Canon PowerShot A1000 IS

"The entry-level Canon PowerShot A1000 IS is low-cost without being lousy," CNET's Joshua Goldman succinctly states, adding that the A1000 IS "feels higher quality than its price lets on." Among cheap, entry-level cameras, the 10-megapixel Canon PowerShot A1000 IS tops the list as one of the most value-packed beginner models, and reviewers agree that the A1000 IS excels at simplicity with "better photo quality than other cameras at its price point." The 115,000-pixel 2.5-inch LCD is relatively small to leave room for an optical viewfinder, which Goldman points out "only represents about 80 percent of what's in the frame." Despite this flaw, many owners and reviewers are smitten with the optical viewfinder's energy-saving capabilities. (Turning off the LCD screen conserves battery power.) What the PowerShot A1000 IS lacks in flare, it makes up for in easy handling, generous features and decent performance. The camera's body affords plenty of space for a multitude of finger-friendly control buttons, which offer easy access to scene modes and means you don't have to dig through onscreen menus.

Feature-wise, the A1000 IS comes armed with a 1/2.3-inch, 10-megapixel sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens that's a bit longer than the typical 3x zoom on most cheap cameras. The DIGIC III image processor has red-eye correction and face detection technology. Shooting times are on par with other A-series models, although users routinely complain that shot-to-shot time when using the flash is excruciating at nearly 7 seconds. Delays aside, the A1000 IS nabs excellent ratings for laudable image quality at low ISO settings, but like other budget cameras, suffers from image noise above ISO 200. 

Photography experts at Imaging-Resource.com and Steves-Digicams.com, along with technology reviewers at CNET and PCMag.com, thoroughly test and evaluate the Canon PowerShot A1000 IS. Owner comments at Amazon.com and CanonUSA.com help to show how the A1000 fares for ease of use with beginning photographers.