Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot A495 10.0 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-Inch LCD (Silver)

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(57)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I decided on the Canon A495 as I wanted an inexpensive camera to carry around in my bag for unexpected shots. For those of you who want a good basic camera from a well-known camera company, this one should fit your needs well.

Are you trying to decide between the A495 and the next model lower, the A490? Here are the differences:

· The A495 has a Face Self-Timer feature. You can focus on a group of people, and before the camera takes the shot, run over and get into the picture yourself, with your face being detected, too. Of course, you would also need a tripod or a place to set the camera down.

· The A495 has two (2) additional Scene Modes: Poster Effect and Super Vivid Color. Nice to have the additional scenes, but how often will you use them? I plan on making some art for my living room walls with the Poster Effect scene, so I opted for the A495.

· The A495 will focus on up to 9 faces (or areas); whereas the A490 will focus on up to 5 faces (or areas).

PROS:
· Easy to use straight out of the box - I didn't need to read the manual to start out, but I recommend reading it to learn about all the features
· Durable, even though it's made of plastic
· Takes great photos, and also great close-up (macro) shots
· Program mode lets you change some settings like exposure compensation, ISO, continuous shooting, metering mode, etc.
· Larger than an ultra-compact camera, so it's easier to grip and avoid dropping
· Uses AA batteries, and I'm surprised I got over 300 shots from my rechargeable batteries (the alkaline AA batteries included did not last long) - I recommend Eneloop batteries Sanyo NEW 1500 eneloop 4 Pack AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
· Takes fairly good video with sound (not HD) and can be directly uploaded to YouTube (this is part of the included software)
· The ZoomBrowser photo editing software has always been a favorite of mine, I use it with all my cameras, no matter what brand they are. I like this more than Picasa.

CONS:
· RECHARGING TIME AFTER TAKING A PICTURE IS UNACCEPTABLY SLOW, and even worse if using the flash (approximately 5 seconds w/flash) - this is normal with a camera that uses two AA batteries. It's still better than the Nikon L20, though. Slow even if you are using a Class 6 SD card, as I was.
· No optical image stabilization - but this is rare in any camera at this price point
· No optical viewfinder - again, hard to find now in any camera
· LCD screen is large enough, BUT has low resolution, you can't go by what the photo looks like on the screen as far as quality, 99.9% of the time it will look better after downloaded to your PC
· Battery door is flimsy, I have to be careful when closing it so the hinge doesn't break, and if not careful, the batteries fall out when removing the SD card
· Slightly on the bulky side, won't fit easily in a shirt pocket, should be OK in a pants pocket (not skinny jeans)

I would have given this camera 5 stars if it wasn't so darn slow on the recycling time after taking a photo. It flashes "busy" on the LCD screen and it is frustrating when you are waiting to take another shot.

NOTE #1: This camera does not come with an SD card, so pick one up when buying the camera as you will not be able to use it right out of the box otherwise. This camera will accept SDHC cards up to/including 32 GB.

NOTE #2: The PSC-500 genuine Canon case Canon PSC-500 Deluxe Soft Case fits this camera perfectly, but there is no extra room for spare batteries. It's a snug fit, but it's well padded too.

NOTE #3: For those of you looking for a camera that can put a date stamp on your pictures, this one does. You have your choice of date only or date and time - or none at all.

The overall quality of this camera is good, however, I have had nothing but frustration since I began using this. First of all, with nearly every picture that you take using the flash, following the actual picture taking, the LCD display goes black for several seconds and gives you a message that it is charging the flash.

Second, the camera will take its time focusing in and finding the right levels of focus and clarity for the picture that you are trying to take. When it does allow you to take your photo, a review of the photo on both the LCD and later on a PC will often reveal that the picture you just took is blurry and out of focus.

In conclusion, this camera is too much high maintenance for a simple point-and-shoot camera. I have two small kids, and when I want to catch them at a particular moment to take a picture, every second is essential. Between waiting for the flash to charge and then the camera to focus, and then followed by pictures that come out with little quality, the money spent on this camera is not an investment in memories as it should be, but rather an investment in frustration.

Simple, easy to use, feels good in the hands and it does take great pictures.
A great choice for a first digital camera.
It's the perfect camera to have if you're on a budget but want to capture great quality pictures.

A 2.5 sec delay between shots with out the flash, ( with the flash on the avg is around. 3 TO 6 secs ), and start up time is 1.6 sec.

