Canon Powershot A310 3.2-megapixel digital camera

Features
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software
Specifications

Features

LCD Monitor: The Canon PowerShot A310 has a 1.5" low temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD monitor featuring approximately 78,000 pixels.

Optical Viewfinder: In addition to the LCD monitor, the camera has an optical viewfinder. 

Recording Media: The PowerShot A310 records images on a Type I CompactFlash Card.

Image Recording Format:  The camera records still images, or moving images with mono audio. Still images are recorded in JPEG format, and the movies are recorded in AVI format (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE (monaural)).

DIGIC Imaging Processor and iSAPS Technology: The PowerShot A310 features DIGIC Imaging Processor, for even greater picture quality and faster processing speed. The iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology produces more accurate autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.

Image Sensor: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 1/2.7" CCD image sensor with approximately 3.3-million total pixels and 3.2-million effective pixels.

Image Resolution/Compression: You can change the resolution and compression settings to suit the purpose of the image you're about to shoot. You can choose from the following resolutions: Large (2048 x 1536 pixels), Medium 1 (1600 x 1200 pixels), Medium 2 (1024 x 768 pixels), and Small (640 x 480 pixels). For each resolution, you can set the compression to Superfine, Fine or Normal. Movies can be shot with the following resolution: 640 (640 x 480), 320 (320 x 240 pixels) or 160 (160 x 120 pixels). Maximum clip length is approximately 3 minutes (30 seconds for 640 resolution).

Auto Focusing: The PowerShot A310 utilizes a 5-point AiAF auto focus or a 1-point center auto-focus method. Artificial Intelligence autofocus (AiAF) uses a broad metering field to calculate the focal distance with high precision. It delivers a crisp focus even when the photographic subject is slightly off-center. You can turn off the AiAF and use the center AF frame for focusing on a specific part of a subject.

Focus Lock: If it becomes difficult to focus on the subject due to low contrast to the surroundings, close up and far away subjects in the same shot, or quickly moving subjects, you can choose to lock the focus on an object at a similar distance, then shoot the picture after recomposing the shot.

AF-assist Beam: The AF-assist beam will sometimes emit when the shutter button is pressed halfway to assist focusing in certain conditions, i.e. dark conditions. The AF-assist beam can be turned off. If animals are your subject, turn off the beam when shooting in the dark to avoid startling them.

Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus ranges:

• Normal AF: 7.9" to infinity
• Macro AF: 2" to 7.9"

Power Saving Function: In Shooting Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 3 minutes after the last function is accessed. In Playback Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last function is accessed. While connected to an optional printer, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last camera function is accessed or printer ceases to print an image. 

Shooting Modes: The PowerShot A310 offers the following shooting modes:

• Auto: the camera automatically makes most of the settings for you
• Manual: you can manually adjust the settings
• Stitch Assist: use this mode to shoot a series of overlapping frames for merging (stitching) into a large panoramic image using a computer
• Movie: use for shooting movie frames (at approximately 15 frames per second)

Flash Modes: You can choose from the following flash modes:

• Red-eye Reduction, Auto: the flash may fire automatically as required by the light level. The red-eye reduction lamp fires with each shot.
• Auto: the flash fires automatically as required by the light level
• Flash On: the flash fires with every shot
• Flash Off: the flash will not fire
• Slow-Synchro: the flash timing is adjusted to slow shutter speeds

Photo Effect Modes: You can choose from the following Photo Effect Modes:

• Vivid: emphasizes the contrast and color saturation to record in bold colors

• Neutral: tones down the contrast and color saturation to record neutral hues

• Low Sharpening: records subjects with softened outlines

• Sepia: records images in sepia tones

• B/W: records images in black and white

• Off: records with no effect

Continuous Shooting: In Continuous mode, the PowerShot A310 stores approximately 2.2 frames per second, with each image being set to the following resolution and compression: Large/Fine. The actual interval depends upon shooting conditions and settings.

Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:

• Evaluative Metering: used for standard conditions. The area within the frame is divided into several zones and light is measured based on subject position, brightness, direct light and backlighting.

• Center-Weighted Averaging: averages the exposure from the entire image, but places more weight on the subject at the center

• Spot AE Point: meters the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor

Exposure Compensation: If you are shooting against a bright background or strong backlight, you may need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't come out too dark. You can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 in 1/3-step increments.

White Balance: You can choose from the following white balance settings:

• Auto: the camera sets the white balance automatically according to shooting conditions

• Daylight: for recording outdoors on a bright day

• Cloudy: for recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies

• Tungsten: for recording under tungsten and bulb-type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent: for recording under warm-white, cool-white or warm-white (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent H: for recording under daylight fluorescent, or daylight fluorescent-type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Custom: allows you to manually set the white balance and store the settings

ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set to 50, 100, 200, 400, or Auto.

Instant Review: After an image is recorded, it will appear in the LCD monitor for a preset number of seconds for reviewing. You can select the review time from 3-10 seconds in 1-second intervals. You can also turn off the review function. 

Self-Timer: The self-timer starts when the shutter button is pressed. The delay time can be set to 10 seconds or 2 seconds.

Editing Movies: The Edit function in the movie control panel enables you to cut unwanted portions at the start or the end of a movie clip.

Sound Memos: In playback mode (including single image playback, index playback, and magnified playback) you can attach sound memos (up to 60 seconds) to an image. The sound data is saved in WAVE format.

Auto Play: You can view all images on the CompactFlash card one-by-one with the Auto Play function. Each image is displayed in the LCD monitor for approximately 3 seconds.

Index Playback: This feature allows you to view nine images at once on the LCD monitor so that you can search for an image quickly.

Image Magnification: When viewing a still picture in Single Image Playback mode, you can magnify the image 2.5x, 5x, or 10x.

Rotating Images: You can rotate an image by 90 or 270 degrees clockwise in the LCD monitor.

Protecting Images: The protect feature allows you to protect important images from accidental erasure.

Power Requirements: The PowerShot A310 comes with 2 "AA" alkaline batteries. You can also use Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries. For long periods of continuous use, or when connected to a computer, it is recommended that the camera be connected to the optional ACK800 AC Adapter kit (available from the manufacturer).  It is not recommended to use Lithium Ion or manganese batteries, as these battery types may overheat in the camera. While "AA"-sized Nickel-Cadmium batteries may be used, their performance is unreliable and their use is not recommended.

Direct Print Function: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a CP-series printer that supports the Direct Print function. You can also connect the camera directly to certain Canon Bubble Jet printers. In this way, you can make prints directly from the camera without ever having to hook it up to a computer.

Print & Share Button: A new dedicated Print & Share button right on the camera makes direct printing from a Canon Card Photo or Direct Photo Printer easier than ever. Enjoy a full range of print features, including ID Photo Print in 28 sizes, and a Movie Print function that lets you print multiple stills from a recorded movie on a single sheet.

PictBridge Printing Capability: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer. PictBridge is a new standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of brand.

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): The Canon PowerShot A310 conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

DPOF Print Settings: On your CompactFlash card, you can select which image or images you want to print and how many copies you want. This is convenient for printing images all at once, on optional Canon direct print function compliant printers or at participating photo labs.

DPOF Transfer Order: You can use the camera to specify settings for images that you wish to send by e-mail. The settings used on the camera comply with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standards. Once images are selected for transfer, you can use the supplied software to actually transfer the images to an e-mail program. A maximum of 998 images can be selected per CompactFlash card, and are transferred in order from oldest to newest by shooting date.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Digital Terminal: The PowerShot A310 has a USB 1.1 terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable.

Supplied Software

Minimum System Requirements:

Specifications

Estimated Image Capacity of CompactFlash cards:

Battery Performance: