Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera review :
The second half of the year 2005 was dominated by a massive Canon introduction of printers and cameras, among which the Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera. This new PowerShot camera succeeds the Canon PowerShot A510 camera and enhances the resolution from 3 to 5.0 Megapixels. The PowerShot A series digital cameras of Canon are well-known for their high quality features that are borrowed from the advanced Canon digital cameras like the PowerShot G-series and S-series. In fact, the Canon A610 is a combination of the best of two worlds: refined advanced features and entry-level user-friendliness. A digital camera from the PowerShot A-line always offers remarkable features and combines comprehensive functionality with low entry level.
Canon a610 review – DIGIC II processor
The difference between the Canon A510 and A610 is the size and flexibility of the monitor on the back of the camera; it is enlarged from 1.8 to 2.0 inch and is able to tilt. The effective resolution has also made a huge step forward from 3.2 to 5.0 Megapixels. This resolution of 5 Megapixels suffices to print a beautiful A4 picture. Another important feature is the integrated fast DIGIC II processor. This is Canon’s strongest trump compared to the competing brands. The DIGIC II processor is also used in other Canon models, among them the professional EOS 1DS Mark II digital SLR camera. The powerful DIGIC II enables the Canon A610 to start up fast, to realise a short release lag and to process the images quickly. Various digital camera tests have proven the value of this processor. It’s admirable that Canon is capable of rapidly integrating innovative developments from the professional digital world in the amateur line of digital cameras. The consumer benefits from it!
Canon powershot a610 review – 4x optical zoom
Besides the 5 Megapixels and the DIGIC II processor the Canon PowerShot is equipped with a 4x optical zoom (focal range of 35-140mm equivalent of a 35mm camera). This lens lets you take close-ups as well as portraits. The lens features eight elements in seven groups and is equipped with two aspherical elements. The focus performance at low light conditions is improved to 2 steps which should ultimately result in extra photographic freedom when shooting with low light intensity.
Canon A610 digital camera review
The Canon PowerShot A610 nicely fills up the successful A-line of Canon. This line is quite popular and offers the novices among us an entry-level camera combined with attractive and creative functions. The Canon A610 had to prove in practice that not only its specifications are interesting so we tested it thoroughly during some time to find out how the camera performed in practice. Our experiences can be read in the following Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera review.
Canon Powershot A610 | Digital Camera Review | Camera
Canon Powershot A 610 – Command dial
When we look down on the PowerShot A610 digital camera from an upward position, we see the well-known command dial. The dial can turn 360 degrees in both ways. At every different program a loud click will sound and the dial has to be pushed to the next programme. It will not quickly occur that the dial is accidentally turned. The large release button features a large ring around it functioning as a zoom button. The spot is ideal and the button can easily be operated with the right index finger. The on/off button is quite obvious, and lies integrated in the camera’s housing. The loudspeaker finds itself in between the command dial and the release button.
Canon A610 – Tilting LCD monitor
Compared to its predecessors, the Canon A510, the back side of the PowerShot A610 differs in many ways. The size of the LCD monitor is enlarged to 2 inch and the monitor can be turned 180 degrees and it can be tilted 270 degrees. This way you can really shoot from any angle, capturing pictures which you were unable to shoot before. No need to explain that this is an enormous surplus value for the creative photographer. Besides that the LCD monitor can be folded against the back of the camera in order to protect it from scratching. Around the multi controller some four buttons are placed that activate the menu among other things. Right above the monitor we find the optical viewfinder. It seems that the next generation PowerShot A cameras will lose the optical viewfinder and will get a larger LCD monitor instead, we hope. Finally a button for record or play mode is the last one of the small amount of buttons found on the back of the camera.
Canon Powershot A610 | Digital Camera Review | Control
Gradually you will start recognizing the aperture and shutter speed values. These values appear on the monitor by depressing the release button half-way down. For those who don’t appreciate this information; it can be removed through the Display button so the only thing appearing on the display is the image. Activating the Play mode makes data appear during taking the image such as resolution and date/time. Pressing the Display button enables you to enhance the informative rendering with a histogram that lets you check the exposure of an image.
Canon Powershot A610 digital camera – Zoom button
The zoom button is placed on a perfect spot, for the hand is automatically placed around the handgrip and therefore the index finger is on the exact right height to touch the small catch that stands out from the handgrip. The zoom button has some resistance which improves precise zooming. The release button, placed in the middle of the zoom button has a fairly light pressing point and is easy to operate.
Canon A610 – Tilting LCD monitor
The functional folding-out and flexible LCD monitor of the Canon A610 has clearly proven itself in practice in other PowerShot G models. Once having worked with a monitor like this, you will never want different anymore. Still I do have one wish and that contains a larger monitor of a minimal size of 2.5 inch. Lately monitor sizes have enlarged quickly and the last series of digital cameras have been equipped with monitors that have a minimal 2.5 inch size. It’s just easier to work with in practice.
Canon Powershot A610 – Operation
At first the operation seems difficult and you can try and work it out without reading the manual but when you do make an effort to go through the menu you will learn the logic behind the quick buttons and you will find that operating the camera can be carried out quickly and that it is in fact it is very user-friendly. The ease of changing settings is definitely a plus for the Canon PowerShot A610.
Canon Powershot A610 | Digital Camera Review | Adjustments
At low light the camera is still able to function very well. Especially the AF assistance light is a great help here. The colour reproduction stands for itself, with a tendency to red but a small exposure correction will accomplish a fine result.
