Canon PowerShot A640

Canon PowerShot A640

As compact cameras chase ever-higher resolutions and gimmicky features, it's great to find one that concentrates on the basics instead: image quality, creative features and ease of use. Perfect for anyone who wants people to ooh and ahh over their images, rather than their camera.

Megapixels:10Mp
Zoom range:4x
Shutter speed:15 - 1/2500 sec
Storage type:SD, 32MB supplied
Battery type:4xAA batteries and card
Sensor dimensions:1-1.8-inch
Lens focal length:7.3 - 29.2mm
Exposure modes:Includes Program, Aperture, Shutter, Manual, Custom, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Stitch Assist, Movie, Night Snapshot, Kids
ISO range:80, 100, 200, 400, 800
Dimensions
Weight:340g

Canon Powershot A620

Canon Powershot A620

There’s no doubt; the PowerShot A620 is an awful lot of camera for a bearable outlay. We still have reservations about some aspects of the image processing and those AA batteries, but if you fancy some further experimentation beyond simple point-and-shoot, this is a great place to start.

Megapixels:(7.1Mp effective)
Zoom range:4x
Shutter speed:1/2000-4sec
Storage type:3.2Mb Int, SD card supplied
Battery type:2AA
Sensor dimensions:1/2.5-inch
Lens focal length:7.3-29.2mm
Exposure modes:Auto, programme, +20 scene modes
ISO range:50-400
Dimensions:66x49x105mm
Weight:285g

Canon PowerShot A520

Canon PowerShot A520

For anyone on a budget who wants as much control and customisation as possible, the Canon PowerShot is hard to beat. Slight niggles with low-light autofocus and red-eye tendencies are our only real criticism. The handy size and easy controls make it a dream to use – it’s a brilliant ‘out and about’ camera.

Megapixels:3.3Mp(3.2Mp effective)
Zoom range:4x
Shutter speed:1/2,000sec
Storage type:16Mb Multimedia
Battery type:2x AA
Sensor dimensions:1/2.8-inch
Lens focal length:35-140mm
Exposure modes:PASM, 12 scenes
ISO range:50-400
Dimensions:64x38.4x90.7mm
Weight:180g

Canon PowerShot A510

Canon PowerShot A510

The Canon A510 is a very capable camera and at this price, a terrific bargain. Image quality is exceptionally good, with spot-on metering and good auto-focus. Shutter lag is non-existent and the start-up time of just a second is very good for the price. In short, this is a nicely built piece of kit that works exceedingly well.

Megapixels:(3.2Mp effective)
Zoom range:4x
Shutter speed:1/2,000sec
Storage type:6Mb SD/MMC
Battery type:2x AA
Sensor dimensions:1/2.8-inch
Lens focal length:35-140mm
Exposure modes:Program, Shutter, Aperture, 12 scenes
ISO range:50-400
Dimensions:64x38.4x90.7mm
Weight:180g

Canon Powershot A410

Canon Powershot A410

For under £100 there are a few decent cameras around however 3.3Mp is only just on the right side of acceptable. There are a lot of camera phones that will be stepping up to this challenge before long. The Powershot A410 takes decent, colourful images for the money and is a basic, safe choice.

Megapixels:3.3Mp(3.2Mp effective)
Zoom range:3.2x
Shutter speed:1-1/2000 sec
Storage type:16Mb, MultiMedia Card
Battery type:2 AA cells, alkalines supplied
Sensor dimensions:1-3.2 - inch
Lens focal length:41-131mm
Exposure modes:Auto, Manual, (8 settings)
ISO range:50-200
Dimensions:52x40x103mm
Weight:198g

Canon Ixus i Zoom

Canon Ixus i Zoom

The Ixus i Zoom is a truly beautiful object and it can shoot some beautiful snaps. It’s good to see that Canon has now included an optical zoom. However, an underpowered screen and a mediocre lens reduce it to more of a fashion accessory than a super-slim snapper. Nice to look at but not a serious photographer’s option.

Megapixels:5Mp
Zoom range:3x
Shutter speed:15-1/6,000sec
Storage type:SD/MMC
Battery type:Lithium-ion
Sensor dimensions:1/1.25-inch
Lens focal length:38-90mm
Exposure modes:Auto, Manual, Scenes
ISO range:50-400
Dimensions:96x45x24mm
Weight:105g

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Sure, £3,500 is a lot to pay for a digital SLR, but this is an awesome camera. First there’s the eight-megapixel resolution; then there’s the 8fps continuous shooting and the ability to take RAW and JPEG versions of the same shot. It’s built like a tank, fantastically responsive, and also capable of the highest-quality studio work.

Megapixels:8Mp
Shutter speed:30-1/8,000sec
Storage type:Compact Flash I/II
Battery type:NiMH rechargeable NP-E3
Sensor dimensions:28.7x19.1mm
Lens focal length:Depends on lens fitted
Exposure modes:PASM
ISO range:100-1600
Dimensions:156x157.6x80mm
Weight:1220g

Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

The EOS 5D is Canon’s “entry-level” full frame SLR. It’s a stunning camera that has many advantages but it does require the very best lens in order to make the most of its features. Unless you’re printing up very large photos this camera could be a case of overkill. Consider the Nikon D200 or Canon EOS 30D instead.

