A510 Canon Powershot

The A510 Canon Powershot comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a replacement version of the Canon Powershot A75. Announced for release in February 2005, the A510 features a number of advantages over its predecessor. It is 20 percent lighter, requires only two AA batteries instead of four, and features a powerful optical zoom lens, which gives you four times the inclusion instead of three times.

In addition, the A510 Powershot offers 3.2 megapixel resolution, an LCD screen that's 1.8 inches (for better on-the-fly viewing), and a convenient ergonomic grip. Especially if you're taking a lot of pictures at one time, this grip can really protect your hands and wrists against the dangers of repetitive stress injury. Controls are intuitive, and you can choose from one of 13 shooting modes, so you can really let your artistic sensibilities run wild.

Unlike the CompactFlash which came with the A75, the A510 comes with an SD card for storage. The camera is slightly smaller as well, and you can use the intuitive Print/Share feature for convenience. Rated as "best in its class" by a number of in-the-know technology reviewers, the A510 Canon Powershot continues to sell well in all markets. The four times optical zoom is a wonderful tool for really highlighting a scene and optimizing your color palette.

The A510 also comes with a DIGIC image processor, which is standard on many Canon models. As well, you get a thoroughly versed warrantee package. It may behoove you to protect your new A510 with a soft carrying pouch. Although the camera is lightweight and comprised of state-of-the-art materials, it's not meant for rugged field use. All told, this model is a great choice for both amateur photographers and home users.