Canon PowerShot A540

The manual controls on this camera let creative shooters take control.

Canon PowerShot A540
The image quality of the 6-megapixel images is about average (though the A540's scores match those from many more-expensive models): Colors were accurate (though they lacked the vividness of the Olympus FE-120) and the camera accurately judged exposure (it also offers auto exposure bracketing). The images were a little soft, however: Some fine details were lost in the blurriness, and the edges of objects sometimes lacked definition. And like a growing number of point-and-shoots offering higher ISO settings than past models, the A540 is lets you can crank up the ISO setting to 800; previous models peaked at ISO 400. However, the A540's images got rather noisy; at anything above ISO 200, the noise pattern was noticeable and distracting, and the colors become flat and dull.
One interesting option is the wide-screen mode: This shoots an image with a resolution of 2816 by 1584 pixels that has a 1.8-to-1 aspect ratio that is close to the typical HDTV wide-screen image. The camera itself can't output an HDTV image, though: the only output is composite video.
The A540's battery life of 191 shots, from the two disposable AA batteries, was a little on the low side. You can also use optional AA NiMH rechargeable batteries, but these cannot be recharged inside the camera. Canon sells a kit with four rechargeable batteries and a charger for $60--well worth the investment. Canon also offers a range of accessories, including wide-angle and telephoto lenses that attach around the existing lens (a plastic ring around the lens base unscrews to allow each to attach).


Richard Baguley


Local Articles
Home Electronics
Home