Canon PowerShot A1000 IS Review
Review Date: September 9th 2008
Author: Mark Goldstein
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Conclusion
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Ratings (out of 5) |
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| Design | 4.5 |
| Features | 3.5 |
| Ease-of-Use | 4 |
| Image Quality | 4 |
| Value for Money | 4 |
At first glance the new Canon Powershot A1000 IS looks identical to its bigger brother, the A2000. I reviewed both cameras at the same time and actually preferred the slightly cheaper A1000 model in many ways. Although offering a smaller 2.5 LCD screen and shorter 4x zoom lens, the A1000 is noticeably smaller and lighter, has a true optical viewfinder, and benefits from having a curved hand-grip area. Whilst the A2000 will fit into a trouser pocket or handbag, the A1000 easily fits, which means that you're more likely to carry it around with you.
Key similarities between the two include identical image quality and the removal of any creative shooting modes. Beginners will love the A2000. This is a camera that produces excellent images in good light, covers a versatile focal range for such a small camera thanks to the 4x zoom lens, and has a large 2.5 inch LCD screen on the back that can be viewed from a wide angle. The wealth of different scene modes is accompanied by the ultimate point-and-shoot Easy mode, which really does make the A1000 suitable for all the family.
The more experienced photographer, however, should look elsewhere. Canon's high-end A-series have traditionally bridged the gap between cheap compacts and more expensive and complicated cameras, offering a full-range of creative shooting modes, but not anymore. 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. It's almost as if Canon have crippled their A-series cameras to encourage more people to buy one of their entry-level DSLRs instead - not that I'm cynical or anything.
The A1000 IS also suffers from less than stellar image quality in low-light due to obvious noise appearing at ISO 400 and faster, a low-resolution LCD screen, annoyingly slow flash recycle times, and a slow continuous shooting speed. Which leaves us with an easy-to-use, well-made and affordable compact camera that is easy to recommend to its new family target audience, but not to the aspiring photographer that it once appealed to...
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