Boasting a brand name in cameras, the 4- megapixel Canon PowerShot A520 is a nice little camera from all points of view. The new generation to descend from the PowerShot A85, the Canon A520 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor with a longer zoom lens and the addition of a few more scene modes.
The Canon PowerShot A520 still offers features for both novices and seasoned photographers. In the same lines as with the A85, the Canon PowerShot A520 is a great value-for-money purchase and without doubt one you should think about if you're in the market for a camera.
In terms of its design, imagine a compact version of Canon's A85. The Canon PowerShot A520's body is basically the same only conforming in size to operate on two double-A batteries as opposed to the A85's four.
Other than the size, the only other noticeable design differences are that the AF assist lamp on the front has moved to the opposite side of the viewfinder and you may notice the microphone has shifted but only a small bit.
The LCD is still 1.8 inches (diagonal), but the lens has undergone some changes: It is now an f/2.6 to f/5.5, 5.8- to 23.2-mm (35- to 140-mm, 35-mm equivalent), 4X optical zoom lens.
It is clear that the optical system of the Canon PowerShot A520 has been thoroughly thought out to make great photos simple. A 4.2 megapixel resolution along with the 4X optical zoom is provided and the Canon PowerShot A520 also features an ISO range of 50 to 400 and a shutter speed range of 15 - 1/2000 sec. making it an impressive choice.
The Canon PowerShot A520 retains the excellent level of manual control of previous A-series models, including Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, and Manual modes, accessible via the top-mounted mode dial. The dial also offers five common shooting modes (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Slow Shutter, and Fast Shutter), as well as Stitch Assist and Movie mode.
A comfortable ease of use with many options is still found in the unchanged menu system. The only improvement to be found here is perhaps to illustrate the scene modes with some on-screen help and sample images along the same lines as what you would find on the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z55 for example.
The Canon PowerShot A520's battery life using the two included alkaline double-A batteries is quite good, and the camera is rated for up to 300 shots according to the CIPA standard (using NiMH double-A batteries).
The Canon PowerShot A520 allows your pictures to be stored in SD memory cards. These days, its pretty standard practice to have at least a 512 MB memory card in your digital camera (or even a 1 GB card). You can also easily transfer the pictures from the camera to the PC via the USB 2.0 interface.
As with almost anything, there is at least one notable issue with the Canon PowerShot A520. Confirmed reports have stated the A520 controls are not responsive enough leading to the camera to being quite slow. A button frequently had to pressed more than once to perform the chosen function.
Hopefully you have found this overview of the Canon PowerShot A520 to be helpful. Should you be looking for a reasonably priced yet nicely equipped digital camera, you may very well find it in the Canon A520. Make sure to check out not only this camera but other comparable cameras to find the best suit for you.
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