Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Canon
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Our Price: $379.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $65.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Customer Review: Powerful inexpensive godly camera !
Summary: 5 Stars
Never thought i'd be so happy having this camera. With $100 tag, i was never expect this such of quality, features and ability. I was actually waiting for my decision whether getting G10, LX3, or SD990 (more compact) .. all of those has manuals to control. Then i heard that Fuji has new sensor coming, and so the waiting process extended (cos i need camera good for concert : low light, and i'm curious of what fuji would bring to the table this time). I know that i'm not gonna make any decision in this few months and so i purchased this hundred bucks camera cos it has manuals.
And i was very happy i bought this one as a tweener as i need to have smaller camera at the moment (i have sony dsc-h5 which i love so much but cannot slip to my pocket), and believe it or not it fits my skinny jeans pocket, just need a little extra slip then it's good (though it will make a little bump on your pocket more than smaller compact, but still fits comfortably as long as you don't sit with it inside your pocket).
The manual control is amazing in this camera. You can control aperture shutter, exposure, flash level (i love this one!), and manual focus (and this one also). Amazingly, the pics i took with this camera looks really great .. not great great but .. REALLY GREAT! I've had SD1000 before and the pics looked horrible! Noise and unacceptable noise in every inch of the pictures when i crop it 100%, grainy and it doesn't have ability of taking pic indoor (at least that's my experience .. on lots of occasions, enough for me to give conclusion that it's more like a toy, anyway i loved the shape a lot!).
Never liked the shape of A series until now, it feels more secure in my hand, and it's not as big as i was expected (in a good way), i still consider it small (look at G9 or A650, now that's big! .. for pocket) and some people complains about battery life, i don't have that problem since i charge my eneloop batteries right.
Cos :
- Constructions, plastic all around. I bet that's why canon made this very affordable, yet the quality of the camera exceeds other compacts in it's class (our advantage in my opinion, to fight the price), though i'd prefer rugged material for me i have no problem, since i found the plastic body is quite cute and pretty as long as you don't let it fall. Not a problem.
- Video quality is to be honest .. ugly (20fps)! Mic is pretty good except the picture .. even only play it on my computer. Then when i plug it to my hdtv and tube tv .. DISASTER! don't expect any quality video out of this camera. But since i'm not into video anyway so .. Not a problem
- Slow flash recycle when you set it on full/strongest level. But i'm using manual setting, and set the flash output to the lowest most of the time, so the recycle time is not that slow (about 2 or 3 seconds total after each snaps, and remember .. that after each snap we will have a preview of what we just took, so for me, i didn't feel like i was waiting). But if you're into action picture with flash, don't complain .. just don't buy this camera cos this camera is fully loaded for it's price! I see the reason people had a it very very slow because most of them are using Auto mode, which is using the max flash output most of the time, causing the flash recycle to be very slow, i mean REALLY SLOW like about 10 seconds total including preview. While the medium takes about 5 seconds total (hey i just counted it by my sense, didn't do the exact timing with stop watch, sorry if i'm not that accurate, that's why i typed : ..about)
- Auto mode is horrible! get ready to be washed out by the flash and very often set to high ISO automatically. But i found out that the easy mode works way better for this purpose. So take easy mode instead i you need to take a quick snap.
- I wish this one has the famous canon's color accent, but it's doesn't !
Now this one is a problem for me cos i loved it, shoot!
- LCD resolution is a little low. Not that good. It's become a problem for me sometimes since i use manual focus very often, so it's a bit difficult to see whether it's focused or not cos the pic on LCD isn't sharp and that clear (doesn't affect the result at all if you got it right, it's just the LCD). A little bugger on this one.
Well overall i am very very happy to have this camera. Heck ! for 100 bucks i buried all the cons far away of my thoughts cos the pros outweighs everything. Glad i didn't get other budget class camera, cos though it's the same price range (under $200) it's gonna be lower class instead of this one.
Oh yeah, i've always put something in front of the flash as a diffuser so i don't have a harsh flash light (but this camera has great flash anyway, you'll be okay without anything, just set the level and watch for the distance) i even stick the toilet paper (this one was the best) on the clear tape and stick it on the flash. But now i have a better and dedicated flash diffuser for point and shoot camera that spreads out the light evenly and nicely without giving a harsh spot flash light causing the washed out picture. Especially for portrait pics. I have attached some pictures of it, so check it out!
Now i can see what's the hype about canon's. But as long as you able to control your camera of what it could brings to the picture and not the other way around, any camera with a decent quality would be fine. Depends on what your needs, any brands has their good and bad ones (i love my SONY DSC-H5, but i hate my nikon P5100's pic quality). Don't let biased people become a judge to your decision.
