Announced just before PMA in February 2005, the PowerShot A520 is the replacement for the PowerShot A85, 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.
- 4.0 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 A520 vs A85 (main differences)
![]() Canon PowerShot A520 |
![]() Canon PowerShot A85 |
|
---|---|---|
Sensor | • 1/2.5-inch CCD • 4.0 million effective pixels |
• 1/2.7-inch CCD • 4.0 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) | 300g (10.6 oz) |
Continuous Shooting | 1.9 fps | 1.5 fps |
Maximum Movie Size/Frame Rate | 640 x 480, 30 secs, 320 x 240, 15 fps, max 3 mins | 640 x 480, 10 fps, max 30 sec |
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 A520 Key specifications
Street price | US: $270 UK: £175 |
---|---|
Body Material | Metal and plastic |
Sensor | • 1/2.5" Type CCD • 4.0 million effective pixelxels |
Image sizes | • 2272 x 1704 |
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 |
Focus | TTL autofocus AF illuminator 9-point AiAF or - point AF (center) Manual focus 5cm macro mode (Wide), 30cm (Tele) |
Shooting mode | • Auto |
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 | • Single • Continuous (1.9 fps, max 8 images) * * 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 A520 |
Other features | Spot, Center-weighted & Evaluative metering |
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
Comments