Canon PowerShot A590 IS

The PowerShot A590 IS will astound you with its power-packed performance and impressive value. It's got 8.0-megapixels, a 4x optical zoom, an Optical Image Stabilizer and a large 2.5-inch LCD. A range of shooting modes - from manual to automatic including Canon's new Easy Mode - make picture-taking carefree. A DIGIC III Image Processor with Enhanced Canon Face Detection assures natural-looking results, while Motion Detection Technology reduces blur. For added creativity, attach wide or telephoto converter lenses.

The lightweight and compact 8-megapixel PowerShot A590 IS camera is one of several A series models for 2008. Featuring a versatile 4x (35mm-140mm equivalent) zoom lens, 2.5-inch LCD, Face Detection AF, and various exposure modes, the A590 IS offers a rich feature set for an entry-level PowerShot cameras.

Staking out the upper-middle tier of the PowerShot A-series, the new camera offers users the option of 19 shooting modes, from fully automatic to fully manual operation for greater creative control. The A590 IS camera also features Canon's advanced Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). OIS significantly reduces the effects of camera shake (and the blurry pictures they cause) by actually allowing the lens to shift to compensate for camera movement or shake. Unlike electronic image stabilization systems that essentially mask the movement rather than actually compensating for it, Canon's Optical "lens shift" system preserves the inherent quality of the stabilized image without covering up parts of the image. This OIS technology is even effective when the movement being stabilized is caused by extended telephoto or low-light shooting conditions.

Canon's innovative and exclusive Motion Detection technology consolidates motion information for both the camera and the photographic subject and determines whether the subject has moved and what if any adjustments to focus or exposure needs to be made. It will even detect and assess subject movement between each frame, making it quicker and easier to capture a series of images. Additionally, when paired with Canon's Optical Image Stabilization system – the motion detection system's onboard vibration-detecting gyro senses and compensates for movement due to camera shake, even if the subject remains still.

The "brain" in every new Canon digital camera from the PowerShot A-series to the EOS Pro models is the exclusive DIGIC III imaging processor. This proprietary chip is responsible for the cameras' higher performance levels including faster start up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long lag competitors far behind. What's more, DIGIC III improves both the image quality and the cameras' power consumption, extending the battery life under typical shooting conditions.

Canon Genuine Face Detection Technology automatically detects, tracks, focuses and optimizes the exposure on up to nine forward looking human faces in the frame or can lock onto a specific face in the crowd, ensuring that all (or one) are in focus and properly exposed, with or without flash. While the Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes up to nine human faces in a scene, it can also be instructed via the Face Select and Track function to lock on to a single face in the crowd, ensuring that the chosen countenance is finely focused, no matter where it appears in the frame. In addition to focus and exposure control, the new A series cameras now use Face Detection Technology to improve white balance, providing more consistent color accuracy than earlier models.

The camera's zoom range can be expanded even further with the use of any one of three optional converter lenses: a 1.75X tele-converter, a 0.7X wide converter and a 52mm close-up lens for frame-filling macro photography. The converter lenses attach over the camera's zoom lens by means of an optional conversion lens adapter.

As one of Microsoft's Premier Launch Partners, Canon is proud to announce that all PowerShot cameras announced in 2008 are Certified for Windows Vista according to Microsoft standards, without any extra downloads or upgrades. Additionally, all current models are fully compatible with other operating systems including Windows XP and Mac OS X (Versions 10.2 - 10.4).

With the PowerShot A590 IS, dramatic, personal pictures have never been easier to shoot and share. The 8.0-megapixel design lets you create impressive high resolution images of family and friends you'll be proud display. The genuine Canon 4x zoom lens moves you in for powerful close-ups-like a bird in flight or a child's winning goal-at the touch of a button. Plus, Canon's highly sophisticated Optical Image Stabilizer keeps every shot absolutely steady even when you're not.

The camera's 2.5-inch LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear and bright picture. It also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light.

Key Features of Canon Powershot A590is Digital Camera:

Resolution 8.0 Megapixels
Movie Mode
32MB Internal Memory
4 x Optical zoom
2.5in LCD display
PictBridge enabled
4 x Digital zoom
2 x AA batteries
Memory card compatibility: SD SDHC MMC
Optical image stabilizer
Maximum f/number f2.6 - f5.5
High speed USB
Box contents 2xAA batteries USB cable
1 year return to base warranty
Motion Detection Technology
DIGIC III Image Processor
Built in flash
USB 2.0 compatibility
Motion detection (reduces blur)
Continuous Shooting Speed 1.4 frames per second
PictBridge support
Wrist strap
Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
In-camera red-eye removal
Audio recording
Built-in speaker
Macro focus range 5-45cm
Shooting modes: Night scene/kids and pets/indoor/fireworks/foliage/beach/aquarium/portrait mode/landscape/snow/sunset
Dimensions: D 4.1cm x H 6.5cm x W 9.4cm

