The PowerShot A80 is another
one of of those cameras that accounts for a fair number of e-mail
requests we receive for reviews. Effectively similar to the PowerShot
A70, the A80 has 2 major improvements: first, a 4-megapixel resolution;
second, a hinged LCD monitor based on the design used for the
G3 and G5 cameras.
In appearance, especially when viewed from the front, the A80 is very similar
to the A70 and A60.
If the A80 shares much with other
cameras on the front, the differences are quite noticeable on
the back of the camera.
The hinged 1.5 inch LCD monitor can be opened right to left 180°,
rotated forward 180°, or backwards 90°.
Once rotated through 180°,
the screen can be returned to the back facing out. The system
protects the LCD monitor, one of the most fragile parts of a
digital camera, and permits holding the camera in a variety of
positions while still getting a clear view of the monitor.
The addition of the hinged screen however, entails changes to the layout
of the controls in comparison to the A60 and A70.
On the top right, the A80 also
has a few differences. The Power switch has a LED indicator,
and the Mode Dial is enclosed in the same dark grey section
of the body that contains most controls and the 2-stage Shutter
Release with the Zoom Control. Pushed to the left the
control moves the lens to the wide angle position; while when
pulled to the right the
zoom moves to the telephoto setting. As usual, in Playback, the
controls serves to view an index screen ,
or magnify an image up
to 10X.
Any one of 14 capture modes can be
selected with the Mode Dial:
Auto: fully automatic,
the camera handles all settings including setting the white
balance and the sensitivity for the CCD (ISO).
Program AE: the camera
sets the aperture and shutter speed automatically, but leaves
control over other settings such as ISO, white balance, metering,
focus, continuous shooting, exposure compensation and photo
effects to the user.
Shutter Speed Priority AE: allows
setting the shutter speed from 1/2000 second to 15 seconds,
and any other setting available.
Aperture Priority AE: allows
setting the aperture from f2.8 to f8 over 11 values, and
any other setting.
Manual Mode: provides
complete control over the camera, except for exposure compensation
since the aperture and shutter speeds are manually selected.
Custom Mode 1 & 2: serve
to save user sets of preferred camera settings which can
be recalled simply by turning the mode dial to either C1
or C2.
In addition, the PowerShot A80 provides programs designed to be used with
specifc types of images (scene modes):
Portrait: uses a wide aperture
to blur the background while having the subject in focus. (The effect
of the portrait mode is more pronounced if the telephoto is used.)
Landscape: maximizes depth of
field by using a smaller aperture, which can also mean a slow shutter
speed.
Night Scene: uses a slow shutter
speed and flash to capture foreground and background. The flash can
be controlled and even turned off, but the ISO setting is under the
camera's control.
Fast Shutter Speed: maximizes
the shutter speed to capture fast moving action. CCD sensitivity
cannot be selected, and will increase to allow a faster shutter speed.
Slow Shutter Speed: is intended
to capture images showing a flowing movement by forcing a
slow shutter speed. Camera sensitivity is here also set to maximize
the effect of the slow shutter.
Stitch Assist: the stitch assist
mode is designed to capture a series of images that will later be
stitched together using the software furnished with the camera. Most
settings can be set for the first frame of the series, but cannot
be changed for subsequent shots until the mode is turned off.
Movie: provides for 3 minute maximum
video clips with sound that can be recorded at either a 320 x 240
size or at 160 x 120 (15 frames per second). Exposure, focus, white
balance, and zoom can be set before recording starts, but cannot
be altered after it the start. New with the A80, the movie mode provides
for the use of Photo Effects such as Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening,
Sepia and Black & White.
The A80 has a new design mode switch, controlling Recording mode and Playback mode .
Similarly, the 4-direction control is a single piece, and doubles as a
control for the Flash modes when pressed Up, and Macro mode
and Manual Focus mode when pressed down:
Auto with Red-eye Reduction,
Auto, Forced On with Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced
Off.
The down button starts first
the Macro Mode allowing the camera to focus on subjects
between 5 and 45 cm (2 and 17.5 inches) in wide angle and
25 to 45 cm (9.75 to 18 inches) at the telephoto end of
the zoom.
Then, when pressed a second
time, the down button engages the Manual Focus Mode makes
it possible to focus using the right and left buttons,
assisted by a distance scale that is shown on the lower
part of the monitor.
Two other buttons are positioned vertically below the 4-direction control.
The upper one, Function, calls up an
overlay menu for the most commonly needed camera settings. The Function
menu is an alternative system to having multiple buttons on the outside
of the camera, or assigning multiple functions to a small number
of buttons, or requiring the user to sift through a large number
of menu options in the main menu.
The function menu is always available, but the number of settings
it presents is related to the mode in use. With modes P, Tv, Av and M,
the Function button's menu provides quick control over:
Flash Output:(only shown in the Manual mode
instead of Exposure compensation option) Provides control
over the flash output in 3 steps.
White
Balance: Auto; Daylight; Cloudy; Tungsten (incandescent);
cool or warm white Fluorescent, daylight Fluorescent;
and Custom.
Drive mode: Single, Continuous (1.6 fps*);
Continuous High (2.4 fps*); 10 Second Self-timer;
2 second Self-timer.
ISO: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400.
Photo Effects: varies image tone, sharpness and
saturation: Effect Off, Vivid (emphasizes contrast and colour),
Neutral (tones down contrast and colour), Low sharpening
(softens outlines), Sepia, Black and White.
Resolution: sets image size, Large, Medium 1, Medium
2, Small, while pressing the SET button changes the
compression applied to the image. (See the Characteristics
section of the review for all the resolutions offered on
the A80.)
(* Large, Fine image size with monitor off.)
The next button down controls the LCD monitor:
cycles through a detailed
information view, followed by a view with only the image
coming from the lens, then turns Off the monitor.
Last, the Powershot A80 has 2 buttons below the LCD monitor:
Confirms some of the selections made
in menus, or acts as a means to set a specific white balance;
or the compression level to use with images.
Calls up the main camera menu according
to the Mode Switch's position. The menu system is composed of 3 sections,
2 of which are common to both the Recording and Playback modes.
The A80 shows that even with a
good design such as is used with the A60 and A70, there is always
room for improvement. The addition of a hinged LCD screen is
a major improvement, and the redesign of the controls increases
their effectiveness. However, perfection is hard to attain, and
one modification brought to the A80 is not as desirable. The
viewfinder has moved towards the middle, and is less comforatble
to use than it is with the other A-type cameras.
Introduction
the
control moves the lens to the wide angle position; while when
pulled to the right 
the
zoom moves to the telephoto setting. As usual, in Playback, the
controls serves to view an index screen 
,
or magnify an image 
up
to 10X.
and Playback mode 
.
Similarly, the 4-direction control is a single piece, and doubles as a
control for the Flash modes when pressed Up, and Macro mode
and Manual Focus mode when pressed down:
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or 
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