Digital Trends

Four models, ranging from six to four megapixels and $349.99 to $179.99, make up the 2006 line up of A-Series PowerShots.

Canon yesterday rolled out four new cameras for their PowerShot A-Series. These cameras — the PowerShot A700 ($349.99), PowerShot A540 ($299.99), PowerShot A530 ($229.99) and PowerShot A430 ($179.99) — should all be available in March.

Features in common across the six-megapixel A700, six-megapixel A540, five-megapixel A530 and four-megapixel A430, said Canon, include the company's DIGIC II imaging processor, a USB 2.0 port, a widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting for taking panoramic prints, 29 languages and in-camera photo touch ups. Highlights of the A700 include 22 shooting modes, ISO equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800 and a 2.5" LCD, while the A540 sports 4x optical zoom lens and 2.5" LCD, among other features.

The PowerShot A530 also has an 80-800 ISO equivalent speed rating, 4x retractable optical zoom lens and 1.8" LCD, while the PowerShot A430 has 4x optical zoom, a movie mode, 1.8" LCD and 50-400 IS equivalent speed rating.

"While 'the one that got away' has always made for good fish stories worthy of perhaps a thousand words or more, the perfect picture is the one that is captured for all to see and not the one almost captured if only... These new A-series PowerShot digital cameras reaffirm Canon's commitment to creating affordable, simple-to-use digital cameras that produce extraordinary quality images for the everyday picture-taker, the special occasion-shooter and the newcomer alike," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc, in a statement. "Indeed, it is that very commitment to affordable imaging excellence that has made our A-series PowerShot digital cameras America's number one choice for the past three years and it is a tradition we intend to continue for many years to come."