Don't leave home without this [practically] bulletproof camera!!!
Written: Jan 16 '08
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Pros: Durable durable durable, inexpensive, solid performer
Cons: Last minute notice on the low battery warning
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a solid, simple camera that will last a long time and continue to perform well, this (or one of its cousins) is the one for you.
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| pacificrain's Full Review: Canon PowerShot A60 Digital Camera |
I know that this review is rather late (5 years, to be exact)...especially for electronic equipment that becomes obsolete so quickly. However, I feel so strongly about this camera, I just have to add my two cents. Hopefully this will come in handy, perhaps if someone is considering buying a used model. So if you're curious about what could make me passionate enough to write a review on a five year old camera, read on!
A little history
It was five years ago that I purchased this camera, based upon a Consumer Reports recommendation. It was my first camera that wasn't disposable - quite a change for me! The Canon Powershot A60 was my big entrance into the world of digital photography. I set the camera to "Auto" and left it there for several years, with only occasional forays into the "fast" and "slow" pre-programmed modes. I had no clue what else to do with it!
I soon found that I wanted to carry this camera everywhere with me. I snapped pictures of anything and everything...it was such a fun way to learn more about photography. And for the reasonable price ($250, at the time), it was a terrific deal.
The technical stuff
I won't go into much detail about the technical features, for two main reasons. First, most of the impressive features have been eclipsed by newer technology. Secondly, since I knew absolutely nothing about digital cameras for the majority of the time that I used this camera, it would seem a bit unrealistic for me to now go back and ooh and aah over the stats. As for the stuff that I did know and care about, here goes:
At the time, 2.2 megapixels was a really big number. And honestly, it was (and still is) more than sufficient in the right circumstances. I still use this camera when I need a pocket-sized point-and-shoot. If you're just planning on taking snapshots and printing 4x6 images, you will find the 2.2 MP to be just fine. If you plan to make enlargements or do some serious cropping, then you should plan on upgrading to a better resolution.
As for the different shooting modes, the Auto mode was perfect for me most of the time. Occasionally I would switch over to the fast or slow shooting modes if I wanted to capture action or shoot in low light (I'm telling you, I had no clue what I was doing!). The thought of shooting in aperture- or shutter-priority mode (or manual, God forbid!!) was terrifying. So I kept it simple and had excellent results.
I love the fact that this camera runs on standard AA batteries. I can't tell you how many times I had a low-battery-crisis that was resolved by a stop at a nearby drugstore. I know there are advantages to having fancier batteries, but you can't beat the convenience! The issue of batteries does bring up my one and only complaint, though. The low battery warning is extremely late - if it flashes, you really only have a few more shots. I would much prefer a meter showing the battery life left, so that I could anticipate when the batteries are running low.
As for the zoom...the 3x optical zoom worked well for me. I would highly advise against using digital zoom - in fact, I turned it off shortly after discovering what it was. It's just digitally enlarging the picture, so you end up losing a LOT of the picture quality. Shoot in optical zoom only, then crop later on your computer if you want to enlarge a section of the picture. It will give you much better control over the quality of the picture.
And now about the bulletproof part...and Canon customer service
Like I said, I took this camera everywhere. It got wet, it got dirty, and it got banged up. Yet five years later, it's in great working condition. I only cut back on my use because I got more serious about photography and upgraded to a dSLR. If it weren't for that, I would still be toting it around with me!
One time, after one year of use, I took this camera on a trip down a sand dune. It was in a camera bag, but the bag wasn't closed well and ended up getting completely filled with sand. I was devastated. The camera wouldn't turn on, and I thought all was lost. I went home and checked my paperwork for the warranty - and I couldn't believe it...it was ONE WEEK out of warranty. I was crushed! But being hopeful, I boxed up the camera and wrote up a nice note explaining that I knew the warranty had expired, but could you please take a look at it anyway? I soon got a phone call from a customer service rep saying that they took it apart, realized that it just needed to be cleaned, and would be cleaning it and returning it to me (at no charge) as soon as possible. I was beyond impressed. They could have stuck to the rules and said no, since the warranty had expired (not to mention that the problem was completely my fault), but instead they gained a loyal customer for life.
Final thoughts
Like I said, I know that this review is late and there probably aren't too many people shopping for this particular model. However, I have had such a terrific experience with this camera, I hope that someone pondering the purchase of a used model will find this advice helpful. Plus, thanks to this great experience with the A60, I have become a lifelong fan of Canon products. This little point-and-shoot has withstood the test of time (for a small digital camera, 5 years is like several lifetimes!) and is backed up by excellent customer service. If you are just looking for an inexpensive workhorse of a camera, this (or any other in the Powershot family) would be the one to choose!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250 long ago
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Epinions.com ID:
pacificrain
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Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 1 member
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