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Product Review: Page (1) of 2 - 10/02/06

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Canon PowerShot A540 digital camera

Sub $300 model with 6 megapixel resolution

By John Virata

The Canon PowerShot A540 is an entry to mid level, sub-$300 digital camera that offers six megapixel image resolution and a 4X optical zoom lens. The camera is a bit larger than the credit card sized cameras that have become popular, and is powered by standard double AA batteries rather than a proprietary unit from the company. This is a definite advantage, especially for those who are looking for a camera that can be powered by batteries found at the corner drug store.

Details
The PowerShot A540 is 3 1/2-inches wide by 2 3/4-inches tall and weighs about 7oz with batteries. It is built around Canon's DIGIC II image processor, with images captured via a Canon 4X optical zoom lens. It features a focal length of  5.8-23.2mm f/2.6-5.5 (35mm film equivalent 35-140mm), an ample lens for most shooting situations. Images are framed via a 2.5-inch LCD display or via the optical zoom viewfinder that can save the day in low battery situations. A histogram function enables you to guage the brightness of the image.

Click for full view

Click for full view

You can capture images with the camera with a variety of exposure methods, including Program AE, Shutter Speed Priority AE, Aperture Priority, and manual. The A540's maximum aperture is f/2.6 wide and f/5.5 tele, with shutter speed range from 15 to 1/2000 second. The shooting modes on the A540 include auto, creative (P, Av, Tv, M), and 16 pre-programmed modes, including portrait, landscape, night scene, special scene, which includes foliage, snow, beach, fireworks, underwater, indoor, kids and pets, night snapshot, color accent, color swap, My colors, stitch assist, and movie.

Photo Effects, which enable you to shoot images with a range of different looks to the final photograph, include vivid, neutral, sepia, black and white, positive film, lighter skin tone, darker skin tone, and custom color .