- 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints up to 8 x 10 inches
- 3x optical zoom with 2.5x digital zoom (7.5x total)
- Up to 3 minutes of video with sound; manual, aperture and shutter priority exposure modes
- Compatible with CompactFlash Type I cards; 16 MB card included
- Powered by 4 AA batteries (alkalines included); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1
Amazon.com Product Description
Featuring a high-tech design with aluminum front cover and metallic handgrip, the Canon PowerShot A60 combines a sense of both the modern and the traditional. Despite its entry-level designation in Canon’s digital lineup, the 2-megapixel PowerShot A60 is a surprisingly advanced model with excellent picture quality and more manual features than you’ll find on most digital point-and-shoots.
Optics and Resolution
The PowerShot A60 features a 2-megapixel sensor that can capture images up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, producing print enlargements up to 8 by 10 inches. It’s also equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm, f/2.8-4.8) to cover a wide selection of photographic opportunities, as well as a 2.5x digital zoom. The PowerShot A60 also features Canon’s five-point AiAF (Artificial intelligence Auto Focus) system for focusing accuracy, shutter speeds of 15 to 1/2,000 second, and fast sequence shooting at a rate of 2.6 frames per second (fps).
Movie Mode
Shoot up to three minutes of MPEG video at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels with sound, editing controls, and VCR-like playback. The movies aren’t camcorder quality, but they’re fun and convenient, and they’re perfect as e-mail attachments. The camera can also attach voice memos or sound files of up to 60 seconds to each image.
More Features
Offering a wider scope for photographic experimentation, Canon has also included manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority exposure modes. These modes are supported by a metering system that boasts evaluative, center-weighted average and spot options. Canon’s DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor ensures excellent color rendition and white balance for every shot, as well as super-fast auto focusing, noise-free imaging, and advanced flash exposure performance.
Other features include:
- 1.5-inch TFT (transreflective) LCD monitor.
- Built-in flash with auto, on, off, manual, and red-eye reduction modes.
- Shot modes include manual, portrait, landscape, night scene, stitch assist, and more.
Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on CompactFlash memory cards (Type I only) and the included 16 MB card holds approximately 26 images at the Large/Fine setting. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Printing
Canon has introduced a series of printers designed to work directly with its lineup of digital cameras. Using these printers, no computer is required–simply connect the camera to the printer and start printing. Printers include Canon’s bubble jet direct printers S830D and S530D, and card photo printer CP-100. Of course, photos from your camera can also be printed on any home computer system with an inkjet printer, sent off for online processing, or simply enjoyed on your computer screen.
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four AA batteries (alkalines included; rechargeable NiMH batteries recommended). It measures 4.0 by 2.5 by 1.3 inches and weighs 7.6 ounces (without batteries). This package includes the PowerShot A60 digital camera, 16 MB CompactFlash card, four AA batteries, USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
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Canon PowerShot A60 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
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If you’re reading this review, you’re probably like me, a novice user buying his first digicam. And like me, after having read and re-read reviews of several dozen cameras, this camera keeps showing up your short list. Still, there’s so many options out there you keep obsessing about making the right choice. I finally decided to take the plunge and order this camera, and I’m amazed how correct my choice was.
Here were my main areas of concern while I was trying to decide on whether to buy this camera (they’ll probably sound familiar) and how my actual experience stacked up against my concerns:
1. “Low” resolution of 2 Megapixels:
Unless you plan to blow your shots up to poster-size, 2MP is ideal. Don’t get caught up in the “my MP is bigger than yours” race, as another reviewer said 2MP is the sweet spot for photos. Just leave the camera at its max settings and it’s perfect, the file size is reasonable yet you’ll still get every amazing detail. For example, I took a shot of my cat and you can see every hair and every whisker, even a little bit of “sleepy stuff” in the corner of her eye since she had just woken up from her nap. And this was just the third shot I took after removing it from the box. Yes, it’s that good.
2. “Not enough zoom”:
I’ll admit, this was a huge issue for me. I was bound and determined that i wanted a camera with a higher zoom capability, like one of the Olympus 10x models. But actually having gotten a chance to use it, i’ve found the zoom capability, while nice, isn’t the holy grail I thought it would be. Certainly not enough to spend a couple hundred dollars more to get.
3. Size –
The photos make the camera look tiny. I thought it might be better to get a bigger camera with big Tonka-toy buttons and that it would be easier to handle. Don’t worry, the camera feels great in my hands, and i’m over six feet with big stubby fingers. I’m sure it will fit your hands just fine as well.
4. Other competing models in the Canon line:
This was another problem area. The A-series and G-series cameras all seem so good, that i wanted badly to get one of the more fully-featured (and expensive) models like the A80 or G5 to make sure i wasn’t missing out on anything. And looking back now, most of the features I thought would make a huge difference don’t seem to matter now. What seems important to you now when you’re trying to make a buying decision probably won’t be when you’re actually out there using the camera. Out in the field, you’ll want something which is relatively straight-forward and not tediously complex, but flexible enough to change a setting if absolutely necessary. This camera offers exactly that.
Trust me, when you’re out in a picture taking environment, you’re not going to be telling yourself (or wanting to tell your photo subjects), “hold on for a couple minutes while I put on the wide-angle lens.”
5. Controls and the learning curve:
For a novice, the controls look a bit intimidating. And they can be, if you don’t read the manual at all or spend any time going through the settings. But thankfully, the camera controls are well set-up, intuitive, and easy to learn. Yes, you can start shooting straight out of the box, but if you spend as little as 15-30 minutes reading how to operate the controls before you begin, it’ll be well-worth your time. That won’t be enough to learn everything the camera can do, but is enough to get you started on the right foot, and will put you weeks or months ahead of the game. I spent about 20 minutes learning about my camera after I got it, and my first pictures already looked better than the ones my father takes with his Canon G5 that he’s owned nearly a year but never bothered to read the manual for.
