My brother owned one of these and it seemed like a terrific little camera. Compact, light weight and takes a terrific shot. Not long after I purchased my A520 PowerShot, my brother brought his to me. The lens is stuck and it will not power on. I replaced all 3 batteries as called for in the owners manual. That did no good. My brother tossed his and purchased a new camera. Now here we are and my A520 PowerShot has the exact problem. Canon dont seem to publish any information that is any more helpful than changing the batteries. What a crock. I have purchased a FUJIFILM finpix S8100 now. I want to repair my canon but it will cost 1/2 the cost of it when it was new! Again I say ..... What a crock of bull!

This was my first camera owned and I haven't had a moment trouble with it since I got it.. I would buy another one anytime. It's really great and takes wonderful pics. I used it on vacation in Germany and it was great.

I have had this camera for a few years now, and taken over 3500 photos. I keep it with me in my briefcase for scenic shots I stumble on, and also use for Ebay pics & the like. For fun, to push the limits, I have even done pan shots of racing cars trackside with it (you plan on the lag-time!)

What brought me here today was Chris's post regarding dead batteries & the need to pull the SD card. Thank you for your post! I thought my camera was dead. BTW with a camera like this, plan on investing in a battery charger & batteries to use with it.

I think that the Canon A520 is a great camera! I've had one for about a year that I got from a garage sale and it works great! Takes very good clear pictures.

It's a good starter camera for a novice, but if you're looking for a quick point and shoot that turns out better shots, I recommend going to something with at least 7 mega-pixels. I was told 4 was good enough to blow up to an 8"x10" pic, but I was not happy with the graininess (noise) when I did so.

I wanted this camera because it takes AA's but found I didn't end up carrying it on me as much because of it's size.

That being said, I have dropped this camera numerous times and with the exception of its sticky lens cover (requires tapping to open fully at times), it hasn't failed to work properly.

It was made not to last long. Red eye reduction does not work. I also have problems with the flash. I have not dropped it or abused it yet the screen is black unless it's in video. That started after owning it for about a year and a half. It's not a good camera in general. (I've taken classes on photography. My problems were not caused by lack of knowledge of how to use the camera.)

I've had this camera for about 4yrs now and I love it. Its not your HIGHEST quality camera but it takes good pics and is worth the buy! It does have minor shutter problems but not too bad.

Always loved Canon products. Loved the A520 until it stopped working less than 3 months after I bought it. The lens cap would not open and the lens would not extend.
Sent it to Canon and after repair it worked for about 6 months. Now it has the same problem . I have since acquired
2 other cameras, so will not try to fix the A520. I am very dissapointed in Canon's lack of response to what appears to be a very common problem with their A series of digital cameras.
As a side note, my camera came bundled with a Canon printer that never worked. I tossed it in the trash rather than go through the hastle that has replaced customer service.
I am sorry to say that my wife was right when she recommended I buy a Kodak.
I have a Kodak Z812 IS and it is fantastic!

lens coverwill not open all the way. camera has not been dropped or abused.

How many cameras do you see with a shutter button falling off? Avg repair cost is $100 to fix!
Are you kidding me for a 1.5 yr old camera.
Any insight on finding a replacement part appreciated...

I have to defend this little camera; I've kept it in my backpack, pocket, etc. and it performs great. For me, it has proven robust. If you want to get about 80% of the control you will find in much more expensive cameras because, like me, you want to control the imaging, this camera is a bargain - considering you can currently purchase it for around $105! (I don't know about the "auto settings" because I never use them.) The one genuine downside to this camera is a fairly slow re-fresh rate on both the flash and the image - its not a great stop-action camera. Most people shopping in this price range (including me!) will never fully exploit all the tweaking and capabilities it offers. If you keep your image size reasonable, and use rechargeable batteries, you can be out with it all day. Some reviews complain the screen is too small, but those big screens really chew up the juice! The 4MP is totally adequate for printing photos for family and friends, and the sharpness is excellent; if you plan on making big prints, go for the 530. It's true I occasionally have to assist the lens cover in popping open - 1 time every few hundred power-ups. For goodness sake, where else can you get such high quality insides for such a bargain price?

lens cover will not open. Canon will not make adjustment and wants $90 to check it out or will send a used one for about same price. Purchased for my 16 year old. This year I bought her a Pentax M20 based upon consumer reports. Will give it to he for the last day of school, so cannot comment. Canon refuses to fix this common problem. Should start a class action suit. Will never buy another Canon product as the company does not understand customer service. Signed disappointed and disgusted in NJ

A piece of the automatic lens cover broken. It happened while in a case inside my travel bag in the trunk of the car. Could 400 miles each way in the hot sun baking the trunk cause it? Way too fragile if yes. $200.00 for 17 months not a good deal.

