Canon

Canon Powershot A540

6 megapixels 4x optical/16x total zooms 2.5 inch LCD Digic II processor QVGA sound movies Widescreen mode ISO 800 Pictbridge direct print Exif Handy AA battery power!

With a full 6.0 megapixels of imaging power and a high-quality 4x optical zoom lens, the super-intuitive PowerShot A540 is ready to produce impressive results right from the start. This camera is packed with value from its high-end specs to its high-performance capabilities, yet easy enough for beginners to use.

Canon PowerShot A540 Key Features

Canon PowerShot A540 Digital Camera Supplied Accessories:

• 2 AA-type Alkaline Batteries
• 16MB MutilMediaCard MMC-16M
• Wrist Strap WS-200
• AV Cable AVC-DC300
• USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
• Canon Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM

6 Megapixels

The 6 megapixel PowerShot A540 digital camera captures JPEG images at a peak resolution of 2,272 x 1,704 pixels, with reduced resolution settings of 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. Compression settings of SuperFine, Fine and Normal can be selected for any resolution setting.

4x Optical/3.6x Digital/14x Combined Zoom

The next generation PowerShot A520 digital camera is 13 percent smaller and 10 percent lighter than its A85 predecessor, yet it is equipped with a longer 4.0x 35-140mm (35mm format equivalent) optical zoom lens with Canon optics for sharp images. The new lens features all-glass construction and two aspherical elements in a seven-element formula. The optical zoom combines with a 3.2x digital zoom for a total of 13x zoom power.

Canon's heritage as an imaging company dates back almost 70 years to the company's founding in 1934. Since then, Canon has worked hard to perfect the process of creating extremely high-quality optics for its line of imaging products and is now the world's largest manufacturer of cameras and lenses. Canon is a global leader in optical design, with many advanced and original technologies that allow Canon users to achieve the sharpest images possible.

High-performance features include a large 2.5 inch LCD screen, 9-point AiAF and 21 Shooting Modes

Bright and sharp, the camera's power-saving LCD monitor measures a full 1.8 inches with a stunning 115,000 pixel resolution. With it, you can view your scene before and after you shoot it with extraordinary clarity.

SD-Compatible

The Canon PowerShot A520 uses the incredibly tiny SD memory cards. Get expanded capacity and high-speed writing from a memory card the size of a postage stamp.

Print/Share Button

Located on the backside of the PowerShot A540 digital camera is the Print/Share button. This button simplifies and accelerates direct printing to compatible Canon and PictBridge-enabled printers and one-touch image transfer to Windows XP, Me, 2000, and 98 computers for use with image processing programs, uploading to the Internet, or as e-mail attachments. When the camera is connected to a compatible printer or computer, the Print/Share button illuminates to let the user know to press the Print/Share button to begin the printing or downloading process.

The DIGIC^TM Difference

Canon developed the proprietary DIGIC (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) image processor specifically for use with its line of digital cameras. The technology combines the jobs of image processing and camera function control into one chip. Because it was specifically designed for use in digital cameras, it is also capable of handling JPEG compression/expansion; memory card control; LCD/Video control and processing; gain control (control of CCD signal amplification); Auto Exposure; Auto Focus; Auto White Balance control and most other functions of the camera. The result is a camera that offers faster and more powerful auto focus than ever before, faster image processing, better image quality and longer battery life.

Canon iSAPS Technology

Over the past 68 years, Canon has accumulated a vast amount of photographic data and know-how and used it to create some of the most innovative camera products in the marketplace. Now, using that same data and know-how, Canon has developed an exclusive technology called iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) that can predict certain camera settings such as focusing distance, exposure and optimum white balance based on zoom focal length, overall light level and tonal distribution data. Canon refers to this collective data as "Photographic Space." By incorporating iSAPS technology into its PowerShot line, the cameras can analyze a scene just before the image is made and in doing so, increase the speed and precision of the camera's autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance.

Direct Printing

Direct Printing significantly expands the appeal of the PowerShot A540 digital camera by making it simple, quick and convenient to produce high-quality photos without the need for a personal computer. Beyond its Direct Print capability with Canon's Card Photo Printers and acclaimed Canon Direct Photo Printers, the camera is also compatible with PictBridge, an industry protocol that offers the flexibility of direct printing to other brands of PictBridge compatible printers.

The PowerShot A540 digital camera supports Exif Print, a worldwide standard that transfers important camera settings and data from the camera to the printer ensuring the photos you print will look true to life. Moreover, DPOF 1.1 (Digital Print Order Format) lets users specify the images to be printed or execute batch printing of selected images.

