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What happened to the A series?

Started Sep 17, 2015 | Discussions
Atlantis_Risen New Member • Posts: 23
What happened to the A series?
2

I've always been a fan of the Canon A series point and shoots. I've owned the A470, A1200 and A2200. But when I try to find and purchase new models, I can't find them anywhere online. Canon's website lists as A1400 with a suggested retail of $99, but on Amazon, it's going for $340.00?? and Adorama doesn't list it at all.

Was the entire line discontinued? And why are they still on Canons website as current models?

Thanks.

Canon PowerShot A1200 Canon PowerShot A1400 Canon PowerShot A2200 Canon PowerShot A470
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PhotoRaw Contributing Member • Posts: 521
Re: What happened to the A series?
1

Canon thinks people don't need them because they have the iPhone for that

Canon should bring a new A650is, A590is, A720is back... for those who need a PASM camera with AA batteries!

OP Atlantis_Risen New Member • Posts: 23
Re: What happened to the A series?

PhotoRaw wrote:

Canon thinks people don't need them because they have the iPhone for that

Canon should bring a new A650is, A590is, A720is back... for those who need a PASM camera with AA batteries!

So they ARE discontinued? They don't offer an affordable camera with optical finder and AA batteries? Too bad

Canon needs to update their website.

Any recommendations for something in that category?

Thanks all!

GeraldW Veteran Member • Posts: 8,872
Re: What happened to the A series?
1

Check out KEH.com.  It's a reliable used camera broker located near Atlanta.  I bought my wife an A710IS there, I bought myself an A720IS for $45, and a slightly damaged A710IS (just a minor ding in the removeable lens ring) for $25 as a back up.  All three work perfectly.  My A720IS lives in my car 24/7.  I use Energizer lithium cells, as they have a 10 year shelf life and don't go flat in the camera.  I get about 550 shots per pair.

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Jerry

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OP Atlantis_Risen New Member • Posts: 23
Re: What happened to the A series?

GeraldW wrote:

Check out KEH.com. It's a reliable used camera broker located near Atlanta. I bought my wife an A710IS there, I bought myself an A720IS for $45, and a slightly damaged A710IS (just a minor ding in the removeable lens ring) for $25 as a back up. All three work perfectly. My A720IS lives in my car 24/7. I use Energizer lithium cells, as they have a 10 year shelf life and don't go flat in the camera. I get about 550 shots per pair.

Thanks!  I actually bought a Canon 30D from KEH.com...I didn't think of them.

R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,546
Re: What happened to the A series?

PhotoRaw wrote:

Canon should bring a new A650is, A590is, A720is back... for those who need a PASM camera with AA batteries!

Just bought a used SX160 IS to keep in the car. It gets down to -30 F here in the winter. The only batts that'll work at that temp are the Energizer Lithium AA cells (+1 for these).

For this purpose I too wish they'd make a new AA battery camera using today's current technology.

R2

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PhotoRaw Contributing Member • Posts: 521
Re: What happened to the A series?
1

I also have the SX160IS. Got it because I could not find a new A590is/A650is.

True, Canon needs to make a new PASM, AA battery camera with today's current technology. Something like a new Wi-Fi + Android PowerShot A590is. Hey Nikon has one that you can even check your email and chat with it

(unknown member) Contributing Member • Posts: 847
Re: What happened to the A series?

Looking for something small, with manual controls?
Try the Panasonic zs50. It has EVF but doesn't use AA batteries.

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R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,546
Re: What happened to the A series?

Cjar wrote:

Looking for something small, with manual controls?
Try the Panasonic zs50. It has EVF but doesn't use AA batteries.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I need AA batts.

R2

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PhotoRaw Contributing Member • Posts: 521
Re: What happened to the A series?

R2, the same here.

(unknown member) Contributing Member • Posts: 847
Re: What happened to the A series?

I saw the entire A series last night on the Canon USA website.

I really wish they had one with a viewfinder and manual controls. The A70 was good for its time, if you got one with a viewfinder that somewhat matched the actual image.
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GeraldW Veteran Member • Posts: 8,872
Re: What happened to the A series?

You're welcome.  Of all the Canon consumer level DSLR's, the 30D is still my favorite.  I took more good pictures with the 30D than with all my other DSLR's put together.  With decent lenses, the 30D is plenty of camera for borderless 8.5 x 11" prints  with some cropping.

