Canon PowerShot A510

Posted by T3 Online on Fri 9 Sep 2005

More snap than a Rottweiler on heat.

With camera phones hitting two megapixels and above, you may think it odd that Canon is still producing three-megapixel compacts like the A510. However, pick it up and those doubts are immediately dispelled - this is a solid camera with a bright 1.8-inch LCD and 4x optical zoom, and it feels a million times better than any camera phone.

The A510 also offers a great selection of user-friendly point-and-shoot modes for the novice photographer. However, it also has a wide range of more serious options accessed via the dial on the top of the camera, including a full-on manual mode where you have complete control of the settings. This may seem daunting to the beginner, but anyone with an eye for images will soon come up against the limitations of the basic settings, and will be delighted that this camera offers so much more.

They will also be thrilled by the quality of the pictures. Don't let the lowly pixel rating fool you: this camera's capable of producing some wonderful images. Colour reproduction is excellent and the autofocus and exposure readings are generally spot on. Our only real complaint is on the speed front: while the camera's burst mode is rapid, it takes a minimum of two seconds between standard shots, while start-up is a real drag.

The A510 is an excellent camera for beginners, but it'll also allow budding enthusiasts to experiment with more advanced photo techniques. The only limit as you progress will be the size of prints you can make from your prized images.