Give this cute little camera a chance, i bet you're gonna love of what you spend! Good luck!
Customer Review: A camera that's powerful and a great value
Summary: 5 Stars
I own a DSLR and consider myself a photography enthusiast. I wanted a small compact camera with me when I don't want to lug around my DSLR + lenses and equipment. After a previous good experience with the Canon A720 IS, the new A590 IS seemed like a good choice. Since I'm an advanced photographer, I'll focus on the advanced features of this camera. The auto modes work as well as any other camera in its class, but the extensive manual features is what sets apart the Canon A series. What I like about the camera:
+ Compact, stylish. It's smaller than older A Powershots, and the dark grey color gives it a seriousness compared to the typical bright silver finish.
+ Image stabilization works very well, it allows me to take blur-free photos 2-3 stops below the recommended shutter speed, that means at 35-50mm f2.8 1/10 sec shots are CONSISTENTLY possible indoors without using flash.
+ Good image quality. Expected from Canon, but even better is adjustable contrast, saturation, and sharpness settings, along with the typical JPG compression and resolution sizes.
+ Fast and responsive. I was surprised how responsive this camera is even compared with my DSLR. Shutter lag is very low for a compact digicam, and when I pre-focus with manual focus, it's even faster.
+ Manual modes. Aperture priority and shutter priority are great, the M mode is even better than other A Powershots such as the A720 because now there's a light meter on the right side that adjusts live based on what the camera thinks is the optimal exposure setting. And you can adjust aperture/shutter speed and see how it affects the final exposure. Ideally a live histogram would be even better, but this is very handy.
+ Manual focus. Although the LCD resolution is not good enough, even with the point zoom option, manual focus helps in close-up work and pre-focusing for action or creative photography.
+ Manual flash modes. In addition to automatic flash. The manual flash allows me to adjust the flash power in 3 levels, and prevents a pre-flash. This last part is important for using a remote optical slave flash. I can basically take professional looking studio pictures with this camera with my external flash equipment.
+ Optical viewfinder. I don't use this much yet, but can come in handy in bright sunlight conditions, or when battery conservation is needed.
+ Battery performance seems improved over previous A powershots too. The official specs give it 220 shots on regular alkalines and 500 on rechargeable NiMHs. Good news is they use common AA batteries that you can buy anywhere instead of proprietary models with specific chargers.
Now the negatives. I hope Canon can improve these aspects in their future models.
- Slow flash recycle times. This is to be expected from a camera that takes AA batteries. Would be nice if the LCD didn't blank out after a full flash discharge. Not a big deal since I use an external flash anyway, and the camera's flash is manually set to medium output as trigger (so recharge is faster). I would not want to give up the AA battery convenience for a faster flash recycle time though.
- Higher resolution LCD. The 2.5" 115k resolution LCD is ok for framing and casual browsing, but higher resolution would be nice.
-Live histogram while shooting. This feature is available when reviewing a photo, but not live. Other manufacturers have implemented this, and Canon should also, especially since the unofficial CHDK software mod allows such a feature.
- Larger aperture would be nice. Such as f/2.0 (instead of f/2.6) at the wide end, and f/4.0 (instead of f/5.5) at the telephoto end. That way a lower (& less noisy) ISO can be used in dim conditions or when fast shutter speeds are needed to freeze action. All the electronics in the world can't replace a good large lens. Also allows more creative depth of field control.
- A wider wideangle would be nice, 28mm instead of 35mm (35mm equiv). I'd rather see a wider wideangle than a longer zoom.
- Video feature is not ideal. Optical zoom is not available during recording of video. And the more efficient MPEG4 compression is not used, so video files tend to be large. Also noticed at 640x480 resolution, the highest fps is now 20 instead of 30 from other A models. A definite step backwards.
- Noise at higher ISOs. This is due to the smaller sensor on compact cameras. But 8 MP is probably the most pixels that can be crammed into a small 1/2.5" sensor. I'd rather have a cleaner picture at 6-7 MP than a noisy 8 MP picture. And if in-camera noise reduction is used, I'd like to see an adjustable setting for how much is being applied.
- And if I were to be really critical: There's no indicator of what optical zoom level I'm at. Slight image noise is noticeable even at ISO 80 when I zoom in really close on a monitor view. When at the widest angle & aperture, there's slight barrel distortion and blurriness on the corners. Not many compact cameras can do better in terms of image quality, but I'm pointing them out here because even though this camera beats most of the competition, it still has room for improvement.
So overall it's a great camera for the price. Offering great image quality with the auto settings for the casual user, but also a powerful set of features for the more advanced photographer.
