Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot A20 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had a Powershot Elph S100 and although I liked the small size I wanted something with more accurate colors, less of a blue cast, and better battery usage. The A20 fits the bill.

The colors on the A20 are great. They are more saturated and a lot more accurate than the Elph. I will no longer have to go in and filter out any blue casting.

Low light capabilities are better than the Elph with the exception of focus. The A20 automatically adjusts to ISO 150 in low-light which is something I don't think the S100 did. I notice the background in regular and slow-sync to show much more detail at night on the A20. I have however noticed less accurate focusing in low-light than the Elph. Pictures also tend to be a little grainier at times perhaps due to the higher ISO in low-light.

The battery life is great. I am using the AA batteries supplied with the camera and I have taken over 150 shots and used the LCD half of the time and I still have not received a battery warning. The batteries however are listed as "Industrial" Alkaline which may mean they have a much longer life than regular AA batteries.

I do miss the size of the Elph, the fact it looked just like a regular Elph2 camera, the rugged metal body, the anti-glare film on the LCD (the A20 has none), and the slick look of it. However, the A20 produces better pictures, has a much better underwater case (goes to a depth of about 100ft), and will last much longer on four AA batteries than the Elph did on its ... proprietary battery.

Of course, for a smaller camera there is always the S300 however it still uses the proprietary battery and is ... more. Plus, it is still bigger than the S100 was. The image quality of the S300 however should be the same as the A20 except that the S300 will focus better in low-light due to a better focus-assist lamp.

This Digicam's awesome. I had mine for 1 week, and the pictures are better than one would expect from an entry level Digicam. I still can't believe this Cam can give me 7.5x pictures that are clear. Wow. But the 3x optical zoom is excellent by its own account.

There are just a few minuses. I can't manually set the shutter speed. Though there's a slow sync option, you can't really see the difference. The film coating for the LCD screen is not the top notch anti-reflect kind Canon has on the S series, which can be a pain in the behind if you shoot under the sun like me. Aside from that, very good Digicam.

But buying Digicam comes added cost... -

1) Viking 128MB Compact Flash Card. You'll need this for sure. At 1600x1200 @ SuperFine, you'll 140 pictures.

2) Lowepro D-Res 10 AW Digital Camera Bag. Got to trust me on this. Its the only bag you want your Digicam to be store in. Forget the overpriced Kodak and Canon bags, this baby has storage for 4 additional AAs, special pocket for additional Compact Flash Card, fits your Digicam like it's made to order, and enough cushion and padding to make throwing you Digicam out the window safe. Plus, there's a secret feature on the back if you get the chance to buy the bag.

3) Kodak Photolife K1000 AA Battery Charging Kit. AA batteries are way better than proprietary Canon Lithium batteries on the S series Digicams. And with a charger that juices the included batteries up in 2.5 Hrs flat, you just can't go wrong. Did I mentioned Kodak 1600 mAh NiMH batteries last forever between charges?

4) SanDisk Imagemate USB Compactflash Reader. This one's totally up to you...this baby can transfer your photos to your PC/Mac faster than from your Digicam, which will give the batteries and Digicam a rest.

I wanted a point and shoot camera to take on vacation, that was convenient and takes good quality pix--for both digital use and to print snapshots. The cannon A20 Delivers! Effortless picture taking, sharp quality pix, good colors and a flash that doesn't wash you out. I tested it out at my friends wedding earlier this month....
Now the caveats:
1. Factor in the cost of a 128mb memory card. That will take approx 128 pix on the highest setting 1600x1200 at superfine compression. I've found that this setting gives you nice 4x6 prints comparable to a film camera. ...
2. Battery life: the change battery signal will come up very quickly if using the display. However, THIS SEEMS TO BE MERELY A WARNING--DO NOT CHANGE THE BATTERIES. I've been able to power up again and again after the warning and take the rest of my pix on the memory card. I also invested in a 5hr nimh quick charger with a spare set of 4 AA batteries ....
(NOTE:camera will NOT take those lithium batteries, I called cannon and confirmed this)
3. When taking pictures, be very careful of camera shake. This camera is very sensative to this, especially if taking pix without flash in lower light conditions. Be careful or your picture will end up BLURRY. So take a deep breath, hold and snap! Ok, maybe holding your breath until you turn blue is a tad of an exaggeration--See what works for you. Most of my pix have turned out nice and sharp.
4. Using the viewfinder only, without the LCD display will show you only about 2/3 of the final pic. (It ends up with space all around.) So, contrary to everyone's posts here: Have fun with the display! Even if it is a battery hog! This is the best way to see the lighting conditions and actual appearance size of the final picture.

I have had my Canon A20 for about 6 months and I love it. I went from a 35mm EOS to this and have not regretted it a bit. One thing I didn't want was one of those digital cameras that say "ooh look at me, I'm digital.." I prefer taking great pictures without drawing a lot of attention to myself-- more candid and natural looking photos that way. It is small lightweight and incognito.