Only having 4MP isn't fun. But as long as you're just resizing them for the net or something it's not noticeable. But if you want to crop it, rather than shrink the photo, it becomes very noticeable.

All the manual options are very nice. Particularly Program mode because on a nice sunny day, i can set it to no flash and turn off the LCD display and the batteries will last me almost all day.

This camera is a bit annoying at night/indoors because the flash takes a very long time to charge, and kills the battery pretty fast.

Overall, this camera was worth it a few years ago when i bought it. But now I'm sure i could find something much better for the same price. But it's still holding up well, and keeping me happy for now.

the camera was alright the first few months, but it quickly started going downhill. I've had it now for 2+ years and I have just been more and more unhappy with it as days go on.

The battery life was miserable the last year or so.. I had usd rechargable NiMH batteries but resorted to non-rechargables to see if that was the problem. Same darn thing.

My lens cover was flimsy and would not open on its own. I had to pry it open with my fingernail, and I was always worried about damaging the lens when I did this. I was always careful, but I mean, it's embarrassing to have to pry it open in front of people, and if you only have a few seconds to get the shot (wildlife, babies, sports, action shots) then you may lose out on the opportunity. I know I have many times.

What really made me have it with this camera (the other problems are "livable") was that the lens actually got stuck. It was retracting and stopped part-way and wouldn't go in or out. I am so sick and tired of this camera. I love Canon, and I'm just hoping that this is not a recurring problem with all their cameras.

I may invest in a Rebel XT. I still don't know.

Absolutely love this camera. Had this camera for about 2 years now. I’ve been really getting into taking pictures lately (mainly for myspace.). But it takes excellent pictures, mainly when you take the picture with natural day light. The picture quality is amazing. Not so good for taking pictures at night though. But people think I use a super pricy camera for my pictures. I love it how it has so many color and lighting settings. I would deeply recommend this camera.

Oh yea I had a battery problem with it before. But then I started using these old Sony Cyber-shot rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries that I found in my old sony camera. They work great. :)

As everyone else, I must pry open the shutter to take pictures. Canon denies this is recall situation but it sure seems to happen on the 520 often. Not worth paying to have them fix-am buying another brand instead.

My son has one of these cameras- its not a bad little camera for snapshots, but it really suck down the batteries fast. A couple of things that worked for me: 1)STUCK SHUTTER- a stuck "shutter" lens cover problem is usuallly resolved with really fresh batteries. Put in new ones and cycle on and off a few times.
2)DEAD CAMERA, LENS OPEN-If the batteries run down completely while the camera is still open, it may not start up again when new batteries are installed. But if you remove the memory card, then install the new batteries, when you turn it on it should come back to life. Error E30 means you don't have a memery card installed, so turn it off, slip in the SD card and turn it on one last time.

Had this camera for a year, but stopped working correctly after about a month. Keeps saying to change batteries even after I would put brand new ones in. Sometimes I will get a couple pictures. DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK! I will never buy another canon product.

I like so many others here have problems with the flimsy lens cover not opening all the way. What piece of junk. And I've only had it for 1 year! I'm asking for a Nikon for Christmas. I'm not impressed with Canon at all.

Compared my previous sony digital camera, the Canon A520 takes mostly blurry pictures. I had to send it in for repairs to the automatic lens cover. It now has a power problem, and is stuck with the lens extended and acts like the bateries are dead, but doesn't operate with new batteries or plugged in. So, basically it is dead, and I am looking for a new camera.

i like it a lot

I used to be a happy owner of a Canon A520 Powershot. The camera was never dropped or in a dirty environment. The lens will not retract or extend. I get no error code and the camera shop wants $150 - $175 to POSSIBLY fix. This happened on the 13th month and it is only covered for 12. I would not recommend this camera to anyone. Canon has terrible customer support, and there is currently a class action suite going on about these 520's. Stay away from them.

