Canon announced a whole slew of entry-level A-series models this year, including the A3400 IS, on preview here. It replaces last year’s A3300 IS model, but unlike its predecessor, the A3400 doesn’t sit at the top the budget-cam lineup—that honor goes to the 8x-zooming A4000 IS.

Like all of its lower-end cousins, the A3400 sports a 5x zoom, but stands out with a larger 3-inch LCD, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and optical image stabilization. It’s a modest camera by anybody’s current standards, but it’s also just $179.

We spent a few minutes with the A3400 at the CP+ 2012 tradeshow in Yokohama, Japan this week. Read on for our first impressions.