Features
Output Notes
Computer Requirements
Specifications

Features

LCD Monitor: The Canon PowerShot A520 has a 1.8" low temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD monitor featuring approximately 115,000 pixels.

Optical Viewfinder: In addition to the LCD monitor, the camera has an optical viewfinder. The viewfinder isn't routed through the lens, but it is adjusted with the zoom.

Recording Media: The PowerShot A520 records images on a MultiMedia Card (MMC). An SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card can be used as well.

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

DIGIC Imaging Processor and iSAPS Technology: The PowerShot A520 features the DIGIC Imaging Processor, designed to integrate all components of the camera together for greater picture quality and faster processing speed. The iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology produces more accurate auto focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.

Image Sensor: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 1/2.5" (7.182mm diagonal) CCD image sensor with approximately 4.2-million total pixels and 4.0-million effective pixels.

Image Resolution/Compression: You can change the resolution and compression settings to suit the purpose of the picture you're taking. Choose from the following resolutions for still photos: Large (2272 x 1704 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 in the following resolutions: 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels or 160x120 pixels. Maximum movie clip length is approximately 3 minutes (30 seconds for 640 x 480 resolution).

Post Card: A 3:2 aspect ratio is used in the Post Card mode to ensure the entire frame is printed. The default resolution is 1600 x 1200 and the compression setting is Fine.

Quick Shot: The Quick Shot mode reduces shutter lag time, shortening the time required between photos.

Auto Rotate: The PowerShot A520 is equipped with an intelligent orientation sensor that detects when the camera is held vertically and rotates the image to be viewed correctly.

Auto Focusing: The PowerShot A520 offers a 9-point AiAF auto focus. 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 just the center AF frame for focusing on a specific part of a subject. You can also turn off auto focus altogether and focus manually.

Focus Lock: It may be difficult to focus on the subject due to low contrast with the surroundings, close up and far away subjects in the same frame, or quickly moving subjects. When this happens you can lock the focus on an object at a distance similar to your subject, then shoot the picture after recomposing the shot.

AF-Assist Beam: The AF (AutoFocus) Assist beam will sometimes be emitted 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.

Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus ranges:

• Normal AF: 18" to infinity
• Macro AF: 2" to 18"
• Manual Focus: 2" to 18" (Macro)/11.8" to 18" (Wide)/18" to infinity (Telephoto)

Power Saving Function: The Power Saving Function can be used to completely turn off the camera or turn off just the LCD display. The Auto Power Down option works different ways based on the current status of the camera: In Shooting Mode the power will turn off approximately 3 minutes after the last function is accessed, in Playback Mode the power will turn off approximately 5 minutes after the last function is accessed, in Printer Connection Mode the power will turn off approximately 5 minutes after the last camera function is accessed or the printer ceases printing an image. The Display Off option turns off just the LCD if no camera function is accessed for a set amount of time (can be set to 10 sec, 20 sec, 30sec, 1 min, 2 min, or 3 min).

Shooting Modes: The PowerShot A520 offers the following shooting modes:

• Auto: The camera automatically sets the aperture and exposure
• Portrait: Use when you want the subject in sharp focus and the background somewhat blurred
• Landscape: Used for landscape type settings, subject field at multiple distances and little or no motion
• Night Scene: Used with a lit subject against a darker background
• Fast Shutter: Use with fast moving subjects
• Slow Shutter: Use when you want moving objects slightly blurred
• Special Scene: Specific exposure settings are preset to optimize pictures taken in eight special situations (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater *optional All Weather Case required, Indoors, Kids & Pets, and Night Snapshot)
• Stitch Assist: Used to shoot a series of overlapping frames for merging (stitching) into a large panoramic image using a computer
• Movie: For shooting motion video
• Tv: Aperture is automatic and user sets shutter speed
• Av: Shutter speed is automatic and user sets aperture
• Manual: You can manually adjust the exposure and shutter speed

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

• Auto with Red-eye Reduction: The flash fires automatically as needed based on light level and the red-eye reduction lamp fires along with the main flash
• Auto: The flash fires automatically as needed based on light level
• Flash On with Red-eye Reduction: The flash and red-eye reduction lamp fire with every shot
• Flash On: The flash fires with every shot
• Flash Off: The flash will not fire
• Manual: When the camera is in the manual mode, the intensity of the flash can be set to any of three levels

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 A520 stores approximately 1.9 frames per second while the shutter button is held down (1.9 frames per second based on Large resolution and Fine compression with LCD off, actual interval depends upon shooting conditions and settings).

Metering Modes: You can select from the following light 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 light from the entire frame, but places more weight on the area in 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, you may need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't appear too dark. You can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 stops in 1/3-stop 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: Recording outdoors on a bright day

• Cloudy: Recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies

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

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

• Fluorescent H: 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 adjusted when you want to reduce the effect of camera vibration, when shooting in low light with no flash, or when fast shutter speed is required. The setting options are 50, 100, 200, 400, or Auto.

Instant Review: After an image is recorded, it will appears briefly in the LCD monitor. The duration is adjustable from 3 to 10 seconds. Instant review can also be turned off.

Digital Zoom: The digital zoom can be turned off so only the 4x optical zoom is used. When the digital zoom is on it doesn't engage until the optical zoom has reached it's 4x limit.

Stitch Assist: Stitch Assist can be used to shoot overlapping images that can later be merged (stitched) to create one panoramic image on a computer using the included software.

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

Auto Play: You can view all images on the memory 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 up to 10x. The point of the picture on which the display is centered can be moved so any part of the frame can be magnified.

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 A520 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).

Direct Print Function: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to Canon CP-Series printers that support 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 connecting it to a computer.

Print/Share Button: A dedicated Print/Share button on the camera makes direct printing on a Canon Card Photo or Direct Photo Printer easier than ever.

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 A520 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 prints that can be even better than the original files.

DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Settings: On the memory 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 a Canon Direct Print function compliant printer or printing at participating photo labs.

DPOF Transfer Order: You can use the camera to specify settings for images that you wish to transfer to a computer. A maximum of 998 images can be selected per memory card, and are transferred in order from oldest to newest by shooting date.

My Camera Function: The start-up image, start-up sound, operation sounds, self-timer sound, and shutter sound can be customized with the My Camera function and edited on your computer using the software provided with the camera.

Video System: The video output can be set to NTSC (factory setting) or PAL.

Optional Accessories: Canon offers several accessories which can be purchased on their web site. An externally mounted high power flash and lenses for telephoto, wide angle, and close up are available at this time (each of the lenses also requires a conversion lens adapter).

Output Notes

Digital Terminal: The PowerShot A520 has a USB 2.0 terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable.

Analog Terminal: The supplied A/V cable is used to send analog monaural audio (RCA) and video (RCA) from a mini-jack output on the camera.

Computer Requirements

Minimum System Requirements:

Specifications

Estimated Image Capacity of MMC cards:

Battery Performance: