Canon Powershot A570 IS Review Discussion

[Jim Keenan]

Canon’s website describes the newly introduced Canon Powershot A570 IS as "designed for the demanding family photographer". Elsewhere, the site proclaims the A570 IS to be "Canon’s most affordable A-series digital camera with proprietary Optical Image Stabilizer Technology for steady shooting at all zoom settings". Add a couple of AA batteries and a memory card and you’ll quickly discover that kids and pets aren’t the only things this camera does well.

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[bTaryag]

Nice review, thank you.

[gslusher]

I agree that this is a nice review. I have a Canon G2 and an S3 IS, but am considering a "pocket-size" camera, though not as small as the Digital Elph series. In looking at the A570 IS, it looks like a very good camera for someone who wants to travel light.

- Uses AA batteries, SD cards, both easy to find
- Very flexible shooting modes as you point out
- Adequate zoom
- Can use add-on lenses
- Fairly light (6+ oz without batteries)

If more zoom is needed, go for the A710 IS, with 6x, but with the older Digic II processing and it goes to ISO 800, which, given the noise, is well enough. The A710 IS is a bit faster (f/4.8 vs 5.5) at the telephoto end and a little bit larger and heavier. It also suffers from the old Canon 1 GB video file size limitation, like the S3 IS. For what it's worth, the new S5 IS should be called a "hybrid" camera. Like the S3 IS, it's one of the few digital cameras that can zoom while taking a movie plus it can take a video up to 4 GB. I wouldn't buy the S5 IS now, though, as it is 'way too expensive, at $500, vs under $300 for the S3 IS. For that, you get 8 vs 6 MP (though it's the same size sensor, of course), 2.5"/207K vs 2"/115K LCD, IS 1600, and a flash hot shoe.