Canon A800 10.0 Megapixel Simple and Easy Reviews Roundup
On January 5 2010, Canon announced four new PowerShot A series cameras: the A3100 IS and A495, and the A3000 IS and A495. They're the first cameras announced that support the high capacity SDXC memory cards, supporting up to 2 terabytes of pictures (theoretically, until such a high memory card is available in the market).
For the value-conscious consumer, the PowerShot A800 will offer a 10-Megapixel CCD sensor in addition to 19 Smart AUTO scene modes, a 3.3x Optical Zoom with a 37-112mm equivalent lens, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, AA battery-powered, and 16 shooting modes including FaceSelf-Timer. The PowerShot A800 is scheduled to be available in mid-February for an estimated selling price of $89.99.
Canon Powershot A800 Sample Photos on Flickr
Canon Powershot A800 Camera Reviews Roundup
| CNET US: "Given that the A800 has the same lens, sensor, and image processor as last year's A495, I expected the photo quality to be the same--and it is. The camera produces excellent automatic snapshots for the money and actually does better than some more expensive models. As with many inexpensive cameras, it produces the best results below ISO 200, sharp with plenty of fine detail. But even at ISO 800, noise and noise supp..." - Dec 15 2011 More » | |
| TechRadar: "Canon needs to pull some rabbits out of hats to stand out at the budget end of the market, and a big selling point of the PowerShot A800 is the Smart Auto mode. Canon claims to have integrated 19 common shooting scenarios into the camera, so it can recognise what you're shooting and adjust its settings accordingly. The Scene Modes come in handy too, once you've figured out where they are, and include Blur Reduc..." - Jul 12 2011 More » | |
| CNET UK: "There are a couple of bonus features. There's a histogram available in playback mode, for example, as well as a face-detection feature while you're shooting. The camera's video capabilities are roughly what you'd expect from a budget device. Short clips of standard-definition, 480p footage can be captured, but the picture and sound quality aren't great. The A800's photo performance, on the other hand, is w..." - May 24 2011 More » | |
| Photography BLOG: "Apart from a few new shooting modes and a questionable cosmetic overhaul that actually makes the camera slightly more difficult to use, it's difficult to see just what Canon have added to the new Powershot A800 to justify its release. The biggest improvements are the doubling in battery life, now up to around 300 shots, and a significant reduction in price to well below the £100 / $100 point. The removal of th..." - Apr 30 2011 More » | |
| Camera Labs: "Overall, the PowerShot A800 has done a great job of capturing our test scene. The exposure is spot on, colours are bright and well saturated and there is good tonal detail in the shadows and highlights. Looking at the whole image on screen at less than 100 percent view the image is crisp, clear and well detailed. Compared with the results from the more expensive, 12.1 Megapixel PowerShot A1200, the PowerShot A800's..." - Apr 24 2011 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "The A800 is perfectly capable of taking good, detailed images with colours accurately reproduced, although on occasion it did underexpose in bright situations. Infact, if you want to take a picture with the sun in the frame then the chances of a successful image are quite low. The camera is quick to focus although if using the flash the time between shots can be a few seconds as the flash takes a little time to char..." - Mar 24 2011 More » |
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User Review of the camera - Canon Powershot A800
Christmas gift for my boyfriend, puzzler
This camera works pretty well, especially for the price! I bought it for my boyfriend, and he likes it too. Of course, he never uses it as he is a minimalist, but he says it works fine. I've used it a couple times and I am happy with the purchase.
Finally, a camera I can use, Martha B. Wallisch
Got this camera to carry around and take good shots. My husband had gotten me an expensive, heavy camera that takes wonderful photos, but I could never figure it out. this solves that problem. Easy to use, fits in purse, takes regular batteries. Highly recommend.
Neat little Camera, QIYAMAH MILLER
I'm able to take very nice pics with this camera, indoors & outdoors. This is a nice and inexpensive camera.
A Good Camera, Orpheus Alexandre Grover "Movie buff"
This is not the first Canon Powershot digital camera I have owned. They are simple to use and versatile enough to handle most of my photographic needs. But then I am not a professional photographer either. If you are a Professional photographer, this is not the camera for you, for your grandchildren, perhaps. The settings are very easy to deal with and the photos seem to almost always come out with great color and detail. Also it is small enough to pop into a pocket and take with you anywhere.
Compact, RKG
The size is really great for the compact size but the one I got was defective. . . . .
Very disappointing, Mikatoga "Mikatoga"
I've been a Canon camera guy for over 30 years and I've loved the many cameras I've bought and the excellent service I've always received from Canon. Sadly, my wife bought this camera to take on her trip to Italy and it failed after only a few dozen pictures. The camera turned off and the lens would not retract. Nothing would correct this (yes, she put in new batteries). On her return, we returned it to Amazon who gave her a prompt refund. Perhaps it was just a dud (every product has one or two), but how sad that she couldn't have photos of her visit to Italy.
