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Canon A-Series compact cameras hands-on
Compact cameras are produced in such great numbers and their models refreshed with such great frequency that it's hard to get too excited with each new iteration. It's particularly hard when that refresh is as evolutionary as it is here. But, if it ain't broke you truly shouldn't fix it, and it's hard to find much fault with Canon's compact line. So, the new A-series cameras announced earlier this week, ranging from the A490 all the way up to the A3100 IS, feature changes that are definitely of the evolutionary side. The primary difference is in the packaging, taking more styling queues from the Elph line and generally looking slimmer and sleeker than before. SDXC compatibility is in the cards if you're the wealthy type, but otherwise these won't break the bank, ranging from a thoroughly affordable $110 up to a still quite reasonable $180 for the A3100 IS. %Gallery-81867%
Canon debuts A3100 IS, A3000 IS, A495 and A490 low-end shooters
It might not be glamorous, but if a $110 camera is all you can afford -- or all you'd trust your kid with -- then it suddenly becomes of utmost importance. The new crop of A-series cameras fits such a bill, with the 12 megapixel, 4x zoom, optical image stabilized PowerShot A3100 IS in the "high end" at $180, followed by the 10 megapixel A3000 IS at $150; 10 megapixel, 3.3x zoom A495 at $130; and similarly specced A490 at $110. The differences between the A495 and A490 are muddled, outside of color choices and fewer scene selections. The Two A3000 cameras sports 2.7-inch screens and recharageable lithium-ion battery packs (a first for A-series cameras), with the A490 units going for 2.5-inches and trotting out the AAs. All four shooters should be out sometime in late February. %Gallery-81500%
