Overview
The Canon Powershot A480 is a straightforward digital camera. It sits at the cheaper end of the market. Features include 10 megapixels and a 3.3x optical zoom lens. It has an unfussy design and you should find the camera easy to use.
Why Buy The Canon Powershot A480
The Powershot A480 offers excellent picture quality for its price.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
3.3x
2.5 inches
92.1 x 62 x 31.1 mm
140g
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
There are two factors I really like about this picture. The first is the brightness and the second is the sharpness. Compared to the majority of entry level digital cameras the Powershot A480 is able to produce a very sharp picture. The sharpness is retained up to the edges of the shot.
This is probably my toughest test shot with parts of the scene very distant. The Powershot A480 does well again with most of the shot showing good levels of detail. Not surprisingly as the shot reaches the furthest point focusing does slip and a small amount of noise also shows. This will only be a problem if you are planning to make extra large prints and you will be hard pressed to find a compact digital camera that is perfect in this area.
Canon digital cameras routinely handle this photo better than other brands. Even with their entry level camera focusing is great. Like the first test shot I like the colours and lighting.
Rounding off the outdoor scenic shots the brickwork on the building is in sharp focus. For a digital camera at the cheaper end of the market the Powershot A480 has handled the tests so far very well indeed.
Portraits
Outdoor portraits in good light are routine pictures for a digital camera. This is another example of the colours being balanced, without overpowering the picture.
This photo shows intelligent use of flash. The picture is evenly lit. The face and hair show up well and plenty of colour has been retained.
With only natural light available the camera struggles to get perfect focus. Be prepared to use flash in most instances when the light is not perfect.
Macro, Colours and Noise
If you are looking for a digital camera capable of taking the occasional close up shot then this camera is a good choice. It is able to pack plenty of detail in the shot and the subject is well lit again.
I like the colours produced by the Powershot A480. They help bring the photos to life and are a fair reflection of the actual colours showing when the photos were taken.
There is a big difference in the quality of the photos taken at ISO 400 and ISO 1600. Noise increases substantially as you push up the ISO rating.
Summary
In terms of picture quality you will be hard pressed to beat the Powershot A480 without spending more money. The sharpness, colour and brightness of the photos are impressive.
Style
This is a fairly standard starter digital camera in terms of design. It looks pleasant enough even if it is not one of the more stylish cameras. It is available in four colours: red, blue, silver and black.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.39 seconds
10.27 seconds
1.11 seconds
22.79 seconds
2.75 seconds
Ease of Use
The Powershot A480 can be used in fully automatic mode and it should not take long for you to find your way around.
Points I Like
Picture quality
Where it Could Improve
Shutter delay with flash
Verdict
If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive digital camera that can take good quality snapshots then you cannot go far wrong with the Canon Powershot A480. It does more or less exactly what it sets out to do and can take a good picture in most situations.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Canon Powershot A480 Review Canon Powershot A480 Specification Canon Powershot A480 Sample Images Canon Powershot A480 Features Canon Powershot A480 vs Nikon Coolpix L19 Canon Powershot A480 vs Nikon Coolpix L20 Canon Powershot A480 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC LS85 Canon Powershot A480 vs Sony Cybershot DSC S950 Canon Digital Cameras
Review Date
March 2009
