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Canon Powershot A560 Review

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Canon Powershot A560

Review posted 4/6/2007


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Canon Powershot A560
Click to take a QTVR tour of the A560


The 7.1 megapixel PowerShot A560 includes nearly all of the imaging advances of the PowerShot A570 IS digital camera. Like its image stabilized A-series sibling, the A560 digital camera features a smooth 4x (35mm-140mm equivalent) zoom lens and a bright 2.5-inch LCD screen. Its comfortable construction and large handgrip secure the camera firmly into the user's hand, while its automatic, intuitive features make it a snap to use under virtually any shooting conditions. Users can also capture great photos in often difficult low- light circumstances, due in large part to the pairing of the camera's fast (f/2.6 - f/5.5) lens, it's top-end high sensitivity settings (as high as ISO 1600) and of course, the high-performance DIGIC III image processor.

Formidable yet user-friendly, the PowerShot A560 maintains the high quality and high affordability factors that PowerShot A-Series cameras have come to represent. The A560 accommodates MultiMedia MMC memory cards as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high capacity SDHC memory cards.

Like all PowerShot digital cameras, these newest additions to the A-series work seamlessly with Canon's petite compact photo printers to deliver stunning high quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer -- such as the SELPHY CP730 or PIXMA mini260 models. Press the bright blue Print/Share button, and within moments2, a brilliant, borderless 4x6-inch print begins to emerge. It is that simple. Canon's compact Photo Printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.

As one of Microsoft's Premier Launch Partners, Canon is proud to announce that all PowerShot cameras announced in 2007 are Certified for Windows Vista according to Microsoft standards, without any extra downloads or upgrades. Additionally, all current models are fully compatible with other operating systems including Windows XP and Mac OS X (Versions 10.2 - 10.4).


Powershot A560 Features:

  • 7.1 Megapixel CCD imager for up to poster size prints
  • 4x optical 35-140mm f/2.6-5.5 zoom, 4x digital zoom
  • 2.5" color LCD with up to 10x playback zoom
  • Advanced TTL AiAF 9-point autofocus system
  • Canon's new Face Detection AF/AE/FE technology
  • Auto, Manual, and 11 Pre-programmed creative scene modes for beginners
  • Movie mode w/sound, 640x480 / 320x240 up to 4GB, 160x120 up to 3 minutes
  • 1.7fps Continuous burst capture of Large/Fine images
  • Evaluative metering on focus point, Center-weighted or Spot options
  • Stitch Assist mode for perfect panoramas
  • Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments
  • White Balance: Auto, 5 presets or Custom
  • Orientation sensor that automatically detects vertical or horizontal shooting
  • Low-light focus assist illuminator
  • Light-guide zoom flash, angle changes with focal length
  • Optional High-Power Flash HF-DC1
  • Shutter speeds of 15 seconds to 1/2000 second
  • Selectable ISO settings from 80 to 1600
  • Voice memo (up to 60 secs) can be attached to images
  • Built-in microphone and speaker
  • Powered by two standard AA type batteries
  • Direct print and PictBridge Compatible
  • USB 2.0 high speed connectivity for PC and Mac
  • Secure Digital/SDHC memory cards, 16MB supplied


In stores now, the camera includes two standard AA alkaline batteries, a 16MB MMC memory card, a USB interface cable, an AV cable, a wrist strap, and Canon's software suite at an estimated selling price of US$229.99 -

Physical Views



Canon Powershot A560

Canon Powershot A560

Canon Powershot A560 Canon Powershot A560

Canon Powershot A560

Canon Powershot A560





Canon Powershot A560

The A560 compared to an average CD disc.





Canon Powershot A560

The Powershot A560 and the Olympus FE-210.





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Features & Controls


Powershot A560 Specifications
Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 7.1 million
Image Sensor 1/2.5-inch CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 7.4 million)
Lens

5.8 (W) - 23.2 (T)mm (35mm film equivalent: 35 - 140mm)
f/2.6 (W) - f/5.5 (T)
Digital Zoom Approx. 4x
Optical Viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 2.5-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 115,000 pixels
AF System TTL autofocus
Focus lock and Manual focus are available
9-point AiAF/1-point AF (fixed to center)
Shooting Distance (from the front of the lens)
Normal AF 45cm (1.5ft.) - infinity
Macro AF 5 - 45cm (2.0in. - 1.5ft.) (W)/
33 - 45cm (1.1 - 1.5ft.) (T)
Shutter Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds
15 - 1/2000 sec.
The shutter speed varies according to the shooting modes.
Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.
Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (Center)
Exposure Control System Program AE, AE lock available
Exposure Compensation ± 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
Sensitivity Auto*, High ISO Auto*, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent
* Camera automatically sets the optimal speed.
White Balance Auto, pre-set (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or 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 45cm - 3.5m (1.5ft. - 11ft.) (W)
45cm - 2.2m (1.5ft. - 7.2ft.) (T)
Macro 30 - 45cm (1.0 - 1.5ft.) (W), 33 - 45cm (1.1 - 1.5ft.) (T)
when ISO speed set to Auto
Shooting Modes
Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene (Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium) Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Movie
Continuous Shooting
Approx. 1.7 shots/sec.
Self-timer Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./2-sec. delay. Can be set using the custom settings.
Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
File Format Design rule for camera file system, DPOF Version 1.1
Data Type
Still images Exif 2.2 (JPEG)*1
Movies AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))
Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording Pixels
Still images
Large: 3072x2304 pixels
Widescreen: 3072x1728 pixels
Medium 1: 2592x1944 pixels
Medium 2: 2048x1536 pixels
Medium 3: 1600x1200 pixels
Small: 640x480 pixels
Movies
640x480/320x240 pixels, 30/15 frames/sec. (max. 4GB)
320x240 pixels, 60 frames/sec. (max. 1 min.)
160x120 pixels, 15 frames/sec. (approx. 3 min.)
The data in parentheses refer to the maximum movie length per shooting.
Playback Modes Still Image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Auto Play, Red-Eye Correction Movie: Normal Playback, Special Playback
Direct Print Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible, and PictBridge compliant
Erase Modes Still Image: single image, by date, by folder, all images Movie: part of movie, all of movie
Interface USB 2.0 high speed (mini-B jack, PTP [Picture Transfer Protocol])
Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Other:Memory card slot; direct connection to Canon CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers, PIXMA Photo Printers and PictBridge-compatible printers via camera's USB 2.0 Hi-Speed cable
Power Source
2 AA-size alkaline batteries (included in the camera kit)
approx. 140 shots/540 min. continuous playback with alkaline batteries
2 AA-size rechargeable NiMH batteries (sold separately)
approx. 500 shots/660 min. continuous playback using NiMH batteries
AC Adapter Kit ACK800 (sold separately)
Operating Temperature 0 - 40 degrees C (32 - 104 degrees F)
Operating Humidity 10 - 90%
Dimensions 3.59 x 2.52 x 1.70 in. / 91.2 x 64.0 x 43.1mm (excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 165g (5.82 oz.) (camera body only)
Specifications as represented by the Manufacter



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