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Expert Recommendation
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Overview
Equipped with a 7 Megapixels resolution sensor and excellent lens, the Canon A570 IS captures enough details to get those large-sized prints of baby’s smiling faces. Armed with a good zoom range (4x), great performance in low light, fast operation, face detection feature and compact size, you are always ready to freeze those short-lived expressions of babies and capture timeless moments during family gatherings. The Canon A570 IS also comes with enough controls and scene modes to satisfy demanding users.
My Best In Class Pick
Canon PowerShot A570 IS
All these cameras are fully automatic and offer numerous scene modes (including an auto high sensitivity mode that helps take blur-free shots in natural light) for novice users.
The Pentax M40 lags behind the other two as it lacks an auto-focus assist lamp and has narrower maximum aperture values (i.e. the lens gathers less light). Nevertheless image quality at higer ISOs is good.
The compact-sized Fuji F40fd has low light performance as its unique selling proposition. It has a sharp lens and larger sensor, which captures clean images at higher ISOs with a fair amount of detail. It’s the top pick for taking photos of social gatherings and baby photos indoors without flash (i.e. when subjects are moving and image stabilization has minimal impact).
However, overall the Canon A570 IS nudges ahead, armed with image stabilization, larger (4x) zoom, manual modes (for use by advanced users), and optical viewfinder, while also having good enough image quality at higher ISOs (images will be grainy but retain enough details to get acceptable prints up to 8”x10” sizes)
The Canon PowerShot A570 IS is my Top Pick.
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot A570 IS
Specifications
- Zoom: 4.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 7.1MP
- AF Shutter Lag: 0.5 - 0.7s
- Max ISO: 1600
- Easy to Use: Yes
Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices
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| Price | $399.99 | ||
| Size (W x H x D) | 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.7 in. | 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 in. | 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.7 in |
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Sensor Size
Most digital cameras, even most digital SLRs, have sensors that are smaller than a standard frame of 35 mm film (36 x 24 mm). These smaller sensors have a number of effects on the captured image and the use of the camera, including an increased depth of field, decreased light sensitivity, increased pixel noise, and increased degree of enlargement.
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5.8 x 4.3 mm | 8.0 x 6.0 mm | 5.8 x 4.3 mm |
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Effective Sensor Resolution
The Effective Sensor Resolution tells you the total number of pixels that are recorded when you take a picture. The units are MP, which stands for megapixels or millions of pixels. For outstanding fine compression prints, 3MP is required for 5x7's, 7.1MP for 8x10's, and 10.9MP for 11x14's. The effective sensor resolution is only one of many important factors that will determine the quality of the photograph when displayed or printed at different sizes.
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7.1 megapixels | 8.3 megapixels | 8.0 million pixels |
| Shutter Lag Time (pre-focused) | 0.08 sec | 0.10 sec | 0.10 sec |
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Shutter Lag Time (including auto-focus time)
This is the time from fully pressing the shutter button until the image is captured. Longer shutter lag times make it more difficult to capture the desired moment.
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0.5 - 0.7 sec | 0.5 sec | 0.6 sec |
| Power to First Shot Time | 1.5 sec | 2.7 sec | 3.2 sec |
| Continuous Shooting Speed (single shot mode) | - | - | 0.4 frames/sec |
| Optical Zoom | 4.0x | 3.0x | 3.0x |
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Image Stabilization Available
Image stabilization features are designed to reduce the blur that results from normal, minute shaking of a lens due to hand-held shooting. However, image stabilization does not prevent motion blur caused by the movement of the subject or by extreme movements of the camera.
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Yes, Optical | No (Only Digital I.S.) | No (Only Digital I.S.) |
| Auto Focus Assist Light Available | Yes | Yes | No |
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Max Aperture (wide-angle)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (wide-angle) is the largest possible size at the wide-angle limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/2.6 | f/2.8 | f/3.1 |
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Max Aperture (tele-photo)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (tele-photo) is the largest possible size at the tele-photo limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/5.5 | f/5.1 | f/5.9 |
| Max ISO Setting | 1600 | 2000 | 3200 |
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Face Detection Available
Face detection technology will try to set the focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well-exposed, and with the proper color.
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Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aperture Priority Mode Available | Yes | No | No |
| Shutter Priority Mode Available | Yes | No | No |
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Viewfinder Available
A viewfinder is a window that you look through to compose the picture. Some cameras do not have a viewfinder and instead use the LCD display. The LCD display may be difficult to see in bright light and may make it more difficult to capture fast-moving subjects because of the time required to update the display.
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Yes | No | No |
| Battery Type | AA-size (x2) | Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable | Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable |
| Flash Recycling Time | 6 (upto 10.7 sec on weak batteries) | 2.7 sec | 2.5 sec |
Fujifilm FinePix F40fd
The successor of the great low-light performer Fuji F20, this model offers more resolution (8MP) and comes with a sharp 3x zoom lens (36-108mm equivalent) in a sturdy body. This compact model also has a face detection feature. The ISO rating goes up to 2000. The camera runs on a proprietary battery.
Where to buy
Fujifilm FinePix F40fd
Specifications
- Zoom: 3.0x
- Image Stabilization: No
- Resolution: 8.3MP
- AF Shutter Lag: 0.5 sec
- Max ISO: 2000
- Easy to Use: Yes
Pentax Optio M40
This is a great value ultra compact from Pentax. It has an 8MP resolution sensor, 3x zoom lens (36-108mm equivalent), and a sturdy body. It has an ISO rating up to ISO3200 and a face detection feature. The camera runs on a proprietary battery.
Where to buy
Pentax Optio M40
How It Works
You tell us your budget, intended uses, and desired features. We show you personalized recommendations from unbiased experts to quickly identify the best digital camera for you.
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How to Pick Digital Cameras
- For Travel Photos
- For Photos of Children or Pets
- For Action or Sports Photos
- For Photos in Low Light
