Editorial Review:Product Description:The PowerShot A80 is ideal for developing your digital photography skills. Easy for first-time users, yet with an impressive range of features and accessories so you can grow to a more advanced level.If you are a first-time user, the camera has basics such as Auto Focus and Auto Mode so you can start simply and view your results immediately. If you already have some digital knowledge, the PowerShot A80's extensive array of advanced features and accessories are there to challenge you.With its 4.0 Megapixels, the PowerShot A80 can create high-resolution images. Every image you take will be reproduced as clearly as when you shot it, whether you are printing postcard or A3 size.To achieve a sharp and clear image, the PowerShot A80 has a 3x optical zoom, ideal for shooting everything from landscapes to portraits. Its approximately 11x combined digital and optical zoom then allows you to get even closer.For increased creativity and photographic control, the PowerShot A80 has an easy-to-use Mode Dial with 12 shooting modes such as Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Movie and full manual modes. Two custom settings allow a combination of your preferred modes to be saved.The PowerShot A80 can automatically detect your subject, even if it's off-center in the frame. It chooses the best focus point from nine fixed focusing areas across your shooting scene so the final image will be accurate and sharp.Unique in its class, the PowerShot A80 has a vari-angle LCD that can be twisted in different directions to free you from shooting constraints. It's ideal for shots that require tricky positioning.The PowerShot A80 meets the new PictBridge direct printing standard, to allow it to simply connect to any other PictBridge-compliant printer for easy printing without a PC.
Amazon.com Product Description:Featuring a high-tech design with aluminum front cover and metallic handgrip, the Canon PowerShot A80 combines a sense of both the modern and the traditional. Despite its entry-level designation in Canon's digital lineup, the easy-to-operate, 4-megapixel PowerShot A80 is a surprisingly advanced model with sophisticated optics and manual controls. It also features a twisting LCD screen.
Optics and Resolution The PowerShot A80 offers a 4-megapixel CCD sensor that produces images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels for photo-quality 11 x 14 inch enlargements. Other resolution modes include 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480. The 3x zoom lens has a focal length of 7.8-23.4mm (equivalent to 38-114mm in 35mm photography). It also incorporates a 3.6x digital zoom for a total 11x zoom. The PowerShot A80 also features Canon's nine-point AiAF system for focusing accuracy, shutter speeds of 15 to 1/1,500 second, and fast sequence shooting at a rate of 2.2 frames per second (fps).
Movie Mode In addition to taking still photos, the A80 can also record up to 3 minutes of video with sound. It has two resolution settings: 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. You can record for up to 3 minutes per clip in either resolution. Note that you cannot use the optical zoom when in movie mode. The included 32 MB memory card can hold 91 seconds of video at the highest setting.
More Features The PowerShot A80 has a 1.5-inch variable-angle LCD monitor that gives you even more shooting options. Turn the LCD monitor 180 degrees toward the front of the camera and the A80 will display your choice of a mirror image or a non-reversed image to give you a true view of your actual shot.
Offering a wider scope for photographic experimentation, Canon has also included manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority exposure modes. These modes are supported by a metering system that boasts evaluative, center-weighted average and spot options.
Canon's DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor ensures excellent color rendition and white balance for every shot, as well as super-fast auto focusing, noise-free imaging, and advanced flash exposure performance.
- Shooting Modes: Auto, Creative (P, Av, Tv, M, Custom 1, Custom 2), Programmed Image Control Zone, Image (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Stitch Assist, Movie)
- White Balance Control: Auto, Pre-set (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or Custom
- Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, on/of, and slow sync modes; 10-second recycle time
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8/ 8.0 (W), f/4.9/ 8.0 (T)
- Photo Effects: Vivid Color, Neutral Color, Low Sharpening, Sepia, Black & White
- Continuous shooting mode: 2.2 shots per second with LCD and Large/Fine mode off
- Self timer with 2 and 10 second options
Printing Canon has introduced a series of printers designed to work directly with its lineup of digital cameras. Using these printers, no computer is required--simply connect the camera to the printer and start printing. Printers include Canon's bubble jet direct printers i900D and i960, and card photo printer CP-200 and CP-300. Of course, photos from your camera can also be printed on any home computer system with an inkjet printer, sent off for online processing, or simply enjoyed on your computer screen.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on CompactFlash Type I memory cards; a 32 MB card is included. When shooting in Large/Normal mode, you can store 54 images on the included memory card. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size The camera is powered by 4 AA batteries (alkalines included, NiMH rechargeables recommended). It measures 4.1 by 2.5 by 1.4 inches and weighs 8.8 ounces (excluding battery).
