Canon PowerShot A510 Review

April 2005 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot A510

Announced just before PMA in February 2005, the PowerShot A510 is the replacement for the PowerShot A75, and continues the line of best-selling budget models that goes right back to early 2001 with the A10 and A20. The changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary; a reduction in size and weight (it's 13% smaller and 20% lighter), the inclusion of a new four times optical zoom lens (the A85 had a three times), zoom-linked flash, a shift from CompactFlash to SD card for storage and a drop to two AA batteries from four.

Note: Aside from the CCD itself, the PowerShot A510 is functionally identical to the 4.0 MP PowerShot A520, portions of this review are taken directly from the A520 review.

3.2 megapixel CCD
4x (35-140mm equiv.) zoom lens
Manual, semi automatic and fully automatic exposure
20 exposure modes
New 'hold' function
Zoom flash
9-point AiAF focus
Optional underwater housing, external flashgun and add-on lenses
AA battery power

Canon PowerShot A510 vs A75 (main differences)

	Canon PowerShot A510	Canon PowerShot A75
Sensor	• 1/2.5-inch CCD • 3.2 million effective pixels	• 1/2.7-inch CCD • 3.1 million effective pixels
Lens	35-140mm equiv. F2.6-F5.5	35-105mm equiv. F2.8-F4.8
Storage	SD/MMC card	CompactFlash Type I
Dimensions	91 x 64 x 38 mm (3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 in)	101 x 64 x 32 mm (4 x 2.5 x 1.3 in)
Weight (inc batteries)	230 g (8.1 oz)	315g (10.6 oz)
Continuous Shooting	2.3 fps	2.2 fps
White balance	6 presets plus manual	5 presets plus manual
Maximum Movie Size/Frame Rate	• 640 x 480, 30 secs • 320 x 240, 15 fps • max 3 mins	• 640 x 480, 30 secs • 320 x 240, 160 x 120, 15 fps, max 3 mins, with audio
LCD screen	• 1.8-inch • 115,000 pixels	• 1.8-inch • 118,000 pixels
Power Source	2 x AA batteries	4 x AA batteries

Canon PowerShot A510 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $190 • UK: £150
Body Material	Metal and plastic
Sensor	• 1/2.5" Type CCD, 3.3 million pixels total • 3.2 million effective pixelxels
Image sizes	• 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480, max 30 sec • 320 x 240, max 3 mins • 160 x 120, max 3 mins • With audio
Lens	• 4x optical zoom • 35 - 140 mm equiv. • F2.6 - F5.5
Focus	• TTL autofocus • AF illuminator • 9-point AiAF or - point AF (center) • Manual focus • 5cm macro mode (Wide), 30cm (Tele)
Shooting mode	• Auto • Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture priority AE • Manual exposure • Portrait • Landscape • Night Scene • Fast Shutter • Slow Shutter • Stitch Assist • Movie • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Fireworks • Underwater • Indoor • Kids & Pets • Night Snapshot • AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps
Shutter speeds	• 15 - 1/2000 sec • Noise reduction for shutter speeds slower than 1.3 sec
Apertures	• F2.6 / F3.2 / F3.5 / F4.0 / F4.5 / F5.0 / F5.6 / F6.3 / F7.1 / F8.0 (wide) • F5.5 / F6.3 / F7.1 / F8.0 (wide)
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 50, 100, 200, 400
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Image parameters	• Picture adjust (Vivid, Neutral) • Sharpness (2 levels) • Color effects (Sepia, Black and White)
Continuous	• Continuous (2.3 fps) Large/Fine with LCD off
Flash	• Built-in • Modes: Auto, On, Off • Slow Sync: On/Off • Red-Eye reduction: On/Off • Range (wide): 0.45 - 3.5 m (Auto ISO) • Range (tele): 0.45 - 2.2 m (Auto ISO) • Zoom-linked
Storage	• SD / MMC card • 16MB SD supplied*
Viewfinder	• Real Image Optical
LCD monitor	• 1.8" TFT, 115,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 1.1 • A/V out • DC-IN
Power	• 2 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (alkaline supplied) • (Optional AC adapter)
In the box*	• Canon PowerShot A510 • Wrist strap • 2x AA Alkaline batteries • AV cable • USB cable • 16MB SD card • Software CD ROM (Canon Digital Camera Solutions & ArcSoft Camera Suite)
Other features	• Spot, Center-weighted & Evaluative metering • Sound memo (up to 60 sec) • PictBridge, Exif Print and DPOF compatible • Playback Histogram • Built-in speaker and microphone • Orientation sensor • Autofocus Illuminator • Optional 0.7x Wide (WC-D52),1.75x Tele (TC-DC52A) & close up (250D) converters • Optional 52mm filter adapter • Optional waterproof case (WP-DC50) • Optional High Power Flash (slave)
Weight (excl batt)	180 g (6.3 oz)
Dimensions	91 x 64 x 38 mm (3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 in) Excluding protrusions

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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