Canon Powershot A460 Digital Camera

Product Report for the Canon Powershot A460 Digital Camera

Rating:

Price*: $98.00

Introduction: The Canon Powershot A460 is a simple digital camera as you can probably guess from the entry level price. Although it comes in a small package, the A460 does feature a substantial 5-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, and both automatic and manual exposure modes. It's real convenient for travel, slim enough to fit in your pocket and taking 2 AA batteries as opposed to a proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable. The A460 also comes in some cool colors. Just pick the one that's best for you. Although there are certainly lots of cameras in trhe marketplace that come with more features, you can't go very wrong by investing in this entry level camera.

Product Features

5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
4x optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display
16:9 Widescreen mode for full-screen viewing on widescreen TVs and computer monitors
DIGIC II Image Processor with iSAPS Technology for superior image quality, fast operation, and low power consumption.
Stores images on SD, SDHC, or MMC memory cards (16MB MMC card included); powered by 2 AA-size batteries (2 alkaline batteries included)

Technical Details:

Sensor size: 1/3 inches
Total pixels: 5.3 megapixels (approximate)
Effective pixels: 5.0 megapixels (approximate)
Focal length: 5.8-21.6mm f/2.8-5.8 (35mm film equivalent: 38-152mm)
Digital zoom: 4x
Focusing range: Normal: 1.5 feet-infinity; Macro: 2 inches - 1.5 feet (WIDE), 9.8 inches - 1.5 feet (TELE); SuperMacro: 0.39-2.0 in./1-5cm (WIDE)
Autofocus system: TTL Autofocus
Optical viewfinder: Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
LCD monitor: 2-inch TFT color LCD
LCD pixels: 86,000 (approximate)
LCD coverage: 100 percent
Max aperture: f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
Shutter speed: 15 - 1/2000 seconds
Sensitivity: Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400 equivalent 0.39-2.0 in./1-5cm (WIDE)
Light metering method: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot
Exposure control method: Program AE
Exposure compensation: +/-2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
White balance control: Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Flourescent, Flourescent H), Custom
Built-in flash: Auto, Auto w/ Red-Eye Reduction, Auto w/ Slow Synchro, Flash On, Flash On w/ Red-Eye Reduction, Flash On w/ Slow Synchro, Flash Off
Flash range: Normal: 1.5-9.8 ft./47cm-3.0m (W), 1.5-6.6 ft./47cm-2.0m (T); Macro: 1.0-1.5 ft./30-47cm (W/T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto)
Recycling time: 10 seconds or less
Shooting modes: Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor, Kids and Pets, Night Snapshot), Super Macro, Movie
My Colors: Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black and White, Custom
Self-timer: Activates shutter after an approx. 2-sec./10-sec. delay, Custom
Continuous shooting: Approximately 1.5 fps
Storage media: SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
File format: Design rule for camera file system, DPOF version 1.1
Image compression: Still image: Exif 2.2 (JPEG); Movie: AVI (Image: Motion JPEG)
Image quality: Normal, Fine, SuperFine
Number of recording pixels: Still Image: 640 x 480 (Small), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 2), 2,048 x 1,536 (Medium 1), 2,592 x 1,944 (Large), 2,592 x 1,456 (Widescreen); Movie: 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (10 fps/30 fps) available up to 1GB or 60 minutes, 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps)
Playback modes: Still image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Rotate, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Auto Play, Resume; Movie: Normal Playback, Special Playback
Erase modes: Still image: single image, all images; Movie: part of movie, all of movie
Computer interface: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B jack)
Video out: NTSC/PAL
Audio out: Mono
Other: Memory card slot; direct connection to Canon CP and SELPHY compact photo printers, PIXMA photo printers and PictBridge-compatible printers via USB
Power source: AA alkaline battery (x2), Rechargeable AA NiMH battery (x2), AC adapter kit (ACK800)
Shooting capacity: Still image: 120 shots (Alkaline battery, LCD screen on, approximate), 400 shots (NiMH battery, approximate)
Playback time: 540 minutes (Alkaline battery, approximate), 660 minutes (NiMH battery, approximate)
Operating temperature: 32 - 104 degrees F, 0 - 40 degrees C
Operating humidity: 10 - 90 percent
Dimensions (W x H x D): 4.17 x 2.04 x 1.58 inches
Weight: 5.82 ounces
What's in the box: PowerShot A460 body, AA Alkaline battery (x2), MultiMediaCard (16MB), wrist strap, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB interface cable, A/V cable

Overview:

In this price range, very few camera models are worth taking a 2nd look at. But regardless of price, you want a camera that can handle most basic photographic situations and deliver good 4x6 and 5x7 inch prints. The Canon PowerShot A460 can deliver on all counts.

This simplified 5-megapixel digicam has really only one extra feature compared to other low price cameras, which is a 4x zoom, just a little more than the average 3x digicam. Equivalent to a 38 to 152mm zoom, it comes in handy when you want to get just a little closer to your subject. Other than that, the camera represents what was hot about two or three years ago. There's nothing wrong with that though. Cameras were pretty good two or three years ago just like the A460 is today.

Customer Comments:

I'll only mention things that I didn't pick up or remember from the other reviews I've read. I also own a 4.0MP Canon A520, so it was easy to choose the same great zoom lens. The A460 does not have the auto-rotate feature to save photos in the appropriate portrait or landscape modes. The battery and SD card are accessed through a common door, which doesn't have quite the snap and tight fit of the A520's smaller separate doors. The handshake symbol also tends to show up often when taking indoor pictures with the flash disabled - something I don't even think about with the A520. The zoom buttons were actually more intuitive to use than I expected. But I do prefer the SET button in the center of the joypad on the A520, as I tend to forget to reach down and to the left for the SET button on the A460.But I'm nit-picking here. Otherwise, it's a great point-and-shoot camera, with a great zoom lens, and at a great price. W. Chin in New Hampshire

Canon without a doubt the leader in digital cameras. The title really says it all. This was a gift for my 14 year old daughter for her birthday and I bought it because of the beautiful pictures our old Canon still takes. It is simple to use and has all the features that makes life easy for my girl. Now to try and find a way to have her stop posting so many pictures on the web. Thomas M. Grosso in Sandwich, MA

This is actually a replacement for one that I dropped in a river. I liked it enough to get an identical one. It is an inexpensive camera useful for activities (like river kayaking) that expose it to damage. A lot of cameras are leaving off the viewfinder. I find that with it, I can compose pictures better, especially in bright light, saves on battery power and is ready sooner after powering up (which also saves on batteries). If it were more water resistant, it would get the extra star. John F. Monahan in Chicago

Website:Canon Powershot A460 Digital Camera

*Electronic products do have occasional price fluctuations so the above price may have changed slightly since this product report was created.

Current Listings on Ebay for the Canon Powershot A460 Digital Camera