Canon announced more low-end A-series point-and-shoots than we expected this year, the PowerShot A2300 among them. Like the other “entry-level” cameras this year, it’s a 16-megapixel shooter with 5x optical zoom, and its defining characteristic is its rechargeable lithium-ion battery (as opposed to AA power).

On paper, it’s in an awkward no-man’s land in the 2012 lineup. Unlike the A1300 below it, it has no viewfinder, and no optical image stabilization like the A2400 IS right above it.

We spent a few minutes with the A2300 on the CP+ 2012 showroom floor this week and gathered some initial impressions and photos. Read on for more.