-
Introduction
-
01.Physical Tour
-
02.Color and Resolution
-
03.Noise and Video
-
04.Speed and Timing
-
05.Components
-
06.Design / Layout
-
07.Modes
-
08.Control Options
-
09.Image Parameters
-
10.Connectivity / Extras
-
11.Overall Impressions
-
12.Conclusion
-
13.Sample Photos
-
14.Specs / Ratings
-
15.Comments
Canon A2000 IS
Previous: Page 5
ComponentsNext: Page 7
ModesModel Design / Appearance (7.00)
The Canon PowerShot A2000 IS is a bit of an odd beast to look at. It has a distinctive wedge shape, and looks like one end has been dipped in a bucket of paint. It's slightly ungainly, but not entirely unattractive. We like the fact that it's constructed almost entirely of matte plastic, so it won't get smeared with fingerprints easily, a common complaint with most cameras.
Size / Portability (7.00)
The A2000 is 4.01 inches wide x 2.50 inches high x 1.26 inches deep (101.9 x 63.5 x 31.9mm), taken from the thick side of the wedge, and weighs 6.5 oz (185g). It's a little big to fit in your pants if you're a fan of ultra-tight jeans, but it'll easily slip into a coat pocket or handbag.
Handling Ability (6.50)
The unique wedge shape of the camera, despite making it look vaguely like a door stop, means that the one side is enlarged, which makes it easier to grip. This is also the area where the batteries are stored, and most of the weight of the camera is on this side, which means that if you're holding it one-handed, it's extremely easy to move around. In general, the body's big enough that even the most large-handed of users should be able to hold it without problem.


The A2000 is easy to hold, regardless of your hand size.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (5.50)
Unfortunately, the generous proportions of the body don't quite transfer to the buttons. In fact we found said buttons to be jam-packed in too close together, and we frequently hit more than one at a time, especially while navigating menus. While the buttons are quite pretty (especially with the circular section motif going on), we found their proximity and size aggravating for all but the most dexterous photographer.

The buttons are small and cramped.
The menus on most Canon cameras are well organized and easy on the eyes thanks to bright colors and large fonts. That said, we found the menu system of the A2000 to run long, requiring you to scroll through pages of options to find the one you need. We would have liked to have seen multiple tabs for each menu section, as Canon does with its SLRs.
The menu system you'll use most often will probably be the Function menu, which lets you tweak exposure compensation, white balance, colors, metering and image size. This menu is accessed by pressing the Func. Set button on the camera.

Unsurprisingly, the Record menu is only available while shooting, and governs the controls associated with that mode. Here you'll find settings for zoom controls, flash, image stabilization and auto focus.

The Set Up menu can be accessed either in shooting or playback modes, and governs such crucial controls as the colume, LCD brightness, and date and time settings. These tend to be the controls you set up once, and leave them as they are.

While in Playback mode, you get access to two menus, the first of which is Play. From this tab you can start a slideshow, categorize your photos, resize, rotate or protect them.

The second menu only available while in Playback is Print, wherein you are able to select the number of prints you want for each image if you're using DPOF (direct print order forms), or print directly if you're plugged into a printer.

Ease of Use (6.00)
The A2000 is extermely easy to use (barring problems with the Lilliputian controls). All the settings are clearly marked, there's Easy auto mode, standard auto and program mode for more hands-on control. If you're dealing with someone who has no idea how to use a camera, throwing it into Easy mode will let them use it without any trouble at all.
Shop for the Canon A2000 IS
Latest News
& Reviews
-
11-Feb-2012
Olympus TG-820 First Impressions Review
The Olympus TG-820 is a waterproof camera that both looks and feels like a tough-cam should. Read More...
-
10-Feb-2012
Sigma DP2 Merrill First Impressions Review
Sigma is back with a new high-end compact camera with a 46-megapixel Foveon X3 APS-C sensor. With image quality promised to be on the level of their $6000 SD1, can the new DP2 Merrill compete with the Fuji X100? Read More...
Top Rated Point & Shoots
-

$459.991Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$459.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$378.992Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$378.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$427.953Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$427.95TypesUltra-ZoomAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels16.8 MP -

$314.954Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$314.95TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$417.005Canon PowerShot S100
Canon's PowerShot S100 improves on the popular S95 and takes its place at the top of the point-and-shoot food chain. Read full 16-part review
$417.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels
Features
-
DigitalCameraInfo New Year's Giveaway
Check back every day for the rest of 2011 to see what we’re adding to the grand prize package. It all starts with the Sony NEX-5N and ends with over $4000 in prizes! Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo.com 2011 Select Awards
After a year of tireless testing and deliberation, we’ve made our selections for the very best cameras of 2011. Read More...
(add your own)