Wednesday,
Oct 15, 2003 - Here's what I receive in the box:
PowerShot
A80
Wrist
Strap
4
AA Alkaline Batteries
32MB
CompactFlash (CF) Memory Card (in case)
Interface
Cables: A/V; USB
English
only Documentation: User Guide; Software Starter
Guide; Quick Start Guide; System Map
Software CDs: Digital Camera 14.0; ArcSoft Camera
Suite 1.2
Note
that there's been a change in the documentation
provided in Canada. Whereas in the past, Canon
automatically shipped both an English version
and a French version of the manuals, this time,
there is only the English version included. Which
means that if you prefer the French version, be
sure to stipulate it when you order your PowerShot
A80.
As
soon as I hold the Canon PowerShot A80 and start
playing with it, I immediately realize it has
improved on the A70 in the following way: handgrip
is better; the zoom lever around the shutter release
is larger and does not jiggle; the left-right
button has a nice positive feedback; there is
now a separate SET button to effortlessly confirm
your choices; and, the LCD now swivels!
Like the A70, the PowerShot A80 is a very attractive
digital camera with a clean and elegant design.
Though the handgrip now "looks" chunkier,
it provides an even better grip and imparts a
more solid feel to the camera.
The
PowerShot A80 comes with 4 disposable standard
AA Alkaline batteries. A sticker close to the
battery compartment clearly indicates how to orientate
the batteries. Battery life is excellent, but
I believe most people would still want to get
rechargeable NiMH batteries. There is little to
no advance warning when the battery power is getting
low -- it just goes dead. [This is a characteristic
of any digital camera that uses steady charge
NiMH batteries.] That is why it's a good idea
to have 4 extra fully charged batteries in your
pocket. So, I recommend buying the optional battery
charger and 2 sets of rechargeable batteries:
8 rechargeable NiMH batteries (4 in the camera
+ 4 spare).
[Canon
recommends that the optional AC adapter be used
when transferring images from the camera to the
PC. Using batteries, there is the danger that
you suddenly run out of power in the middle of
the transfer. Don't risk losing precious images
or damaging the camera. Either use fully charged
batteries or, better, get the adapter. I would
recommend the adapter if, like me, you transfer
images every chance you get. Using the AC adapter
also means you don't use up precious battery power
to transfer your images from the camera to your
computer.]
Since
the Zoom Browser and PhotoStitch I installed when
I reviewed the PowerShot
S50 was from the Digital Camera Solution 12.0
and the current version is now 14.0, I reinstall
that CD. My PC runs Windows XP, so I don't need
to install the USB driver.
I don't know if that option was available before,
but you can now go into Tools - Preferences...
- Selection tab and select "Windows
Standard Selection" (where a click selects
an image and a subsequent click on another image
selects it and de-selects the previous selection;
to select more than one image, use CTRL-Click).
The default option is "Toggle Selection"
(where clicking an item selects it and subsequent
clicks on other images adds them to the current
selection -- which I find very frustrating). So,
I am vey happy now with the ZoomBrowser EX :o).
Also under the Rotation tab, I select the
option to "Rotate a copy of the JPEG image"
to ensure the original image is not tampered with.
Under Camera - Auto-download setting, Step
3 allows me to specify the location to download
the images to on my PC.
Some of you have asked about this: whether you
can transfer images from your PC back to your
camera memory card. Well, you can with the PowerShot
A80, which even gives you a menu option to do
so: Under Camera, there is an Upload
Images option to allow you to transfer images
from your PC to the memory card in your camera
(and even specify a smaller size, if you so desire).
Concerning
the documentation, the handy Quick Start Guide
is all I need to get the PowerShot A80 up and
ready for picture taking. Read this card first
before you put in the battery and memory card.
The User Guide's small format makes it
a bit difficult to keep the pages open. I would
prefer the screen shots be a bit bigger because
I find it difficult to see what exactly they are
trying to illustrate. Otherwise, I find the User
Guide well written and I was able to find all
the information I needed to operate the camera.
You
can download a softcopy of the manuals (English
version only, sorry) from Canon Canada's site
and view them in as large a font as you want on
your own PC display monitor: Canon
A80 Manuals.
I
take the time to set the PowerShot A80 to the
way I would like to use it:
FUNC:
Exposure
Compensation = 0
White Balance = Auto
Drive
Mode = Single
ISO
= 50
Photo
Effect = OFF
Metering Mode = Evaluative
Image Size = 2272x1704 (L)
Image Quality = Superfine
MENU
(Set up tab):
Mute
= OFF
Volume
= set up just loud enough to hear
Power
Saving: Auto Power Down = OFF; Display Off =
3 min.
