Canon PowerShot A540
- 5.0 out of 5
- 4.0 out of 5
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Research the Canon PowerShot A540
Editors' Comments
The Canon Powershot A540 is a user favorite, offering simple operation and high-powered features for a low and affordable price. The A540 gives users access to full manual controls without demanding they shell out tons of money or struggle with a more advanced and confusing shooter. Take a look at our user reviews and you'll see, the Canon A540 is a crowd pleaser.
Specifications
- 6 megapixels
- 4x optical zoom / 4x digital zoom
- auto focus
- auto and manual exposure
- JPEG file format
- ISO 80-800 (High ISO auto)
- movie mode w/sound
- 2 AA batteries
- 2.5 inch LCD
- SD/MMC card storage (16MB included)
Comments on the Canon A540
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Canon PowerShot A540 Reviews
- 4.19343891402715 out of 5
Canon PowerShot A540 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 4.0 out of 5
i love this camera, it delivers good sharp photo's with more than decent possibilites. This camera excells in the manual possibilities in P, AV, TV and M mode .
you can:
- adjust iso manually (not many compacts can this)
- adjust white balance manually
- adjust transport mode
- adjust tone / colours
- adjust flash intensity
- adjust metering mode
- adjust quality level
it is a 6mp effective camera and the noise on the images is good up to 200 iso , above that the noise is more visible
it doesn't perform good with nimh batteries (a big flaw)
the other flaw is that sometimes the lens cover protection does not open full , but one tip with a nail softly is enough to have the full few
the images it makes are good, mine is good
it is a recommended buy still i would grade a B label
- 5.0 out of 5
this camera is tough my son dropped it in the lake! i pulled it out dried it out worked fine. he also dropped it on the cement several times still takes beautiful pics. i have had no problems with this camera i love it you will too
- 4.0 out of 5
The camera is a little heavy but is an excellent size for carrying in a coat pocket, handbag etc.. Although automatic it is full of features and it goes without saying that takes very good pictures.
- 4.0 out of 5
Canon has done it again, the Powershot range doea what the name consists off deliver wonderfull Shots with less Power.
This camera has a huge 2.5 inch LCD screen with good resolution , only in very bright sunlight hard to see , but were the sun shine there is always a shade , to wath the pictures taken.
6 MP (effective 5.9) is a great resolution and more than enough to make high quality print outs with ease 20*30 cm minimal up to 55*75 cm is possible
The things i like are :
++ batteries AA size (available at almost every spot of the world)
++++ great manual setting of White Balance , Iso , Colour modes
the program modes , scene modes and other shooting modes are very good.
This is a prety fast compact , when you do not use the flash.
flash recycle time is a few seconds during this time the camera is locked , but so it is with all major compacts of any brand.
the canon delivers a good to very good image and it's handeling is good thanks to the great mini grip.
The camera takes SD memory ( NOT SDHC! ) up to 2 gb leaving the user more than 1100 images aka a good for one week holliday in greece (par example)
mine camera has not let me down yet , and i expect that it will work the same for you, guarantee is not given since i do not have any relationship with canon other than a customer relationship of 5 canon products (2 camera's + 2 scanners i photoprinter)
What are the things i like less?
Size : it is big for a compact , it is bigger , thicker and heavier than most other compact you dont put it away easyly in the pocket of a trousers or skirt .
flash recharcing time could be faster
no raw possibility
but every camera has it goods and lesser points.
do i recommend it > Yes i do
- 5.0 out of 5
taken something is excess of 7500 phots with my A540, camera has never failed me
- 5.0 out of 5
My teen's camera was used a lot, carried a lot, dropped some, and generally used by a young teen. It developed a lens error and it was stuck in the extended position. The pictures it took were wonderful (and she does use all the functions as she loves her camera). Canon worked with me in repairing the camera (I was honest with them about it being a teen's camera and all I had was a point of sale as it was a gift), and they repaired it under warranty! I asked before I sent it and they said if it was due to neglect it would be $88 - worth it to her for a great camera - but they fixed it for free. Canon also repaired an earlier camera (out of warranty but a common problem), so I was happy to have another Canon in the house (currently four) after scrapping a Fujifilm FinePix and also several other brands under $100.
- 5.0 out of 5
I dropped my canon A540 in the river, completely submerged, and it dryed out and worked like the first day I bought it. I couldnt believe it! There was streams of water coming from every crevice!! It still works like a dream!!!!!!!!!
- 2.0 out of 5
the camera was ok at first...like
"Buyer beware! (Robert Evans - 11/30/07) " said it only took 15-20 pictures..you need to have it on a certian setting.
But what I found, the shutter wouldnt close all that easily, and it just didnt take pictures fast enough. Dont get me wrong, the camera was a really good one and it has a lot of good features, but it just didnt take pictures on command, or maybe I just got a bad camera. i dont know.
- 1.0 out of 5
I bought this camera as a Christmas present for my wife in late 2006. Right out of the box, it would only get 15-20 pictures before indicating "low batteries". Even with brand new alkalines or fully charged NiMH. A few months later, the camera achieved a condition in which it would power up, but would not autofocus or take a picture when the shutter release button was depressed. Sent to Canon factory warranty service center, they returned the camera unrepaired, claiming there was a white liquid, possibly salt water, in it. Absolutely impossible...the camera has never been out of my possession, and had only been out of its case a few times. Canon does not honor their warranty, and as a result, I will never buy another Canon product of any type. Ever.
- 2.0 out of 5
I had the same problem as others. They wanted to charge me $99 for a camera under warranty to be fixed.
- 4.0 out of 5
I have owned this camera for a short period of time and I am very happy with the way it functions. It takes beautiful pictures and is easy to use. In Macro Mode, it takes very good pictures. I am very impressed and I wouldn't want to purchase a newer mode as this camera has all the functions I need (eg. Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter Priority Mode, etc).
- 1.0 out of 5
How could a company like Canon ignore problems that so many people are having? Why should I pay $99 to get a $200 camera fixed? Canon... take some responisbility! People please don't buy Canon and suffer like many of us are. I wish this information was out there when I was buying. Let's send a message. Shame on you Canon for not supporting your poor quality cameras!
- 4.0 out of 5
Its modes and features are worth its price. It served my purpose for taking snaps. May not serve pro's purpose.
But can be used under water and almost all locations without any problems. It fell twice from my hands still robust.
- 1.0 out of 5
I know three people including myself whose Canon Camera broke down. The shutter stops working and the pictures all come out black. Should have been recalled for sure.
- 5.0 out of 5
Unlike many on the board, I have had no problems at all with the A540. I use it often, day and night, with no problems in picture quality either. I have it with me almost daily and am an amateur who just likes takes photos of scenes while walking in different areas.
I am just starting to use some of the more advanced features.
- 1.0 out of 5
I think that this camera is a complete waste of money and time. Everyone has basically the same problems with the camera. The lens and the shutters breaks easily and then Canon wants to charge you an arm and a leg to fix it. This camera needed to be recalled, replaced, or repaired for free. I have only used my camera 4 times after buying it and it broke down. It did take some fairly decent pictures, though. I wouldn't recommend this camera to anyone. My husband owns one too, same model and everything, and the battery door to his is loose, so it reads an error message and it has to be taped down so it will work properly. Both are pieces of junk.
- 1.0 out of 5
Took the camera back to Sears in Altoona, Pa. and
they would not exchange it because it had been purchased in May. The pictures are very fuzzy andwe are very unhappy with it. Can't believe we paid that much for a camera that takes terrible
pictures.
- 1.0 out of 5
My A540 is a big disappointment. Here are problems I've had: Photos are blurry and dark. While taking one shot after another without making any adjustments to the zoom, the image can appear at two zoom levels! When taking photos of something up close, like a flower, you have to use the LCD screen—not the viewfinder—if you want the flower centered. It eats up batteries VERY quickly. At one point, all the photos in my camera disappeared, and I had not deleted them. How's that for REALLY, REALLY BAD?
- 5.0 out of 5
i really liked this camra. it has soo meny features, and a variety of settings. i got it for christmas last year and i have been loving it since. i wouldnt of changed anything on it. the perfect present for the perfect person.
- 5.0 out of 5
Ecellent, very good pics, when you use 2700 NMH batterys, you cant shoot about 800 pic and more.
conectiosn to pc is an snap, very simple via USB, in the other hand the only problem i see is LCD in sunlight condition, very poor visibility and is not for you pocket a litle big
- 4.0 out of 5
A very good camera. Great photos, good video and good sound capture. Lot of features. I wud recommend using the batteris energizer lithium with it. Not that it eat batteries but i found these batteries as a good companion with this camera. Excellent photo quality! I loved it. Money well spent
- 1.0 out of 5
Canon really messed up on this one. I should have heeded the poor battery marks...I got maybe 50 shots with regular batteries, and my fully-charge re-chargeable batteries get the "low battery" signal on initial power up...then this $180 piece of junk shuts down.
Sent it in to Canon to check for problem...they returned it saying they cleaned the battery terminals and it looked good...hmmmmm, did they even check with batteries? Never know...
Buyer beware on this one!
- 5.0 out of 5
I have used this camera a lot it is easy to take with you and takes beautiful pictures.I would recommend this camera to a beginner or an expert. Everyone could and should own one.
i wuld
- 4.0 out of 5
this camera is great for the price. the pictures are very high quality, i had them printed and they look like they came from 35mm film. my one complaint is there is a split second of lag time after pressing the button to take a photo so i've missed a few great moments— but i think this is normal for digital cameras. overall i like it very much.
- 2.0 out of 5
I got this camera just before Christmas, and was fairly pleased with it. One annoyance, however, is how long it takes in between pictures for it to reload to take the next picture. But, a couple days ago I went to snap a picture and the shutter wouldn't open. I had to pry it open manually, and then it would not close again. Fortunately for me, I was able to swap it for another one at Circuit City because it fell within the store's 30-day exchange policy. So, here's to hoping that I don't have a repeat occurance with the shutter problem. What's really disturbing to me is that I had only taken a few pictures with it. So, I can't understand why the shutter would have gotten stuck that quickly, or at all, for that matter. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed this time around.
- 4.0 out of 5
I bought this to replace my coolpix 7 megapixel that I dropped in the sand at the beach and it no longer works :(
I have the Canon A20 from years ago...so figured Canon does hold up, time for another!
Only thing I do not like is the delay when snapping more than one picture at a time.
I bought it because it's equipped to have a waterproof case so I can take it jet skiing with us! I'm having a little trouble locating this case.
Not a bad camera for the price...clear pictures for Real Estate and Family! I paid $189 on sale at Target!
My father in laws Kodak takes quicker pictures with no delay
but the screen on this Canon is bigger than his Kodak...
hope this helps!
- 5.0 out of 5
I received this camera as a Christmas gift and have only been using it a few days now. But from what I have seen so far I am very impressed. I am well satisfied with the indoor pics and outdoor shots I have taken thus far. As an extra bonus the 4X zoom seems to be better then I had anticipated, and have really enjoyed its Macro Mode and have taken some real good shots with it in this mode. So far I am having alot of fun with it and I think its a winner, but I will follow this review up with another one after I have used it a while longer.
- 4.0 out of 5
It's the most amazing camera, in my opinion. Overall, it's very good. But it's EXTREMELY hard on batteries.
- 5.0 out of 5
I have only owned this camera for one day,but i am very pleased so far.This is my 3rd digital camera, my first being 3.1 mp and my second 5.0.This camera makes the other two look like disposable cameras!The pictures are crystal clear and show every bit of detail.I bought this camera to take pictures of items i sell for my online store and im pleased so far.
- 5.0 out of 5
Hello there. I have owned the Canon a540 for a year and by far is the best deal for the price. It has incredible quality, is affordable, and is easy to use. This camera is great for anyone, and is unbelievable. GO GET IT!!!
- 5.0 out of 5
This camera feels like a 350 dollar camera. If your willing to learn a little. And like a 190 dollar one. If your not. But that's not to say its not super easy to use. Its vary easy. And its not that hard to learn to get vary good easy to take shots, with just a tad bit of knowledge. But wear this camera shines is if your willing to learn. For a camera this price. Its awesome in Low light. If your willing to nudge the ISO just a little. 800 is not needed. Any Photoshop or decent image editing program can rid any slight little grain easy. But you cant rid blur. And this camera just does not have the blur, that others in its price range do. For a camera in this price range. It has vary sharp images. And like I said, its great in all types of lighting. Another thing is it white balance is great! The tones feel solid. You don't get to much of that odd blue like purple feel. Colors feel vary natural. But if you don't go manual for a like night shots of Christmas lights. You will get unwonted results. But if you learn just a tiny bit about it. And not other camera in this price range gives you real full auto controls like this one. You can get night shots that rival camera in the 400 dollar range. But their some learning their. But on everyday normal shots. Its simple manual works fine. And its movie and 21 photo mode are great. The movies look nice. So your gonna want a 2gb card. One for video and 1 for pictures. No its not a video camera. But its fills in as a quick go to one vary well. But this camera wins in the Auto department. Like I said,, if you know a little. Or are willing to learn. This camera is Awesome. And if not,, its still a vary solid manual point and click camera to. Perfect for a beginner, who wants to grow with the camera.
- 4.0 out of 5
Before I purchased this Canon A540 I searched in the web for an affordable yet money-worth camera for three weeks. I checked the specs in accordance to what I need in a camera. I bought this camera because I wanted to use with ease and have manual functionalities. I found what I need in Canon A540. As of this moment I haven't encountered any problems and it operates smoothly. The pictures were outstanding. I tried several experiments to get the desired settings and I did. I am satisfied with my Canon A540.
- 3.0 out of 5
i hv bn using A540 for the last few days. i find it little bit difficult to operate in manual mode as lot of adjustments are required to get correct exposure. sometimes the picture come out on darker side lacking correct exposure as stated.
otherwise it is a good camera easy operation modes and understand.
recently i had an opportunity to operate my friends A400 which i find it very good in its manual mode, every thing coming properly in difficult lighting conditions.
- 5.0 out of 5
The Canon Powershot A540 is amazing. I just got it to replace an old camera that was giving me way too many problems. This camera has excellent Photo Quality, and has a lot of useful features. I would not recommend it for beginner photographers, as it could become confusing with all the "Creative Features". But overall, I really love this camera. P.S. The screen is really big, and isn't LCD, so no more Liquid Crystal problems!
- 4.0 out of 5
I'm using my A540 to take insurance photos, professionally. It works well in outdoor daylight, where the optical viewfinder is a plus. I also take indoor pics, and those have also turned out well. The camera's flash won't be able to fill a dark room (like a rock concert someone was complaining about), but it's quite adequate for normal photos. I like the AA battery compartment and handgrip, which makes it easy to hold the camera, unlike smaller cameras. The SD card is a good feature for me, as my laptop has an SD card socket.
- 4.0 out of 5
This is a great camera for those looking for a quality camera at a reasonable price. Also, the 21 shooting modes keep you covered for almost any shooting situation you find yourself in
- 5.0 out of 5
I've had the Canon powershot A540 for a month and could not be happier. My last digital camera was a Kodak DC210 and had that for about 8 years.
Enjoyed using this camera because it is so far ahead of the Kodak that I was used to.
I have been snapping photos at a very rapid rate of late and the 2 GIG SD 150X card is amazing.
Over 500 photos on this card and it is still not full. Good image quality from a very affordable camera. I would recommend it to anyone.
- 2.0 out of 5
The one thing I will say about this camera is that it comes fully loaded. Problem I have is missing so many shots while the camera refreshed itself in a concert low light situation. The manual setting did not seem to rectify the problem either. Shutter lag is TOO slow. Battery life is atrocious on NiMH batteries. Then the day before a big gig, I go to check the forever changing settings on the camera and guess what I got the most horrible message ever, "Lens error. Please restart camera"! According to the manual, there's no troubleshooting for that. Called Canon, I need to send the camera in for repair. They claim it can be fixed..well here's to hoping. I spent $300 including the 1 GB card so if they cannot fix this issue, I will NEVER purchase another one of the "Industry's best" again! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed in the meantime.
- 3.0 out of 5
Although this camera has been praised by many due to its ease of use, which is true. However, I found the photo quality lacking. Takes very fuzzy, dark photos. The LCD washes out and has a low resolution. I could not tell if the photos were clear or blurry until I downloaded photos to PC. After a week of using it, I returned it for a refund. If you like high resolution photos, don't buy this camera.
- 3.0 out of 5
Very disappointed in this camera - LCD screen not clear, fewer features than A75, which I purchased two years ago. Finish is cheap and controls not as easy to use as the A75. I have returned this camera and would not recommend it.
- 4.0 out of 5
This camera takes great outdoors pictures in good light conditions. I have yet to learn the art of low-light photography with low-cost digitals. The manual exposure is a great addition for beginners to experiment with their own intutive photography, before going for a digital SLR. A year in the super-taxing tropical Indian conditions has left no dent on the camera performance as yet (touch wood):-)
- 2.0 out of 5
Two days after purchase, the lens opening would not completely close. I took it back, some adjustment made, then after another week the lens opening would not close again. Dealer refunded my money. Wasted time.
- 1.0 out of 5
this camera was not right for me it did not work. Do noit buy this camera it is a awful camera it has all sort of problems it was always in the repair shop i switch to a new camera and it workeed out great BEAWARE OF PROBLEMS!!!
- 5.0 out of 5
This is easily the best camera I've ever owned.
Like some on this post, I also had problems with a "stuck" lens cover. I fixed it by using pressurized air and blowing the lens and lens cover(from a safe distance). Don't hold the air too close, though! (It doesn't need a lot of pressure to fix it.)
Apparently there was dust, etc., that was making it stick. It is a common problem, but, apparently, fixable.
- 2.0 out of 5
I owned the A520 for 10months when I had a problem with the lens not opening all the way. Very frustrating. I sent it for repair 2 days later, it happened again. I exchanged it for the A540 but I find this camera is always warning camera shake, in almost every situation. Will try one more time with the next model A620, if same problems will most likely get another brand.
- 3.0 out of 5
This is our second Canon powershot. We had a temporary problem with the first camera lens cover not opening all the way, but it fixed itself, so we forgot about it. We bought the A540 before we went to Africa - and upon using it briefly, encountered the same problem. We lost a number of shots when the lens cover did not open completely and we didn't realize it. We returned it to the store, and of course the store clerk said he had never heard of such a problem. It was happening intermittently, and he told us that Canon would "laugh at him" if he returned it. He cleaned it and it is working but the problem may return. Anybody have any luck getting Canon to fix it?
- 5.0 out of 5
I began, years back, with Canon's Powershot A20 2MP), then promoted myself up to the A70 (3.2MP) about two year ago. Three days ago, I received my newest self-indulgence: the new Powershot A540 (6MP). So far, I have used it to take 40=50 shots, indoors and out, day and night, using both the Automatic and Custom settings. In every instance, I have been more than simply pleased.
The 2 1/2 inch LCD display is a particularly welcome feature for me at nearly age 60 - everything is a LOT easier to see. I bought a 1GB Secure Digital card for it (Canon insists in shipping their cameras with a useless 16MB card) and a set of 2500s (NiMH batteries.)
Compared to the A70, this camera is easy to manage, quite light (requiring only two batteries, not the four needed by earlier models.) A simple delete button also simplifies the immediate dumping of bad shots. The 4X optical zoom is also a welcome change to the older format.
I am purely an amateur photographer.
Other criticisms I have seen re the poor definition on the LCD screen are, I feel, kind of 'nit picking' - looking for something to criticize about a really good camera.
I found this one online for $223. (Shipping included), sold the A70 used through Amazon for $160 in 24 hours - so the upgrade cost me about $60 net. Well worth every penny.
The pictures themselves are clear. The white balance is great and I leave the setting at 1600x1200 - unless I feel I will need a poster size print. This setting allows over 1700 images on the 1GB card!
I think it will do quite nicely.
Light, easy to handle and good quality images. What else could we realistically hope for at this kind of price?
I recommend it heartily.
- 1.0 out of 5
I purchase a Canon PowerShot A530, within two weeks, the lense cover wouldn't retract. The camera store replace my faulty camera, and surprise, within three weeks the lense cover on my second camera completely quit opening. Canon won't refund my money, I have to pay for postage for repairs on a new camera, which is expense sending from Alaska. I'm not happy with Canon. I'd say, buyer beware.
- 1.0 out of 5
I've had the Canon A540 2 days and had problems after the first download of photos. When chip was placed back in camera after removing from my printer the camera wouldn't turn on at all! Or it would flicker on the LCD and the lens would only start to extend. As I was packing it up to send it back for a refund, I tried it one more time and it SEEMS to be working. I can't trust this camera now to function properly for travel/scenery when I haven't even taken it 10 feet away from my front porch since I got it home!
- 2.0 out of 5
I had this camera for 3 weeks and it drove me crazy. It took FOREVER for the camera to be ready for the next picture. I missed so many shots. Beware!
- 5.0 out of 5
This is a great camera for technophobics. It is so easy to use and down load the pictures on to a the computer. The only problem is I brought the camera in Japan and all the user manual is in Japanese. To get the manual here in the UK costs ��13, this is the first time I have ever been asked to pay for a user manual in another language.
- 1.0 out of 5
I bought the A530 and traded it for the A540 within two weeks because the A530 lens cover wouldn't open open properly. Within a week I returned the A540 with the same problem for a refund. My son has the A510 and had the same problem and had to have it replaced. Is this a common problem with all Canon A-series cameras?
- 4.0 out of 5
Photographer usually do :
manual focus
set his own shutter time
set his own aperture
set his own ISO settings
And Canon A 540 has all those categories.
Canon Power Shot A Series really knock other brand
under $300 because:all categories above
Set your manual exposure, manual shutter time, manual ISO, manual focus and get your creative photographs
(+) 8 type and auto detect white balance, many program exposure
(-) don't has Image Stabilizer :( ha..ha..ha
- 5.0 out of 5
Looking to upgrade the 2 year old 3.2MP A75, I walked into the store looking to buy the Sony DSC-W50. Much to my amazment the sales rep at Futureshop told me that they have just recieved the A540 not even on display yet. This was great news as I already own 8 AA recharable batteries, that I would have to find another use for if I had bought the Sony.
Being a man with large fingers I quickly put the Sony down as it had very small buttons as compared to the A540. The other thing I was looking at was the screen size I was wanting to walk out with a 2.5" screen witch the Canon has. 4x opitcal zoon was also a plus for me as I do a bit of wildlife photography.
From the little time I have played around with this camera I have felt pretty comfortable with it. Unlike the smaller cameras this one fits my hands perfect and it doesn't feel like I am going to break it in half.
I would recomend The A540 to any friends or family that is looking to get into digital photography or even looking to upgrade. This is an absolute great point and shoot camera.
- 5.0 out of 5
Great! with my poor eyesight the large screen really helps in taking correct pictures. My wife is Polish and it even has the language option for her 1st language. Top quality photos too.
Canon PowerShot A540 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
The Kodak V603 is a little more money, but in reading user reviews, people have been generally happier with Kodak digital cameras than the Nikon point-and-shoots. Nikon is a world leader in photography, but they seen to have missed the consumer market. Neither of these is a stellar camera, though.
For about the same money, you might want to consider either the
<a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... target="_blank">Canon PowerShot A540</a>, or the <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... target="_blank">Panasonic DMC FX01</a>. Another option is the <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... target="_blank">Canon SD600</a>. The Panasonic cameras are getting lots of good reviews; Canon also generally does a good job.
Regarding shooting documents: you should consider a camera with image stabilization and a decent zoom (4x or better), and ideally a small tabletop tripod. It's important to get sharp pictures, and because you'll almost always be using flash, it's good to be able to step a few feet away from the page and then zoom in -- this lets the flash more evenly light the paper. All of these are small and capable cameras. If you want to consider another option, look at the <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... target="_blank">Fuji S5200</a> which has a pop-up flash, which might help. It's a bit bigger, but well rated.
Hope this helps!
Check out our page on the [url=digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... A540 for more details.
Here are some accessories for the A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/o/digi... ), including SD cards, on Amazon.
Good luck-
This camera does not, I'd think...
Are you sure? I hear that most any recent digital camera can handle SDCH (SD High Capacity). Do you have a source/web page that details this?
(And Andrew, have you purchased a high capacity SD card and tried it with your A540? Does it indeed work?)
Thanks
DParker
I've got some cameras I think you might like. All of these use 'AA' batteries and are great bargains.
The Kodak Easyshare C533 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is a simple point-and-shoot, and like all Kodak's, are very easy to dock/connect to photo printers. It's a fantastic deal, and isn't cluttered with frivolous options.
The Canon Powershot A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) and Canon A530 ( [url=digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) also fit the profile of what you're looking for. Canon's A series is fantastic, and this pair of cameras is designed for simple use. They're well liked by users, too, check out the reviews. product page.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me anything else!
Canon A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) would be a fine choice. It's very well liked by users and is not very complicated. You can check out what people who own it think of it on the page linked above, under 'reviews'.
You can find a list of Canon cameras with AA batteries here ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). The smallest you're going to get is probably the Canon A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ).
Chuck
The Nikon has some cool features- 15-odd preset scene modes and face detection. It will really depend on what features you like best.
I noticed that you haven't marked any replies as the "best answer." Are you still looking for a reply? If so, I recommend you re-submit it on <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com"&... so it will have a better chance of being noticed. These days it looks like most questions are being answered within a few days. Good luck!
And this is where the MAC is the best bet. With iMovie, you can not only save as an email quality quicktime movie file, you can also burn to DVD as well.
But chances are, you're a PC user. And that's okay. There are many software options for you as a PC user. I would recommend Adobe's Premiere Elements. Import, edit and then output to a web capable file. Sony's Vegas Movie Studio is a also a good one, which allows you to save your films as a QuickTime and Windows Media file. Share your creations with friends and family. Both examples are under $100.00.
Codecs matter. Some like MPEG4 from Apple ( apple.com ) can cut the size of your video way down. But only Apple's Quicktime player ( apple.com/quicktime/ ) may play it.
And that's not a bad thing. Apple's Pro Version of Quicktime costs only $29.95 and allows you to export to MPEG, MPEG2, and MPEG4. It's well worth the money not matter if you're PC or MAC.
You may have heard of one called <a href="divx.com">DiVx</... and it's open source cousin, <a href="xvid.org/">xVid<... This codec allows you to save large movie files into smaller sizes. So, if your film is an epic, you can keep those sizes down.
Finally, there's a solid resource for things like this - <a href="videohelp.com">Vide... You can learn all about encoding videos, what DVD media works best with what player, tons of video related stuff. Bookmark it and visit it daily. It's a master class on creating video.
The Canon SD 800 IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) if you want more of a compact camera. This version also has Image Stablization which helps when taking those often quick and shaky pics of the kids (or kidz). This is a nice small pocketsized camera.
The Canon a540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is a great camera that doesn't have the power of the other two but is great for the average user. It is also considerably cheaper but still good quality.
You are probably wondering, which one is the best? The truth is they are all great cameras that will take wonderful pictures of you kids. It basically comes down to what features you like and how much you are willing to spend. You will not be disappointed with any of these three cameras. If you are very undecided I would suggest going to your local Best Buy or any tech store and trying a few of these cameras out then purchasing the one you like online so you get the good price deals.
Good Luck
I could find A540 meet my requirements.
Any idea about it's price? Also, let me know who's the best seller? I'm in San Jose.. CA.
A good price for the Canon A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is on Amazon.com ( digitalcamera-hq.com/o/digi... ) for $159.95 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/o/digi... ). You can see other prices listed on the camera's review page ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ).
Andrew
Andrew
It fits nicely into a (fairly large) coat pocket, and travels perfectly fine in a purse. But don't expect to slip it into your jeans pocket or even a blazer pocket or something like that.
As far as holding it, it feels just fine in the hand- the bulky grip actually gives it some security and weight which it needs so that you don't feel like you're going to drop it any second. It's not the skinniest one out there, but I really like the feel of these cameras. Hope that helps.
The Canon site ( alpha03u.c-wss.com/inc/Appl... ) offers free downloads of any software you need.
Andrew
You can get direct connect device for the memory card. I use these over the software that comes with the camera to save on battery life on the camera. I also use other software to edit my pictures as well (PaintShop Pro). I've found its a lot more user friendly than what comes with most cameras. I haven't used software that comes with my digital cameras in over 4 years.
Andrew
Aaron
Not a problem with the help. I know you can purchase Paint Shop Pro X ( apps.corel.com/lp/pspx/3360/ ) for only about $70.
Andrew
The A530 has a slightly smaller LCD display than the A540. It also doesn't have options to manually set the aperture or shutter speed. The A540 can also take auxiliary lenses, and has a custom waterproof case available for diving.
The A530 has a CCD with 5 million pixels; the A540 has a CCD with 6 million pixels.
There are more movie options with the A540 (especially the fast frame mode) than the A530.
The A540 weighs 180g, about 10g heavier than the A530.
I originally bought an A530, but it had problems (lens wouldn't retract), and was replaced by the dealer with the A540.
For my picture taking, the most important feature differences between the A540 and the A530 are the A540's larger LCD display, and slightly larger CCD. Batteries seem to last longer on the A530.
Note: buy NiMH AA rechargeables for either of these cameras, as they will quickly drain alkaline batteries.
The lack of image stabilization on the A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) doesn't really mean it's more stable than other cameras- it just means the manufacturer chose not to include that feature. But, not every camera and not every photographer needs image stabilization. If you personally don't have an issue with keeping your hands steady, and if you don't shoot with long zoom lenses or if you use a tripod when you do, you may never miss image stabilization. It's a fairly new thing in digital cameras- and while it's a fantastic feature, contrary to popular belief it's not an absolutely necessary one.
This sort of over-coverage is just kind of the breaks and there's not really a way to fix it. You can of course use your zoom, and keep in mind that if the image looks a little too large on the LCD it will look just right in the final photo.
The exception to this is if it just looks wrong to you, or off-center, or ludicrously different in size- then you may have an error in your camera. But I think it's just the way they are. Most cameras (film and digital) suffer from this to a certain extent, except the extremely expensive SLRs.
I noticed you haven't marked a "Best Answer"... are you still in need of help? If so, I recommend re-submitting your question at digitalcamera-hq.com so it has a better chance of being noticed. Lately questions are being answered within just a day or two. Good luck!
i just bought a casio camera yesterday....i put in
the memory card (SanDisk) and it still says "This camera is locked"
i already formatted like 3 different cards
...i called technical support already....what do u guys think?
just been messing around with the card and the lock device on the side (wiggling it, flicking it up and down etc) .... and now it's working again. So I don't know whether the actual locking device is dodgy and is getting knocked slightly out of joint when putting the card into the slot?? Not sure but it's working for now... I'll be back if it does anything else again.
Would stand to reason the solution is to use a plain old SD card (not the HC variety).
i both my camera and sd card from usa, but now i am in europe, i am from moldova and we here dont have this kind of cameras or cards.
you save me a trip to usa to buy an sd card.
thans a lot.
(sorry about my poor english)
Irina :)))
Thank you so much. I thought it is firmware problem.
This sounds like an issue with the connections inside the camera. I would recommend contacting Canon ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) for warranty support.
Andrew
radjalma oliveira- alagoas brasil.
radjalma oliveira- alagoas brasil.
Are you still in need of help? If so, I recommend re-submitting your question at digitalcamera-hq.com so it has a better chance of being noticed. Lately questions are being answered within just one or two days. Good luck!
The Canon A-series and SD-series are quite similar, with a few major differences, as I'm sure you've surmised. The A-series is comprised of what we call compact cameras and the SD-series is made up of ultra compacts. But what does that difference mean?
Well, basically it means that the SD-series cameras sacrifice a few things in the name of being smaller and more lightweight. For example, the A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... )has a 4x optical zoom, as compared to the SD600 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... )'s 3x. Furthermore, the A540 allows for manual focusing, while the SD600 does not. But aside from these differences, the technological backbone underlying the two cameras is pretty much the same. Both cameras have the same sensor chip, both have the same (DIGIC II) processor, and both produce the same size prints. In other words, both cameras should produce very similar photographs. The main difference is that the A540 will allow you more manual control over the shots you produce. It's closer to being an enthusiast camera, as opposed to the SD600's strictly point and shoot nature.
As to your value question, it really depends on what you want out of the camera. As I indicated above, the two will likely produce very similar images, though the A540 will allow you more control over fine tuning the settings (exposure, shutter speed, manual focus, shooting modes) before you shoot. The tradeoff is that the A540 is slightly larger (3.5 x 2.5 x 1.7" vs the SD600's 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.9") and heavier (8.1oz vs. the SD600's 6.0oz). Since both are around the same price point (the A540 is a little cheaper, but not much), the value question comes down to whether you value size or manual control.
The retail kit for each camera includes the proper USB and A/V cables, so there's no difference there.
Finally, while the A540 does offer the ability to manually control photographic settings, it doesn't force you to do anything manually. It is as good of a point and shoot camera as the SD600 is; it simply allows you to progress from point and shoot to slightly more advanced techniques if you'd like to. I have no difficulty recommending the A540 (or any A-series camera) to a novice user.
I hope this clears up your questions. Good luck!
They're both selling for $199 at Office Depot.
Which is a better deal? The A620 bundled with a printer or the A540 with a $40 rebate.
You really have to look at what you want to do with them. The big differences between the two cameras are the 7.1 megapixels and more manual settings on the <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... A620</a> vs. 6 MP on the <a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... that comes with higher ISO settings for lower light situations. Both cameras use AA size batteries and come with 4x optical zoom. The better deal depends on how much the printer is worth.
Andrew
Doesn't the A 540 also have a better LCD screen?
Also, what do you think of the Kodak Z 612 as an option?
Jim Brown
Doesn't the A 540 also have a better LCD screen?
Also, what do you think of the Kodak Z 612 as an option?
Jim Brown
The LCD screen on the A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is larger at 2.5" vs 2" on the A620 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ).
The Kodak Z612 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is a 6.1 MP camera with a lot more zoom to it at 12x optical. You will notice the zoom difference greatly over the Canons. It also comes with a lithium ion batter which runs longer than a standard AA, and you don't have to go out and buy rechargeable batteries this way. It also comes with a 2.5" LCD and manual exposure settings. If I was choosing between the 3, I would go with the Kodak ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). That is my personal choice though.
Andrew
The A540 is smaller and may be more appealing as a 'throw in a coat pocket and bring anywhere' camera. The A640 isn't much bigger but it is also a little heavier (because of it's 4AA batteries vs the A540's 2AA).
Personally I really like the balance and weight of the A540 and it is the camera I bought. It's light enough and has a nice grip such that I can control it easily with one hand.
However if the question is asking which camera has the best image quality, well I would have to say the A620 is the better camera.
I've read several reviews of both cameras, compared pictures where the same scene was taken with each, and I would have to say the A620 wins hands down. It simply seems to have clearer, sharper, and more pleasing pictures in daylight and even more so in low light.
The A540 takes very good daytime pics. If one looks at the A540 pictures taken (at review sites), in low light with long exposures requiring a tripod, they look great on their own. But when pictures of those same scenes taken with the A620 are compared, suddenly the A540 pictures look a bit blurry and dark. Even the fabled Fuji F30 seems to be blurry compared to the A620 at night.
Now if I had only looked at one review site, I might have thought it was merely a bad composition by the photographer using the A540. The A620 has a faster lens at telephoto with an aperture of F4.1 whereas the A540 only opens to F5.5 or so. The A620 purportedly may have the same lens as the G6, a very high end point and shoot. I have also read that my A540's ISO800 is really marketing hype and that it's exposure parameters (aperture & shutter) are closer to the A620's ISO400. This seems to be borne out (true in other words) if one examines the EXIF data.
So there you go, decide what criteria are important to you. I suspect is for many folks, low light long exposures are not important. They weren't to me . I also know that on 4x6 prints, I won't notice a difference. But I still wish I owned an A620 (if I were going to own 2 cameras). It does seem to take great shots.
The A620 maximum ISO is 400 while the A540 maximum ISO is 800
The A620 LCD size is 2.0 in while the A540 LCD size is 2.5 in
The A620 uses 4 AA battaries (longer life) while the A540 uses 2 AA batteries
any way the A620 is better than the A540 for picture quality
canon A90 or canon A540.
i know the features of both and have the comparison with that respect..but i want to know which is better camera usage wise...which gives lesser issues...
size and weight - the A540 is 8.1 oz whereas the A95 is 11.8 oz with slightly larger dimensions.
Zoom - A540 is 4X and the A95 is 3X
Pixels - The A540 is 6mp and the A95 is 5mp (not a major difference, but still worth mentioning)
A larger LCD display
The A95 however is no longer manufactured and may be difficult to locate. Both cameras received excellent reviews. The price of the A540 has dropped recently which makes it an excellent value for the money.
[url=]digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...
As far as actual usage, I have read that there is less PF (purple fringing around bright areas) and more accurate color. The responsiveness and focusing speed are also supposed to be slightly improved. The video mode on the A540 is supposed to be great, and it is able to zoom during video which many cameras do not have the capability of doing.
However, the A620 has a larger sensor, a flip-out LCD, and a heavier body weight. Some people count the heavier weight as a negative- to me it's a positive because it cuts down quite a bit on hand shake and blurry photos. Something to think about. Also, the extra megapixels of the A620 make it more flexible- you can crop more with 7 megapixels than you can with 6 and still get a usable print. I lean towards the A620.
Total price was $249.95.
They also had the A540 with free printer for $199.95.
I decided the A620 a much better deal for only $50 more dollars.
To answer your question, yes, the processor changed between the two cameras. The A60 used the original DIGIC processor, while the A540 uses the DIGIC II, its successor. Many other things have changed between the two, however, and it would be a mistake to blame a difference in image quality solely on the processor. The lens, CCD, and pretty much the rest of the internals are all entirely different. I don't think you could get anyone to say that the DIGIC II processor is inferior to its ancestor, but you could certainly get a few people to accuse Canon of what's known as "pixel-stuffing"--essentially attempting to cram more pixels onto a sensor chip that's roughly the same size. This practice often results in noisy, overly processed-looking shots. The A540's sensor chip is 1/2.5", as compared to the A60's 1/2.7", so the A540 is fitting 4 million more pixels into those few extra millimeters. There have certainly been some great advances in CCD technology since the A60 was produced, but Canon is definitely cutting corners a bit here.
thank you! that explains a lot. now to the problem of finding one that i DO like...
do you have any favorites?
thanks so much!
It seems like a lot of other users share your opinion of the picture quality with the A540. If you're looking for cameras that are generally in the same size range as the A60 and A540, the A630 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) and A640 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) are rated quite a bit higher. The A710 IS also has some nice features, including a 6x stabilized zoom. Canons are the cameras I'm most familiar with and the ones I'm most comfortable recommending, so there you go. Good luck!
i will check those out. i don't mind bulky. its harder to misplace that way! :)
you have been a great help!
I don't plan onmaking large pictures, just want a camera to take grandkid shots and vacation shots, maybe witha little extra zoom and such. I have an old HP612 now. Any suggestions? I was leaning toward Canon A620, mostly based on consumer reports.
Thanks
Debby
The main differences between the A and SD series boil down to two points:
1. Size. The A series cameras are somewhat bigger and heavier than the SD series. The SD models can generally fit easily into a shirt or pants pocket, while you'd have some considerable difficulty getting an A-series camera into your jeans pocket.
2. Features. The A series cameras offer a much broader range of manual controls over things like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and other technical settings than do the SD cameras. They often have longer zooms, as well.
At this point, based on what you're looking for, I'd recommend staying away from the A620 (since it's pretty old and will be harder to find at reputable dealers) and I'd suggest the A630 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) or A640 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) instead. They're rated extremely well by the pros and regular users alike. The A710 IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is also a good candidate, as it's equipped with an image-stabilized lens that will help rescue photos that would otherwise be blurry due to your hands moving as the shot is taken.
If you value the smaller size of the SD line and can live without the extra features the A series is equipped with, I'd recommend the new SD900 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ), which is a fantastic (and fantastically small) camera. There's also the SD800 IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ), which features the same image stabilization technology that's in the A710 IS.
You might actually want to try an ultra compact ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) camera. These smaller cameras are usually very simple to use, and travel well. Something like the Nikon S7c ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) with a 3" LCD, vibration reduction, and auto settings would be perfect for a beginner. The wide ISO range (50-1600) makes it an ideal canditate for high, or low light situations. Good luck and happy shooting.
Andrew
A few standard-sized models to consider might be:
<a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... Easyshare C743</a>- Super simple to use, great results esp. for the price. LCD is 2.4 inches.
<a href="digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... Powershot A540</a>- Again, easy to use with great results.
You mentioned fixed focus- any of these cameras will have Auto focus where the camera does the work for you, and you can also set the rest of the settings (exposure, etc.) to Auto so that it's literally a point and shoot camera.
Hope that helps!
This camera isn't especially compact, though, although it fits nicely in a jacket pocket.
1. What are the specifics? Not just what the, for example, megapixels of the model are, but what are megapixels???
2. Is the A530 simple to use/navigate?
3. Are the pictures good quality? I've read that they can be grainy or blurry. Is this true? I mean, the camera is for a 14 year old, so the quality doesn't have to be professional, but pretty good.
4. What on earth is ISO? Is an 800 ISO good?
5. Is there a good flash? I want it to light stuff up, but not make it all white. Also, are there other flash modes? My old camera had about 50 and I had no idea when to use them.
6. Is this camera big compared to those really cool thin cameras?
7. How long are the videos it takes? Do they turn out good quality? Is the sound good too? 640x480-is that any good because that's the type of video it says the camera takes on the website?
8. Does the camera come with any editing software for the computer? Is the software any good?
9. The website mentions DIGIC II Image Processor and iSAPS Technology. Is this good? Is this on other cameras or is this unique to this type?
10. The website also talked about ID Photo Print and Movie Print (how do you print a movie?) and then talked about SELPHY Compact Photo Printers. I have NO idea what this is. I told you, I am clueless. It doesn't mean it comes with a printer, does it? And how do you print the pictures? Is it easy?
11. I've heard about shutter-closing problems. Anything to add on this? Is this a severe/common problem? Are there any preventive measure that can be taken?
12. Is the Canon customer service any good? I've heard a lot of different things.
13. What is the cheapest price I can expect to find when purchasing this camera?
14. Are there any suggestions you have about purchasing this camera?
15. If you have anything else you would like to add, please do so, as I probably don't know it no matter how obvious it seems.
Thank you so much. Even if you can just answer one question, I really appreciate it!
Ask 3 people what is the best camera, you will receive 3 options.
This is my suggestion for you to consider:
Canon A530 is a very good camera with many features. It also has all the automatic features for the beginner and is priced for about $150 on-line.
The A540 is the same camera with a 6mp. It is going for $180. The 1mp difference is very small and you will most likely not notice any difference between the pictures unless you crop them.
Sonyâs DSC-W30 â 6mp 3x len very slim. Fits in pocket. Automatic. $180 on-line
Sonyâs DSC-W50 â has larger LCD screen. $210 on-line.
I am a Canon fan and own two of their cameras. However, based on the information I have, the Sony is probably the better camera for you. But you can not go wrong with any one of these cameras
Check them out. Have fun with your new camera.
Sony's DSC-W30
Featuring a 6.0-mp 3x optical zoom lens, a updated thin, compact body style perfectly suited for travel. Exposure remains under automatic control, something novices will appreciate, and its seven preprogrammed scene modes help with more tricky subjects. The Sony W30 is a very responsive camera, with low shutter lag in daylight conditions, and excellent shot to shot speeds. It also sports very good battery life, a very capable movie mode, and excellent download speed. Sony even has an underwater case for it as well. If you're looking for a good "take anywhere" camera with great versatility and good color and tonality this is it.
