I have had this camera for 4 years now and found it to be truly exceptional. So much so in fact that I was amazed to read the negative comments on this site.

The image quality is outstanding (almost as good as most SLRs), battery life is excellent and the range of features are very impressive.

I have used many cameras, including Pentax, Minolta, Kodak etc, but found this one to be the best.

What will my next camera be? Definitely a Canon.

When we go somewhere and wanna use the A80 powershot we always have a back of extra batteries with us. Hopefully we will soon buy a decent non canon camera that doesn't have that irritating kind of bug.

Ok, ive had the camera for 3 yrs. It was GREAT! But recently something in it is broken, you cant take pictures. It shows up as a bunch of blurs! Whats wrong? How can we fix it?

For the past two years I have loved my versatile little Canon A80 camera. It has travelled with me around the world and withstood use in varying conditions. That is why I was shocked this week when my camera suddenly stopped working (under very normal conditions). I found this site after trying to get info about the E18 error, and was surprised to find so many people reporting the same problems. My camera lens keeps getting stuck while trying to retract, and when it is not showing the E18 error, it takes pictures that are grossly overexposed or blurry. I am so sad and disappointed about the demise of my camera, barely two years after purchase. I doubt that I will ever buy a canon product again.

I owe this camera since 2004 and haven't experienced any problems with it. It has lots of manual functions - enough for amateurs and semi-professionals. And it has one of the best matrixes in it's class - 1/1.8 with 4 MPix is still excellent solution even in 2007 (most new cameras has only 1/2.5 with 6 and more MPix)

I did about 800 or so pictures!I had a situation when I loaded the memory-card,the picture would stay dark,removing,and reinserting the M.C.activated the picture taking part again.months later I had the same problem,but this time,it did not come back!for the price to repair it,i will get another brand name camera much cheaper.I know canon as one of the top camera makers,but myself i doubt that canon mastered the secrets of todays electronics completly.A.G.

It was easy to use and the pictures were pretty good. Now giving us the E18 error - sounds very common!

Bought Canon A80 2 years ago. Great camera until a month ago when dreaded E18 problem started. Usual things-lens either will not open or shut. Wrote to Canon in New Zealand but they were in denial of this problem. Have made temporary fix by gently knocking the rubber cover to USB port on hard surface. Have also used family vacuum cleaner to suck all around the lens (remove outer ring first) then suck the 3 slots that you can see to remove any potential dust or grit. After a month on holiday-lots of shots-there have been no more problems but cant guarantee this is a permanent fix.
Otherwise has been a good camera.

Just to chime in with other folks. I enjoyed this camera for a little over two years and then it just died. won't turn on. batteries are fine.

My Canon A80 just quit without ceremony after taking fine pictures for two years. Canon is absolutely ruining what was a fine reputation by not recalling the A80. Where is the management?

Great camera, good battery life and lots of manual features. Slightly on the bulky side.

Very sensitive to knocks/bumps etc; even slight everyday incidents can damage the zoom mechanism and make the camera unusable, see www.e18error.com . Repair outside warrenty is uneconomic.

This was a gift and I love it! It has many features including black & white and sepia. Takes clear pictures! Bad things are, the battery case is broken and doesn't shut - bad customer service from canon too. I am planning on buying another one or similar.

I will not buy another Cannon! I have only owned my camera for 1 year and here I am getting ready to leave for vacation and I keep getting an E18 on my screen and my lens won't open and the camera won't turn on. Now I keep reading that many people are having this problem. I wish I knew this sooner so I didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a camera that won't work. Cannon should offer a recall!!

I've owned a PowerShot A80 for over 2 and half years and thankfully have had no problems. Admittedly I am just a holiday snapper, but I have found it very reliable to date. It has gone backpacking with me in New Zealand and Australia among other places.

If I was to fault it in any way it would be on the following: (1) It is bulky & heavy when compared to some of the competition in 2006. (2) The viewer screen is quite small and (3) the 3x optical zoom is not enough. However, on the plus side, the heavy but handy AA battery feature makes it useful if you get stuck with re-chargeable batteries which cannot be re-charged. I have been happy enough with the usage I get out of the AA batteries, so long as you buy a decent set of batteries and not some cheapo brand. The adjustable screen viewer came in handy plenty of times on my journeys and so far the camera has been very reliable.