Great, Benjamin P. Willett
Great seller and I would order again from same seller.
Camera works great and was delivered in a speedy fashion.
Simple workhorse for our needs, Joanne M. Hughes
I doubt I would pick this camera for my personal use, but I'm currently using it at work (a veterinary hospital) to capture ID photos of pets for their medical charts. As you can imagine, the less shutter delay, the better...Fido and Fluffy are not fans of holding still. I like that it runs on simple AA batteries, because then I don't have to crab at the staff for leaving it off the charger. The only downside is that the batteries will run down completely overnight if the camera is left plugged into a computer. (I guess this prevents it from sleeping).
I love it, Gregory W. Bryant "Publisher/author"
This a very good camera for the price. It takes good pictures and you can also do video from it. I am enjoying this little camera.
Canon Camera, J. B. Steptoe
I returned this camera, because it did not work. The memory card could not be removed.I sent it back twice, and still could not remove it.
Beginner's impressions, with follow-up, MCS Shopper
November 25, 2012 follow-up: I wrote the following in September after first getting this camera. After having more time to use it, I'm raising my rating to five stars because I like it so much. I still wish it came with easier software and instructions, but that has become less important to me.
This is the first digital camera I've used, I've only been using it for a couple of weeks, and I didn't know what to expect from a $90 camera (I later noticed Amazon also offers it in black for $75). It seems a very good camera, but the non-intuitive software and often-confusing user guides make me give three stars instead of five. I write this for other beginners out there:
Pros: It's very easy to use on "Auto" setting, and pictures look surprisingly clear and good even under different light conditions.
I like having other options besides "Auto". So far "portrait" and "foliage" have worked as they should. I haven't tried others enough yet to tell.
I like that it has a "P" (Program) mode that allows you to make a few changes to the aperture value (exposure compensation), shutter speed, pixel setting and compression ratio, etc.--in case I get more ambitious.
I like being able to take black and white or sepia photos by simply selecting to.
The video feature works very well, and I like being able to use the software to select individual frames to make into photos.
The batteries that came with the camera yielded about 60 photos (including lots of flashes) and lots of turning the camera on and off and experimenting with settings.
I like the size--not too small to handle easily, big enough to feel solid in my hands. I think the buttons might be hard for bigger hands, though.
I've had no problem at all with blurred photos (on Auto setting), even though my hands aren't always that steady when I'm taking a picture in a hurry.
Customer service techs are easy to reach, courteous and smart.
Cons: The software seems too complicated (and I'm good at figuring things out). Even the customer service techs had trouble navigating it, though they were very knowledgeable about camera and printer matters.
The online user guides for both the camera and the software could explain things more clearly and thoroughly. They're short on words, and many pages refer you to other pages. Also, I think I'd rather have less options and less ways to do the same thing. And I still haven't figured out how to sort my photos into folders and retrieve them easily.
The soft plastic cover over the terminal where you connect the camera to your computer doesn't feel securely connected. Maybe it's OK, but I have a feeling it's going to fall out long before the camera dies.
I didn't realize I'd need to buy a memory card separately. This may be standard practice, but I think some digital cameras do come with a 2G memory card to get you started.
I haven't tried the video function yet.
In case other beginner's run into this problem (not unique to this camera): my photos printed out very faded until I figured out that I needed to select "print without borders". Or, when printing through Windows Vista with a Canon iP2600 I had to uncheck "borderless". (The sequence is Print, Properties, Page Setup, then look for the box next to "borderless" and make sure it's not checked.) I don't know yet how this will affect text printing.
I'm glad I bought this camera, and maybe I'll raise my rating after I've used it for awhile.
Beginner's impressions, MCS Shopper
This is the first digital camera I've used, I've only been using it for a couple of weeks, and I didn't know what to expect from a $90 camera (I later noticed Amazon also offers it in black for $75). It seems a very good camera, but the non-intuitive software and often-confusing user guides make me give three stars instead of five. I write this for other beginners out there:
Pros: It's very easy to use on "Auto" setting, and pictures look surprisingly clear and good even under different light conditions.
I like having other options besides "Auto". So far "portrait" and "foliage" have worked as they should. I haven't tried others enough yet to tell.
The batteries that came with the camera yielded about 60 photos (including lots of flashes) and lots of turning the camera on and off and experimenting with settings.
I like the size--not too small to handle easily, big enough to feel solid in my hands. I think the buttons might be hard for bigger hands, though.
I've had no problem at all with blurred photos (on Auto setting), even though my hands aren't always that steady when I'm taking a picture in a hurry.
Customer service techs are easy to reach, courteous and smart.
Cons: The software seems too complicated (and I'm good at figuring things out). Even the customer service techs had trouble navigating it, though they were very knowledgeable about camera and printer matters.