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Jerry

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averagjoe
averagjoe Contributing Member • Posts: 870
Re: What happened to the A series?

I have two A610s, and a 640. They serve as my go anywhere cameras. The 640, being all black. is a beauty, but my favorite digitals of all time are the 610s. I've gotten more memorable shots out of them than out of my DSLR.

BIJ001 Veteran Member • Posts: 5,828
A610

I had an A610, which was much fun and the 10,000 image counter turned around many times until it developed a sticking shutter beyond economic repair. By that time the A series had been abandoned by Canon, so after some agonizing I bought a slightly used second hand G11 with which I have been happy ever since.

The A610 was a little gem, I totally agree with Joe, if it worked I would be happy still to use it.

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Jon_T
Jon_T Veteran Member • Posts: 6,393
Re: What happened to the A series?

Atlantis_Risen wrote:

PhotoRaw wrote:

Canon thinks people don't need them because they have the iPhone for that

Canon should bring a new A650is, A590is, A720is back... for those who need a PASM camera with AA batteries!

So they ARE discontinued? They don't offer an affordable camera with optical finder and AA batteries? Too bad

Yup. AFAIK the A1400 was the last "A" Series PowerShots to use "AA" batteries, and was released 2013.

Also note while at the Canon USA PowerShots site,

  • of the seven "A" PowerShots displayed the A1400 only one that uses "AA" batteries.
  • When at the page for a camera (e.g., A1400 ) there's no "ADD TO CART" button -- generally a indication camera no longer in production.

To check on current prices and resellers for current Canon cameras, lenses, etc. I go to CanonPriceWatch.com.

Canon needs to update their website.

Yup! But this has been a long ongoing issue.

Any recommendations for something in that category?

New -- not really. Out of curiosity went to B&H Photo to see if there were any P&S that uses "AA" batteries, the only one I found was the Nikon CoolPix L32 ; $96.65.  Wouldn't be surprise selling what's left in stock.

Always thought the older PowerShot "A" Series with PSAM modes were a great bang for the buck.  Still have my A710 IS, and latter on picked up the SX130 IS for "AA" batteries and the 28mm WA.

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filibuster
filibuster Veteran Member • Posts: 4,418
Re: A650

I am about to give away later today, a fabulous A650 in pristine like new condition, to my daughter whose much used A630 is damaged beyond repair. The A650 (not the only one I have ever owned) has only fired 370 frames, can you imagine that? I’m agonising over parting with it, but I do so love my daughter!

All my cameras of recent years have the benefit of an articulated LCD which I find is brilliant, but sometimes the simple optical viewfinder on the A650 enabled some extraordinary captures of fleeting moments.

Canon  A650IS ISO: 80 Exposure: 1/15 sec Aperture: 4.8 Focal Length: 44.4mm

Regards to all

Keith

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OzarkAggie Senior Member • Posts: 2,153
Re: What happened to the A series?

PhotoRaw wrote:

Canon thinks people don't need them because they have the iPhone for that

Canon should bring a new A650is, A590is, A720is back... for those who need a PASM camera with AA batteries!

I had the 590 IS and traded it for a bicycle. KEH had one and I was tempted because it was just the right size and had a good lens.

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It's not the camera...

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Philip Lanoue
Philip Lanoue Regular Member • Posts: 412
I had an A10

I bought a PowerShot A10 back in maybe... 2001? If I remember correctly it came with an 8MB CF card.

Yup that's MB and yes it used CF cards. It had almost no user selectable settings and I don't think ISO was even listed in the EXIF data. Largest jpeg image file you could get from it was around 250KB.

Fun little camera that actually took decent pictures.

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Jerrich
Jerrich Senior Member • Posts: 2,738
Re: What happened to the A series?

I spent many happy hours with my "A"s. The 650 was a great camera (poor man's G9 it was called), and if you added chdk, it became a Super camera, with raw, motion detect, etc.

JR

A650

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filibuster
filibuster Veteran Member • Posts: 4,418
Re: What happened to the A series?

Jerrich wrote:

I spent many happy hours with my "A"s. The 650 was a great camera (poor man's G9 it was called), and if you added chdk, it became a Super camera, with raw, motion detect, etc.

JR

A650

Ah yes! CHDK Motion Detect on the A650!

Set camera up on tripod with the ‘Motion Detect’ script enabled. Jump into hammock and sip the Piña Colada. Check back on the camera after an hour or two.

A650

A650

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