Canon Powershot A520 Review

When you select Playback mode the last picture taken is displayed. You can move backward or forward through the images using the LEFT and RIGHT buttons. The amount of overlay information displayed is controlled by pressing the DISP button. Information across the bottom is 17/45 which means image 17 of 45 total. A "key" icon means the image is protected. The "musical note" icon indicates that a voice memo has been attached. SuperFine/Large image quality and the time and date it was captured.

Pressing the DISPlay button displays the histogram and extended image information to indicate shutter speed, aperture, capture mode, flash mode, exposure compensation, white balance, ISO speed and metering.

If you press the DISP button again all of the overlay information is removed. This is good for when you are showing the pictures on the TV and don't want the info displayed.

You can quickly search through stored images using the Index playback function which is actuated by pressing the Wide zoom control button. Nine thumbnail size images will be displayed and you can select one using the LEFT or RIGHT buttons and then pressing the Telephoto zoom button. Pressing the Wide button again will put you in jump mode where you can backward or forward a page at a time.

The image can be magnified up to 10x in ten steps by pressing the telephoto zoom button. Once the image is enlarged at any step, you can move around inside of it using the 4-way selector buttons.

Movie clips can be played in the camera with audio thanks to the built-in speaker. Here is the full info screen shown before playing a movie clip.

You get "VCR-like" buttons to control the playback of movie clips.

You can also shorten (edit the length) a movie clip.

Pressing the MENU button brings up this page of options. Protect or unprotect image(s), rotate portrait mode image for display on TV, Sound Memo will let you attach up to a 60 sec voice "note" with an image, Erase all will delete ALL the images, Auto Play is for automated playback on a TV, Print Order lets you set the DPOF printing information, and Transfer Order lets you select the order from which the images are transferred to your computer.

For proper display on a TV screen you use the Rotate option on any pictures that you have taken in portrait (vertical) mode.

The Sound Memo options lets you record memos or notes up to 60 seconds in length which are attached to still images. You can overwrite or delete previous memos.

The Setup sub-menu lets you to turn the Beep sounds on/off, adjust the volume of several functions, enable the Auto Power Down option (off, on), set the time and date in the internal clock, format the SD card, reset the file numbering, set auto rotate (on or off), set the distance unit (m/ft), set the menu language, and specify the video out format (NTSC or PAL).

The MyCamera sub-menu lets you customize the startup and shutdown screens and the camera's sound effects. When you install the included software you will find a wealth of themes, startup screens and sounds to choose from our custom build your own.