Customer Review: Easy to use and takes great pictures
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought my Canon PowerShot A590 IS about six months ago and I'm very happy with the purchase. My main use for the camera was to take pictures of faces, groups of people, places, and business images for posting on my website www.iq2.biz. Example pictures would be office buildings, conference rooms with chairs, people working at laptops etc. This camera is so easy to use and has so many features that I don't think I can include all of them here so I'll focus on only my top favorites.
AA Battery Power
#1 favorite feature of the Canon PowerShot A590 is that it uses AA batteries. What that means is that I (or you) don't have to stop and plug the camera into a wall outlet and wait for the battery to recharge. No, I can simply carry a few extra AA batteries in my camera case and if I find myself taking 200 or more pictures in one afternoon, I can just replace the batteries and continue taking pictures. The camera warns you of a low battery power situation with an indicator located on the display. If you don't want to keep buying AA batteries, you can use rechargeable AA batteries and keep an extra, fully charged set of those batteries in your camera bag, handbag, or backpack.
Large 2.5 inch LCD Screen
#2 favorite feature is the large 2.5-inch LCD screen with face detection technology and red eye correction. The display is very big. You can easily see what you want to photograph without having to squint your eyes. The image is clear and bright. If you are taking a picture of a person's face, you can clearly see whether or not the person is ready and the picture will be good or if you have to give him/her some coaching to get a good facial expression. (eyes open, etc) You can make the camera focus on a certain face in a group or an object by pressing the picture button down only half way and looking in the display. You will see a square appear around the face/object and if that's what you want the camera to focus on then you press the button down all the way to snap the picture. The camera has three options to fix red-eye but as of yet, I have not had any pictures which came out with a red-eye issue.
No Blurry Pictures
#3 favorite feature is the 4x optical image stabilized zoom. What this means is the camera has a technology that will keep your pictures from coming out blurry even if you move your hands a little or your subject moves a little bit. So far, I have not had any pictures with a blurry image.
Easy Downloading and Printing
#4 favorite feature and maybe the best. Easy printing - this camera features a Print/Share button for easy direct printing to a printer or downloading to your computer.
So to download your pictures from the camera to your computer or laptop, just connect the USB cable to your camera and connect the other end to your computer's USB connection (any of them). Once it's connected and your camera is ON and in the picture review mode, whatever picture software you have installed on your computer will open automatically. Next, you'll select the menu choice to "download" the pictures to your computer. (I use Adobe software for digital photos.) When the pictures are downloaded to your picture directory, you'll see a new folder added with the current date. You can delete the pictures from your Canon camera after they've finished downloading by either choosing the "delete" menu option in your picture software program or by using the menu button on the back of the camera itself. The menu button is easy to see on the back of the camera and is the starting point for pretty much any feature you are interested in using. Just press the menu button and then use the "func set" button to scroll down the menu list which you'll see on the LCD display.
To sum up my thoughts about the Canon PowerShot A590 IS camera, I would have to say it's very easy to use, takes great pictures, and is very inexpensive. I highly recommend this camera.
Customer Review: An all around fantastic camera!
Summary: 5 Stars
So allow me to start by saying i'm just your average "joe-user" who enjoys snapping photos while on vacations and out with friends. Recently i owned an Olympus Stylus 810 and was very, very pleased with it. Unfortunately i dropped it damaging the entire lens assembly and it was going to cost $140 to repair. With a week at the beach coming up i didn't have time to research a lot. On a friends recommendation i made this purchase.
Now my goals are to have a smaller sized camera that will allow nice point and shoot photography but has some manual (even minimal) controls as i do enjoy photography and if i decide to go further, i'll be familiar with the manual controls and such. So after getting this camera i did a few test runs to get it all working w/ my MacBook Pro laptop. Here's my experience thus far:
Install on Windows Vista and Mac OS X Leopard were both absolutely flawless. Software went right in, once connected downloading the images and viewing them was a one click event. The software bundled is actually quite nice. I no longer have iPhoto (thanks Leopard) so i was unsure what to use for basic photo management. Not to worry Canons bundled software, "ZoomBrowserEX" does a fantastic job of that.
Now as far as options go i'm by no means skilled in the realm of cameras, however from my limited experience i can say this camera packs quite a large array for such a small price tag. The auto modes work very well, not to mention having the ability to just pop it into "Manual" mode and tweak by hand! All it takes is 20-30min of reading on the internet and you can be messing with the settings and taking some great low light, artistic, etc... photographs. I also found it's quite easy to use single handed. A lot of times on my beach trip i was holding onto a rock to balance myself and only had my right hand available. Switching into say "Macro" mode is very simple. Same goes for things like zoom, flash, etc... overall very user friendly design.
