in flash
Display Size: 2.5 inches
Light Sensitivity: ISO 100, ISO 800, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO 80, ISO auto, ISO 1600
Image types: JPEG
Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
Exposure Control Type: Beach, Kids & pets, Night snapshot, Snow, Super vivid, Poster effect, Landscape, Portrait mode, Slow shutter, Fireworks, Low light, Indoor, Foliage
Viewfinder Type: None
Width: 3.7 inches
Depth: 1.2 inches
Height: 2.4 inches
Weight: 6.2 Ounces

I hope that you find this A495 review helpful in your search for the right camera for your needs.

With its streamlined silhouette and smoothly curved edges, the Canon PowerShot A495 has the compact sophistication and relaxed simplicity that make it a natural for beginners and everyone else who craves style and convenience. The 10.0-megapixel resolution and 3.3x optical zoom make it easy to capture the action in dazzling color and brilliant detail.

The DIGIC III Image Processor keeps it all looking sharp. To help you make the most of your creativity, new Scene Modes make your photographs standout. A bright, bold 2.5-inch LCD makes shooting and playback a genuine pleasure. Plus, choose from any of three dazzling colors.

With the PowerShot A495, dramatic, personal pictures have never been easier to shoot and share. This 10.0-megapixel camera lets you create impressive large photos of family and friends you'll be proud to display. The high-resolution images taken by the PowerShot A495 can be enlarged up to 13 x 19 inches.

Just set the Canon PowerShot A495 to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture-taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject knowing that the camera has the technical details covered.

Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 18 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images.

The Canon PowerShot A495 gives you even more creative freedom by including new modes made to get the kind of images people talk about. Super Vivid captures the colors you see with your mind's eye, saturating the scene with intense colors.

Turn drab scenes into exciting compositions, when dull pinks blaze into brilliant fuchsia and off-yellows suddenly burn bright and hot. Even dark colors become richer with Super Vivid. Sunsets and floral scenes turn into bursts of color, and get your photo noticed.

Poster Effect combines several similar shades into one color, turning subtle gradations of color into eye-catching, scene-popping contrasts across your image for a unique artistic look.

The PowerShot A495's 2.5-inch LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear and bright picture. It also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light.