Megapixels:12.8Mp
Zoom range:0x
Shutter speed:30-1/8000sec plus B
Storage type:CompactFlash I/II
Battery type:Lithium-ion rechargeable, BP-511
Sensor dimensions:35.8x23.9mm
Lens focal length:Depends on lens fitted
Exposure modes:PASM, A-DEP
ISO range:100-1600
Dimensions:152x113.5x75mm
Weight:810g

Canon EOS 350D

Canon EOS 350D

With its class-leading, eight-megapixel resolution, large continuous-shooting buffer, excellent auto-focus, superb feature set and accessible metering modes, the Canon 350D is a brilliant camera The handling could be better – some of the controls are awkwardly placed – and image quality is just a tad less than exceptional.

Megapixels:(8Mp effective)
Shutter speed:30-1/4,000sec + bulb
Storage type:CompactFlash I/II
Battery type:Rechargable Li-ion NB-2LH
Sensor dimensions:22.2x14.8mm
Lens focal length:Depends on lens fitted
Exposure modes:Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night, Shutter and Aperture priority AE, Manual
ISO range:Auto, 100-1600
Dimensions:126.5x94.2x64mm
Weight:485g

Canon EOS 30D

Canon EOS 30D

The 30D is a well-made, sophisticated camera that produces great-looking results. Some may be disappointed by the fine detail rendition, though, and may need to experiment with different sharpening settings or RAW files. And good though it is, the 30D is by no means a clear market leader.

Megapixels:8.5Mp(8.2Mp effective)
Zoom range:0x
Shutter speed:20-1/800sec plus B
Storage type:CompactFlash I/II
Battery type:Lithium-ion rechargeable, BP-511
Sensor dimensions:22.5x15.0mm
Lens focal length:Depends on lens fitted
Exposure modes:Auto, Portrait, A-DEP
ISO range:100-3200
Dimensions:105x73x144mm
Weight:700g

Canon EOS 20D

Canon EOS 20D

The EOS 20D is only a little more expensive than other entry-level digital SLRs, but it offers much more. Image quality is superb – better than many six-megapixel cameras, and the continuous shooting mode is exceptional. Nikon’s D70 handles better, but it’s not enough to stop the 20D stealing its crown.

Megapixels:8.2Mp
Zoom range:0x
Shutter speed:30-1/8000sec plus B

Storage type:CompactFlash I/II
Battery type:Lithium-ion rechargeable, BP-511
Sensor dimensions:22.5x15.0mm
Lens focal length:Depends on lens fitted
Exposure modes:PASM, A-DEP
ISO range:100-1600
Dimensions:144x105.5x71.5mm
Weight:685g

Canon Digital Ixus 850 IS

Canon Digital Ixus 850 IS

Canon's latest Ixus is a victory for substance over style. Many people may buy the 850 IS because it looks fantastic, but they'll get great images too. The wide-angle lens is great, and although the higher ISOs are noisy, the excellent colour performance makes up for this in normal use.

Megapixels:7.1Mp
Zoom range:0x
Shutter speed:15x - 1/6000 sec
Storage type:SD, 16MB supplied
Battery type:Li-ion rechargeable
Sensor dimensions:1/2.5-inch
Lens focal length;

Exposure modes:Program, Manual, Scene: Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater
ISO range:Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Dimensions:Weight 178g

Canon Digital Ixus 700

Canon Digital Ixus 700

There's a lot on offer here for beginners and even for enthusiasts looking for a second snapshot camera. However, those seven megapixels don't quite make this camera a star in the all-important image quality department and there are too many quirks for full marks – especially at this price.

Megapixels :(7.1Mp effective)
Zoom range :3x
Shutter speed :15-1/2,000sec
Storage type :32Mb, SD/MMC
Battery type :Rechargeable Li-ion supplied
Sensor dimensions :1/1.8-inch
Lens focal length :37-111mm
Exposure modes :Evaluative, Centre-weighted av, Spot
ISO range :50-400
Dimensions :89.5x57x26.5mm
Weight :170g

Canon Digital Ixus 40

Canon Digital Ixus 40

Megapixels :4.1Mp(3.9Mp effective)

Zoom range :3x

Shutter speed :15-1/1,500sec

Storage type :6Mb SD /MMC

Battery type :Rechargeable Li-ion NB-4L

Sensor dimensions :1/2.5-inch

Lens focal length :35-105mm

Exposure modes :Prog AE, Portrait, 4 scenes, Long Shutter

ISO range :50-400

Dimensions :53x20.7x86mm

Weight :130g

Canon Digital Ixus 900 Ti

Canon Digital Ixus 900 Ti

The IXUS 900Ti certainly offers a refined overall performance and will prove more than satisfactory in normal domestic use for capturing images like family portraits. However, the fact that it has a 10MP CCD and broad ISO range doesn't mean that it will produce high-quality images.


Megapixels :10Mp
Zoom range :12x
Shutter speed :15 to 1/2000 sec
Storage type :SD (32MB SD card supplied)
Battery type :Rechargeable Li ion NB-5L
Sensor dimensions :1/1.8-inch
Lens focal length :37-111mm
Exposure modes :Includes Auto, Manual, Digital Macro, Colour Accent, Colour Swap, Stitch
Assist, Movie, Special Scene
ISO range :80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, High ISO, Auto
Dimensions :Weight 170g