THE BAD:
Shutter lag is perhaps my biggest gripe. Depressing the shutter fire button half-way focuses the camera, then depressing it the rest of the way fires the shutter. There’s a brief but noticeable lag between depressing the button and the photo being taken, perhaps a half-second or so. Not a huge issue, but sometimes annoying, and can definitely get frustrating if you’re trying to get just the right shot of a non-cooperative subject. Like with my cat, I’d wait for the exact moment when she was looking at me, I’d press the button, and the lag meant that she was no longer looking at the camera when the photo actually gets captured. I’m sure it would be more of the same if you were trying to take photos of an infant or child. Not a deal-breaker, but it can make for some frustration.
Inserting batteries in the dark can be a pain, unless you have memorized the pattern for which batteries go in which direction. Again, not a huge issue, but can be frustrating.
CONCLUSION:
If you’re trying to decide between the A60 and either another manufacturer’s offering or another Canon A-series, get this camera. This is a better camera than the competing Nikon, etc. and if you’re thinking you’ll need the additional features or MP of a more expensive model, you likely won’t. If you did, you’d know that already and wouldn’t be looking at this camera. So save your money and get this instead, it will MORE than meet and surpass your needs. You’ll be very happy you did. I already have my Dad thinking she should switch cameras with me, and considering his costs about triple what mine did, that tells you that this little gem is a winner.
Rating: 5 / 5
I bought the Canon PowerShot A60 as a replacement for my two year old Fuji Film 4700 Zoom, and I am extremely impressed. The camera at its highest resolution (1600×1200) takes gorgeous photos, with rich warm colors. No pixilation and very little purple fringing appear on the images. The camera itself includes some very advanced features for its price, all of which can be adjusted in manual mode. However, most users will never touch these options, instead opting for the simple Auto mode, which automatically chooses the perfect settings. The only downside to the camera itself is that instead of using metal, the casing is plastic, and therefore feels somewhat cheap. Nonetheless, the build quality is generally good and the buttons and ports are conveniently located. The camera is small, but is by no means one the smallest and lightest digital cameras on the market.
Along with the camera, the box includes an industry standard puny 16MB Compact Flash card, that should be immediately replaced, and four alkaline batteries. The battery life is very good; the camera can operate for several days of heavy use without replacement. Nonetheless, I recommend Ni-MH Rechargeable batteries, which provide an even longer life. The included `Zoom Browser EX’ software very easy to use and incorporates some fairly powerful features.
If you don’t want to spend much money and want an easy to use digital camera with great image quality, look no further than the Canon PowerShot A60. However, if you want a camera that can take larger photos and has more powerful features try the Canon S45, S50, or the Canon G3. If you want a smaller camera you might want to consider the Canon S400 or the S200.
Rating: 5 / 5
Ok I’ve been looking for a digital camera for about a year now, I’m cheap so I waited until I found a product that had what I want for the price I wanna pay. …. the 2 mega pixels is just fine for ANYONE taking pictures and printing them.. 2MP Cameras print out great 8×10 photos so if you dont need to print anything bigger than that save your money and stay with a 2 mega pixel. In less than 10 mins i had this thing out of the box and taking pictures. It has some advanced manual features that I probably will not use because Im not a professional. The control are eays to use, the LCD display is fast and looked just like tv looking at the screen, the compact size fits great in your hand and doesn’t take up much room.. Amazingly the batterys last for an very acceptable amount of time. I have a set of hi cap recharagable batterys from radio shack and i’ve been using it for a week taking movies and pictures and its just now getting low on batterys.. This is my first digital camera and Im very satisfied that I made a good choice first time around. There are many cool accessories (tho they are not cheap) like telephoto lenses and underwater cases too.. ….
Rating: 5 / 5
I purchased this camera on a recent trip to Korea and took hundreds of pictures. One of my friends accompanying me on this trip bought one shortly afterwards and another bought one upon our return to the US because they were so impressed. Great camera for the money and for what I use it for. It is nice and compact but not overly so. The controls are easy to use and understand with very little familiarization needed. This camera has many more options than most consumers will ever use, but for those of you who want to be creative, this definitely allows for it. I particularly like the ability to “stitch” a panoramic scene together. The packaged software does a great job of this and is extremely user friendly.
This came with a 16MB CF card which is kind of useless I think. I bought a 256MB CF card at the same time I bought the camera and have been using it. We took a short vacation and I was able to take several video clips and almost two hundred photos without downloading. Most of these were at the highest resolution so I would recommend a higher capacity CF card. I also use the rechargeable NMh batteries instead of alkalines. I get more time out of these and are shorter in the long term than replacing alkalines all of the time.
So far I am very, very pleased with this product and would recommend it to anyone. My friend who also bought this owns a top of the line EOS digital SLR that cost many $$$$ more and is very pleased and satisfied with this. It takes great photos yet doesn’t cost so much that your afraid to take it out and use it.
Rating: 4 / 5
I have been using a Canon A20 for a little more than 1 year. It was a great camera. A60 is similar to A20 with new shape and enhanced functions.
After my A20 was taken by the sister of my wife, we were searching the web to find a replacement camera. After compared the features and sample pictures of several candidates: canon s230, canon a60, canon a300, nikon 2000, olympus c520. We found this one fits our needs the best.
S230 is a good camera, but too small to hold stable in hand.The picture quality of a300 is not good, even it has 3 mega pixels, due to its inferior lens.The nikon 2000 does not even record sound when taking video. C520 is OK but picture quality is so so.
So, if you just want to take some good picture of your family on a trip, A60 is one of the best choices.Make sure you grab a 256 M compact flash card before you leave the house.
Rating: 5 / 5