Canon's Direct Print options -- in conjunction with Canon CP-type printers -- permit creation of passport style ID prints on 4x6 paper as well various print sizes (selectable on the PowerShot A520's menu). Direct Print also offers users the opportunity to print thumbnail frame sequences from movie clips generated in the camera and output to a Canon CP Printer. The camera's Postcard Date Imprint mode provides a user selectable date stamp that can be imprinted in the corner of a picture, similar to those found on 35mm "QD"(Quartz Date) cameras. When selected, the Postcard mode also deliberately crops the image creating a slightly longer rectangle to fill a 4 x 6 postcard. When shooting in Postcard mode the camera automatically reduces the resolution to 1600 x 1200 with fine compression (an ideal setting for 4 x 6 images with no need for the user to manually set the resolution and compression).

Direct Transfer

Canon's Direct Transfer function offers users five options to download images to Windows computers covering everything from all images in the camera, all new images in the camera, user-selected individual images, images selected for batch printing and even a setting to create Windows Wallpaper from an image.

9-Point AiAF Autofocus System and Single-Point AF

With the PowerShot A520's 9-point AiAF, you can count on exact focus no matter where your subject is in the frame. For photographers who wish to take control of the focusing, the A540 features an override function that lets them choose between center-area autofocus or good, old-fashioned manual focusing as they wish.

13 Shooting Modes, with Special Scene Mode

The A540's standard exposure modes are Full Auto, Program, Manual, Shutter-priority and Aperture-priority with other shooting mode options offered including Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Special Scene, Movie and Stitch Assist. The Special Scene mode, which makes it easy for beginners to achieve optimum results in many popular photo opportunities, has been enhanced with the addition of two new settings called Night Snapshot and Kids & Pets. Kids & Pets reduces time lag and freezes fast-moving subjects so you won't miss those special shots. Night Snapshot lets you get natural looking pictures with brighter backgrounds and subjects lit by flash.

Other Special Scene Modes include Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, and Underwater. (For the Underwater mode, an optional underwater case, waterproof to 130 feet, is required.)

Movie Recording

Movie resolution options are 640 x 480 (up to 30 seconds with sound) or reduced resolutions of 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 (up to 3 minutes with sound).

Fast and Agile Shutter

The PowerShot A540 has a shutter speed that extends from 15 seconds to a fast 1/2000 of a second.

Built-in Flash

The PowerShot A540 digital camera has a built-in flash with automatic red-eye reduction setting and a maximum range of 11 feet.

White Balance Control

Different light sources have different temperatures that can dramatically affect the quality of pictures. So the camera is equipped with selectable high-precision White Balance Settings to handle a full range of shooting conditions. There are 5 presets: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Fluorescent H. Plus there's also Custom and an Auto settings.

ISO Flexibility

Adjusting the camera's sensitivity levels to your lighting conditions is easy. That's because Canon has related these levels to the ISO film speeds you already know from traditional cameras. Simply select the sensitivity that corresponds to ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 or choose AUTO and let the camera decide for you.

Selectable Light Metering

The PowerShot A540 provides a range of Canon's highly advanced exposure features that offer greater control and greater convenience. Selectable Light Metering offers three settings. In the Evaluative setting, the camera reads multiple points across the frame for optimal overall exposure. The Spot Metering setting concentrates on a single area in the center of the image for greater precision in high contrast situations. Centerweighted Averaging Metering, with emphasis on the center of the viewfinder, averages metering out over the entire picture area.

Canon PowerShot A540 Specifications

Type of Camera:

Compact digital still camera with built-in flash and 4x optical zoom, 3.6x Digital Zoom, 14x Combined Zoom

Image Capture Device:

6 M pixel, 1/2.5 inch charge coupled device (CCD)

Total Pixels

Approx. 6.2 Megapixels

Effective Pixels

Approx. 6.0 Megapixels

Resolution (Recording Pixels):

2,272 x 1,704 (Large), 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 1), 1,024 x 768 (Medium 2), 640 x 480 (Small); Movie: 640 x 480, 320 x 240 or 160 x 120

File Size: (average)

• Small/Normal - 84KB
• Small/Fine - 150KB
• Small/Super Fine - 249KB
• Med. 2/Normal - 170KB
• Med. 2/Fine - 320KB
• Med. 2/Super Fine - 570KB
• Med. 1/Normal - 278KB
• Med. 1/Fine - 558KB
• Med. 1/Super Fine - 1,002KB
• Large/Normal - 556KB
• Large/Fine - 1,116KB
• Large/Super Fine - 2,002KB

Image Storage Capacity:

Storage capacity varies depending on the scene or the subjects. This data is estimated from Canon's standard shooting conditions. Figures for Movie Mode represent total capacity of Memory Card. Individual clips are limited to 3 minutes (30 seconds maximum at 640 x 480 resolution). The values given above vary depending on the subject, shooting conditions and shooting mode.

