Bulk beauty
Loaded with features that make shooting fun
The day that the new Canon Powershot A530 came in for a road test, we had three parties to gatecrash the perfect opportunity to sample the A530's powers.
As soon as guests arrived at the party, they started bringing out their cameras. With the Canon in hand, we joined the shootout. Sleek ones that look like mobile phones, 3.2-megapixel snappers of a few years back, a digital SLR, an old film cam even. This low-profile, quiet-looking A530 didn't prompt an "Ooh, what's that?" given its bulk. But once it did 17 minutes after it had been dug out of the bag neither did its weight garner any special attention.
The lukewarm observations end there. Just like the A510, which is the A530's daddy, this camera is it. Its shutter speed is great for pasmado hands and drunken situations. Its screen grid, which you can employ when necessary, is helpful, especially if you think the 1.8-inch LCD display is small. Unlike most zooms, the A530's 4x optical zoom doesn't pause to focus when pushed too quickly. It's easy to use, literally point-and-click if you're one to squat in auto mode. But where's the fun in that?
Given all 2 million of them modes well, just a humble 17 really we feel that the A530 is built for the adventurous nomad. Every possible vacation, thought of, every situation, considered. Shooting modes are όber-specific: beach, snow, foliage, indoors, fireworks. Night Snapshot is easier to use than Night Scene as the former uses faster shutter speeds, but if you're one to play with light, then it's worth the extra challenge. Color Accent, though, was the most fun. The A530 detects a color, retains it, and puts everything else in monochrome. It's quite fun, especially if you find Photoshop to be a drag.
The morning after saw us clueless as to what happened during the parties, but the A530 was quick to remind us. In fact, it was quite eloquent in its reminders. Given all these imaging delights, the price tag ain't too bad either.
Lou E. Albano
CANON POWERSHOT A530 | P13,500
www.canon.com.ph
TECH 5-megapixel CCD. 4x optical zoom. 1.8 LCD. 17 shooting modes. Max ISO 800.
LOVE The shooting modes, especially "Color Accent"!
HATE Dull looks. Bulky for a compact camera.
WE SAY If you're the koboy, kaladkarin, creative nomad type, this one's for you.
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T3 Magazine Philippines - June 2006 Issue
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 Canon Powershot A530
Slot machine
The USB stick/card reader works with Memory Stick, SD, MMC and SmartMedia cards, so you can show your latest snaps straight from the camera.
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