Canon PowerShot A1000 IS Review

The Canon PowerShot A1000 IS is a new 10 megapixel camera with a 4x optical zoom lens. The A1000 IS replaces the A580, adding image stabilisation to help prevent blurred photos, an optical viewfinder, DIGIC III image processing engine, and 17 shooting modes including the new Easy mode for point-and-shoot operation. The Canon A1000 IS is available in Blue, Brown or Silver for £169.99 in the UK and $199.99 in the US. In the World’s first online review, we find out if the Canon PowerShot A1000 IS is a worthwhile alternative to the more expensive A2000 model.

Website: Canon PowerShot A1000 IS Review

Published: Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Reader Comments

1. Mark, thank you for the review, very informative.
   
   I'm in the market for a camera, and I'll need to get one before I go to Brazil in the next few days. I've narrowed my choices between the Canon A590, and the Canon A1000.
   
   There's only a little something that I need clarifying before I can make a sound decision. Its regarding how much tweaking I can do on this camera. On your review, you mentioned:
   
   "Both the A1000 and more expensive A2000 models have completely dispensed with the key feature that attracted owners of DSLRs looking for a second pocket camera, or those who wanted control over what the camera was doing."
   
   What are some of these key features that you are talking about?
   
   I'm not an experienced photographer by any means, but I want to be able to have more control on my camera. I want it to have settings and controls that can at least somewhat resemble that of a DSLR.
   
   The picture quality, especially for night (slow shutter), high ISOs, the handling of chromatic aberrations, and macro are all better on this camera. I was already ready to jump the boat and spend the extra $60.00 for the A1000 instead of the A590, but then I read your comment.
   
   I only have a couple of days to make a purchase, but if you, or anyone else, could be a little more specific on what some of these key features that have been dispensed are... I would be ever so grateful.
   
   Once again, thank you for the detailed review of this camera.
   
   ~ Ralph

   Ralph at 12:48am on Monday, September 22, 2008

2. Ralph, the A1000 no longer offers the A / S / M creative shooting modes that DSLRs and some compacts typically offer. So you can't directly set the aperture, shutter speed or a combination of the two in manual mode, and therefore have full control over the camera.

   Mark Goldstein at 03:20am on Monday, September 22, 2008

3. Thank you very much for the help and the quick reply.
   Ah, ok. I'll probably be getting the A590 then, I've been reading really good reviews on it.
   Do you know of any other similar cameras in that price range and with those shooting modes that might be worth looking into?
   Once again, thank you very much for the top-notch review and for the quick reply to my question. :D
   
   ~ Ralph

   Ralph at 02:38am on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

4. Mark, I found your review of the A1000 very informative. Like Ralph, my choice is between the 590 and the 1000. I already bought the 590 as the store didn't shoe me the 1000, but I really wanted 10mp. Saw 1000 at dif.store really liked the size and it had the 10mp. Am complete novice. Have a 35mm AF-1(?)which is completely manual and I've always taken great pictures with it,before that had Canon 110, always had great pictures with that too. Other cameras didn't produce as well (could be the photographer..me) so I really like going back to Canon. Do you have any pros/cons specific on either the 590 or 1000?

   Cathy at 02:52am on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

5. Cathy, I think your key decision is whether you're happy with the point and shoot nature of the A1000, or if you want the manual control that the A590 offers.

   Mark Goldstein at 01:46pm on Tuesday, December 02, 2008