Specifications

(W): Max. wide angle   (T): Max. telephoto

Camera Effective Pixels	Approx. 8 million
Image Sensor	1/2.5-inch type CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 8.3 million pixels)
Lens	5.8 (W)–23.2 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 35 (W)–140 (T) mm) f/2.6 (W)–f/5.5 (T)
Digital Zoom	Approx. 4.0x (Up to approx. 16x in combination with the optical zoom)
Optical Viewfinder	Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor	2.5-inch type, TFT color LCD, approx. 115,000 dots (Picture coverage 100%)
AF System	TTL autofocus/Manual focus are available AF frame mode: Face Detect*1 *2 /AiAF (9-points)/Center *1 AF frame can be moved and fixed to specified face. *2 If no face is detected, AiAF (9-points) is used.
Focusing Range (From the front of the lens)	Normal: 45 cm (1.5 ft.)–infinity Macro: 5–45 cm (W) (2.0 in.–1.5 ft. (W)), 30–45 cm (T) (12 in.–1.5 ft.(T)) Manual focus/Easy: 5 cm (2.0 in.)–infinity (W), 30 cm (12 in.)–infinity (T) Kids&Pets: 1 m (3.3 ft.)–infinity (W/T)
Shutter	Mechanical shutter and electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds	1/60–1/2000 sec. 15–1/2000 sec. (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode.) Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.
Image Stabilization	Lens-shift type Continuous/Shoot Only/Panning/Off
Metering System	Evaluative*1 /Center-weighted average or Spot*2 *1 Facial brightness is also evaluated in Face Detect AF. *2 Fixed to center.
Exposure Compensation	±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
ISO Speed (Standard Output Sensitivity, Recommended Exposure Index)	Auto*1 , High ISO Auto*2 , ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 *1 Camera automatically sets the optimal speed according to shooting mode and subject brightness. *2 Camera automatically sets the optimal speed according to shooting mode, subject brightness and subject movement. However, the ISO speed is set relatively higher than Auto.
White Balance	Auto*1 , Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H or Custom *1 The colors of faces are evaluated in Face Detect AF.
Built-in Flash	Auto, on, off Facial brightness is also evaluated in Face Detect AF.
Built-in Flash Range	30 cm–3.5 m (12 in.–11 ft.) (W)/30 cm–2.2 m (12 in.–7.2 ft.) (T) Brightness of image periphery may reduce depending on shooting distance.
Shooting Modes	Auto, Easy Creative zone: Program, Shutter-speed priority, Aperture priority, Manual Image zone: Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Indoor, Special Scene*1 and Movie*2 *1 Night Scene, Sunset, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks and Aquarium. *2 Standard and Compact.
Continuous Shooting	Approx. 1.4 shots/sec.
Self-timer	Approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay or custom
Recording Media	SD memory card/SDHC memory card/MultiMediaCard/MMCplus card/HC MMCplus card
File Format	Design rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Data Type	Still images: Exif 2.2 (JPEG)*1 Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural)) Sound Memo: WAVE (monaural) *1 This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called “Exif Print”). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera's image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.
Compression	Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording Pixels	Still images Large: 3264 x 2448 pixels Medium 1: 2592 x 1944 pixels Medium 2: 2048 x 1536 pixels Medium 3, Date Stamp: 1600 x 1200 pixels Small: 640 x 480 pixels Widescreen: 3264 x 1832 pixels Movies Standard: 640 x 480 pixels (20 frames/sec.) 640 x 480 pixels (20 frames/sec. LP) 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.) Recording can continue until the memory card is full*1 (can record up to a maximum of 4 GB at one time*2 ) Compact 160 x 120 pixels (15 frames/sec.) Maximum recording length per clip: 3 min. *1 Using super high-speed memory cards (SDC- 512 MSH recommended). *2 Even if the file size has not reached 4 GB, the recording is stopped when the recording time reaches one hour. Depending on memory card capacity and data write speed, recording may stop before the file size reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches one hour.
Playback Modes	Single (histogram displayable), Index (9 thumbnail images), Magnified (approx. 2x to 10x max.), Resume Playback, Image Inspection Tool, Jump, My Category, Movie Playback (slow motion available), Rotate, Slide Show, Red-Eye Correction, Resize, Sound memos (it is possible to record and playback up to 1 min.), Protect
Direct Print	PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible
Interface	Hi-Speed USB (mini-B) Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Communication Settings	MTP, PTP
Power Source	2 AA-size alkaline batteries 2 AA-size NiMH batteries NB4-300 (sold separately) AC Adapter Kit ACK800 (sold separately)
Operating Temperatures	0–40°C (32–104°F) (0–35°C (32–95°F) when NB-3AH is used.)
Operating Humidity	10–90%
Dimensions (excluding protrusions)	94.3 x 64.7 x 40.8 mm (3.7 x 2.6 x 1.6 in.)
Weight (camera body only)	Approx. 175 g (6.2 oz.)

All data is based on Canon's standard testing methods. Subject to change without notice.

System Requirements

Please install the software on a computer meeting the following minimum requirements.

Windows

OS	Windows Vista Windows XP Service Pack 2 Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Computer Model	The above OS should be pre-installed on computers with built-in USB ports.
CPU	Windows Vista: Pentium 1.3 GHz or higher Windows XP/Windows 2000: Pentium 500 MHz or higher
RAM	Windows Vista: 512 MB or more Windows XP/Windows 2000: 256 MB or more
Interface	USB
Free Hard Disk Space	Canon Utilities ZoomBrowser EX: 200 MB or more PhotoStitch: 40 MB or more Canon Camera TWAIN Driver: 25 MB or more
Display	1,024 x 768 pixels/High Color (16 bit) or better

Macintosh

OS	Mac OS X (v10.3–v10.4)
Computer Model	The above OS should be pre-installed on computers with built-in USB ports.
CPU	PowerPC G3/G4/G5 or Intel Processor
RAM	256 MB or more
Interface	USB
Free Hard Disk Space	Canon Utilities ImageBrowser: 300 MB or more PhotoStitch: 50 MB or more
Display	1,024 x 768 pixels/32,000 Colors or better