Overall, I've had a positive experience with the camera. Hopefully I won't run into any of these reported error messages and stuck lens problems folks have talked about :)

Only had one year - didn't use it a lot, but when I did I was happy with it. Then it just stopped working. Won't turn on, lens stuck shut, Error code E18. Now I see how many other people have had this problem -STINKS! Camera is in shop so I don't know what the outcome will be. Warranty had run out - crappy - should have been a recall! Kris

The camera has had several problems with the battery life and now the lens will not retract. I would not purchase another Canon based on its overall performance.

I purchased this little bugger as a work camera, mostly for the articulating viewfinder. This feature is great. The camera is a good size for taking along, not too small or large. Feels solid and durable in the hand, of course most of the weight comes from the 4 AA batteries neatly tucked into a grip/ battery compartment. The camera takes amazingly good photos, especially when you know a bit about photography. Some people think "digital" means you dont need light.

The down side of this box is that it suffers from the same thing that most point and shoot digitals suffer from: Plastic used where it should not be. My A80 is now torn completely apart and I am looking at a lens assembly which cannot be taken apart and properly cleaned, due to soldered ribbon cables across the back of the plastic lens base. Mine stopped working today with the dreaded E18 Code, and I figured "what the hell, I have nothing to lose, and I want to see why it failed for no apparent reason.

I had an Epson 3100Z and it had the same flaw, A surprizingly cheap lens assembly, that terminated the life of an otherwise good little camera. After inspection, I suspect that all Canon had to do to eliminate most of the problems with the A series cameras was to put a better dust seal around the lens barrel, but that would have cost about .0373976 cents per unit, and yukomochi would have had to settle for fifty year old Saki instead of the century old stuff.

My opinion about these P&S cameras is that they are not made to take much abuse at all. They ought to make one with a fixed 24 or 28mm (35mmequivalent)lens and say to hell with the zoom, because that is what always breaks on the cheapos.

So basically, this was, is? a great little camera which takes great pictures, but if you are going on a safari, Buy an Olympus E1.

My mother and I are amatuer photographers and i bought us both the A80 in 2004. I did all the research and went for the Canon. BIG MISTAKE. After only 2 years BOTH cameras are dead. They do not turn on. We changed to new rechargable batteries and nothing. Very disappointing as its only 2 years old. I bought a Pentax in 1995 (a SLR) and its still going strong and takes great photos. I wont be buying a Canon again as it seems to be a problem. In order to get it fixed I might as well buy a new one. It wont be a Canon though.

I recharged the batteries, bought new ones and it still won't turn on. Does anyone have any suggestions or should I trash it? I am disappointed, as I paid alot of money for this camera. yvonne

The camera worked fine for 2 months, I did not use the camera for a month then took it out for a shoot, I aimed and shot and the camera was dead, changed batteries etc, no use. The lens is extended, new batteries wond do anything. CANNON, you should do something about this immly else I would never buy a CANNON PRODUCT AGAIN nor would I encourage anyone to buy on. Please send some rescue. Thanks

sucks. bought it for an overseas vacation. now i am overseas without a camera. error e18 lens stuck out and wont turn on or off. out 200 dollars and for a backpacker that is a fortune. Do Not buy this camera!

For a novas this camera was great (I just bought a Cannon Powershot S2 IS). I found it easy to use. I over 7000 pictures and about 1000 video's with good results depending on my camera selection.

Lens is stuck and camera is broken. Tried fix but only worked temporarily. It's a paperweight now. Canon is no help. Very disappointed - avoid Canon.

I really like the Pictures that the Canon A80 takes. They are really clear and great color. Takes beautiful portraits for framing.

I've been reading all of these bad reviews of dead cameras and such, and I've had the exact opposite experience.

The A80 has been very durable for me. I've actually dropped it (in a very lightly padded case) and although some external damage, no problem with taking pictures. That happened about a year ago, and I'm still taking very crisp and very clear pictures. I've had no problems with any LCD problems or anything else.

Maybe I got one of those from the good batch.

The Canon A70 and A80 models are both easy to use and produce wonderful, high-quality photos. I wouldn't buy anything but a Canon. From the Sureshot in 1990 to the A80 in 2005 - they are the BEST!