I own a HP812 and Minolta Dimage z3. I purchased a canon A520 for my wife. I use it more than her and like it much more than the Hp and Minolta. When 12x zoom is needed I use the Dimage z3. However, the 4x zoom on the A520 covers 90% of my needs. I am very comfortable with the controls of the A520. I love it. Battery life is much better than the other cameras. If you want to get picky one could complain about battery life on any camera. I give the A520 a very good battery life rating. I have excellent results using it indoors without flash. I would recommend it to anyone. My next camera will be Canon.

My camera has taken beautiful pictures, so much so, that people think they are postcards. The size is not too big, yet big enough to focus easily!

I own a Canon PowerShot A520 for almost an year now and what i have to say about it is that it was worthwile spending money to have it. Of course it was great in the beginning especially as it is almost the only camera I would now recommend for beginners - easy to use functions and an easy to learn camera. Small and discreet - soft and friendly - almost like a hamster :).
After awhile it appeared that it was very sensible to batteries - if they were new the camera was a peach, if they were older or several time recharged she was grumpy and odd looking pictures were coming-out of my "magical new and only camera". I got used to that and I took over 1000 pictures with this camera so far - now... it's still sweet and cute and all, just that it got older and as it happend most of the times "she" developed habits that i cannot change back - like the shutter that sticks out - <b> YES! the shutter that sticks out!! :P </b> - it gracefully gets back in with fully charged batteries so I am not (yet) mad, or the fact that the pictures quality need longer preparations of light and angle - the camera is easily tricked by the shapes and shades of daylight and also easily tricked by the things that are out of the focus range - which means that for a close-up i spend awhile to prepare myself.
I liked this camera allot, i still enjoy it and i still recommend it. Probably i will move to another price range but until then A520 remains a first choice that I'm proud of.

We bought this a week before our wedding, and took it on our honeymoon - all without having time to "break it in." That's probably for the best. For a full week of picture-taking in Boston, we NEVER had to replace our NiMH rechargeables. A lot of pictures at full resolution. For the rest of that year, the same way - great battery life, great pictures.

But about a year after we got it I tried to take a picture and after the click, the camera just shut off and right before it "died" I saw "E30" in the bottom, left corner. After checking on the web I found out that was a "card writing/reading error." So, we assumed it was the SanDisk SD card. We got a replacement, but while we were waiting for it we were using the 16MB card that came with the camera. We got the same error!

Turns out there was nothing wrong with the cards as I could read/write to them fine with my computer.

I discovered yesterday (10/170/06) that when I was trying to take a picture that used the flash, I got that error. After another ������turning off������ event I had discovered that if I removed the card, then replaced it, the camera would come back on. So, I did that. After several flash picture tries, I put it on a setting that wouldn������t use the flash. Whamo - it too the picture fine and wrote to the card. So why can������t it write to the card when the picture used flash? I don������t know! It also tells me to ������change the batteries������ ������ sometimes a DAY after they were fully charged and not used. I got tired of this and put the batteries in another device and they are fine.

I THINK that something is wrong with the power source readings in the camera. I believe it thinks it doesn������t have enough juice to do what I am asking it to do at times, so it just shuts off. I contacted Canon about it and they just said ������send us money and the camera and we������ll fix it.������ I������m thinking, if it just crapped out on its own, how can I trust that your fix (almost half the price of the camera) will be worthwhile?

I wish that I had sent it to them the first time the error appeared, right at the one year warranty mark. These consumer electronics cameras are really frustrating. Nothing stays on the market for any length of time b/c it always has to be newer/better every few months. So there is no way to get any reliability ratings on a product that are worth squat.

If anyone has any suggestions about this, please contact me at ttueric(at)gmail.com
thanks

I own two canon A70 ( similar family to A520) am heartened to hear that I am not the only one with the sticky shutter and sticking lens cover. Amazing how this is a persistent problem and Canon is oblivious to it. I've enjoyed the canon cameras but this constant problem is going to get me looking at another name brand next time around

Both myself and my parents bought the same a520 camera and both have had the same problem. Within 6 months of purchasing the camera the lense shutter stopped closing properly, and now on both cameras the lense shutter won't close atall! Not very good quality design.

With alkaline batteries the power density is very low. I find with two lithium batteries I can get 1000 pictures at full 4 meg resolution. Also keep in mind if you use rechargeable nickle metal hydride batteries that after about a week of not being used about 40% of the power has been lost. As far as the sticking lens can just flick with your finger the side of the lens that is sticking out. It will open right up.