Canon Powershot A610 – Built-in flash
Striking is the performance of the built-in flash. It happens time and again that the capacity of such a flash doesn’t suffice to overcome a number of meters. The Canon A610 shows that it doesn’t have to be that way. Especially the effective range of a broad 4 meters is a plus point for the camera. When we take a look at the performance in wide angle, the camera seems to drop a few stitches here. Specifically in the corners some loss of light occurs and the images are a bit underexposed. More than average exposure compensation brings this and the other in balance again. Concerning the colour balance, Canon has done really well, warm colours that will certainly appeal to the average user.
Canon Powershot A610 digital camera – Colour rendering
When we take a look at the colour rendering of the camera we see that the Canon PowerShot A610 reacts similarly to other competing digital cameras. The images are a wee bit saturated as far as colour is concerned and are made just slightly heavier. The images are bright and rich of contrast without going over the top. Especially the reproduction of skin tones is pleasant. Also here the colour is made a bit heavier, just on the edge of exaggerating. The average user will appreciate the images, fresh and colourful. And that is what you aim for being a manufacturer, mission accomplished. The Canon PowerShot A610 offers value for money. There are more than enough setting possibilities to enhance your skills and eventually, at a later stage, make the step to a real digital SLR camera. The Canon A610 is a powerful combination and leaves behind an excellent impression.
Canon Powershot A610 | Digital Camera Review | Storage and Energy
Canon Powershot A610 – 2,5 frames per second
The Canon A610 is capable of sequential shooting with a speed of 2.5 frames per second (highest resolution) until the memory card runs out of capacity. This speed is average for a camera like the PowerShot A610 and most consumers will find it sufficient. This continuous shooting mode does ask more of the memory card’s speed; a standard card will not always be able to process the continuous data flow that quickly. In that case it might be wise to invest in a fast memory card.
Canon A610 digital camera – 4x AA size batteries
Canon standard delivers the PowerShot A610 with 4x AA sized batteries. It wouldn’t look bad on Canon if the user would find a fast charger and a set of NiMH batteries in the box. The Canon A610 is a very economical digital camera, with or without the LCD monitor activated. When the monitor isn’t used often, the energy load seems to go on forever. This is probably thanks to the integration of the DIGIC II processor among other things but you can count on many hours of recording capacity. The good thing about the AA sized battery is also that you can purchase them literally on every street corner. If you lose one or if it fails, the costs to replace it are low compared to the expensive Lithium Ion battery. The economical power consumption of the PowerShot A610 is an absolute advantage and appealing in practice.
Canon Powershot A610 | Digital Camera Review | Conclusion
Canon Powershot A610 digital camera
Canon has obtained a lot of experience in the PowerShot assortment and the Canon A610 is the end result for the time being. Many possibilities and flexibility serve the user to a great extend. He can shoot in a simple way but as soon as he’s ready for some more complicated shooting, the Canon PowerShot won’t let him down. It’s for a reason the PowerShot A-series of digital cameras is successful all over the world!
Canon A610 – 5 Megapixel resolution
The Canon PowerShot A610 is an excellent digital camera with a fine resolution of 5 Megapixels. The resolution is more than sufficient to get nice enlargements, to edit the images or to make a crop. Lately the offer of software to enable creatively managing a digital image has grown extremely. From Scrapbooking to software for creating square and ready photo albums; there is enough to meet everybody’s wishes. The Canon A610 offers user-friendliness, is easy to use especially thanks to the flexible tilting LCD monitor and is guaranteed for photographic pleasure.
Canon Powershot A610 – Good quality photo’s
The Canon A610 also guarantees quality. Every single image was excellently exposed with rich detail. Colour reproduction is strongly saturated but still shows a natural shade. Auto white balance does a good job generally with the exception of the exuberantly present light balance. The optical quality is fine and there’s no need for any comments. The signal noise ratio of the A610 is fine and doesn’t hold any negative surprises. The images are really appealing. The same goes for the operation of the camera. Well thought-out and straightforward with of course the luxury of a tilting LCD monitor.
Canon A610 digital camera – LCD & Wide angle
Still some negative comments have to be made about the Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera. Although the flexible LCD monitor is an excellent replacement of the viewfinder, we still find the viewfinder rather small. We’d prefer to get rid of the optical viewfinder and instead find a 2.5 inch sized monitor in its place. Or are we now pricing the Canon A610 camera out of the entry-level market? Another thing is that despite the outstanding effective range of the internal flash, the performances at the beginning of the range stay behind. Wide angle images in combination with flash keep coming out somewhat underexposed.
Canon Powershot A610 – Many setting possibilities
It may be clear though that the negative features are easily outstripped by its positive features. The Canon PowerShot A610 is an excellent digital camera with a lot of potency. It’s a camera for a large group of users. Not only novices will be able to get to know the camera quickly and the more advanced user will highly appreciate the many setting possibilities.
Canon Powershot A610 – Successful A-series digital camera
The Canon PowerShot A610 left behind a truly positive impression. The camera does keep its promises and is a worthy successor of the previous Canon A-series of digital cameras. Canon is a successful brand in the digital camera market; they possess a large market segment and put a strikingly strong new digital camera in the market time after time in order to keep the market segment in their possession. Those who are looking for a digital all-rounder, a camera for the beginning photographer, but one that is capable of growing to higher skills with its owner, will find so with this new canon powershot a610 camera digital camera. Excellent!
Posted under Digital Camera Reviews
This post was written by admin on September 12, 2008
