Canon Powershot A430 Review

By: Steve's Digicams


Canon Powershot A430

Review posted 3/27/2006



Click to take a QTVR tour of the A430


The PowerShot A430 digital camera is geared towards the entry-level photographer, it's functional as well as intuitive for a beginning photographer. The A430 features a 4.0 megapixel CCD image sensor, 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 39-156mm (35mm film equivalent), 1.8-inch LCD screen, continuous shooting up to 2.3 fps, and a new widescreen 16:9 ratio setting facilitates creating panoramic-style prints.

The PowerShot A430 digital camera comes equipped with eight Special Scene modes, including Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach and Fireworks and five Photo Effect modes, including Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Sepia, and Black & White. What's more, the PowerShot A430 digital camera is capable of recording VGA movies with sound for those times when a still picture just won't properly record the moment.

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 A430 digital camera uses only two AA batteries, yet captures up to 360 shots according to CIPA standards with the LCD screen on when using rechargeable NiMH batteries.

The PowerShot A430 has many of the latest advances in Canon technology including the proprietary DIGIC II imaging processor. The processor enhances picture definition, vibrancy and quality, while helping increase the speed of the cameras' startup, autofocus, shutter response, playback and image processing speed and reducing power consumption by 35% compared to the original DIGIC chip.

Like all PowerShot digital cameras, the A430 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 A430 Features:

  • 4.0 Megapixel CCD imager and 4x optical zoom lens
  • Widescreen option, create images and movies that are ideal for 16:9 viewing
  • 1.8" 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 up to 1 hour (1GB max per clip)
  • Continuous shooting at 2.3 fps 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
  • Photo Effects: Low Sharpening, Vivid Color, Neutral, Sepia and B&W
  • Shutter speeds of 1 to 1/2000 second
  • Selectable ISO settings from 64 to 400
  • Runs on two standard AA type batteries
  • Direct print and PictBridge Compliant
  • High-speed USB 2.0 connectivity for PC and Mac
  • Secure Digital/MMC card storage, 16MB MMC supplied


The PowerShot A430 Kit includes the Digital Camera Solution Disk (CD-ROM), Interface Cable IFC-400PCU, AV Cable AVC-DC300, Wrist Strap WS-800, two AA alkaline batteries, and a multimedia card MMC-16M. The PowerShot A430 will be available in March for an estimated price of $179.99.





Physical Views



Canon Powershot A430

Canon Powershot A430

Canon Powershot A430Canon Powershot A430

Canon Powershot A430

Canon Powershot A430





Canon Powershot A430

The A430 compared to a standard CD disc.





Canon Powershot A430

The Powershot A430 and the 5-megapixel Powershot A530





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Features & Controls


PowerShot A430 Specifications

Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 4.0 million
Image Sensor 1/3-inch type CCD
(Total number of pixels: Approx 4.2 million)
Lens

5.4 (W) - 21.6 (T) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 39 - 156 mm)
f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
Digital Zoom Approx. 3.6x (Up to approx. 14x in combination with the optical zoom)
Optical Viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 1.8-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 118,000 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) (0.4 in. - 2.0 in) (W)
Infinity: 3.0 m (9.8 ft.) - infinity
Shutter Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds
1 - 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 64/100/200/400 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 (11.8 in. - 1.5 ft.) (W/T)
(When ISO speed is set to AUTO.)
Shooting Modes
Still images: Auto, Manual, Super macro*1, Color Accent*1, Color Swap*1, Special Scene*2, Stitch assist*1
Movies: Standard, Compact, Color Accent, Color Swap
*1 Selectable in Manual mode
*2 Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks
Continuous Shooting Approx. 2.3 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, MultiMediaCard
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: 2272 x 1704 pixels
Middle 1: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Middle 2: 1024 x 768 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Wide: 2272 x 1280 pixels
Postcard Date Imprint Mode: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Number of recording pixels (Movies)
Standard, Color Accent, Color Swap:
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 103 x 51.8 x 40.2 mm (4.06 x 2.04 x 1.58 in.)
(excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 160 g (5.64 oz.) (camera body only)
(Specifications as represented by the manufacturer)




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Features & Controls





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