Sony DSC-W50
If you'd like the same camera with a larger 2.5-inch LCD, the Sony DSC-W50 is only about $30 more
Canon A530 Overview
With a 5.0-mp a 4x lens and a full range of exposure control, the Canon PowerShot A530 is another fine cameras.
The Canon A530 offers a lot in its compact package. It has automatic and manual features. You can even put it in a waterproof case. AA batteries some like but make the camera larger. Movie mode is present, but somewhat lacking in terms of frame rate.
5.0-megapixel CCD delivering image resolutions as large as 2,592 x 1,944 pixels
1.8-inch color LCD monitor
Real-image optical viewfinder
4x (35-140mm zoom)
AiAF autofocus and a manual focus mode
AF Assist light for low-light focusing
Automatic, Program AE, and Manual exposure modes, as well as 10 preset Scene modes and Stitch Assist
Manually adjustable aperture setting ranging from f/2.6 to f/8.0, depending on lens zoom position and shutter speed
Built-in flash with three operating modes plus red-eye reduction
SD/MMC memory storage
Power supplied by two AA batteries or optional AC adapter
Movie mode (with sound)
Continuous Shooting and a variable delay Self-Timer mode
White balance (color) adjustment with eight modes
the PowerShot A540
Featuring a 6.0-megapixel CCD a 4x lens and a full range of exposure control,
That is an impressive list of questions! =) I applaud you for researching before you buy. Here's my opinion and a few answers for you.
Get the A530 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) or, even better, the A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). Either will be great. Go for the A540 if you want to spend a little extra on another megapixel.
The A540 has 6 megapixels. Unless you do a serious amount of cropping and blowing up images, that should be plenty to print decent 8x10 photos should you ever want to. If all you want to do is post photos online, or print regular 4x6, that will be perfect. Megapixels are the tiny dots that make up the photo- the more of them there are, the better image quality you have (very, very generally speaking; there are other factors of course). 5 or 6 is all you need for your purposes. The photos will be good quality, I swear.
The camera isn't huge, but it's not a skinny ultracompact either. It's got a normal body with one thicker end that makes a great grip. It's also super durable (Great for a 14 year old) and I have not heard of any recurring problems with operation. You mentioned shutter problems, if that is happening it is isolated because I haven't come across that issue with this camera.
If you buy new, it will come with a CDROM that has photo editing software on it. It's not the greatest, but it'll get the job done, and if you have a software that you prefer (Photoshop, Paint, whatever) you are welcome to use that to edit your photos, too.
I've had good experience w/ Canon customer service. I have heard a lot worse things about Sony service than about Canon, personally. =)
I hope that's a good start on your questions. Please feel free to post again if I skipped any that you really wanted to know or if you need further info!
should i sod all and go for panasonic lumix fxo1
The program that you're using to rotate pictures (assuming it's not just Windows' picture viewer) ought to have a function that will let you resize your photos. The problem here is that the A540 shoots at 6 megapixels, which is indeed pretty huge (more than three times the size of your computer's desktop). You should try resizing them down to about 640x480 pixels--generally considered a pretty good web size.
If the program you're using doesn't offer this functionality, I'd recommend getting a photo organizer/editor like Google's Picasa 2 ( picasa.google.com/ ). It will take care of your needs.
As for the "incompatible jpeg format" issue... this is simply a result of the different ways your camera and your photo editing program save JPEGs. Your camera is set up to only recognize photos saved using its own JPEG compression settings, so when you edit and re-save the pictures with an editing program it can no longer recognize them. The best solution for this is to instead of simply saving your edited photos back to the SD card, SAVE AS and save them to your desktop or My Pictures folder. That way the untouched original will stay on your card.
Good luck!
A camera with "good" zoom is going to have more optical zoom. Digital zoom will cause loss of resolution in your photos. For a new camera in your price range, I would pick the Kodak Z650 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) with 10x optical zoom. This is a great little camera for under $200 (and you can download Kodak EasyShare software from Kodak for W98). Unfortunately, it does not have a view finder though. It does have 6 megapixels for printing photos well over 8x10 though. It also comes with high light sensitivity settings with up to ISO 800 (great for low light situations). Eventhough it will drain normal AA batteries, you can boost battery life by investing about $20 to get some lithium ion rechargeables with a charger. You should also get a SD memory card as well (I'd go with a 1G card), because the camera's internal memory will only hold 10 best quality shots.
If the view finder is a stopping point for you, I would choose the 4x optical zoom Canon A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). It does have a lot less optical zoom, but it is more portable, has the viewfinder, and the same ISO settings. I hope this helps.
Andrew
This time is known as the recycle time, and yeah, the A540 can often be slow in doing this although it's not the worst offender. It is made worse if you are using the flash. I can't give you any scientific reasons for this, as both cameras use the same basic processor (the Digic II), but the A620 does seem to be faster. Every review I've read has said so- it has been timed as being faster in terms of recycle and start-up time as well as shutter lag. Apparently there are other advances besides the processor that sped the camera up between models.
Another tip that might help would be to look into a high speed memory card, which could help both the A540 or the A620. A high speed card can improve the recycle time of the camera since during that time the photo is saving, and a high speed card can minimize the time required for that to happen, allowing you to take another photo more quickly.
Hope that helps.
Denise
The A610 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is by far a better camera than your A75 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ), and should be instantly usable for you since the layout of the controls and menus will be very similar. It's actually the successor to the A95, the A75's bigger brother. The A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) is newer, and adds an additional megapixel, but it's also got a smaller imaging sensor which means that at higher ISO settings and in lower light the picture quality is inferior to the A610's. The A610 also has a nice flip out and swivel LCD screen (2"), which is a big improvement on the fixed screens of the A540 and A75. Users also seem to prefer it over both the A540 and the A75.
You can see a side-by-side comparison of the three cameras' features here ( dpreview.com/reviews/compar... ).
Good Luck.
I have a cool pix 8800. Have the "lens error" message. Its 3 years old and worked last week but not today. Possitivly not been abused or miss used. \ne ideas? appreciated.
I could be totally wrong but I had the same prob until I realized I had tipped off the DISP button ... Once I clicked on that about an hour later :LOL: it worked again .. whew :-)
Thanks in advance
C
On the printer, click menu > setup
. Select Date in Print Setting Screen
. Select Date and Time ( by defalt the setting is off)
. click OK
If you do not have such printer, you will need a software to add the date to the picture before printing.
Go to internet, download and install Magitime 1.0.B8.
. run Magitime
. click " + " sign on top left hand corner of window
. select picture file, followed by picture to be printed
. click on picture that appears, and the date wil be
inserted.
. you can move the date stamp around to the position
desired with a mouse. Click the mouse to fix position
of the date.
. click run.
Here's what you need to do: Push the Function button, and set the camera to Postcard mode (a little icon that looks like mountains with one corner of the picture folded up). This mode may resize your pictures slightly (it is designed to print photos at postcard size, so it may slightly crop them; but it's the only mode that has date/ time stamp). Now that you're in Postcard mode, push the Menu button while in Record mode and scroll to Date/ Time Stamp. You should be able to turn it on.
You need not print the pictures when you use Magitime.
If you run Magitime you will find that it
. saves the picture to the Hard Disk with newly added
date.
. allows you to choose the date from Exif file or date
specified by you.
The date from Exif file means the date pictures are taken.
Saving dated files in HDD means you can post them on Web site.
Hope this clears the issue and solve your problem.
It depends on the model you buy, really. I haven't heard any specific information on how Canon is fixing the problem if they are, but it's one of those things- for example, some Panasonics have grainy images; some Sonys experience lens errors/ lenses sticking; some Canons have this issue. It's a drawback to certain models that can make or break the decision to purchase. What Canons specifically are you considering?
I was also looking at some of the Panasonic models, FX07 and FX01 or even Fujis. I'm all over the place right now. I've owned a Canon S30 for about five years. It's been a great camera. My wife has sort of adopted it and I'm looking for something small and compact for trips. Any recommedation would be appreciated. Thanks.
You've listed some really good cameras and all of them have their pros and cons, which I'm sure you know already. A lot will depend on what exactly you're looking for. You mentioned small and compact for trips, but is there anything else that would help? Zoom, image stabilization, and quick operation are all nice to have for trip photos I suppose. The Panasonics don't do as well as some of the others in low light no flash situations... they tend to be grainier than the competition (although some people don't notice, and they are fantastic cameras otherwise). Do you like manual control or would you rather point and shoot?
I could be wrong on this, but I don't seem to hear much about the sticking lens issue with these two models. I did hear about it more with the earlier A-series (A520 got it a lot). This makes me wonder if perhaps they haven't made some changes after all with newer models.
I have heard that the shutters that cover the lens on the Elphs (SD600/SD630) are sort of flimsy, and people have mentioned getting pocket lint or dust caught in them. I suppose this could cause them to hang up, but for the most part the complaints I've heard is that the lens gets dirty from it and needs to be cleaned off, but the shutters still work.
I've also heard that the LCDs on these can be relatively fragile, so that's something to watch out for if you are at all rough on your cameras. Other than that, I think these would be a great choice for you. Both are speedy and do well in almost all lighting conditions.
As an aside, I am personally fast turning into a Canon fan- I have owned an old Canon digital for awhile and I never really thought about its low light performance... until someone gave me a new Kodak. I'm literally amazed at how low-light indoor photos, which my Canon would have handled beautifully, are too much for this Kodak, and the pictures are really grainy.
I could not find you a schematic, but here's what I did find: The E18 error that occurs with some Canon cameras is similar to the problem you're having- the lens sticks and will not retract- the only difference is that the E18 error happens due to a failure in the camera, whereas yours happens because the camera was dropped. But I found some links to various guides that show you how to disassemble the camera in order to fix the E18 error with a stuck lens, so I think that these pictures and guides will be helpful to you as well. Remember not to do any of this if you're still under warranty and don't want to void it, though.
Here are the links:
<a href="fixya.com/support/t102982-e... stuck lens/ E18 error Canon cameras</a>
<a href="menthol.hit.bg/E18.html&quo... pictures of disassembled Canons (not in English, but helpful)</a>
<a href="artecdesign.ee/~jan/Kaamera... more pictures of disassembled Canons (not in English, but helpful)</a>
Good luck.
The fact that you're getting this error might be a problem- even restarting the camera may not help. But let's see if it does help before we worry about that. Usually, what that means is just to turn the camera off and then back on, but I'm assuming you've done that and it hasn't helped. So try restoring the factory settings and resetting the camera and seeing if that makes the error to go away. To do that on the A540, hold down the Menu button for five seconds. This should reset everything and (hopefully) make the error stop. If it doesn't, then you've got a separate problem-- come back and let us know if the error is still there. Also, if you have photos stored on the camera's internal memory, resetting the camera will delete those so make sure to download them first. Good luck!
The lens error, reset camera error can be tricky- it can be something more serious, or it could just need a reset. Did you try doing the Factory reset described above (hold menu button down for five seconds? I think this is how it works on the SD600, if not there should be an option in the Setup menu to reset the camera). If you've tried this and are still getting the error, it may need to be returned. Are you still under warranty?
