The Canon PowerShot A570 IS offers trendy technology at an affordable price. This camera has optical image stabilization and face detection technology, along with a full range of exposure modes that cater to both those who enjoy manual control and those who prefer the camera to do it all. The 7.1-megapixel A570 sells for less than $200.
Most point-and-shoots come with a standard 3x lens, but the Canon A570 comes with a longer 4x lens equipped with optical image stabilization. Few cameras in this price range currently offer image stabilization, with the exception of Panasonic Lumix models. The Panasonic LZ7 costs less and has a 6x lens, 7.2 megapixels, and many other similarities to the Canon A570 IS. Canon’s technology keeps videos stable and reduces the number of blurry pictures.
The camera’s 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.7-inch shell isn’t very sturdy. It’s made of plastic and easily picks up scuffs and dings. If you want it to remain flawless, you should invest in a small carrying case. Though it’s a bit too thick for most pants pockets, it is still very portable.
On the back of the camera body is a 2.5-inch LCD screen with only 115,000 pixels. This resolution isn’t very good, so you will be able to see the individual red, green, and blue dots that make up an image. Only when you look at the screen from afar will it look halfway decent. The Panasonic LZ7's LCD has the same specs, but other cameras like the Fujifilm F40fd have 230,000 pixels on the same size screen. Other components include a miniscule optical viewfinder, which should be avoided because it doesn’t accurately depict what the picture will actually look like, and a flash that is effective to about 11 feet in front of the camera.
The Canon PowerShot A570 IS takes great pictures, considering its affordable price. The camera can even handle low light situations well. The camera has an accurate autofocus system and face detection technology to help photographers snap perfect portraits. Face detection works by detecting faces in the view and adjusting the focus and exposure accordingly so they’ll always look great.
Exposure modes range from the fully manual, with access to a 15-1/2000th of a second shutter speed range and f/2.8-8 apertures, to the 13 Scene modes – and everything in between. Canon includes all the familiar Scene modes and throws in a few interesting ones like Underwater and Aquarium (although this camera isn’t waterproof, so an optional underwater housing is required to actually shoot underwater).
Movies can be recorded and played back in the camera or on computers and televisions. Movie clips look good with 640x480-pixel resolution and 30 fps recording rate. The Burst mode snaps 1.5 pictures per second, which isn’t bad for a budget model. The 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot A570 IS records nice movies and pictures, has a range of exposure modes to please any photographer, includes great technology, and has a reasonable price.