Before getting the camera I was concerned about image quality being up to snuff and with this camera it turns out not to be an issue. I never use it at its highest quality setting and I can not tell the difference between my digital photos (even enlarged as 8x10s from ofoto.com) and my non-digital photos! Any more than 2.1 mega-pixels would definitely be a waste of money-- both on the camera and on the memory required. Really, don't bother.

The best and the worst thing about this camera are one in the same: editing out unwanted photos on the fly. How awesome is it to just trash the loser photos along the way so you only end up with all excellent photos? That is probably why I'd say I take better pictures with this camera than I ever have before! The downside is that it takes a few more button presses to delete that bad photo than I'd prefer. But, having used Sony and Nikkon Digi-cams too, it's about the same on them all. I wonder why they're all like that?

Accessory musts:

Sandisk compact flash card reader [price]

64mb compact flash card [price](stores about 100 quality photos)

I've had the PowerShot A20 for about 8 weeks and have taken several hundred pictures with it of subjects ranging from single portraits, sporting events, macro stills and scenic panoramas. It's very comparable in size, weight and print quality to my point-shoot APS camera. But it's digital! ahhhh...

Pros:
ease of use - the entire family *likes* to use it; mode indicators are clear; menus aren't too deep
fast - even without locking the focus, the shutter is quick
imaging - skin tones are good; strong colors look good; white balance options are simple but effective;
optics - 3x optical zoom; good results in a variety of lighting
dimensions - about the same as my APS camera
AA batteries - you can find them anywhere
video out - immediately replay your latest photo-fest on TV

Cons:
flash - eats batteries; no hotshoe; weak red eye reduction
memory card - the included card is way too small
flimsy doors - the battery and CF doors don't inspire confidence

Recommendations:
read the manual; at least one 128MB CF; USB CF reader; at least 8 AA NIMH batteries; lowepro Z30 bag; and a bigger hard drive!

For printable snapshot work, the A20 is a keeper.

I bought the camera for my wife's b-day. She is a professional photographer and she has been interested in dabbling in digital photography. I didn't want to spend a lot of money just in case she was disappointed. We are also going to Europe shortly and I wanted a point and shoot camera that wasn't bulky and something that a novice, like myself, could use. At minimum, my wife wanted controls over exposure, white balance, and shutter speed.

After months of research I was down to 3 cameras - the Canon S110, A20 and a Sony DSC-P50. Since they all have received very good reviews it was really down to ergonomics and personal preference. ... My wife loved the A20 because if had excellent ergonomics with a grip on the right side and room on the left side for you fingers. The layout of the buttons on the A20 was also straight forward (as were the S110). All cameras had a solid feel to all of them. Personally, I would have chosen the S110. I love the size of the camera.

Overall a great camera that met my wifes expectations. We will be taking this camera to Europe and leaving the 35mm at home.

Strengths:

Ergonomics - the hand grip and locations of all the controls, lcd, and viewfinder remind my wife of a 35mm camera. The camera also has a build in lens cover when off. Size - not too small, not too big. It is smaller than our 35mm point-and-shoot camera.

Photo Quality - excellent excellent excellent. The colors and sharpness are better than I ever expected. Prints come out wonderful.

Features - for our purpose it has everything we need. It doesn't have a manual shutter control but that is ok. The auto shutter does a pretty good job. You can affect the shutter speed by placing the camera in manual mode and by using, or not using, the flash. I also appreciate the camera not having a "movie" mode. That is what a camcorder is for. I've seen "movies" made with digital camcorders and i don't find them useful or even viewable.

Shutter Lag or lack of - this puppy is quick. I pretty much treat this camera like a 35mm point and shoot. This is especially true when the shutter is pressed half way to first set the exposure and focus.

Uses AA batteries - this is how it should be (I think the Sony also allows for Lithium batteries). If I need batteries in an emergency I know I can easily find them almost anywhere. I bought a great charger (Maha C204F) and 1800mAH batteries.

Price - it can't be beat.

Menu Layout - the menus are easy to follow and have a simple hierarchy. I hate having to got through layers of menus to get to where I wanted to go.

Download speeds - very quick.

Weaknesses:

Compact Flash I only - doesn't allow the use of IBM's microdrive. However, a couple of 128MB CF cards have been more than enough for me

Flash - it could be more powerful but that could probably be said with all cameras that I've looked at.

LCD Screen - the size is fine but it is difficult to read in bright sunlight. I think the S110 has an advantage here.

Bottom line ... if you want a great point & shoot camera at a low price then you can't go wrong with this.

For the price, this is a very good camera for the casual photographer who mainly wants point-and-shoot ease, with a few adjustable features, and a mid-range zoom (3X optical - avoid the digital except for previews!). It's about the same size as a basic 35mm film camera, and I like the hand-hold ridge (although I'm glad I'm not a lefty!). It takes very attractive, clear, and accurately-colored shots IF there is sufficient light (either ambient or within its flash range): everything from scenic panoramas - the included software is easy and produces nice results on the computer - to macro-mode closeups (I recommend pulling back a couple inches, and using the zoom to narrow the view). HOWEVER, the flash range is naturally limited, and if there are deeply shadowed areas in the image, or not enough light in general for a wider-angle view, the picture comes out blotchy and grainy. The ISO comparison is only 100 up to about 150 with +2 exposure - I didn't realize just how limiting this would be when I purchased it.