But my Question is - is there any other way to reset it, or can I do anything - is my camera history..
I just bought it 3 weeks ago, so it pretty much sucks if it's history.. Please help!
/McAsh
I just responded to a similar question with a few suggestions for what you can try over on another thread, so I'll link to it for you:
digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...
(check the last post, the big long one)
Some of those suggestions may help... if not, you may be looking at repairs. Let me know if any of it is useful.
my SD600 is giving me the same lens error I see other people complaining about. Except that my lens isn't stuck half open, nor does it even try coming out when I turn the camera on. Factory reset doesn't work. HELP!!! Is there anything I can do except using it as a paperweight??
knocking for shure worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I FOR FREAKINGLY LOVE YOU.
:]ur my hero!
Knocking the lens back, helped in getting rid of the lens error.
some gentle knocks & lens was in ... I tried to restart the camera & it did work
Oh god !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thx a lot mamma.
thx for the help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it did it pretty hard and it wouldnt go.. im scared to do it any harder cuz i might screw it up.
sad thing is, i dont have warranty for it. i dont know what to do? jdejded
:[
I knocked the lens back in, but had to knock it pretty hard. Thought I broke it because then it "stuck" inside. Then I took the battery out for a few minutes, and turned the camera on while it was in movie mode - lens works fine now. Hooray!
Look at all these people on this forum. Not to mention the other ones I looked at before coming to this one.
I dropped my camera for the second time. The first time, my corners just got bent, but this morning I dropped it on the lens and it was stuck open. The lens that stuck out looked twisted, so i pushed it back in to make it flat, but it still didn't get rid of the problem. When I turned on the camera, I got the message Lens Error- Restart Camera.
Anyway,
******KNOCK IT BACK IN.*******
Literally, like you would knock on a door.
Now, when my lens comes out it has a weird click and the lens cover opens up a little rough, but it REALLY beats paying $200 for repairs.
JUST GIVE IT A LITTLE TAPPY TAP TAP AND THAT LENS GOES RIGHT BACK TO ITS HOME!!!
Does anyone know if this is a mechanical or a OS error? And, either way, if it can be fixed at home as opposed to brining it into a shop for warranty or repair?
I just did this to my camera too. My husband was sooo bad that I let the baby hold it and he dropped it! (sd600). I had to push really hard, but I thought ifi ts broken anyway I might as well try, and it worked. Thank God, he is going to be sooo happy!! Thank you!!
I've tried reseting the camera several times, that didn't work. I removed the outer casing to look for obstructions or anything out of the ordinary, everything looks fine. I've also tried Mama's trick with no luck.
I'm wondering if this is a software issue, and if I can somehow reinstall the camera's software. I'm also wondering if there are any magic button combinations, such as one that forces the lens to extract.
Thanks in advance.
pleaseeeeeeeee
I have a Canon Powershot A750IS I've had it 3 weeks and got it from Ebay and received the error message.
1. The error message appeared on screen during its initial powerup sequence but the lens did not deploy out, the message appeared for apx 7/8 seconds before the camera powered down
I followed the instructions above regarding holding the menu button this did not work, then i read the messages regarding banging, tapping and knocking which I thought would be of no use as the lens was flush and didnt deploy so nothing to bang, tap or knock.
However, with nothing to lose I pressed the power button and received the message and very quickly gently pushed at the lens area, the lens quickly deployed partially then retracted and the camera powered down.
I restarted the camera and everything is now working fine !
i have a canon powershot a570is - just bought it, haven't used it yet - was turning it on to set it up with my laptop and this 'lens error restart camera' msg came up, i think b/c i accidently hit the 'lens ring release button' on the front of the camera under the lens....
i'm not really brave enough to try the bang/tapping technique yet for fear of a devestating CRUNCH sound....perhaps i'll go to the store......i've been waiting for it to arrive for weeks, and now this right away - what a tease!!!
If they give me a hard time, I will file a complaint with my State Attorney General's office. There is definitely a product problem with this unit from the responses on this reviews alone.
Contact Canon at usa.canon.com/consumer/cont...
I don't think this is right. I will be filing complaints with my State's regulatory agencies to help me resolve this matter.
i tried the menu button and it didn't work. and i cant do the tip MAMA tried because the lenses simply wont
come out, i tried to work it a few nights back and the lens opened and i saw the screen with the pictures
i could delete, rotate, etc. but when i turned the switch for the camera, it would shut off
im going to leave it for a while and then hopefully it will turn on and try to slide the lens back in the camera as gentle and fast as can.
fingers crossed
I am now considering Olympus, Nikon, Fuji, Sony..... we have an Olympus D510 that's 7+ years old and never a problem.
ok i turn it on and it goes to the canon screen then after like 4 seconds it goes black and beeps and says..."lens error, restart camera"
what in the world do i do?
i've tried turning it off, holding down the menu button, and tapping it slightly. :)
what else??!?!?!!?!?!?
it isn't under warranty... i don't think. so whatever advise you have give it to me.
IT WORKED!
Just to be clear: in our case the lens was stuck open, so I put it face down on the table and turned it on and started to press. Did that a few times and nothing happened, so then I moved to tapping the lens gently on the table while I turned it on ... it worked the 3rd time.
When I called Canon directly (last week) they were quick to offer me a refurbished SD750 model for $175 - $200, but they were reluctant to give me directions as to how to simply take it apart and fix the camera I have! It was dissapointing, to say the least...but I have come to expect this kind of thing in a big company.
So, I encourage you to frig around with it on your own. Just get a set of sunglass screwdrivers (tiny) and get under a good light and go for it! Keep track of where all the screws go - since they are so tiny it is difficult to tell that they are very different sizes.
Good luck!
your a fucking life saver
we just fixed our camera
your a champion old mate.
(Y)
your a fucking life saver
we just fixed our camera
your a champion old mate.
(Y)
Guys, this advice is life saver. I just moved to Paris and they were quoting me over 200 euros to fix it, and then they did not want to service it as they did not sell it. I almost used a screwdriver to take it apart BUT A bit of advice- if knocking it doesnt work (as mine didnt because the the front portion of the lens was crooked (one side fully distended and the other side not) and was so annoyed to see so many people's working after a knock) at the same time you press the on/off button, pull up the non distended side (the shorter side), that worked for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look at the camera from the top down at the lens and you will see the lens is crooked. straightened it out so that it snaps back into place and now should look straight. It worked for me. the lens gets crocked and binds and cant retract. snap it back into place. I did it and it worked..
i am now to be the happiest person on earth. i thought i broke my moms friends camera and almost started digging my own grave. but thnaks to Mama i can wait for my grave to dig its self. Mammamamama your a HERO!!!
Mama... you're the greatest!!!
It was working for a while, but now the lens is stuck open. I think it's dirt stuck in there so I'm afraid of knocking it because it might be the sand. But I don't know.
Should I do it anyway?
I really don't want to take it in :/
however, this weekend i had the camera on with the lens extended and the camera was hanging from my wrist. i brought up the camera to take a picture and i went to snap the picture and i got the "lens error restart camera". i didnt hit it on anything and have tried knocking it, pressing it, pulling it up and out, holding the menu button, putting new batteries in, holding the start button and the shutter button at the same time. someone said i might need a new internal battery [i didnt even know about this battery--about watch sized located right next to the AA batteries] the lens makes no noise when i turn the camera on.....any new suggestions?
When the new camera arrived, I took the rechargeable batteries and memory card out of the A540 and put them into the A590. My wife then picked up the A540 and asked what we should do with it. She then found that the lens appeared to have eased. We put the batteries back into the A540 and it now works.
This method is not guaranteed but does anyone know why it works?
anyone know how to fix the blurry!?!?!!?
Good Luck guys!
THANKS MAMA!
This sucks I have a PowerShot A540 and I have the "lens error, restart camera" issue !!!
I tried the batteries and memory card changing, and the knocking in trick !!!
But nothing worked, what should I do ?
thanks MAMA
except there's this crinkling noise every time it closes...
I'll buy Canon again. My experience was great, and they said if they found it due to neglect it would cost me $88 (worth it to me).
FYI
I had a retracted lens so I can't really knock anything back in though I know that trick from doing it to my gf's camera. We had just arrived at Sequoia and the camera slid off the hood as we were taking a scenic pic and it bounced with a crack. Needless to say our mood quickly went from madly in love to utterly depressed but we funked with it just enough to fix it. Good times. Just be careful! Don't force anything in. That's what she said.
What I eventually did this time, after trying everything else, was to take out the battery and memory card. I checked to see if I have a watch-type battery in there somewhere, nope. So I put it all back in, turned it on while pressing the shutter button, and it instantly came to life. Whew! This old hunka junk's still got a few years of life. Other than this really irritating error, these cameras are pretty damn rugged. I had an Elph one time that I dropped in a deep puddle and it worked fine after drying out. And this one gets dropped constantly. Rave on!
it worked! sooooo happy!
e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php
There are currently over 6000 reports of this error over there!
ok i knocked the lense back in and now the picture comes out really blurry unless i zoom the picture in :'(
is the camera gone for good
or is there a way that i can make the picture sharper :(
please help ... this is not my camera :'(
i would really apreciate any answers
the problem is that i turned it on after that, it was the same thing... the message still there and the lens moved and stayed stuck in the middle, and the cam went off.. wtf!!!! i've been trying for 5 hours, no kidding... and it is an emergency cause it belongs to my boyfriend's mom and i have to give it back eventually..
my sd600 often goes into movie mode automatically when I switch it to camera mode. so it starts taking a movie even though the setting is on camera! does anyone know how this can be fixed??
thanks!!
Taking it apart seems to have worked for a few people:
andrewkoch.com/archives/200...
avh.dds.nl/Fix-Canon-SD600-...
have the same problem with a Canon 540 and found this website with 7 suggestions to fix the lens error bug.
Since I´m German I hope my english is good enough to be understood ;-).
Greets
camerarepair.blogspot.com/2...
Just as a warning, it only lasted me another 6 months before giving the lens error, restart camera message and now there is no saving it. Hasn't worked for 2 weeks now and I've tried everything!
i tried mama's trick and pushed it back in
and now it doesnt come out at all !!!
wow i'm totally screwd now, i heard a popping noise now its gone
GRR i'm so mad.
and droped it when i was downloading pictures. but i didnt bother disconnting the camera completely. so then i turned it on a few hours later and it said "lens error restart camera" please help me.
My dad is coming in a few hours.!
Why is Canon selling cameras that are so poorly designed? This seems to happen all the time. No more Canons for me.
Doing that will only create more problems. I did it with my sister's camera and the photos are now all of focus. If you're having trouble with your camera get a professional to check it out. If it's a simple fix they can do it responsibly for you in store on the spot.
Don't take advice from someone named MAMA who can't even spell!!
We Love MAMA HOOOOOOOOOORAAAH!
Smacked straight on with my palm!!
Thanks MAMA.
I never thought that would work!!
BUT MAMAS SOLUTION WORKED!!!!!!!!
THANK YOUUUU!!!!!!!!
It beeped several times and displayed the ever so popular "Lens error, restart camera"
After trying Mama's tactic, and the Menu button tactic, none worked.
I then decided to give me camera a good look. The smallest aprt of the telescoping lens was tileted. It look a little work to get it up, but all you have to do is push up the side that is down, and ONLY that part.
If you do it right, the camera's lens should go in.
THanks to Mama... I fixed my s40 as well with her solutions... thanks
~maymaybean
I THOUGHT MY CAMERA WAS DUNZO BUT I SLAMMED IT DURING THE 5 SECONDS IT WOULD STAY ON FOR AND IT WORKED!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! I AM BEYOND HAPPY RIGHT NOW AHHH! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
i tried to push the lens in, it went in completely and not coming out. how should i slam the camera, should i hit the camera on the top of the table? on which part of the camera should i hit? and how hard i need to hit to get a result? should i hit the camera while it's off? pls let me know?
now the lens is in. ugh!
I had the problem similar to those that said they could not restore factory settings because it just said "Lens error, restart camera" and there was no time to hold "menu" down for 5 seconds because it just powered off.
Basically, I'd power on, get the "CANON" splash screen, then it would say "Lens error, restart camera". Didnt matter which mode it was in (video, playback or camera) and there was NO sound of the lens even trying to come out.
I've had this problem on other canons, lens stuck out and the gentle bonking, persuading seemed to work but this one was finicky... and just wouldnt come out.
So I took the thing apart... 6 screws. This site shows you whats what and might help fix other problems too:
avh.dds.nl/Fix-Canon-SD600-...
basically all I had to do was to use a small screwdriver to spin the fly wheel behind the flash (its apparently the motor for the lens)... I spun it about 10 times and it was tight for a couple of them... then I powered it up and it opened the lens... I think the thing was just a little bit seized up or might have had something very small lodged in it...
Thats it. Oh, when you put it back together, make sure to keep the switch aligned between camera/video/playback... forgot to do that and had to take it all apart agian and put it back together...
Alex
im just concerned about one thing though:
what if it knocked off the focus :( ?? if you have anything to say it'd be appreciated if you could comment me back thankss!!
When i bought i have used it with total care but after using it i locked up in my lockup after a few months when i completed my studies and then i wanted to go for a picnic with my friends i thaught to use it i purchased some new battries and then turned it on when i turned it on every thing was all right but i is not giving a picture the LCD is giving the setup theme put the lens is not giving a pictures review what should i do to fix it?
When i bought i have used it with total care but after using it i locked up in my lockup after a few months when i completed my studies and then i wanted to go for a picnic with my friends i thaught to use it i purchased some new battries and then turned it on when i turned it on every thing was all right but i is not giving a picture the LCD is giving the setup theme put the lens is not giving a pictures review what should i do to fix it?
In A540, users can choose to set the speed and aperture using this mode.
For further information on the use of this function, you may refer to Page 47 of the Advance Users' Guide.
Some cameras have the feature of showing the picture taken after each shot, but this will slow down the time taken for the camera to be ready for the next shot.
This happened to me ... On the back where the screen is ... on the bottom RHS you can see a button named :disp: Press this and you will see the pic :-)
The only difference perhaps lie in the size of the button. Press the Function/Set button a few times to get the feel of it and reset the date again will probably solve the problem, assuming there is nothing wrong with the camera.
Alternatively bring the camera back to the shop and the sales assistant will set it for you.
We don't actually sell anything here at DCHQ. We merely link to online merchants who do sell the cameras.
The $159 deal you're talking about is from RefurbDepot.com, and as the name suggests, it's for a refurbished model. If you go here ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) you'll see a list of merchants in the upper right hand corner. Click on one of the prices to be taken to that merchant's page, where you'll get full info on the camera being offered.
As to the camera's quality--it's very good. Personally, I'd spend a little more and upgrade to the A630 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ), but either one would get you good results for general-purpose photography. All of Canon's consumer cameras are very user-friendly and have very good automatic shooting modes.
Hope this helps!
I used to work fine the first time I connected it and retrieved some photos with the default XP wizard. But after installing the software included, my PC claims the device has malfunctioned and totally fails to recognise it. Problem persists even after uninstallation of the software.
It could be due to changes to the picture file itself or the directory as a whole because of the method used to move or delete files in the camera.
The most practical way out is to buy a card reader to plug to the USB port of the PC and do all transactions through the card reader.
Do not use the software that you suspect to be causing the problem. Try downloading a free copy of Picasa or Picasa 2 from the internet instead.
Picasa will detect and copy the pictures to the PC automatically.
thanks
The reason I asked about the batteries, is that erratic operation, or NO operation, of a digital camera is usually because the batteries are worn out.
or otherway around .. you can click on that photo which you want " send to "
just click on right side of mouse .. there is go !! easy i hope this might help you clear your mind
all the best
cheers
Revhead
good luck!! as i had happen 4 time on kodak and love kodak bec it simply one to handle as i am not photographer person but love it
all the best your camera
by the way if still same you should go your camera troubleshoot infomation on website which might help you if not only last chance is take camera back to your shop where you brought it ..
cheers
What is the exact error message? Knowing the exact wording would help me help you much more easily.
Thanks!
Aside from the extra megapixel you get with the A550, there's very little improvement over the A540. Furthermore, the A540's LCD is bigger (though the same resolution). Since the A540 can probably be had cheaper these days, I'd recommend going for it instead of the A550.
Both cameras should work fine with Vista.
Good luck!
If replacing the batteries has no effect, it sounds like you've got a dead camera on your hands. If it's less than a year old, you should request a repair under warranty from Canon's site here ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ). It should be free except for shipping.
Good luck!
Sometimes... can be found for less.
Some sony are good for this... but I would tell you to buy a Nikon L series. Cheap, great... nice features... and rechargable AA batteries. Your kid, or even you... don't need more than this.
Hope to be helpful,
Alan Schamber.
I think you can indeed get a good camera for very close to this price, especially for an eight-year old. Basically what you want is something fairly durable and easy to use that takes good photos, with rechargeable batteries. You said that a non-blur feature would be nice, but my thought is that you may have to pass on that feature simply because it's a pretty new thing in cameras (it's called Image Stabilization), so getting a camera that has it means that you're automatically buying something recent, and thus more expensive.
Here's my suggestion though. I'd buy one of the early Canon A-series if I were you. As I said, they're earlier models, so the operation may be a little slower and you won't have an anti-blur, but they will be cheap and they will take GREAT photos (I refuse to give mine up, even though I own lots of 'better' cameras now) and they are durable, and super easy to use.
Now, they do use AA batteries- but you can buy rechargeable NiMH AA batteries, along with a charger, for about twenty bucks. Walmart has them. And they will last you for a long, long time- I actually prefer AA rechargeables because they're so cheap in the first place, and they've worked great for me.
The A430 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ), I think, is still available new, as are the A530 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) and A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ).
I'd also recommend, since those are going above your budget, checking Amazon for some of the other models that are no longer available new. The camera I own, the A85, is available used through Amazon for $99 and would be a great choice:
<a href="amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-...
Let me know if that helps at all!
For example in America you can try <a href="canon.com/gateway/region/am... location</a>
Click download and it will lead you to a page where you can select the model of your camera and the software required.
Note however that Ni MH rechargeable batteries come in several capacities. You should be buying those that are labeled as 2500 mAh and above and for reliability, go for batteries manufactured by Kodak. You also need a battery charger to go with it.
-Push the Disp button next to the LCD. This is PROBABLY not the issue, as the LCD is typically black when it's turned off, but just thought I'd get that one out of the way. =)
-Can you see anything on the screen menu-wise, in Playback mode perhaps? If so, press and hold Menu for five seconds and do a Factory Reset. My thought here is either an electrical glitch, or something bizarre like your white balance being turned all the way up. Either way, this will reset it.
-Turn it off, remove the batteries for about three minutes and then put them back in and turn it on.
If none of that worked, I'm willing to bet your image sensor has died, and considering cost of repairs, yes, it might be the Blue Screen of Death. Worth a call to Canon's customer service to see what they have to say, though.
Example 1/80 2/80 3/80
Now it is not there and I would like it back. I have reset the camera to default settings and it did not come back.
In playback mode, you should be able to set that up in either the "Play" or "My Camera" menus. I don't think that is a default setting on the Canon cameras. Good luck.
Andrew
Glad you got it to work. Come back with any questions.
Andrew ( blackdoorphotos.com )
If you have difficulties, here is the shot cut :
<a href="usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... Powershot A540</a>
I placed a new memory card in the clock, new batteries, reset the camera to default settings and ....still have the create folder icon on the the viewer and no picture when pressing the button.
bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/775...
However, that seems kind of pricey, and other stores are saying it's discontinued, so you may have to hunt a bit to find it at a decent price.
camerarepair.blogspot.com/2...
In the same price range is the Powershot A540 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). It has double the MP, 4x optical zoom, Movie mode with sound, and is rated 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Better yet, the A570IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) which upgrades the A540 and adds image stabilization.
Much better than that A300 you're thinking about repairing.
Technology wise, SDHC card differs from SD card in having higher capacities and allowing higher data transfer speed. Without going into the details of 'specification 2.00 and 1.0 or 1.1' that separates the two types of card, probably it is useful to know that SDHC reads, and writes, in Fat 32 format and SD card uses Fat 16 format.
No need to lose the moment because you relied on one large one when several smaller ones can solve that problem. At the very least, you want to get more than one of whatever size you settle on.
One last thing. Cards have different speeds. The faster a card is, the quicker it'll save the photo and cycle to be ready for another shot. In the end, your camera is only going to be as fast as it's slowest link in the chain. So check for speed when you purchase a card.
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
To do this press Func button > Drive Mode>select 10 sec. Press Func button to confirm.
You have 10 sec to get into position while the timer light blinks at the end of which the Picture will be taken.
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
So far, your suggestion seems to have solved the problem completely. I guess time will tell if it is a permanently fix, but the lens cover seems to work beautifully now.
THANK YOU very much for your speedy and effective solution. As far as I am concerned, you certainly have earned your points today.
BTW - If you're happy with the answer you received, you can simply click on "Mark for best answer" bubble and it will place the question in the "Answered" category for all to see. Thanks for posting it and Good luck!
There's an entire website ( e18error.com/ ) devoted to this. In a nutshell, Canon E18 error happens when the lens gets stuck while trying to extend. The camera will beep a few times and the LCD will display a little E18 in the lower-left corner. The lens gets stuck in the extended position, and refuses to move either to focus the lens or to retract when powered off.
If your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can do have Canon should fix it.
If your camera is out of warranty, or if Canon refuses to repair it for free, the one thing you can try is to If you gently, and I do mean GENTLY push against the lens with the PALM of your hand as you turn it on, it may cause it to depress back into the camera. If that doesn't work, and you can't reset it or turn it on/off several times, then you may have to send it in for a repair estimate anyway.
But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
If you don't feel comfortable taking your camera apart, you might try brining it to a local camera shop like a Ritz or Penn Camera. They can usually do something like this for you, or get it sent out for a small fee. Good luck.