My wife and I are frustrated by this camera. The lens cover only partially opens in about 1 of 10 shots. We are getting anywhere from 20 to 35 shots with alkaline batteries. A couple of time we have gotten less than 20 shots on new batteries! We wish we had researched this more before buying.

I have had 4 Canon Digital Cameras and not one has had this problem. The lens cover won't open all the way when you turn it on. So this is a problem with all the A520 it seems from the below after 4 months of using the camera. Tried the new battery idea and didn't solve the problem. I was going to send it in to be repaired but it sounds like they won't repair it? If they won't repair it I think we should start a class action lawsuit against them.

I was just going to take my A530 back to BestBuy with a stuck lens and I put in a new battery and it opened perfectly numerous times. So, some of you with similar problems might try this......It may just need a hard kick from new batteries....Let me know if this works for others.

Was interested in the other reviews that list an inordinate number of problems with the lens cover sticking on this model. My other Canon Digital never suffered from this. Robert Van Dooren at Canon UK Customer Support refuses to accept this is an issue (or any others) with this model. "If there was an issue Canon would have told me", he says. I suggested he read the comments on this site but he refused to do so, saying they must be what he called 'local' problems and not generic to this model. Can Canon get away with this behaviour?

i've taking over 1,000 shots since i purchased this camera 5 months ago. no problem with the shutter yet and overall thrilled with the camera. takes beautiful pix in daylight and well lit conditions - less than beautiful pix in darker situations. also, sometimes it takes a long time to focus and the subject has to hold that smile extra long or the shot is missed. it also takes a long time to process the image before the next shot can be taken which can be frustrating.

I love the size & feel of the A520 & the capability & quality (for the price) & learned to be patient with the slow recovery time. But I am completely disappointed that the shutter got stuck slightly open a couple of months ago. I just borrowed my brother's Nikon. I didn't have time to attend to the A520, but now I must get it fixed or replaced.

I'm satisfied with the performance of my digital cam as it was working very well until during my recent trip when I was taking some all-important panoramic shots, the shutter stuck and needed some manual opening/tapping. read the reviews and noted many else had the same problem with this model. I hope canon will do something about it.

I bought the Canon A530 late April - within two weeks took it back and traded up to the A540 because the A530 lens cover wouldn't open completely without tinkering. Returned the A540 for cash refund in less than a week - same problem. Talked with my son - he has the A510 with the same problem and had it replaced. This appears to be a VERY COMMON PROBLEM. What Gives Canon?

I owned the previous model prior to buying this one for my mom...one month after buying this one (and about 2 years after buying the first one) the first camera stopped working. Then this new one just stopped working this week, and my brother-in-law has one too and his stopped working after a year...so my advice is DON'T BUY IT. When it worked it was great and a great value...but that's no good if the camera stops working altogether. So my advice is NOT to buy it!

I bought this camera almost a year ago as a replacement for a Nikon Coolpix 4.3mp. I have been using digital cameras for several years, so I did weeks of research before buying this one. There were so many good reviews, this seemed to be a great choice.

I enjoyed the camera initially, though from Day 1 I was longing for the indoor clarity and flash warmth of my lost Kodak DX 3500. Lots of grainy pictures indoors, but you read everywhere to expect that for cameras in this price range.

Over time, the picture quality has degraded, I cannot get a clear picture inside with all the lights on and the flash, and I'm having more trouble getting a clear picture outside, especially if it's windy, even though it may be midday and sunny.

The red-eye function has stopped working. No matter what setting I choose, I cannot get the double-flash to resume. Not that it matters much, even with the red-eye function working properly, more often than not I was using software to get rid of the red eyes.

I'm sending the camera in for warranty work for the red-eye, but odds are great that I will be replacing it anyway with something in a higher price point.

Fortunately I havn't had the sticking shutter problem but it goes through batteries like crazy. New set of batteries only lasts for about 25 0r 30 pictures. Never leave home with out plenty of spares.

The lens on my camera is suck out. It wont come up to where i could even take a picture. Now i am told it will be shipped out for about three weeks.I am not very happy.

Our company purchased about 6 of these and 4 have problems w/ the shutter sticking. Looking at the other reviews, this is a serious problem that Canon needs to resolve.

I liked the camera when I compared it with others. For a month or so, I did not have any complaints. When i went for my first long trip since I bought the camera, the lens shutter started getting stuck and had to be tapped. I plan on returning it and get a replacement.