The other main drawback is shutter speed, or lack thereof. Every digital camera has lag between pressing the button and finishing the image file, but be aware that many things add more delay to its focus time and shutter release, too, e.g. automatic focus (which is always on, except for subsequent shots in panoramic stitch-assist and _?_); red-eye reduction flash (which uses a pre-flash red light); and any flash slows down subsequent shots, for recharge time. All this makes it harder to capture a quick moment with sports, kids, animals, special occasions, etc., especially during the period of learning its timing. The "continuous shooting" mode helps, when you know such a moment is immanent, but it's still slow, especially when you need the flash.

My only problem with ease of use - the controls are mainly self-explanatory, and the manual clearly explains everything (even if it is rather scantily indexed) - is the "half-depressed" step of the shutter button, for getting the focus / focus-lock (signalled by the optional Beep) - I've had the camera for several "rolls"-worth of snapshots now and, too often, I still push the button all the way before I intend to.

Also, remember: You'll need to buy AT LEAST 64 Mb total of CompactFlash memory, to avoid running out, and 2 sets (8) rechargable batteries to "leapfrog" in use. (Lithium ones aren't compatible, by the way.) A USB card reader is also worth getting, so you don't have to connect the camera every time - unless you have a printer with a built-in CF slot(?).

Overall, if you mainly take still and/or scenic shots in good light, this is a nice, user-friendly, compact, relatively inexpensive option.

Oh, by the way, don't bother buying the closeup add-on lens - if I can clearly photograph a pair of earrings and hardly need to crop the image, what more would anybody want?

I looked for a digital camera primarily to use for emailing photos, taking photos to post to a web site, and for use in taking photos for online auctions. The last thing I was thinking of when I purchased this camera was just how exceptional a job it does of taking excellent photos that can be printed out as 4x6 photos. It does all of this better than I expected for the price.

I had looked at the similar Sony, Olympus, Nikon, and even the Canon Elph cameras, but came away with this one.

Aside from MPEGs, video or shots with sound, this camera does everything I have asked it to do. The extra bells and whistles of some of the other models were not required for the applications I am using.

The camera is small, very close to my compact 35mm camera, also very close in price. It has a good feel to it. It's built, as are all the Canons I am aware of with a plastic body. It is certainly durable enough. One comment left a star off because of durability. My thought on that is try dropping any digital camera and see what's left of it.

The Canon A20 incorporates an excellent flash, simple straight forward menu...yes, you will have to read the manual...,excellent download time, bare minimum photo editing software, as most of the others do. The viewfinder, again, as with other brands does not capture the full picture results, but that is a minor point. It fits great in the hands and acts like some of the compact 35mm I have owned, except that it takes better photos than any of my 35mm cameras. That was the surprise.

If you want a digital camera at what is very possibly the best price and value, and you want one for printing photos, general web usage, along with a Macro feature, and good zoom range, I have not seen a better camera. While you cannot control the shutter speed on this model, it does take superior photos in low light conditions without using the flash. This camera is sensitive, so...depending on what you plan to photograph and the conditions you will be taking pictures in, I recommend getting a decent tripod.

While this camera does go through alkaline batteries very quickly, it certainly does not do so as fast as other models I have used, but you will want to get the NiMh batteries (two sets), along with the charger, also a larger memory card. Toss in your choice of photo editing software and you are off to the races.

I have not used all of the cameras in the 2.1 megapixel range, but for the price, the funtions, and the quality of the photos, I don't think that for my use there would be any point to look further. This is truly an outstanding product.

Saw the ad, checked it out on dpreview.com, bought it. Took less than an hour to set it up, take 35 pictures, install the software, download the pictures. Took pictures that were supposed to be the camera's weak points - low light indoor pictures (poor focus) and some at max flash distance (~12 feet). Everything came out perfectly. Love the focus, the flash, the speed to focus and the lack of delay once you push the button to actually snap the picture. Simple to use yet it produces amazing results. Plenty of advanced features should you decide to use them. The included Photo Stitch software allows you to stitch multiple exposures into a panorama view. Minor limitations: only supports USB downloads (no RS232 or firewire), all photos stored in JPEG format (does have choice of 3 compressions - normal, fine, superfine) and finally the zoom lacks fine control in that it always zooms further than I'd like. All in all a terrific value!

I have experimented with several digital cameras. I have been using a Nikon 990 for the past several months, but it wasnt mine, so I decided that it was time to buy my own. After endless hours of reviewing, I purchased this camera. I am so happy I decided to perform such an extensive review! This camera takes photos highly comparable to the Nikon! This camera is easy to use, and comes equipt only with (in my mind) the essential options. This camera gets all thumbs up. Some have claimed that it is a battery hog, but thats because these people obviously have not used other digital cameras; they all are battery hogs! Do not even think that of not buying rechargeable batteries (2 sets), and youll have no worries about running out of juice. I cant even say "for the price its the best"; it just simply is one of the best!