Picture quality has been absolutely stunning! I truly did not expect it from a camera under $160. As with most "point and shoot" cameras when upping the ISO level to take dim light shots without a flash it does tend to get grainy. Although this camera does counter balance that a little, and does a good job, it's still noticeable. That's where the "Manual" mode came in for me. Being able to adjust shutter and aperture etc... really allowed me to take some exceptional low light shots that are not grainy at all.
So my overall impression is absolutely pleased! For the money i doubt you'd find a better camera with as many features that can produce the quality of photos this can. I was impressed to see how small it is in person and exactly just how well constructed it feels. Also the thing i loved is there's a huge wealth of accessories like extra lenses such as telephoto, macro, lens filters, etc... Amazon has a "kit" that looks like a fantastic deal that comes with most of those things including a tripod. That is definitely going to be my next purchase.
So if you're looking for a great camera that can "point and shoot" and has the manual controls if you think you may be interested in getting into photography, this is my recommendation hands down. I posted 11 photos in the "Customer Photos" section. Feel free to check them out to hopefully get an idea of what this camera can do with "default" settings, i was blown away. Lastly as i'm finding out photography is all about your "eye" and knowing enough about your hardware to capture what you "see." I'm not much for taking pictures of people i really enjoy closeups and different angles, so that's what i'm learning to capture with this camera. Hopefully my pictures will be a decent display of what this camera can do. Just remember if you don't like your photos it's probably not the cameras fault! There will never be a one stop solution, but overall this one is fantastic!
Hope it helps,
Happy picture taking,
Frank L. Morales II
Customer Review: Remarkable Camera for the Money
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a lot of reviews while selecting this camera. Kudos to RLSd, F. Gillett, & Molly P., among others. Forget the stars - it was their accurate realistic detail that really helped. Lacking their expertise, I'll confine myself to a few areas that concerned me until I actually used the A590IS. This was partly due to other reviews that weren't as well done.
First is the size and "chunkiness" issue. It's chunkier than some of its peers, but only a bit. It slides into a jacket or jeans pocket very nicely. In exchange for the chunkiness you get a camera you can grip securely and hold steady. You also get a shape you are far less likely to drop, even holding it in one hand while scrambling over the rocks. Finally, you get a view finder, not just a screen. During a recent two weeks in Greece, that was a Godsend, as the bright Aegean sun totally wiped out the electronic image.
Second there is the battery issue. I read complaints from folks who said the camera ate batteries and died after too few shots. I'm not sure what was going on there, but you need to research the batteries the way you did your camera. The new Energizer lithium batteries got off about 400 shots, half with flash, before I had to replace them. And because it was a new toy, I was constantly using the camera to show my shots to my wife, which burned still more power. Hard to beat that. Are they the right choice for everyone? Maybe not. They are not rechargeable, so there's an ecological price to pay. Around the house I may switch to something greener, but for overseas trips, I'll stick with them.
Another issue is the lag time between flash shots. Let's be real. If you want instant turn-around time, you shouldn't be looking at a $130 camera that uses a pair of AAs. If you want a camera for fast-breaking sports and photo-journalism, don't get an A590IS. That said, I didn't think it took insufferably long. I can't think of any shots I failed to get due to recycle time.
Some folks had tales of woe about taking all these wonderful shots, only to have them disappear from the chip. When the camera arrives, read the little book, esp. the part on formatting your chip. That should prevent such sorrow from striking.
Incidentally, one little discussed but really cool feature is the zoom capability when examining photos already in the can. You can zoom in to an incredible degree and find things in pix you've already taken that you didn't even know was there. (Honestly, honey, I had no idea she was topless.) I was stunned by the clarity.
Do I have any complaints? A few. The manual is good but it has one of the worst indexes I've ever seen. Don't assume it omits a topic just because it isn't in the index. Flip through the pages and you'll find what you need. On occasion, I was disappointed in the inability of the camera to handle sharp lighting contrasts. Granted, Greek sunlight and shadow can create some extreme challenges, but it's still a limiting factor. The flash is useful but don't ask too much of it. You have to be quite close to your subject, esp. at night. If you are outdoors, it's easy to be too far away without realizing it.
I guess that's about it. My bottom line is that I love this camera and I'm pleased and amazed with the shots I brought back from my recent trip. It's a great transitional camera for someone like myself who finally decided to leave his old 35mm gear and give in to digital. The auto setting is really good, but it permits manual control as well. Am still experimenting with that but am encouraged by what I see. I would buy this camera again in a heartbeat.