On the second use of this camera, the shutter stuck closed except for a slight slit. When I gently touched the shutter, it opened fully and I was able to use it. On third use, it won't open at all. A friend played with it and a needle and was able to open the shutter, but this is unacceptable. I suggest that everyone who experiences this issue email Canon Tech support through their web site. Perhaps they'll do something about it. Disappointing waste of money if the problem continues.

The camera takes decentpictures, but just recently (4 months of ownership), the lens cover sticks partially openay. I have to flick it open with a fingernail. Incredible how many people are having similar problems. Lemon-Check!!!

camera has been working fine but is really poor on taking close in pics.Manual focus also has its limitations-envy the NIKON cameras 4 this.

worked excellent until all of a sudden it broke! very dissapointed hopefully i can get it fixed

I've owned 3 digital cameras and so far this one was the best. For the price it takes some nice, crisp, excellent-quality pictures if you know how to use good lighting and all that. It has a wide range of convenient features which are easy to access. You can get some neat effects with those.

Some problems, though, are:
1) It takes a couple seconds to focus. If you're planning on getting movement captured somewhere dimly-lit, good luck with that. Though if you're in high lighting outside you can set the shutter speed to a fast speed and get crisp pictures, assuming the subject stays within a single general depth of field.
2) The shutter sticks sometimes.
3) After about 7 months of owning it, the LCD screen cracked. Though this might have been my fault because I never had it in a protective case, I don't know how it happened. I just turned it on and there it was all ruined.

Although, don't let the critiques discourage you.. if you're at least a little experienced with digital cameras in my opinion this one is a nice choice. I got used to the little defects quickly (my last camera was worse), but if you're impatient with that kind of thing this one might not be for you.

Bought the camera 3 months back, got stuck while taking pictures, The lens is extended, changed battteries, still would not poewer on.
CANNON CAN YOU HELP, I hate CANNON for this, Its a new camera and if CANNON does not help, I am sure I will never buy a CANNON again nor would recommend ont to anyone.

The first time I took this out was on my vacation recently. My dad has an identical camera. After 1/2 of a day his lens cover started to stick and would not open without tapping on the side of the lens. By the end of the day my camera started doing the same. This is terribly disappointing. Fortunately I took my SLR and 7 rolls of film so my vacation was not ruined. This camera will be returned within a couple days.

Share the problem reported by others that shutter protecting lens exterior opens only the first notch, then it is necessary to use a fingernail or paperclip to get it to spring open. Reported this to Canon troubleshooting, and their reply (seems to have been written in Bombay or New Delhi), and the company gave instructions for return if necessary. Note: they said they did NOT KNOW of any such issue as I reported. Guess they don't read critical bbs. Otherwise, camera functioned OK thru first 80 pics of use (on vacation). 8 latter ones had a nice fat diagonal stripe so the intended target could be seen (and the loss of that picture lamented).

I purchased 2 cameras at Christmas for family members, on both cameras the shutter is sticking, one of them won't open at all now. We will be returning both cameras today.

Barely a month old and the lens would not open or retract. Only a week after factory warranty repair and there is no image when turned on and supposedly ready to go. I'm extremely unhappy. I'll expect Canon to replace this camera if they can't fix it this time!

HOwever, the shutter lens won't open completely now, please advise as to what do to, I called Staples where I purchased the camera, and they told me that they are discontinued, they didn't say that when I purchased it on Dec 17, 2005.

the 520 is a very handy camera, with movie function which excites me a lot, only that the 3 minute limit per clip is very small. havent experienced any shutter problems till now. picture quality very good.

I brought this camera mainly relying on the price and the Canon name. I had a new granddaughter on the way and a good camera was critical. so far it has lived up to it's name. indoor pics are so-so, outdoor pics are amazing. good camera, great price.

I purchased this camera to shoot and print pictures, also purchased HP 8250 photosmart printer. A520 takes some sharp pictures with vivid colors. Pictures are sharp even on 11 X 8.5 large prints. The only thing matters is how you use it. I have seen some noise at higher ISO settings, i keep it fixed to ISO 50 and it works fine. Night or indoor shorts are not as good as one expects but still this cam is something to look for at this price range.

I previously owned a Canon PowerShot A60 which outperforms my new PowerShot A 520 by a country mile.

