Canon Powershot A460 Review

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Canon Powershot A460

Review posted 2/20/2007


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Canon Powershot A460
Click to take a QTVR tour of the A460


The new PowerShot A460 digital camera features 5.0-megapixels of resolution with a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2.0-inch LCD screen, up from 4.0 megapixels and a 1.8-inch LCD screen on last year's PowerShot A430. This new model also incorporates Canon's renowned DIGIC II image processor, which delivers superb image quality, fast performance, and excellent battery life. Additional features include an optical viewfinder and compatibility with MMC, SD and SDHC memory cards.

The PowerShot A460 digital camera comes equipped with eight Special Scene modes, including Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor, Kids & Pets, and Night Snapshot. The My Colors functions offers "cool" photo effect, including Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, and Black & White and Custom color modes. What's more, the PowerShot A460 is capable of recording VGA movies with sound for those times when a still picture simply can't capture the moment.

The PowerShot A460 can deliver high-resolution images without requiring users to exert additional effort. The A460 uses Canon's AiAF "Smart" autofocus system with Canon's patented iSAPS intelligent scene analysis algorithm to determine optimum settings for focusing, exposure and white balance. The user simply snaps the shot with the push of a button.

Named for their use of AA batteries, Canon's A-series digital cameras offer easy-to-use, high quality features to consumers looking to capture, save and share meaningful memories, personal milestones and family functions. The PowerShot A460 uses only two AA batteries, yet captures up to 400 shots according to CIPA standards with the LCD screen on when using rechargeable NiMH batteries.

Like all PowerShot digital cameras, the A460 works seamlessly with Canon's petite SELPHY Compact Photo Printers such as the SELPHY CP510, CP710 and CP600 models - press the lighted Print/Share button, and within 58 seconds, images emerge. At 28 cents-per-print, printing photos directly from a digital camera is both easy and affordable.


Powershot A460 Features:

  • 5.0 Megapixel CCD imager and 4x optical zoom lens
  • Widescreen option, create images and movies that are ideal for 16:9 viewing
  • 2.0" color LCD display and optical viewfinder
  • Advanced TTL AiAF 9-point autofocus system with focus-assist lamp
  • Program AE automatic, 8 Scene and a Manual exposure mode
  • Movie mode w/sound 640x480/320x240 (1GB max per clip)
  • Continuous shooting at 1.5fps to the capacity of the memory card
  • Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot metering
  • Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments
  • White Balance: Auto, 5 presets or Custom
  • My Colors: Vivid Color, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, and Custom color
  • Shutter speeds of 15 to 1/2000 second
  • Selectable ISO settings from 80 to 400
  • Runs on two standard AA type batteries
  • Direct print and PictBridge Compliant
  • USB 2.0 connectivity for PC and Mac
  • Secure Digital/MMC card storage, 16MB MMC supplied


The PowerShot A460 digital camera will be available mid-February and will carry and estimated selling price of US$149.99. The digital camera kit includes a USB cable, an audio/video cable, a wrist strap, a 16MB MultiMediaCard and AA-size alkaline batteries as well as the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disc Version 30, featuring the latest versions of Canon's powerful software.

Physical Views



Canon Powershot A460

Canon Powershot A460

Canon Powershot A460 Canon Powershot A460

Canon Powershot A460

Canon Powershot A460





Canon Powershot A460

The A460 compared to a standard CD disc.





Canon Powershot A460

The 7-megapixel Powershot A550 and the 5-megapixel Powershot A460.





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Features & Controls


PowerShot A460 Specifications

Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 5.0 million
Image Sensor 1/3.0-inch type CCD
(Total number of pixels: Approx 5.3 million)
Lens

5.4 (W) - 21.6 (T) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 38 - 152 mm)
f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
Digital Zoom Approx. 4x
Optical Viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 2.0-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 86,000 pixels (Picture coverage 100%)
AF System TTL autofocus
Focusing frame: 9-point AiAF/1-point AF (fixed to center)
Shooting Distance
(From the front of the lens)
Normal: 47 cm (1.5 ft.) - infinity
Macro: 5 - 47 cm (W)/25 - 47 cm (T)
(2.0 in. - 1.5 ft. (W)/9.8 in. - 1.5 ft. (T))
Super Macro: 1 - 5 cm (W) (0.39 in. - 2.0 in) (W)
Shutter Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds
15 - 1/2000 sec.
The shutter speed varies according to the shooting mode. Slow shutter speeds of 1/6 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.
Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (fixed to center)
Exposure Compensation ±2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments
ISO Speed Auto*, ISO 80/100/200/400 equivalent
* Camera automatically sets the optimal speed.
White Balance Auto, pre-set (available settings: Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or custom
Built-in Flash Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, slow synchro
Flash Range
Normal: 47 cm - 3.0 m (W)/47 cm - 2.0 m (T) (1.5 - 9.8 ft. (W)/1.5 - 6.6 ft. (T))
Macro: 30 - 47 cm (1.0 - 1.5 ft.) (W/T)
(When ISO speed is set to AUTO.)
Shooting Modes
Still images: Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Super Macro
Movies: Standard, Compact
Continuous Shooting Approx. 1.5 shots/sec. (Large/Fine mode)
Self-timer Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay, Custom Timer
Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, Multimedia Card
This camera tested with cards up to 2GB
File Format Design rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Data Type
Still images: Exif 2.2 (JPEG)*1
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG,
Audio data : WAVE (monoraul))
Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording Pixels (Still Images)
Large: 2592 x 1944 pixels
Middle 1: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Middle 2: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Widescreen: 2592 x 1456 pixels
Postcard Date Imprint Mode: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Number of recording pixels (Movies)
Standard:
640 x 480 pixels (10 frames/sec.)
320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.)
Recording can continue until card is full
Max. clip size at one time is 1GB
Compact: (can record for 3 min.)
160 x 120 pixels (15 frames/sec.)
Max. Clip Length at one time: 3 minutes
Playback Modes Single, Index (9 thumbnail images),
Magnified (approx. 10x (max.) in LCD monitor,
Auto Play or Movie.
Direct Print PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible
Interface USB (mini-B)
PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol)
Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Power Source
1. Two AA alkaline batteries (included in the camera kit)
2. Two AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (NB-3AH) (sold separately)
3. AC Adapter Kit ACK800 (sold separately)
Operating Temperature 0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Operating Humidity 10 - 90 %
Dimensions 106 x 51.8 x 40.2 mm (4.17 x 2.04 x 1.58 in.)
(excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 165 g (5.82 oz.) (camera body only)
(Specifications as represented by the manufacturer)




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