Andrew
Andrew
There's a service advisory on this issue at the Canon Website:
Safety Notice: PowerShot A530/A540 Overheats
We have discovered that, in a very small number of PowerShot A530 and PowerShot A540 digital cameras, the area around the battery cover on the bottom of the camera may become hot. We would like to convey the details of this phenomenon and our service policy.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to customers who use these products. We spare no effort in our quality management to make sure our customers can use our products with confidence. We hope our efforts will earn your understanding.
Phenomenon
We have discovered that in cameras where the opening/closing spring on the inside of the battery cover (see images below) sticks out beyond its regular position, if a battery is put into these cameras and the battery cover is closed, it causes a short-circuit and the following phenomena occur:
1) The bottom of the camera becomes extremely hot near the battery cover.
2) Batteries that are loaded are depleted quickly.
3) The number of shots that can be taken becomes extremely small.
Affected Cameras
PowerShot A530, PowerShot A540 Digital Cameras
Please check the first two numbers from the left in the serial number listed on the bottom of the camera.
The serial number: Cameras with "21", "22", "23", "24", as the first two numbers from the left.
For cameras with the serial numbers listed above, please open the battery cover and check the hinge part.
Cameras in which the opening/closing spring sticks out like in the ones shown in the images below are affected by this malfunction.
Affected Products
Warning: The opening/closing spring and the metal parts on the inside of the battery cover become extremely hot. So to avoid burns, please DO NOT TOUCH THEM.
For Reference
Normal Products
This phenomenon does not occur in cameras in which the opening/closing spring does not stick out, like the ones shown in the images below. (There are two different types of spring, which have the shapes shown in (1) and (2).)
Canon Support
PowerShot A530 and A540 digital cameras affected by this phenomenon will be repaired free of charge, regardless of warranty status. Accordingly, if the opening/closing spring on the inside of the battery cover of your PowerShot A530 or A540 digital camera sticks out, please do not use the camera. Instead, please contact a Canon call center (at the toll-free number below) at your earliest convenience.
Contact Information for Inquiries
Call Center
1-800-828-4040 (toll free)
8AM - Midnight - Monday to Friday
10AM - 8PM - Saturdays
Email: carecenter@cits.canon.com
Some additional info on the advisory can be found here. The articles on this site also provide other's experience in submitting their camera for the free repair:
usa.canon.com/consumer/cont...
after a very long time of having this problem i saw on DigitalCamera-HQ.com about this:
"please advise how i can get helped
This sounds like a pretty big problem. I would contact Canon ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) for warranty/repair support. Good luck.
Andrew
Do you totally advise against taking to a local place to get it checked out? It is no longer under warranty. I can't live without a camera for the time it will take to ship it to a major city.
Anyone else hear of this problem happening to a camera?
The repair center will work, but I would get a price quote before allowing them to do any repairs. A lot of times a repair is more costly than a new camera. I have had my Canon SD230 for almost 6 years and it has never acted up on me. Good luck.
Andrew
See the following URLs:
usa.canon.com/consumer/cont...
Also,
usa.canon.com/consumer/cont...
"Service Notice: CCD Image Sensor Advisory (Updated 10/31/2006)
This Service Notice will update Canon U.S.A., Inc.'s previous CCD Image Sensor Advisory, dated October 6, 2005.
It has come to our attention that the vendor-supplied CCD image sensor used in certain Canon digital cameras and digital video camcorders may cause the following malfunction: When the product is used in recording or playback mode, the LCD screen and/or electronic viewfinder may exhibit either a distorted image or no image at all. While reports of this malfunction have been rare in the United States, we have determined that it may occur if the product is exposed to hot and humid environments.
Notice of Additional Affected Products:
As a result of our continuing investigation of this malfunction, we have determined that the 11 models listed below, in addition to the 16 models listed in our Service Notice concerning this malfunction, dated October 6, 2005, may be affected.
Affected products:
- Camcorders: ZR60, ZR65 MC, ZR70 MC, ZR80, ZR85, ZR90, ELURA 40 MC, ELURA 50
- Digital Cameras A60, A70, A75, A300, A310, S230, SD100, SD110, A40(*), A80(*), A85(*), A95(*), S1 IS(*), S60(*), S200(*), S330(*), S400(*), S410(*), S500(*)
*Models added as of Oct.31, 2006
Malfunction:
It has been confirmed that the connecting parts of the internal wiring of the CCD used in affected products may become disconnected, especially if the affected products are stored or used in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. If this occurs, the signal is not output from the CCD normally in Shooting Mode, which may cause a distorted image or the absence of an image. This malfunction can be confirmed on the LCD monitor screen during shooting. The same malfunction also appears on the recorded image.
Canon's Response:
Effective immediately, and regardless of warranty status, Canon will repair, free of charge, the products listed above exhibiting the above-mentioned malfunction if Canon determines that the malfunction is caused by the CCD image sensor. Canon will also cover the cost of shipping and handling in connection with this repair.
U.S. residents are kindly directed to contact the Canon Customer Support Center for further assistance at 1-800-828-4040. Support hours are Monday thru Friday - 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight; and Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (all times EST). Alternatively, if electronic support is preferred, please send your email to carecenter@cits.canon.com
This information is for residents of the United States of America and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this issue, and appreciate your understanding in this matter. Thank you for your support and patronage of Canon products."
Perhaps a call to Canon AND some hard talking on your part to convince them might result in a free repair. The gist of the problem as I understand it is that the wiring to/from the CCD sensor becomes disconnected due to poor design.
Best of luck to you, Larry
If your camera is out of warranty, or if Canon refuses to repair it for free, the one thing you can try is to If you gently, and I do mean GENTLY push against the lens with the PALM of your hand as you turn it on, it may cause it to depress back into the camera. If that doesn't work, and you can't reset it or turn it on/off several times, then you may have to send it in for a repair estimate anyway.
But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
You might need to access those files via your computer. Accessing non-picture files or edited picture files with your camera doesn't usually work. If you have a memory card reader that you can access the card with, you can see the files the same way you would in inserting a disc. I hope this helps.
Andrew
What file type are the pictures? The Mac to PC thing shouldn't be that big of a deal if you have the right software.
Andrew
The only thing I can think of from this info is that the Mac may have created duplicate files of the same images on your card so it could read them. I have heard of this happening in a few cases. Do you know the three letter extension at the end of these "new" images (i.e.: .png or .jpg)?
Andrew
ex: when i try to delete a picture i just took, it wont delete it.
but every other button on the camera works.
Also, try resetting your camera. This is a fairly easy procedure which involves either going into your setup menu and choosing "reset" (or intialize), holding down the menu key for 5 seconds, or, removing the batteries for a few minutes. It may be that the firmware loading got corrupted and the camera just needs to be "rebooted," which is something that turning it on/off won't accomplish. But after which, you should have the camera reset to factory default settings.
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
And on the memory card, it doesnt have a "red" or "yellow" tab, it only has unlock or lock the card.
I cant even go to my setup and press "reset all" because the function key does not work. And the batteries are fully chargered.
Thank you but that didn't help.
And since you are unable to reset the camera, at this point, I'd suggest talking to Canon about a repair. Ask them about an RMA return and see if they will replace it. If not, then you're looking at a full repair and with the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
A last ditch option is to contact your credit card company that you paid for it with and see if they offered extended warranty protection. If so, then you can have it repaired that way.
It involves two steps in the setting. Step one selects the postcard mode :
Function > Recording Pixels > Post card
Step two sets the date to on/off :
Record Menu > Date off/on.
Date stamp is set to off by default and there is no way to remove the date once it is stamped on the picture.
(thanks again, Bukit!)
A new lithium battery, not your AA battery, will restore your Date and Time display.
An even better answer, frankly, is to get a card reader. They're about 15 dollars at Walmart or Target and they plug into your USB. You put the card into the reader and it downloads from there; no drivers are required. Also saves wear and tear on your camera.
Thanks
camerarepair.blogspot.com/2...
As for opening the camera casing, you need to take out the small screws and wedge the camera open, though i really don't recommend doing this, good chance you'll damage your camera. Try the steps above on the website first, and tell us how it goes.
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
Also, make sure you have fresh high capacity (mAh) batteries in it. Often undercharged or depleted batteries can easily affect camera performance.
it finally just started to work.
weird, huh?
but yeah, i was happy, well now i AM happy :]
Absent that, are you sure the batteries are good? They may be underpowered. Cameras really need batteries with an mAh of at least 2500 to operate properly. That means high powered alkalines or rechargable batteries that have that capacity.
No need to lose the moment because you relied on one card one when several can solve that problem. At the very least, you want to get more than one of whatever size you settle on.
One last thing. Cards have different speeds. The faster a card is, the quicker it'll save the photo and cycle to be ready for another shot. In the end, your camera is only going to be as fast as it's slowest link in the chain. So check for speed when you purchase a card.
No need to lose the moment because you relied on one card one when several can solve that problem. At the very least, you want to get more than one of whatever size you settle on.
My brother has send me this card from UK ,but it giving lock error and after viewing similar question it is clear that A540 doesn't support that, but is there any way to upgrade it so that it can support SDHC card also.
Using the Self-timer
Changing the Self-Timer Settings
With this function, images are shot 10 or 2 seconds after the shutter button is pressed. This is useful when you want to take a memorable photo with everyone including yourself in the picture. The self-timer can be used in any shooting mode. In addition, you can set the delay time and number of shots (Custom Timer).
1. Press the <FUNC./SET> button and use the ^ or v button to choose (Single Frame).
2. Then use the or buttons to choose , < or > .
* When the shutter button is pressed fully, the self-timer will activate and the selftimer lamp will blink.
* When the self-timer is set to 10 sec or 2 sec, the shutter activates in 10 or 2 seconds after the shutter button is pressed fully.
* With the (Custom Timer) option, the specified number of shots are taken after the specified delay when the shutter button is pressed fully. You can change the delay time (0?10, 15, 20, 30sec.) and number of shots (1?10). When [Delay] is set to 2 or more sec., the self-timer sound begins to beep 2 sec. before the shutter releases. When [Shots] is set to more than 1, the self-timer sound only beeps before the first shot.
To Cancel the Self-Timer
Follow the same steps as above and return the setting to (Single Frame).
Another tip is to go to Canon's website ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont... ) and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
I'd also give it a good cleaning around all the buttons. There could be But the fact that the lens won't zoom concerns me. Canon advises that in a situation like this, you're only real recourse is to send it in for repair. Though hopefully a full reset may solve the issue. But if it doesn't, since this camera is out of warranty, understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
Lastly, you could try cleaning your battery contacts with a pencil eraser. They do get greasy and dirty and to clean the contacts when you replace the batteries is a good habit to be in. Outside of that, if you live in a humid area, it's possible that the camera is suffering from moisture. Putting it in a ziplock with a cup of uncooked rice for a day or two will draw out any excess moisture gumming up the works.
If all that fails, it may just be serendipitous and the camera just needs servicing.
They do affordable camera repair and may be within your budget.
What's wrong with it?