The issue I have is the shutter speed lags incredibly & the photo clarity is very inconsistent.

I would not recommend this camera it's driving me nuts.

i bought this camera after much comparing against other brands. i should have stuck with my trustworthy fugi. but, i decided to take a chance with cannon since i had heard such great things about the brand, and most friends said that the cameras were GREAT. i have found that it doesn't take good night shots or firework shots.all the pics i took on New Years Eve off fireworks, friends, and family came out only as dark or bright colorful blobs. also when you go to take a pic you have to try to push the flash about 10 seconds beforehandbecause or else your pics end up with nothing in them. next time i will deffinately get a fugi camera. lets just hope i can get my money back.

well I owned the camera for about 3 weeks and became frustrated with picture quality, seemed like about half of all pictures that were taken were below my standards, especially in auto focus,needless to say I have already returned the camera, also not a fan of the Canon software

its a really good camera to take on those little outings. It should have come with a case or a pouch to pout it in. I agree doesnt take really good moving photo as it is slow off the mark. But whats a little time to take a really good photo. Over all a good camera. REALLY!!!

My teenage daughter really enjoys this camera!

camera seems to take extreamly poor quality pics in auto mode. recycle time is over 10 seconds in flash mode. nice pictures outside and full feature make this a great outdoor camera, but indoors?? FORGET IT. Leave this one be...

I have got my camera, it is easy and fun to use.
I am impressed with what one can do with this type of camera.
Very handy, not bulky and not to small.
The frame could be a bit sturdier and one has to handle it with care and has to show a bit of respect for this type of equipment and do not poke
your fingers into the shutter in case it should not open properly for some reason. This camera is delicate stuff.
It does not drain batteries once you to use the power saving function to suit.
And most importantly, it delivers any time and anywhere stunningly clear and balanced shots.
If you cannot get the shot like you want it in auto' mode anymore, try the huge range of the 'situation mode'where the camera is preset for a certain 'situation' which can easily
be modified in itself to get the almost perfect photo.
And if that is not enough then there is a section on the dial where yourself completely control the photo you are going to take - like in the old days.
A few mega pixel more or half the price, this one is for sure hard to beat.
I recommend 1 gigabyte card and at least 1700 mA rechargeable for this camera and 'Bob is your uncle' as they say here.
A compact tripod from the 80 made in Germany fits well since this camera can take photos between 15 seconds and 1 of a 2000 of a second to express what you want to see.
You will find you own 'holding time' to create a clear shot without tripod and without the really good flashlight which is even adjustable in 'M' mode for manual works.
I also like the section of the 'My Camera' menu where you can customize the sound and startups etc.- exactly as you want your camera to be.
I am even thinking of getting the underwater proofed casing down to 40 meters water pressure which is also handy in wild weather
condition, sub zero or even at the beach with sandy winds.
Anyway, I am perfectly happy with my new 'toy-tool' and cannot resist to use it almost everyday because it simply delivers.

Page 8 of the SOFTWARE STARTER GUIDE warns that "All procedures performed with connection to USB 2.0 compliant board are not quaranteed" I followed the software and instructions to download the pictures and it didn't. I use USB 2.0 and WinXP. Yes, I read pages 94 & 95. Certainly Canon can do better than this. And why this web page keeps clearing on its own. I tried to write this three times.

cover shutter has started to stick.
To small.Needs to have 2 more batteries.
still a great camara for the money.

I've had this camera for less than a week and I simply love it. It takes incredibly sharp pictures and the zoom works fine with a tripod. You would not jiggle a film camera when taking picutres now would you ???

As for the long flash cycle times - I have not found that to be the case. I use 2000 milli amp hour rechargeables in mine and the cycle time with flash is about 4 - 5 seconds if you use the more powerful 2500 mah batteries you will get about 400 shots on a charge! You can even shoot in burst mode (continuous shooting with the shutter pressed) and click of about 2 fps.

I have not seen any purple fringing on the auto iso setting. But if you try to make iso 100 do what iso 400 is capable of you will get errors - just like in a film camera.

For family photo album pics, this is the camera to use. It will even take great pics of moving objects if you have it set correctly. I pointed it out the window at 70 mph and took a picture of the roadway and everything was in focus.

Just spend 30 minutes with the manual and this will be one of the best purchases you have ever made!

A good picture taker with somewhat slow recycle when using flash. But there's an accessory external flash or you can use a slave if that bothers you. The great thing about this camera is available manual control of shutter and aperture plus acceptable manual focusing. This for less than $200. Did I mention that you can also use filters!!

very easy to use...my lens cover stuck 1/2 way open and all I did was get some lens cleaner and a cotton swab and cleaned it and it hasn't stuck since. And since I have seen what it can do underwater I should pump it up to 5 stars...this is our first digital camera , we got a 512 mb card also

Absolutely excellent photo quality. Pictures can easily be enlarged to 8x10 (highest res, fine setting). Great battery life. Uses standard AA size batteries, so even if you get caught short, finding temporary replacements will be easy. Uses standard cost-effective SD cards. Good focusing, even in low light. Somewhat weak flash, but that is to be expected in this kind of camera. Accessory lens bayonet mount.

Strengths: Excellent picture quality. Good sized display. Very useful picture modes. Good low light focusing. Small size. AA batteries instead of proprietary. Excellent battery life, even when the LCD display is in constant use. Easy to grip securely.

Weaknesses: picture mode wheel moves too easily, so it can be accidentally moved. Flash recycling is slow and the display remains blacked out while it recycles.

It is a good camera if you are not taking moving objects as the camera is very slow to take pictures.If you are a person who likes candid shots this is not a camera for you.Another bad point is that the camera is unable to capture a clear image in low light.Other than this two function.this is a good camera

My wife and I have snapped and developed about 700 pictures so far. Quality of pics are OK as long as nothing is moving and there is plenty of light. Camera has worked poorly in sunny conditions where the subject may be in shade (i.e...under an umbrella at the beach), as well as in low light settings (sunset backdrop). Manual aperture helps with some of the lighting challenges. 4x optical zoom is nice but our next camera will have 10x or better. This is our second digital camera from Canon, our last was a G3 which had at least two trips to the factory for repair - still waiting to be impressed by Canon...this from a long time (SLR) Canon owner.

More than I expected for a first time buyer. Easy to use. Haven't experienced the "sticky" shutter yet??? Video is very handy for a camera but recommend the 1 gig card.

The camera takes great pictures, but after less than three months, the lens cover only retracts part-way. I have to force it open with a fingernail or paper clip. Very disappointing!

I've had the powershot a520 for about a month now and I am definitely not stricken with "Buyer's Guilt". I wanted a camera that I could learn with (new to dig photography),that could take great pix, have a few extra fun and useful features, and be a good value for the money. This camera had everything I was looking for plus a few extras. I had bought a Kodak c300 and was disappointed at the quality and the fact that I had to exchange it 3 times then finally return it. I love that fact that it uses 2 AA rather than 4, has an optical zoom along with digital zoom, easy to use software, and easy to use all around. I do recommend getting a mmc reader (around $30.00 and up) to transfer your pix from your mmc to your computer instead of using your camera to transfer pix. It took a while for my pix to transfer from my camera to my computer and it just drained my batteries. With an mmc reader, it is faster and it saves on batteries. I am very pleased with this camera and would recommend this model to my closest friends and strangers alike.

This is a super camera for its size and weight. Takes great photos and is easy to use. However (except) after only 3 months, we are experiencing a sticky lens shutter like we have read from other buyers. This is unacceptable and I hope that our warranty with Canon will remedy this situation. As reported by others, the lens shutter sticks about halfway open thereby causing you to manually "tweak" it open with your finger. I would hate to think how this would be in cold weather. More review after we experience the warranty process.

Technically, there's no big problem at all. It's good, even at night. But normally, especially in Indonesia, we have a big problem on the warranty. That's all...

Being a professional photographer that has only shot with Nikon and Nikon digital (D70 and D100) I have to give 2 thumbs up to the Canon A520 point and shoot. Great camera for it's class and very reasonable price. I'm impressed with the camera and it's ease of use to change manual settings. I bought the camera for my grandmother and daughter to use but find myself toying with it. Great little on the go camera for professionals looking for a day off to just play and not have to carry a bag full of lenses. I give the A520 an A- for it's versatility and the minus for it's macro... could be a bit sharper for my liking, but for the average consumer, I would say A+ all the way. Good job Canon!

I have been using it for 1 month. Solid feeling body. Sometimes slow between pics (caused by flash?)
Red eyes even when reducer is on. Sometimes blur pic. Indoor pics seem darker even with flash.
Best to purchase larger SD card and use NiMH batteries. Great little camera. Think I'll still keep it.

I bought the camera the night before vacation. The second day of vacation/day 2 of owning the camera is when the shutter started to stick. Then everytime I would turn the camera on the shutter would only open partially, I then would have to touch it with my finger to open it. I met someone else on my trip that was experiencing the same proble with the A520.

I love the camera for all it does. But I've returned it twice because the lens cover gets stuck and wont open all the way unless you push it open with a finger. Also the flash time is pretty sad, but I rarely use flash so that isnt a big deal.
Other than that it takes wicked pictures. Rechargeable batterys, a large memory stick and a tripod are a must.

This camera is very easy to use. We have not yet to begin using its advanced features. It is a great camera.

Maybe this is something you have to accept for an entry-level d-camera, but the shutter lag is dismayingly long; not sure I can live with it. Compared it with a couple of more expensive cameras (e.g., Sony Cybershot DSC-T33) and the difference is pretty major.

I've owned other digital cameras but this is the best one. Excellent photos and beautiful colours. The best for just USD200. Full manual controls, including manual focus. Small-sized and handy makes it a carry-anywhere camera. The 4X optical zoom is very useful and zoomed-in subjects appear sharp and detailed.

Noise levels above average at ISO 200/400 but most consumer digicams are no better. Shot-to-shot times are around 2 secs without flash, slightly above average. Flash recycle times are on the high side though - up to 10 secs. Just learn to have patience.

To those who complain about the auto-focus, my advice is: learn how to use it to get sharp and focused pictures everytime. There is nothing wrong with the AF system although it is not the fastest AF in the market. Remember, you only paid around USD200 for it, so don't expect to get a digital SLR! Despite the negatives, I intend to buy a second one for our son's birthday!

This is an excellent 4MP digicam for around USD200. It takes sharp, beautiful and colorful pictures that can be printed up to 8x10. Full manual controls and focus give me complete control over the camera. You don't get these in other cameras at this price.

To those who complain about the poor focus - just aim the camera at the subject, half-press the shutter release button, wait a little while for the lens to lock onto the subject, then when the little orange or green light (next to the viewfinder) comes on and you hear a beep, you can press the shutter button and take the picture. I have already taken a few hundred pictures and none of them are blurred.

And to those who complain that there is too much noise at ISO400, please tell me which camera gives you noiseless pictures for around USD200??

The only complaints I have are long shot-to-shot times using flash and flash recharging takes up to 8 secs. Shutter lag at 1.5-2.0 secs is acceptable.

Very bad quality pictures in low light. Very dim pictures and dull colors as compared to KODAK CX 7430 camera, which is almost half price.
Only good to look at. Not at all happy with picture quality. Pretty slow response time.

Great features (love the movie mode), but it cannot seem to focus when zoomed. We've been happy with our Canon A20 (2Mp) camera for several years, but wanted something with higher resolution for our upcoming trip to Europe. The A520 has 4x optical zoom and 4Mp - just the combination we're looking for. It takes fairly sharp pictures without the zoom, but unfortunately it cannot focus in when we use the zoom. Our A20 takes better zoom pictures! I think the smaller size makes it hard to hold the camera steady, and it always chooses slow shutter speeds when on Auto mode (the only mode my wife will use) - a combination that always results in fuzzy pictures. I hope to be able to exchange it for an A95.

After researching for weeks I decided on the A520 based on price and features. I picked up the camera and went on vacation. I was very disappointed with it. Time between flash pictures typically well over 10 seconds. Time to focus 2-3 seconds, most of my subjects have moved on by the time the picture is taken. Definitely not the camera for candid shots. You will never get the kids blowing out the birthday candles. I am returning it to-day.... if they take it back.
Liam

this is a good sized camera with more features than you could possibility ask for. it takes clear pictures.

this camera is a good sized version with more features you could possibly ask for.

the camera takes crystal clear pictures.

noise is still too high at 400ASA although at 200ASA it is better than the A85 and of a "smoother" texture - acceptable

Zoom steps are too coarse at the wide angle end, why does it need to be stepped anyway?

Purple fringing!!! Is this a sensor overload issue? Not a lot, but annoying when its there....

The LCD viewfinder flickers a lot when there is fluorescent lighting, as if it can't decide what the gain setting should be.

I notice too that the lens are getting smaller and smaller with each generation...

Its OK but perhaps I should try something other than Canon next time.