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Canon A530

It is 9x6x4cm maximum and weights less than 200grams with the two 'AA' inserted. I was rather surprised to find what looks to be a quality offering with standard 'AA' batteries. While on disappointments the 16MB MMC card is there as well, I thought that for Canon at least 32MB would now be the entry point.

As always it seems cameras are made for the right handed - with so many models around surely the substantial minority or us who are left handed are worth a model or three - however I long ago became used to using a camera right handed.

At least the viewfinder is still there for those who prefer sighing in that way and unlike some offerings I found you can comfortably sight with either eye. However the majority seem to prefer a TFT and the close to 4x3cm offering dominates the left half of the rear of the camera and it gives a good clear image in all but the strongest sunlight. Four well labelled buttons surround a five position wheel that control all the camera settings. The only other item is a two position slider to swap between taking and reviewing images. The right side has the wrist strap while the left side has a rubberised cover that hides the mini USB, A/V output and DC input. The base has an anchor point for a tripod and the battery cover that also houses the MMC card.

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This leaves the front that has the lens that extends up to 2.5cm beyond the grip and the less than powerful flash and finally the top that has the on/off button, the zoom/wide- angle movement surrounds the shutter button and finally the nine position wheel that allows a variety of shooting modes including the video option.

On the face of it with 18 different shooting modes this should be a very desirable unit. As always it takes time to get used to a camera and I always start by using a unit in 'Auto' mode. I find it best to start with a few images that do not tend to change, these I keep on record from camera to camera. In the early stages I try to avoid things like shooting towards the sun and using a lot of zoom as without a tripod you are likely to get camera shake until you are totally used to where the controls are and you have found a natural way to hold the unit.

One night a week I tend to take some images at a local pubs jazz night, these used to start with no daylight but with lighter nights full darkness now only occurs well into the gig. I have got used to taking images with flash from a certain position and a range of cameras - including on occasions my own - have given me great images even back to the drummer who tends to be right into the bay window. Then recently I was sent a new model from a manufacturer - not Canon - and I was disgusted with the flash. The next week I took that unit again and this Canon. I deliberately took images from the same place and while that new units images were dire the Canon's images were not a great deal better as the flash was not that powerful. I had become a victim of a range of cameras with excellent flash who all covered the distance without problem. So if you wish to take flash images beyond say two to three metres then check before purchase that it has a powerful flash.

I was perfectly happy with all the images I took in natural light both in 'Auto' and those of the specialist 18 shooting modes I tested. I am not sure what to make of this unit, surely it is more than a novice unit but then why give only a 16MB MMC card, using two standard 'AA' batteries again tend to say novice. While Canon have the technology developed in their top of the range SLR units the extra facilities trickle down to lower priced models. The ISO 800 mode should have produced better results in poor light but again maybe with more time I could have adjusted.

I am afraid to me this was a 'curates egg' unit good in parts. The best price I found on my Internet searches was £141.55 from the link below, more details from second link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Powershot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B000EW98JS

http://www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/digital_camera/powershot/powershot_a530