The Canon PowerShot A620, A610, and A410

Canon also squeezed out three new low-end digicams today, the PowerShot A620, the A610, and the A410 (low-end being an increasingly relative term these days). The $400 7.1 megapixel A620 (pictured above) and the $300 five megapixel A610 are pretty identical apart from their resolution, each has a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2.0-inch LCD screen.

The 3.2 megapixel A410 (pictured above), which will retail for $150, is the successor to last year�s A400 and has a 3.2x optical zoom lens and a 1.5-inch LCD screen. All three cameras should be available next month.

[Alexander Barbara @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

They seem like nice cameras, but after having the 12x optical zoom from a Panasonic FZ-20, I'm not going back.

[Big Poppa Chuck @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I've got an older S20 which I really enjoyed until it started giving me "memory card error" on the LCD screen. I started looking around on the web and it seems that it is a rampant issue with Canon. Anyone know if it is also a problem with other makers?

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Why would you buy the larger A620 cameraa with unnecessary megapixels when you can grab the much smaller 5 megapixel canon sd400 (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=11158) for $350 and carry it in your pocket.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Michael:

Because the "A" series gives you more modes and more manual controls. It also has somewhat better picture quality, although I don't know why - but I have (had) an A70 and my wife has an SD400 and we can take photos of the same subject at best quality and she'll have a few compression artifacts and I won't.

Also, I'm actually not sure if this is still true, but the use of CF at least used to also be a differentiating feature between the A and SD series of cameras.

Basically, in order of smallest/easiest to largest/most options, it goes SD, A, S, G series, then up to the Pro1 and finally the DSLR's.

[JL984 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Jeff,

The quality difference between the "A" and "SD" lines is because Canon has to use an inferior (though smaller) components in the "SD" line to make them in such a small form factor.

Every review of both product lines says the same thing. If style and size are important, pick the "SD". If image quality (though slight and possibly not noticible) is important, choose the "A" line.

[Randy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

What of the S series, then? I was leaning towards an S2. I'd rather have a bigger zoom than more pixels.

[Roy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Michael suggests and SD400 as an alternative to the A620. Be aware that all the reports of electronic problems are not a hoax. My SD400 was croaked (E16) the day I received it. I sent it back the next morning and ordered an A620. The 620 is less compact for sure, which is a big item for me. But I read so many reports about E18, E16 and other mysterious electronic problems I didn't have the guts to try another SD. Besides, the A620 has a far brighter lens and more control, as in Aperture priority. If I have to, I'll sew bigger pockets on my shirt.

[Roy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Michael suggests and SD400 as an alternative to the A620. Be aware that all the reports of electronic problems are not a hoax. My SD400 was croaked (E16) the day I received it. I sent it back the next morning and ordered an A620. The 620 is less compact for sure, which is a big item for me. But I read so many reports about E18, E16 and other mysterious electronic problems I didn't have the guts to try another SD. Besides, the A620 has a far brighter lens and more control, as in Aperture priority. If I have to, I'll sew bigger pockets on my shirt.