Canon PowerShot A5

Getting the pictures from the PowerShot A5 is a simple matter of installing the TWAIN software on your PC, connecting the nine-pin serial cable and downloading the images into your choice of image-editing application. Alternatively, you can use the video-out socket and S-Video cable to plug the camera into a projector or VCR and display your photos as a slide show. You can even upload images to the camera and use the camera as a mobile presentation tool. And it came as a pleasant surprise to find in addition to the PhotoStitch and TWAIN software a full version of PhotoImpact 4 (reviewed p183) which gets a Recommended award this issue.

At the end of the day, however, it all comes down to the quality of the images. Unfortunately, compared with the mega-pixel cameras, the PowerShot A5 isn't quite up there. Colour accuracy is good, but the level of detail, even in uncompressed mode, can't match the Kodak DC210. In terms of price, the PowerShot A5 can't compete with the DC210 either. A price of £549 isn't bad for a piece of kit as desirable as this, but you can get hold of a DC210 for £100 less on the street which means it's still the best value-for-money digital camera you can buy.

Author: Jonathan Bray