The Powershot A80 is a great camera that takes very good pictures. We live in Peru and took many pictures (Over 9000 pictures in one year). Unfortunately it doesn't work anymore now (after 1 year). If you turn it on the lens comes out but doesn't open. But in the last year it always took good pictures with a high quality. In spite of all the dust and the air-humidity the pictures it took were great. I would recommend it to everybody who wants a good compact digital camera for a low prize.

The camera picture quality was only average - I expected more since I have only purchased Canon cameras in the past. This digital version was so disappointing.

The camera would not turn on anymore after a year and a half and the repair bill was over $110.00. A new camera with the same features now is priced at $199.00 instead of the $400.00 I paid. But, who wants to buy another headache from Canon?

I feel bad because I have recommended the camera to at least 7 other people who bought it because of my recommendations. Now they will all be as unhappy as I am when the expensive purchase turns out to be a lemon. Canon lost a loyal customer and I don’t think they care or they would admit there’s an issue with the camera series.

The problems described in the reviews of the powershot A70 seem to be occuring to my A80, bought 1 yr 3 mo ago - strange jumping horizontal lines across the lcd screen indicating a lose connection to the CCD; they show up in the actual pictures when downloaded. I've never dropped it and I've treated it very well.

I bought this camera becuase it was supposed to be durable with its metal case and good name. After 1 year it just started wigging out. It began with a display that wouldn't turn on. Now the shutter clicks when I push any button and nothing works. I put brand new Duracell batteries in it and that didn't help at all. VERY disappointed that I am out $400 and now have no digital camera. It is definitely NOT durable or reliable. Do not buy this camera if you expect it to work. If you insist on buying one I have one I will sell you cheap.

I like the pictures from the Camera. The Camera is easy to use and print pictures. But now the Camera will not turn on. It seems to be a problem based on the other feedback in this review post from others. I thought Canon was a good durable Camera and now I am very disappointed that I bought it. I have had cheaper cameras last longer without any problems.

ive had this canon for 3 years, and it has been through alot. started off great, but now needs new batteries every week, and just isnt that good of a RELIABLE camera. the lens get stuck in the shoot position alot. and the buttons are hard to use

The problem started after 12 months when it would suddenly take several attempts before the camera would turn on. The problem got worse and worse and now does not want to turn on at all. Yet on the few occasions where it does work it works perfectly?? Tried new batteries. Very disappointed as I paid a lot of money for the camera and also had been very pleased with it initially. Although early on (after about 8 months) the switch to view photos already taken had stopped working i.e. the play button. This was annoying but I let it go as at least it still essentially worked. Now that it does not work at all I am very upset. Thinking of having it fixed but worried more things will go wrong with it. Thought Canon was a trusted quality brand. Thinking of buying another camera but don't know what to buy - will be avoiding Canon!!

I have had my powershot A80 for a while now, I have had to send it into the factory 3 times for the same problem =(. The lens goes out and does not come back in, and their is sometimes pink lines going down the display "internal noise"
This camera has had many problems. Please do not buy.

I came to digital photography via the A80. Before that I used a 30year old Nikon SLR, a superb camera with very fine optics. Well, I have been very pleasantly surprised by the hi quality pics that the Canon produces - not matching the Nikon in all respects - but very good nonetheless. And with all the convenience of rapid viewing and printing, my beloved Nikon just spent months sitting in the shelf until I sold it on ebay recently. The A80 is a feature rich little camera which enables you to get right into the finer points of photography. Highly recommended.

If your lens stays stuck out that for sure is the batteries problem. You cant use any dollar store batteries in digital camera's. You must use Rechargeable batteries for this camera. If the lens gets stuck out; wait a minute, put the camera on play,(switch down)and turn on the camera. The lens will go back in and now you can safely turn off your camera. It is highly recommended to allways turn the LCD Screen inwards(so the canon sign is facing outwards) to protect the LCD Screen from any scratches. It has a Liquid Crystal display which is easy to get a scratch on. You should also a Hard Case Cover just for extra protection from little scatches all over you camera. The Canon PowerShot A80 is a great camera and i would recommend it to everyone. If you are experiencing slow picture taking your card has a low speed. The bigger your card gets the slower your camera will perform. That's why you kneed to allways check the speed of your card before purchasing it.