*The camera does not have optical image stabilization.

*No memory card included with this camera*.


I use a 2gig san disk sd card ultra II(you do not get one with the camera) that gives you about 750 pictures.

I use 2 AA energizer (lithium batterys)(or 2650-2900 mAH rechargables) and that gets about 500-550 pictures . You would not be happy with just standerd AA battery life.
Walmarts, Meijers stores have a 8 pack of AA energizer lithium batterys for about $16.80,they seem to last for ever. I just use these like for vacation or a hloidays, for just every day shooting I use (good) rechargeables.


The AA batterys are probably the reason the LCD screen takes so long to recharge after the flash goes off (and to take the next picture) even with the good batterys it is recharging the flash up to 8sec on a (full flash) recharge and the times that are stated above...

I set the disp overlay to grid lines to help take a straighter picture, You may use it for the 1/3 rule also).

Cons: None for this price point.

No camera is perfect

Some are having trouble with the shutter button trying to push it half way down trying to compose there picture, on this camera, you only have to touch the shutter button and the weight of your finger will do the trick, if you try to push it half way like the canon A480 or your old camera it will take the picture...
(Update)> It seems to free up the more you use it but still not like the cameras before it...


Other Thoughts:
* The A495 takes great pictures but you will not be able to tell it by the low resolution lcd screen, you will have to wait and look at them on the computer to realy see how good they are.
It is sometimes hard to compose your shot in very bright sun light also.

* I just realy like the colors in the pictures that the canon cameras produce, again thats just me thinking out loud.


I know this all sounds bad but for the price this camera does take great pictures and is easy and fun to use.
It is on par for this price point.
I have bought these for my 4 and 6 year old grand kids ( The canon A 480s) and have had no trouble for a year now.

The next step up is a canon SD 1300 that I know anything about and you can get a upgrade on this stuff if you just can't live with the A495 (I have never used a A3100)so I can not speak for it.

I am no expert and I am trying to be honest here and help out if I can, these are just my thoughts, look at some of the pictures that I and others have posted on this site if that would be helpfull and check out the other reviews on the A495 and good luck on your next camera. I have these cameras (SD 1300,A480 A 495) I really like them.

I mostly take pictures of bear in the Smokey Mountians (CADES COVE) and love chaseing the grand kids around taking their pictures. ( And this year I fell in love with the Outter Banks in NC ).

i've had many digital point & shoots in the past and i've got to say that the A495 is simply the best. here you have a camera you can take pictures with with ease in automatic mode and then further your picture taking skills with both the program mode and the settings mode. for anyone with experience in digital cameras, the aforementioned settings are familiar territory- but one should know, never has navigating the settings been easier and faster. not only is this a handy little camera to have around for those 'just in case' moments, but it is a great camera to grow with. i really wish that this was my very first introduction to the digital camera world! put in a little effort and viola! in no time, you're taking pictures worth framing. at 10 mega pixels, these shots can be blown up to poster size, suitable for hanging!!
the camera also comes with a video mode- great for shooting small video clips, an AV cable- to attach to your TV set to watch your pics & videos on the big screen, a USB cable- to upload your pics/vids to your computer for editing, and a disk with a pdf instruction manual, and the solid Canon Zoom browser for editing your pics.
in all, a perfect pocket sized camera not only for the person that doesn't feel like lugging around something bigger & more expensive, but for someone on a tight budget that wants something with quality and the ability to learn with.
(honorable mention has to go to the 'posterize' camera setting. i included some of the pics i took in this mode- i'm absolutely addicted to shooting with this setting in widescreen!!!)
finally, nothing is without flaws: if i absolutely HAD to find fault with this camera this would be it:
1. AA battery life (definitely bring backup batteries- or better yet, rechargables)
2. (another person mentioned in another review) flash recovery takes a few seconds- that could mean the difference between a decent pic and a blurry mess. although it goes without saying that this is a problem in almost ALL compact digital cameras.
3. no view finder (i'm reaching here- this has never been a concern of mine, yet some people absolutely NEED one).

The Canon Powershot A495 is probably one of the most affordable compact digital cameras out there. A little bit bulky and encased in a full plastic body, including a plastic lens barrel, its design may not catch your eyes at first, but this pocket-sized, AA-battery powered digital compact will surprise you in many ways once you take it out of the box.

