Customer Reviews
Canon A590 IS, Ph!L's review 
2008-07-20
If you want to learn how to use manual camera exposure controls, it's a good place to start. (Tiger Direct has a good video) Auto exposure works great as well. Slightly bulkier than a SD750 but still very compact. A great alternative to the heavy DSLR, when there's no room. The cable and download software work great, no glitches on Win XP, not sure about Linux. Download *Gimp(freeware GNU advanced image processing)for what the Canon(works well)software can't do. I want an XSi or a D80 (DSLR) but I'm keeping my money right now. Also, I used Super Saver shipping and I live in Massachusetts, I got the thing in two days !
User-friendly and Perfect for the Digital Camera Novice 2008-07-20
This is the first digital camera I have owned. I purchased it a few days before a trip to California, which means I didn't have all that much time to get acquainted with the device.
I had absolutely no problems learning how to use the camera and taking good pictures with it. To my amateurish eyes, the pictures came out just fine and the camera was quite easy to use. There are a variety of settings you can use depending on what is being photographed and when: People, landscapes, action shots, nighttime shots, the "easy mode" etc. These are all nicely indicated using a graphic that appears on the LCD screen. For example, the portrait feature is indicated by a small graphic of a person's profile. There's also a video mode that can be fun.
The camera is pretty compact--not as small as some models out there, but I had no problems. One feature the camera includes that I think is quite important is a view finder in addition to the LCD screen. In bright sunlight it is difficult to take a photo using the LCD screen. I found myself using the viewfinder most of the time. I would caution anyone purchasing a camera with only an LCD screen. This was actually pointed out to me by a colleague who is experienced with digital cameras.
The camera also comes equipped with "image stabilizer" and "face recognition" features; from what I understand, these are two important features you should look for in a digital camera.
For basic photography (vacation pictures, family events, etc.) this is a fine camera at a reasonable price. Part of my research consisted of using Consumer Reports, and the magazine gave Canon products (not sure if this particular model was reviewed) a "Best Buy " rating.
About the only caveat I have is that the program included to load your picture on your computer is not particularly user-friendly. I wound up using iPhotos instead since I have a Mac. But on the other hand, I had no experience with loading photos on a computer--what seemed a bit clunky to me might be just fine for someone else.
So far very happy 2008-07-18
So far, I'm very happy with my Canon A590IS Digital Camera. I've taken a couple of hundred photos, good quality on automatic settings. I was most delighted to learn I can record up to a hour video (with my 4 GB card), though the sound quality is not so good, it's fun to experiment with. Much yet to learn about its other features.
Good Camera 
2008-07-18
This is a very good camera and i like it a lot but it does use up batteries kinda fast otherwise i really like it. This camera has the video setting which i use sometimes. The video setting i really like because you can zoom ,it has sound, and you can take fairly long videos unlike other cameras my family has. It also takes really nice photos.
A great value 2008-07-15
I've owned at least 3 digital cameras of progressive MP technology over the years. I think this Canon Powershot is a great value for what you get, whether your a snap-shotter or a more advanced user of digital cameras. This camera has just enough features to make people like me dangerous, but not too many that you are overwhelmed. The modes/settings are easy to configure and with a little practice, you will be taking some great pictures.
A lot of people think that the greater the MP, the better the quality of the picture. This is not true. I was looking for a camera that I can take quality photos with and share them over the internet; I do not need a professional camera that will produce poster-sized shots. And for my purposes, this camera is perfect!
Good value easy to use 2008-07-25
I will never use anywhere near the number of settings .., but nice to have them available for the once a month usage. Menu setup very intuitive. Controls clearly marked. Screen so-so in bright light but you have a viewfinder (hooray) and a good lens and good value..Nice feel in the hand.
Excellent Camera 2008-07-23
Purchased this to replace another Canon Powershot which was stolen. We've been very impressed with this camera. Excellent images, good stability control, plenty of detail allowing for cropping of pictures for scrapbooking. Highly recommend this camera!