The online user guides for both the camera and the software could explain things more clearly and thoroughly. They're short on words, and many pages refer you to other pages. Also, I think I'd rather have less options and less ways to do the same thing. And I still haven't figured out how to sort my photos into folders and retrieve them easily.
The soft plastic cover over the terminal where you connect the camera to your computer doesn't feel securely connected. Maybe it's OK, but I have a feeling it's going to fall out long before the camera dies.
In case other beginner's run into this problem: my photos printed out very faded until I figured out that I needed to select "print without borders". Or, when printing through Windows Vista with a Canon iP2600 I had to uncheck "borderless". (The sequence is Print, Properties, Page Setup, then look for the box next to "borderless" and make sure it's not checked.) I don't know yet how this will affect text printing.
I'm glad I bought this camera, and maybe I'll raise my rating after I've used it for awhile.
Great little camera!, Nelson Scharf "Rick S."
You cannot beat this camera for the price. It takes great pictures, it's very easy to use and small enough to carry in your pocket. I was reading a review that said, "had I known it used batteries, I wouldn't have purchased it"...well let me answer that one. My wife has a higher priced Canoncamera that has to be charged each time that you use it, several times she's forgetten to charge her camera and she's lost great pictures. That will not happen with this camera because it uses batteries. I keep a spare pair in my case, so I never have to worry about missing a shot.
If you want an excellent camera for a reasonable price, then you can't go wrong purchasing this camera. I was worried when I ordered it because of the low price, but I was so surprised at how nice this camera turned out to be. Canon added many features into the Powershot A800 only found in higher priced cameras. Buy it, you won't be sorry!
Nice little camera, musclegirl
I bought this camera for the company I work for. We do home improvements and need the camera to take before and after photos of the projects we work on for our portfolio and website. The camera is easy to operate and takes good enough pictures for our purposes. Just know, this camera does not come with a memory card so you will have to purchase one separately.
OK but inferior to A540, G. Long
This camera is ok. It takes so-so pictures which (even though it is rated at 10 megapixels) are not as sharp as those with my Canon A540. Perhaps the poorer resolution is due to the lack of a viewfinder and certainly in part because of the lack of software to correct for shaking. Both these are available on the A540 and a good used A540 is less than $40.00. So, clearly I recommend a good used A540 or similar camera over the A800. But it's ok for casual shooting.
Another great Canon amera, Joan L. Sansary M "Sansary Group"
great product, excellent for the price. Sharp image. A litlle bit slow shutter lag, but great for the price. Well builted. Just what I wanted. JL
Superb basic camera!, The_Gearhead
Got this unit for my mother who is absolutely horrid when it comes to computerized technology. In less than 2 days and 2 not so frustrating phone calls, she's able to take quality pictures and get them into her computer for sharing, saving or posting. Also of great benefit, is that this unit uses typical and easily acquired AA batteries!! Incredible photo quality at this price point is going to get me to upgrade my camera with one of these (or the next model up) as well. Love the Canon simplicity!!
DOESN'T COME WITH A MEMORY CARD!! :-(, McCountant
I'll upgrade this review at a later date perhaps, if the camera turns out to be wonderful OR if I find somewhere on the website where it says "memory card not included". I just got this today and am VERY disappointed to find that I can't use it immediately because it doesn't come with a memory card. BUMMER - I'm very disappointed. I now have to wait several days to get a memory card delivered.
UPDATE 4-9-2011: Having never purchased a digital camera before, it was not obvious to me that the memory card was sold separately, and my earlier review reflected my disappointment with the online description. Since the memory card is required in order for the camera to work properly, I think the description should be updated to reflect that. I note that the camera requires 2 AA batteries, and that the description not only notes that the batteries are required but also notes that they are included.
So if you're one of the apparently rare people who are buying a digital camera for the first time, please note that the memory card is required and sold separately. :-)
I'm pleased with the performance of the little camera. The pictures are clear, and the CD that came with it was easy to load onto my laptop, and it's been easy to transfer pictures to my laptop. The instructions are pretty easy to follow, plus once I played around with the camera, it's not been hard to figure out how to use. I've taken pictures with other people's digital cameras in the past, and this one seems to be just a little bit slower to focus, although that might just be me. Overall I'm pleased with the quality of the pictures and the ease of use.
DOESN'T COME WITH A MEMORY CARD!! :-(, McCountant
I'll upgrade this review at a later date perhaps, if the camera turns out to be wonderful OR if I find somewhere on the website where it says "memory card not included". I just got this today and am VERY disappointed to find that I can't use it immediately because it doesn't come with a memory card. BUMMER - I'm very disappointed. I now have to wait several days to get a memory card delivered.
Excellent little point and shoot camera, Tech Guy
I hate to putz around with camera settings. While this has them, I've left mine set to 'auto' across the board, popped in a 2GB card, dropped it down to 6MP and can take over 1200 fine quality photos.
Great zoom, Nice big screen for my old, tired, eyes. Runs AA batteries. What's not to like?