With a high-quality 2.5" LCD screen, composing shots are easy, and the auto scene detection function makes taking pictures a breeze. With the DIGIC III processor (although not as good as Canon's latest Digic IV processor, it does a fine job here), the camera's software is able to detect up to 9 faces within a single frame quickly and adjusts the exposure accordingly so the subjects don't turn out overexposed or underexposed. Recovery time is amanzingly fast, again thanks to the DIGIC III processor normally only found in the more expensive IXUS models and Canon's DSLRs, so you can go on to shoot the next picture almost immmediately. The DIGIC III processor also makes sure that the pictures come out as clean and as noise free as possible. The A495 shoots from ISO 80 all the way up to ISO 1600, and with a small 1/2.3 inch sensor, keeping the images clean and noise free is no easy feat. The white balance adjustment is nearly perfect, with the camera producing almost natural colors even under flourescent lights. Test images have been uploaded under the customer's images section showing the color reproduction and noise performance of the camera.

Of course, the A495 is by no means a perfect little camera, with a few disappointing features here and there, and they are 1) a slow continuous burst, at a sluggish 0.95 frame per second 2) the night mode, which shoots at 2 megapixels only, and 3) a somewhat imperfect software which always keeps the camera's shutter speed just slow enough indoors to cause just a little blur to the images, even with the flash on. Therefore, it'll wise for you to keep the camera as steady as possible or use a tripod when you're shooting indoors.

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.

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 ordered this camera from reviews and the good price. This particular camera would go out of focus when the button to take the picture was pushed. I had someone else who was camera aware check it out and they experienced the same problem. I have returned the camera and hope to find a better choice.

We have always liked canon powershots... but this one is not on par with the other models we've used.

We're returning it to get a more expensive model, but one that takes quality pictures.

if the lighting isn't perfect, or if there is movement, the pictures come out blurry.

I bought this camera today! I wanted a small camera that is easy to carry around. It has the same lens as the Canon A480 & a well known British camera magazine gave that camera a rating of 93%, mainly because of its excellent image quality. And because I used to have a Canon A1000IS.
They gave the A495 a rating of 86%, presumably because other brands had kinda caught up to Canon's level of performance and features.
I would definitely recommend buying rechargeable Nimh batteries because the starter alkaline batteries only did 54 shots, 1 10 second video, & quite a lot of reviewing, looking at the menus etc,
before the low battery warning popped up. (It was a very cold day though around 10 degrees celsius.)
I've only used the camera on full auto so far & the photos look beautiful to me. At low iso settings they look just as good as many more expensive cameras I've owned. (Before buying the A495 I had a Fuji S200 EXR which took superb photos but was too big & heavy for me.)

Other comments:
The battery & SD card compartment has a nicely designed plastic latch. Sturdier than Canon A1000IS.
Nicer to hold than Canon A3000IS
LCD screen works quite well even in bright sun. Looks far better than one budget Kodak model I looked at.

Update: Maybe I got an extra good lens, but the photos this little camera takes in full auto mode are amazing. Slow shot to shot times but fine for
landscapes & people pix if they pose for you. I have bought Energizer
rechargeable batteries 2450 mAh & one charge has lasted me several days of
picture taking and transferring to PC with USB cable.

Some features of this camera are merely inconvenient, like the very short battery life and the wait of several seconds between flash photos. But the deal breaker is the blurry pictures that result from focus issues. I tried for several weeks to adjust to the camera, but it's practically unusable with that issue.
I'm a Canon fan, and bought this camera to replace my venerable SD400 after seeing a good review in Consumer Reports. Very disappointing.

Sorry to say, this is my 1st negative review of a product on Amazon and I hate to do it, however I would not be able to recommend this camera model to anyone! (I have had Canon Powershots in the past that I loved, too.)

I bought this camera and immediately fell in love. It was easy to use, took great macro and regular shots, and was just an overall wonderful camera! That was until the batteries started going out after about taking 50 shots with it. No flash was being used at all, it was only in macro mode. And this happened repeatedly no matter what batteries I used. I have at least 4 different sets of rechargeable AA's that I have used successfully with my other camera. They would last forever in that one, but not in this camera! You get about 50 shots and that's it. Basically this makes this camera completely USELESS for me. I have an online business that requires me to take many shots to weed out the best ones to use - and needless to say after going through 4 different sets of batteries within 15 minutes time after time has made me furious. I am going to return this camera today, garbage!!