I love this camera. It seemed to take a long time to take the pictures at first but if you hold the button down half way then click when you want to take a picture its supringly quick. My only problem is that all of a sudden it stopped working. The minimum repair ammount is $150 for this camera and it takes about 3 weeks to complete. On the other hand you can buy a refurbished one for the same price with a 6 month warranty and have it in a few days so needless to say that is what I did. I have 3 kids so this camera did take a lot of abuse but I had my old camera (the old fashioned kind with film)for 19 years and never had it repaired so I am a little annoyed that this is what I can expect from a digital camera that is supposed to be one of the quality cameras.

I recently purchased this camera thinking that it was one of the more up-to-date items. To my surprise you cannot find this model A80 anywhere anymore. I personally have had a host of problems with it including the batteries going dead too soon, pictures automatically being deleted(you can only imagine how upset I was when it deleted my daughter's graduation pics!) I purchased this camera thru Dell and still owe BIG on it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has children or animals when you want to get that natural unposed shot! When you actually take the picture there is a 2-3 second delay and its hard to capture the real picture. Overall~ check around when purchasing a digital camera. Wish I would have done my homework!!

this camera is awesome, and a it records videos with sounds.

I've taken the camera to France (http://worldisround.com/home/xprintman/index.html) and to family events where there was no opportunity to take the shots again. The Canon A80 was great and dependable. I use a 1 gig CF card with a 512 back up and feel free to shot everything. Best of all is the quality of the images. Focus is wire sharp and impossible to beat; I've printed cropped portions of some photos at 8 x 10" with no noticeable loss of detail. The only downside is the delay from pressing the shutter button until the image is captured. As about all digital cameras have the same problem I feel comfortable in forgiving the glitch.

I wrote to Cannon. They weren't interested in this problem, they just said buy a refurbished camera for $150. It's was 3 months out of warranty!

When I switch on the camera it stays for a while and gets switched off automatically and the lens remain extended. Is it a problem of camera or battery. The pictures are good. But I am frustrated with this camera as it gives the problem mentioned

I've had a great experience with the A80 so far. To qualify, this is our first digital camera. But in response to the "Problems with fuse blowing", we've just had a similar phenomena happen with ours. I have not had it in for assessment yet though. I wonder if faulty batteries could cause this, as my sister just had the same thing happen with her Minolta digital camera after borrowing my rechargeable. Maybe I need to find a battery review page too...

This is my first camera and was chosen on the basis of its price and the good reviews I had read.

I am no expert, just a beginner, but the Canon A80 and I get on very well. As a person of mature years all the knobs and buttons were daunting - I cannot actually set a video recorder to record. However the auto setting does everything for a beginner and I am now well into macro mode, storing custom settings. I even read the user manual the other day! I also like the weight, size, appearance and balance of the camera.

The swivel LCD is a godsend for someone with creaky joints who cannot always contort to look through the viewfinder. The images are clear, sharp and the colour appears to my eyes very accurate. I do not use the video mode so no comment but the macro mode is the camera's star feature for me giving beautiful close-ups - time after time.

After two years I do have a few niggles - who wouldn't. The flash cannot be permanently turned off and it is a nuisance to try and fail to remember this; especially in museums were flash is not permitted. It is OK if you leave the camera on but resets the flash when turned off which I tend to do to prolong battery life and protect the lens. The inability to use a remote control shutter device with the A80 is more of an inconvenience as the timer can be used to trigger the shutter when on a tripod. A hot-shoe [I think this is the term] would have been useful so external flashes could be used. Finally any advance on the x3 zoom would have been great I don't really want to carry extra lenses and have to keep swapping them over - yes I am a real amateur ;-).

Lovely camera and I we will be together for many years to come.

Definitely one of the best smaller cameras on the market. This camera has a great lens for its price range, and almost always takes a crystal clear picture. Just leave it in auto mode, and you cant go wrong. My only complaint is the lag time which is common in digital cameras. Its very practical size wise and uses plain old AA batteries (I use rechargeable, but its nice to have the flexibility).

This camera is the first digital that I have ever owned or even had the chance to use. Since I have purchased this unit more than 8000 pictures have been taken by me. The best thing is it does just what I expect a camera to do and that is be easy to use and take sharp, clear pictures. The neat thing about it is the wide angle shots that can be stitched together through the software that comes with it . The only downside as far as this camera is concerned is that it is slow acting in cold weather.