Overview
The Canon Powershot A470 digital camera is Canon's entry level model. It has 7 megapixels and a 3.4x optical zoom lens.
Why Buy The Canon Powershot A470
As you will see from my review the sharpness of the photos and the general picture quality achieved by the Powershot A470 is very difficult for other digital cameras in this price range to match. So if it's picture quality you want at a low price you will find this camera hard to beat.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
7
4x
2.5 inches
104.8 x 55.1 x 40.7m
165g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
1cm
No
No
AA
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Right from the start I can see that focusing from the Powershot A470 digital camera is well above average even for more expensive cameras. This is not really a surprise to me as Canon digital cameras tend to outperform all other makes when it comes to sharpness.
Colours are about right and the camera handles the scene well.
With the lens zoomed all the way out I am used to seeing more than a degree of softness in this test shot. The Powershot A470 performs very well though and this is one of the sharper wide angle test results.
Again the digital camera is outstanding when it comes to the sharpness of the photo. Looking at a larger version of the photo I can make out the writing on a placard on the left hand side of the photo. The tiles on the roofs in a more central position are also very clear indeed.
This shot is always a good test for whether or not a camera can take a sharp shot. This Canon digital camera has no problems and the brickwork in the shaded area of the shot is still in sharp focus.
Portraits
I like this portrait. The colours add a little warmth to the shot and the skin tones work well too. I have used face detection focusing to help with sharpness and a white balance setting of cloudy to boost colours.
This is another good test result. There is plenty of detail in the shot and it works well in general. The only way I would improve it is to add a touch more brightness.
The Powershot A470 once again outperforms a number of more expensive digital cameras. There is plenty of definition in this photo and it suggests the camera should be able to handle situations where the light is not perfect.
Macro, Colours and Noise
This is not a bad effort, but it lacks the overall clarity of the test shot produced by the more advanced Canon Powershot A590 IS.
Throughout my test shots the colours have been strong without being overpowering.
At this level noise does start to creep in, especially in darker areas of the shot.
Boost the ISO rating up further and picture quality really begins to suffer. Only use this setting in an emergency.
Summary
Taking into account the cost of the Powershot A470, Canon have produced an excellent digital camera when it comes to picture quality.
Style
In my opinion this digital camera will not win any beauty competitions! It is an elongated, rectangular shape. The camera is manly silver, but you can get models with different coloured centre pieces on the front. These colours are blue, silver, red and green.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.28 seconds
7.6 seconds
1.13 seconds
23.29 seconds
Ease of Use
The Powershot A470 is easy enough to use, but there are more straightforward, entry level digital cameras around.
Points I Like
Overall picture quality - sharpness of photos - value for money
Where it Could Improve
Shutter lag with flash
Verdict
If you are looking for a cheaper digital camera then the Canon Powershot A470 is one of the best choices you can make. It may not be the most stylish camera in the shops, but it takes a very good picture.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Panasonic DMC S5 Rating 84/100
If you are looking for a cheap pocket sized digital camera it is difficult to find one offering better picture quality than the Panasonic Lumix DMC S5. It is such a small camera and very easy to use. It is almost the ideal snapshot camera if you do not want to spend a great deal of money.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC S5 Review
Panasonic DMC S3 Rating 84/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC S3 is an excellent value for money pocket camera. It is very hard to beat when compared alongside its direct rivals. Picture quality and features have an edge over many of its competitors while the rapid response times are also a big plus point. If you are looking for a cheaper compact digital camera then you can’t go far wrong with the Lumix DMC S3.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC S3 Review
Canon Powershot A2400 IS Rating 83/100
The Canon Powershot A2400 IS gives you a clear choice between a camera that has the edge when it comes to picture quality and ones with the latest bells and whistles. Picture quality is likely to be hard to beat at this price point.
Read Review: Canon Powershot A2400 IS Review
Related Pages
Canon Powershot A470 Review Canon Powershot A470 Specification Canon Powershot A470 Sample Images Canon Powershot A470 Features Canon Digital Cameras
Review Date
April 2008