Good Camera - Good snapshots 2008-07-22
I bought this camera to take with me when my DLSR or my super zoom is just too heavy or too bulky to take along. The old saying is that the best camera for the job, is the camera you have!! I did not wish to spend a lot of money but wanted to still have image stablization, control over exposure and aperture, and decent image quality, all while using SD memory cards since I have many. This camera is a reasonable compromise. The images are acceptably crisp and can be made even sharper in post processing, the manual controls work great, and the size certainly allows me to put it into my pocket. If you are looking for a snapshot camera the Canon A590 can certainly produce the goods. I haven't found the slow recycle time of the flash to be a problem and and the rechargeable NiMH batteries I'm using are still going strong after a couple of hundred pictures with about a third being taken with flash. You can adjust the vividness of the color along with the sharpness and the contrast to taste. The exposures seem accurate and exposure conpensation can be used to help with "blown" skies, a problem with many digital cameras, it seems.
Having the memory card located with the batteries certainly saves in manufacturing cost (only a single door) but when I remove the card, sometimes the batteries also fall out, but this isn't really a serious issue - I just have to be careful.
I do wish that this camera had a wider angle lens (maybe 24 mm equivalent in 35 mm camera terms) since there are times I want effects that these wide angle lenses produce. Of course I knew that the camera did not do this when I bought it and many casual users would probably not miss this feature unless they previously had a camera that a lens of this type.
In summary, given this camera's price point, it's an excellent value.
Great Camera! 2008-07-22
I really like this camera. It is easy to use, takes great pictures, and has plenty of zoom. I looked at so many cameras before purchasing this one. This one had the best features and quality of all the cameras in this price range. I was really impressed with the quality of the video it produced, as I didn't expect very much from a digital camera.
I am glad I got a camera with a view finder as I have found on very sunny days at the ballfield, the LCD can be a little difficult to see details of what you are capturing. The viewfinder, though, shows you enough of what you are shooting and comes in handy.
The night scene mode really is a blessing as I have taken night shots with and without this mode, and it makes such a huge difference in night photography.
Speed is not an issue as well. I took a picture of my son jumping into the pool and I caught him just as he was entering the water. There was relatively no blur and it looks as if he is standing on top of the water!
I also took pictures of him throwing a baseball and there was no blur in those photos as well.
Again, this camera exceeded my expectations and I doubt that anyone would be disappointed in purchasing this camera. Plus it's hard to go wrong with Canon's quality.
Solid, compact, feature-rich camera at a great price! 2008-07-21
The A590IS is the 8-MP sibling of the 7-Megapixel 570IS. I've played with both, and at an almost equal price, the 590 is the way to go.
- "Automatic" mode makes it easy as pie for point-and-shoot. Photo novices will find the Automatic -- and above that, Easy -- modes a welcome way to "just take the picture already!". The auto-focus, facial recognition, and adjustment features all respond quickly at half-depress... lining up a great shot is simple and quick.
- "Manual" mode gives you reign over everything about the photo, from the white balance, to the aperture, flash output, and even the part of the screen it uses to calculate gamma compensation. When you've got time to make the picture turn out just right, this little camera won't disappoint.
- The lens isn't half bad either, giving you focus-adjustment down to 2 inches from the end of the lens, and incremental up to 10 feet.
As with most new Digital Cameras, the viewfinder has been long-since replaced by the back LCD, which provides a helpful and adjustable HUD. The color spectral graphs are especially nice to have on-hand if you're worried about balancing multiple shots against each other.
The only cons are inherent in the design: the viewfinder and flash are almost useless when the camera is fitted with an optional lens hood / adapter. The buttons and dial adjustments are also small, so it pays to familiarize yourself with the user interface.
All in all, a fantastic camera for the price. Image stabilization, a 4x zoom, optional attachments, and a trim pricetag make this a great deal for anyone looking to upgrade to a non-SLR picture snapper.
