Canon Presents Entry-Level Compacts

Canon's PowerShot A cameras are the firm's cheapest models, coming in just below the Ixus range. They generally have a more basic build, often feel quite plastic (especially around the back), and have a very classic, very safe design. That said, this year's A-series cameras have been slightly reworked for a more modern look, even if they're still decidedly vanilla. Plus, only the A810 and A1300 (which run on AA batteries) have the trademark bump one side to help you keep hold of the camera.

All models come loaded with a 16-Megapixel CCD and most of them have a 28-140 mm lens and a 2.7-inch TN screen with 230,000 dots. They film 720p video with mono sound, but only the three most advanced models come with stabilisation.

	Zoom	Power	Extras
A810	28-140 mm	2 x AA batteries
A1300	"	"	Viewfinder
A2300	"	Li-ion battery
A2400 IS	28-140 mm, stabilised	"
A3400 IS	"	"	3" touchscreen
A4000 IS	28-224 mm, stabilised	"

All in all, this pretty unexceptional compact range only has one relatively original model—the A1300, which is pretty much the only place you'll find an optical viewfinder outside advanced, expert-level cameras. Although this optical viewfinder can be handy in bright sunlight, it's not the kind of thing you'd want to use it on a regular basis—accuracy is poor and it's pretty tiny.

It's especially difficult to muster up enthusiasm for these models when the Ixus 115 HS can now be picked up for about £100. The Ixus 115 HS has a better finish, a better screen, stabilisation and, above all, a BSI CMOS sensor which delivers better image quality in low light. Compared with that, the new models' 5x zoom doesn't pack much of a punch—especially when, for the same price, the PowerShot models aren't stabilised ...

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