CANON POWERSHOT A1000 IS

A Point-and-Shoot Winner for Beginners

At $199 the A1000 IS is the least expensive 10-megapixel camera Canon has released this year. Despite its low price, it's an excellent pick for those who prefer to shoot using auto settings. In Easy Mode, the camera delivers crisp images. Make no mistake, however: Images from this camera aren't on a par with those from higher-end Canon models. But the A1000 IS's image quality edges out comparable (and pricier) cameras. such as the Casio Ex ilim z250.

Though it looks a bit larger, at 2.5 by 3.8 by 1.2 inches (HWD), the A1000 IS is actually slimmer than its 8MP predecessor, the PowerShot A580—and it's a bit sleeker, too. The A1000 IS features a 4X optical zoom lens and a focal length oft> 2mm to 24.8mm. This camera also has some new buttons (one that combines the Playback/Shoot button and another that serves as a dedicated face detection button) and color options (blue, brown, gray. and purple). The 2.5-inch LCD has 115.000 pixels, about half the number you'd usually find on a display this size. Still, the screen's brightness and contrast are decent. You also get 17 preset shooting modes.

In testing, the A1000 IS showed quick boot and recycle times. I was impressed by how little noise and distortion there was in its photos, except those taken at higher ISO settings—if you stick withtlte camera's automatic settings, you won't have a problem. Image stabilization and face detection work wells and the A1000 IS's video is fluid and cleat recording at a resolut ion of 640 by -180 at 30 frames per second.

In short, this entry-level camera excels at the basics: "Easy Mode' shooting, sharp images. And speedy performance, all at a very good price. With all this value, it easily earns our Editors' Choice for best low-cost point-and-shoot model.—PJ Jacobowitz



PC Magazine January 2009