Date
and Time
File
No. Reset = OFF
Auto
Rotate = ON (the intelligent orientation sensor
automatically rotates portrait shots)
Distance
Units = m/cm
Language
= English
MENU
(Rec. Menu tab):
AiAF
= OFF (i.e. use single-focus at center of
frame)
Red-Eye
= ON
MF-Point
Zoom = ON (center of image is enlarged in Manual
Focus)
AF-Assist
Beam = ON
Digital
Zoom = OFF
The
included 32MB CompactFlash memory card holds about
14 SuperFine Large (2272x1704) images. I recommed
you get a 256MB CF card, which would hold 100+
SuperFine Large pictures.
Garden
Glimpse:
19.3mm, Aperture-Priority, Evaluative
1/80 sec., F5.6, +1/3EV and ISO 50, with Flash
First
impressions
Even
though the PowerShot A80 is just a tad bigger
and heavier than the A70, you'd hardly notice
it. I can still fit it into my large pants pocket,
its body smooth and rounded enough. A soft case
is recommended to protect the body and it's just
more convenient to carry it hung from your belt
or in a small bag. It is well balanced and operation
is quite fast. I don't remember if this was also
the case in the A70, but the image momentarily
disappears from the LCD as the camera writes it
to memory card (you get used to it very fast).
The
big improvement over the A70 is, of course, the
swivel LCD. It is still 1.5 in. in diameter and
the resolution is less at 67K pixels (78K pixels
for the A70). Now, there's been some confusion
over the resolution of the LCD since BeBit lists
it as 67K while powershot.com lists it as 113K
(since corrected to 67K as of Oct 18, 2003). Canon
Canada confirmed to me it is 67K and so I'm taking
their word for it. The User Guide also lists it
as 67K. Anyway, it's bright and very usable and
you won't notice the lesser pixels, and being
able to swivel it is a very convenient feature.
Oh, and there is no reflective strip around the
LCD anymore.
Similar
to the A70's LCD, the PowerShot A80's LCD is fine
to use to compose but not to review. But if, like
me, you like to judge the quality of the
captured images and make a decision then and there
whether to keep or delete and retake, I find that
67,000 pixels resolution is not clear enough for
me to make that decision. For most everyday shots,
this should not matter at all, but in extreme
lighting situations (too sunny or too much in
shadow), I recommend that you bracket your exposure.
So wish list here is: higher resolution LCD with
anti-reflective coating.
Transferring
images from the PowerShot A80 to my PC is just
a matter of connecting the USB cable into the
appropriate slots. Slide the Mode Switch to Playback
Mode, and turn on the camera. At the computer
screen prompt, I select Zoom Browser EX and the
images are transferred. It takes about 4 sec.
to transfer one image on my PC. Once done, I just
unplug the cable at both end, and I'm done. There
is no need to turn off the computer at any time.
I make sure all the images have been transferred
successfully, and to erase the pictures from the
camera, I switch to Playback Mode, go into MENU
and select ERASE ALL.
Wish
list to Canon: Exposure Compensation is such an
important function that it must be made easier
to adjust than having to go into FUNC. Default
the Left and Right buttons to that function. Also,
in the FUNC. screen, I would prefer to see Exposure
Compensation be followed by Metering Mode and
Drive Mode, simply because I find I am changing
the values of those 3 functions more often than
any other.
The
dedicated Macro button makes it easy to switch
back and forth into that mode. You can set the
amount of time a captured shot remains on the
LCD (after capture) for review from 2 to 10 sec.
A half-press of the shutter release button immediately
sets the camera back into Record mode. So, even
if you set review to 10 sec. you can still quickly
get back to Record mode so you do not miss a snapshot
opportunity.
In detailed Playback mode, a histogram displays
and is a very good way to judge whether your image
is under-, over- or correctly exposed. See your
User Guide for a simple explanation of how to
use the histogram on the A80.
There is even a Manual Focus mode for those who
want to use this. The center of the frame can
be viewed enlarged (option can be preset via Menu)
when using Manual Focus.
Making
The Most Of Your A80
I
am starting a new section on some features of
the PowerShot A80 you might want to try to make
the most of your camera. Unless you dig into the
User Guide, you might not even know these are
available.
AE
Lock:
First,
everyone knows (or should know) about AE Lock:
When you press the shutter release half-way, the
focus and AE both lock. Depressing the shutter
release button fully will then take a picture
with the locked focus and exposure settings. This
allows you to position your main subject off center
and still be in focus and correctly exposed. (You
could also turn on the AiAF and let the camera
select the focus point.)
AF
Lock:
However,
you may desire to lock only the focus and not
the exposure (because, say, you want to recompose
the shot and the exposure between the two areas
are quite different).
In
this case, press the shutter release button
half-way, hold it pressed, and press the MF
button once to go to Manual Focus.
The
focus is now locked (in fact you've switched
to manual focus) and you may release the shutter
release button.
Now
you can recompose and press the shutter release
button fully to take your shot.
AF
Lock is not effective in Auto mode or Stitch
Assist mode.
Auto-Rotate:
Images
shot vertically can be automatically rotated
on the LCD display.
Press
the MENU button.
Select
the Set up tab.
Move
down to the Auto Rotate item and highlight ON.
Press
the MENU button again to set and exit.
Now,
portrait pictures will be rotated on the LCD.
Rotating
Image in ZoomBrowser:
In
ZoomBrowser EX, under Tools - Preferences -
Rotation tab, select "Rotate a copy of
the JPEG image" to ensure that when transferred
to your PC, the original image is transferred
as-is (i.e. not rotated), while a copy
is rotated and saved.
This way, you ensure you do not muck around
with any of the original images.
Theme:
You
can personalize the startup sound as well as
other camera operation sound.
Switch
your camera to Playback mode. Turn camera off.
Connect
your camera to the PC using the USB cable, and
turn camera on.
Select
ZoomBrowser EX as your image editing software.
In
the Tasks menu column, select Camera & Memory
Card.
Select
My Camera Settings....
Choose
the "Setup as a theme" or "Set
individually" tab.
Browse
through each selection available and select
the theme or individual item you like.
You
can personalize the Startup Image, Startup Sound,
Shutter Sound, Operation Sound, and Selftimer
Sound.
Add
Own Startup Image and Sound:
You
may also add your own images and sound to the
list of startup images and sounds available.
Switch
to Playback mode, and turn on camera.
Press
the MENU button and select the My Camera menu
tab.
Use
the up and down button to select the image or
sound item you wish to register.
Select
2 or 3 and press the DISP button.
If
you are registering a startup image, use left
and right button to select the image and press
the SET button.
If
you are registering a sound, select Record and
press SET to start recording. (E.g., for the
selftimer sound, you may record "Say Cheese!"
or other silly phrase to get everyone to laugh.)
Press SET again to stop recording.
Select
Register, press SET, select OK, press SET to
register the image or sound.
Apparently,
you may also manually create your image or sound
and upload it to the camera using the supplied
software. (I did not try this.)
Sound
Memo:
A
60 sec. sound memo can be attached to an image
in Playback mode.
Press
the MENU button and in the Play menu, select
Sound Memo.
Select
the image you wish to add a sound memo to, and
press the SET button.
Select
Record on the LCD display.
Press
the SET button to start and stop recording.
You
can start and stop recording as many times as
you want until the total time of 60 sec. is
reached.
To
play the sound memo, select Play on the LCD
display (use the right and left button), and
press the SET button to start/stop playing back
the sound memo.
Adjust the volume up or down with the Up button
or Down button, respectively.
To
erase the sound memo, select Erase on the LCD
display, and press the SET button.
PC-Controlled
Shooting (RemoteCapture):
You
can remotely control the PowerShot A80 using
your PC.
Switch
the camera to Playback mode.
Connect
the camera to the PC using the USB cable, and
turn camera on.
Select
ZoomBrowser EX as your image editing software.
In
the Tasks menu column, select Remote Shooting....
The
LCD will blank out, the lens will extend, you'll
hear a few clicking noises, the focus-assist
light will flash, and then the image seen by
your camera will appear in the RemoteCaptureTask
window.
You can remotely specify image quality and size,
shooting settings (WB, +/- EV, metering mode,
ISO, photo effect, AE mode), redirect the image
display back to the camera LCD, and specify
whether you want to capture the image on the
PC directly or to memory card first, then transfer
to PC.
You
can remotely zoom in and out, and even format
the memory card.
Click
Release and the picture is captured and automatically
transferred.
Where
this really becomes useful is if you want to
take time lapse photography: you can set the
camera for timer shooting or interval timer
shooting (AC adapter highly recommended).
The
Canon PowerShot A80 is the perfect digital
camera for an aspiring photographer. Its 4 megapixels
resolution allows 11x14 in. prints; it has the
image quality Canon is famous for; plus, it provides
the features and exposure flexibility a beginner
can experiment with to learn and grow. Add an
unbeatable price, and you've got one hard-to-beat
attractive package. No wonder some call it the
"mini-G."
