At $89.99 (list) the 10-megapixel PowerShot A800 is the least-high-priced digital camera Canon sells. Unsurprisingly, this pocket shooter lacks in facial appearance, but it covers the basics, and there’s a upset to be said for its austere encounter. It also delivers excellent, clean, astute images, along with levelheaded speeds. So far, so excellent. Then you get to what’s gone: a high-res LCD, a rechargeable array, and high-def record. But the largest problem is the camera’s lack of optical image stabilization, which can mean blurry cinema.
Sure, the A800 will go one better than, say, your cell phone’s integrated camera, offering best-looking and privileged-res still images, along with a further-success 3.3x optical zoom lens. But if you can afford it, you should step up to a digital camera that offers optical image stabilization, like theCanon PowerShot A3000 IS ($149.99, 4 stars) or the All-function Thrilling E1480W ($169.99, 3 stars).
A800 Design
Shaped like a trapezoid with rounded edges, the A800 is a bit thicker on the right side, making a comfortable mini-grip. The camera will slip into your pocket lacking a problem, but, at 2.43 by 3.71 by 1.23 inches (HWD), it’s on the heavily built side when compared with additional pocket cameras.
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A800 Specifications
- Type
- Compact
- Megapixels
- 10 MP
- Media Plot
- Reliable Digital Extended Room
- 35-mm Corresponding (Wide)
- 37 mm
- 35-mm Corresponding (Telephoto)
- 122 mm
- Optical Zoom
- 3.3 x
- LCD size
- 3 inches
- Record Resolution
- No
Disparate with a cell phone, the A800 offers optical zoom. The 3.3x zoom lens’ crucial length spans 37-122mm, with a corresponding gap of f/3-f/5.8. Like a cell phone, the A800 lacks optical image stabilization, which can be the deal surf here. If you’re shooting further than or in very bright environments, you’ll be by quick shutter speeds which typically don’t demand much stabilization. As soon as lighting is less than essential, even if, your images are susceptible to blur. If your camera moves at all, optical image stabilization corrects for that passage so your depiction doesn’t turn out blurry. Lacking it, shift from you or your subjects can lead to a loud, blurry photos.
Performance
The A800 isn’t painfully slow, but it’s no speed devil. The camera can power on and spring out in an average of 2.4 seconds, and party there’s an average of 0.6 seconds of shutter lag (the time between shutter push and image capture) with each shot. Wait time between shots is a bit lengthy, at 3.4 seconds. If you want a quicker shooting encounter, step up to the Canon PowerShot 300 HS($249.99, 4 stars), which can boot and spring out in an average of 2.03 seconds and averages just 2.18 seconds between shots, with a 0.5-second shutter lag.
In the PCMag labs we use the Imatest suite to assemble objective in rank in this area image feature. In terms of serration, the A800 offered a center-weighted average of 2,176 lines per depiction height. That’s a fantastic notch—especially for an under-$100 camera. The Editors’ Extent Kodak EasyShare M580 ($199.95, 4 stars), which is more than twice the price, scored decrease at 2,127. Noise levels in test images were also low, as long the camera was set not more than ISO 400.
The A800 captures 640-by-480, ordinary-definition record footage. If you care at all in this area recording and allotment record, you should opt for a camera with HD-record capture and an integrated HDMI port so you can connect the camera to an HDTV for playback. But that map can jack the price of the camera up to at least twice the price of the A800. Again, you get what you pay for here.
The camera saves images to SDHC and SD cards, and is powered by two (built-in) AA batteries. It’s very rare to see camera lacking a rechargeable array these days. Of course, you may possibly just buy rechargeable AA batteries for the A800. And for some, it’s clever to be able to duck into a drug store to buy substitution cells when you need them.
With an under-$100 price, the Canon PowerShot A800 is not lacking its honest impart of compromises. If you can’t live lacking image stabilization—and I’m not sure you should—save up for the Canon PowerShot A3000 IS. If you want HD record capture and optical image stabilization, get out your wallet for the Canon PowerShot 300 HS or the Kodak M580, which you can find for in this area $130 these days.