What's In The Box This package includes the PowerShot A80 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash memory card, four AA alkaline batteries, USB and AV cables, and wrist strap. It also comes with ArcSoft Camera Suite and Digital Camera Solutions CD-ROMs with imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
Accessories:
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Accessories:- SimpleTech STI-CF/256 256 MB CompactFlash Card
- SimpleTech STI-CF/512 512MB CompactFlash Card
- Canon PSC-60 Deluxe Soft Compact Case for Canon A530, A540, A550, A560, A570IS, A610, A620, A630, A640, A700, A710 Digital Cameras
- Canon CBK4-200 Rechargeable Battery and Charger Kit for PowerShot Cameras
- Canon 250D 52MM Close Up Lens for A10, A20, A40, A60, A70, A75, A80, A85, A95, A510, A520, A520 & A540
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Love this camera, having trouble finding a good replacement
I purchased this camera back in 2004 for $350 from Best Buy. It has served me well through the years, and while it still works I am now in the market for something smaller & newer and am having trouble finding something that I think will live up to its standards.
One of my best friends liked this camera so much she bought a newer almost identical looking version of a Canon in 05, unfortunatly her lens shutter was broken by her kids a few months ago, but she too really liked the camera and will be inheriting mine if I ever can replace it!
Pros:
I love the flip out screen, this is not a feature you can find often on newer cameras, probably bc it requires a larger camera size. Its really handy if you are someone like myself who doesnt like to ask strangers @ Disney World to take my picture.
It runs on AA batteries! New cameras seem to only run on the rechargeable lithium ion batteries (again to make the camera more compact), which normally I would prefer, but I am about to go to Europe for a month and I hear that finding a reliable power converter is difficult, so most likely I will have to take the Canon with me there.
It has a viewfinder!! I hate that new digital cameras that arent SLRs dont have a viewfinder! I may not be a photographer, but I dont wanna just use the screen either!
Easy to use, although there are a LOT of features on it which I have never even tried to mess with.
Cons:
Battery life. This I think is due to the age of the camera, bc I dont recall having such issue with it in the past as I do recently.
Start up time. It always seemed a little slow to start in picture viewing mode but now the camera is older it also is slow in picture taking mode & to view pictures takes almost a minute.
Size, but for the time period when it was made, it was considered small then.
It uses Compact Flash cards not SD. Poor Canon made the wise choice back then to go with CF not SD for it's memory, this has since changed, but it sucks for people stuck with their older cameras to have to pay more money to get outdated technology.
Rating: -
Did it's job
Over all I think this is a pretty good camera, I got it in the beginning of 2004 and have used it and dropped it many times... it didn't stop working until earlier this year when I dropped it on a concrete floor and it has since refused to turn on... I was very abusive to it, so I expected it to one day just die and it did... over all I took very good photos with it, it was a bit slow after taking the picture, but over all pretty good... top of the line for 2003/2004... now a days I just got a better and faster one for 1/2 the amount I brought this one for...
Rating: -
Great Camera with Lots of Features
I've had this camera for around four years now. It's been taking excellent photos the entire time. The reason I got this camera is because the PowerShot series was (and maybe still is) the only series of low-mid-range cameras that actually have manual focus abilities. In fact, this camera has a full range of manual settings: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and of course focus. All of these work well, and are reasonably easy to access. It also has automatic settings, of course! The only annoying thing about it is the fact that the videos are limited to about 2min 30sec.
The other awesome thing about this camera is a feature that's now VERY hard to find: The rotating LCD screen. You can take photos at any angle. The only cameras that have this now are the Powershot S5 and TX1, which are very large and very expensive, respectively.
It's a shame they don't make a camera that's exactly like this one, but with updated higher resolution...
Rating: 
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A metal encased piece of junk
I bought this camera new in 2006 based on reviews at the time. Since then I have a much more accurate review to submit.
-Metal case is sturdy and looks great. This is true. I dropped the camera and the only thing that broke was the plastic, zoom thingy which snapped like a twig.
-Takes wonderful, clear pictures. Yes, if you can get it to turn on. Mine comes on about 75% of the time. The rest of the time the lens extends and that's it. No display and no pictures. I wrote to Canon because a lot of reviewers have had the same problem and Canon said that they had never heard of that problem. There are now lots of reviews of people that have bought this camera and it wouldn't turn on. Don't miss a photo moment because your stupid camera won't turn on!! I missed a picture of a bear because of it.
Right now my on-screen display won't work. You should be able to choose between view standard settings, view detailed settings or off but mine doesn't work at all which means you don't have any idea of your settings, can't change your settings or use any of the functions.
After about a year the zoom, set, menu, func. disp., and camera/play buttons became very hard to move or push. I have a chunk missing out of my thumbnail right now because I took the camera on a project and had to switch between camera and play a lot.
For the money, you can buy a much more reliable camera.
Rating: 
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Ok for casual use
I got this thinking it would be substitute for SLR. I needed to decrease bulk and weight on trip to Europe. It was successful for that but it lacks in ability to capture special shots. It is ok for occassional user. Operations not much different than SLR. Close up and telephoto add on lens are a joke. You can buy smaller cameras to accomplish decreased size, but go with SLR if want flexibility.