ISO Sensitivity:

Auto, or User Set ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 equivalent

Image Quality Modes (JPEG):

Normal, Fine, SuperFine

Print Order Format:

Design rule for camera file system Exif 2.2 (JPEG) and DPOF (Version 1.1) compliant

Image Recording Format:

Still Image: JPEG (Exif 2.2 compliant); Movie: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (Monaural)

Storage Media:

SD memory card, MultiMediaCard

Shooting Modes:

Auto, Creative Zone (P, Tv, Av, M), Image Zone (Portrait, Landscape, Night scene, Fast shutter, Slow shutter), Special Scene Modes (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Stitch Assist, Movie

Photo Effects:

Off, Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpness, Sepia, Black & White

Playback Modes:

Single, Index (9 thumb images), Normal Playback, Special Playback, Movie Editing, Camera Sound Playback

Erase Modes:

Still Images: Single Images, All Images Movies: Part of Movie, All of Movie

Interfaces:

Computer Interface - USB (mini-B/PTP)
Video Out - NTSC or PAL
Audio Out - Monaural
Other - SD memory card slot. Direct connection to Canon CP Printers and select BJ Printers via camera's USB cable (no computer required).

Lens:

5.8-23.2mm, f/2.6-5.5 zoom lens (equiv. to 35-140mm in 35mm format)

Digital Zoom

3.6x

Focus Range:

NORMAL: 1.5 ft. (45cm) ~ Infinity
MACRO: WIDE: 2 in. ~ 1.5 ft. (5 ~ 45cm); TELE: 11.8 in. ~ 1.5 ft. (30 ~ 45cm)

Autofocus System

9-point AiAF/1-point AF (Fixed to center) Manual Focus, AF Lock, AF-assist Beam ON/Off, MF magnified display function available

Maximum Aperture

f/2.6-8.0 (W), f/5.5-8.0 (T)

Shutter Speed:

15-1/2000 sec.; can be set in 1/3-stop increments in Manual and Shutter-priority (Tv) Modes

Light Metering Method:

Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot metering (Metering frame with Spot mode is center fixed)

Exposure Control:

Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual Exposure Control

Exposure Compensation:

+/- 2.0 EV in 1/3 step increments

White Balance Control:

Auto, Pre-set (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H) or Custom

Built-in Flash Modes:

Auto, Flash On, Flash Off; Red-Eye Reduction is available

Flash Range:

WIDE: 1.5-11.5 ft. (45cm-3.5m)
TELE: 1.5-7.2 ft. (45cm-2.2m)
MACRO: 11.8 in.-1.5 ft. (30-45cm) (W/T) (When sensitivity is set to Auto)

Flash Recycling Time:

Approx. 15 sec. or less (battery voltage=3.15V)

Viewfinder:

Real-image 4x optical zoom viewfinder

LCD Viewfinder:

1.8" low-temperature polycrystalline sillicon TFT color LCD, Approx. 115,000 pixels, LCD Coverage 100%

Self-Timer:

Activates shutter after an approx. 2 sec. or approx 10 sec. delay, Custom timer

Continuous Shooting:

Approx. 1.9 shots/sec.

Power Sources:

Two Size AA Alkaline batteries
Two Rechargeable size AA NiMH batteries (Canon brand NB-2AH/NB-1AH)
AC Adapter Kit (ACK800)

Shooting Capacity:

AA NiMH: LCD On - Approx. 300 shots (CIPA Test Standard); LCD Off - Approx. 800 shots

Playback Time:

AA Alkaline batteries Approx. 180 minutes (Under Canon's standard conditions with fully charged battery), AA NiMH batteries Approx. 300 minutes.

Operating Range:

Operating Temperature: 32 - 104? F (0 - 40? C); Operating Humidity 10 -- 90%

Dimensions (W x H x D) (Excluding protrusions):

3.57 x 2.52 x 1.51 in. (90.7 x 64.0 x 38.4mm)

Weight (camera body only):

Approx. 6.35 oz. (180g)

All data are based on Canon's Standard Test Method. Subject to change without notice.

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