Best camera in this price class. The IS feature is amazing, must have feature. The only complaint is the flash recharge time is a little slow due to 2 AA batteries. If you take lots of indoor pics, go for the Canons with 4 AA batteries (A6xx). For sports and kids this a great camera.

My current camera is an Olympus SP-320. You can read my review on that product page, if you wish.

I like the pictures I take, but I'm no pro and there is always someone whose pictures I admire more. I have one friend who consistently takes great shots. When a bunch of us attended a wedding last summer, there was a vibrancy to her shots that mine couldn't quite match. Since she swore by her Canon Power Shot, I thought I'd give the A570IS a chance. This weekend I had both the A570IS and the SP-320 with me on a weekend jaunt and took half of my pictures with each camera, swapping back and forth between the two.

Both cameras use two AA batteries. Both have optical viewfinders. Both have more modes than the casual picture taker will ever need.

In my hands, the picture quality is almost indistinguishable. In some settings I prefer the Olympus; in others, the Canon, so the A570SI is going to be returned since I'm well within the return period. However, if I had the option of returning the Olympus, too, I'd keep the Canon. Here's why:

* The Canon is slightly smaller. The bulge on the Olympus makes it harder to find a suitable case.

* The Canon's mode selector dial clicks firmly into place, unlike the Olympus's which is very loose. The Olympus's dial often moves when the camera is removed from its case. Not so, the Canon.

* The Canon has 4x zoom compared to the Olympus's 3x. Also, the digital zoom is better implemented in the Canon. The Canon stops at full optical zoom. If the zoom slider is released and reengaged, the digital zoom is applied. This is true even in Auto mode. The Olympus's digital zoom is not readily available in every mode. When digital zoom is available or turned on, it lacks the Canon's pause at the end of optical zoom.pause.

* The A570IS uses a standard mini-B USB connector rather than what appears to be a proprietary type for the Olympus.

None of these--or even all of them together--are enough to make me keep the Canon and put the Olympus up on eBay or Half, but they'd be enough to get me to pick the Canon if I didn't already own the Olympus.

I cant say enough about the ease of operation, and results of this camera... The photos are superb, and it handles nicely.
I cant wait to get the telephoto conversion lens for it.
Not to be advised, but It dropped off my side table without the case and was none the worse for wear, thank goodness. A sturdy camera well worth the price.

Last year, after extensive research, I bought a Canon A540 to replace my trusty Olympus D40-Zoom. My goals for camera selection where (a) compact size, (b) standard AA batteries, (c) full manual controls, (d) outstanding image quality, (e) speed, (f) optical viewfinder. The A540 fit the bill almost perfectly, with a handful of limitations that I noted in my review.

This year, with Canon's release of the A570IS, I decided to upgrade, driven by the addition of optical image stabilization (IS). While the IS is impressive, I was surprised by other improvements that Canon has made. Image noise levels are significantly lower and more controlled for higher ISO captures. The Digic III processor seems to make more intelligent decisions about lighting and flash exposure, especially when its face recognition is engaged. Add a dramatically better quality LCD screen, slightly higher 7.1MP resolution, improved case, and support of high capacity SD cards, and I doubt I'll need to upgrade any time soon.

Like the A540, the A570IS is for me a perfect balance of size, speed, and photo quality. The A570IS is the same physical size as the A540. It's small enough to fit in a coat pocket or small belt case yet uses 2 AA batteries.

Like the A540, overall processing speed is very fast unless you're taking flash pictures (and then you should expect about 4-6 seconds between flashes depending on battery level and what flash strength the camera selected). Note that flash time is significantly better with high-capacity rechargeable NiMh batteries than with standard AAs. And, unlike some other cameras I have tried, the speed of the user interface (especially during playback) is very fast.

Picture quality in general is excellent, even in low light situations. Noise at higher ISO is significantly more controlled than the A540, perhaps a benefit of the new 7.1MP CCD and the Digic III image processor. According to the documentation, noise reduction is applied at slow shutter speeds of 1.3 seconds or greater, and this can slightly slow down shot-to-shot time. There is no option to disable or adjust the noise processing, but in my experience the results are very good. When noise reduction is applied, there is a slight loss of detail compared to the A540, but the results are noticeably better on the A570IS with its built-in noise reduction than post-processing noise on pictures taken with the A540.

In my own head-to-head comparisons between the A570IS and A540, the A570IS has better light metering and noticeably sharper detail on indoor shots without a flash (especially when image stabilization is engaged). The A570IS does favor slightly higher ISO in auto modes than the A540, giving generally better results without a flash. However, when taking close-up pictures with a flash, the A570IS doesn't seem to select anything lower then ISO 200, sometimes requiring a manual ISO override in Program mode.

The A570IS offers a new ISO 1600 mode, but I'm not quite sold on it. Without a tripod, under low light conditions, ISO 1600 does offer the opportunity for blur-free photographs not possible with ISO 800. But the level of noise and artifacts from the noise processing don't give a very usable picture.

The A570IS raises the bar with optical image stabilization, which only works when the camera is held horizontally. One of the biggest limitations of consumer digital cameras is the need to hold the camera steady to get a clear shot. At higher zooms and in night shots this problem can be compounded. I've taken a number of shots with and without IS, and it is useful but not a "magic bullet" for poor shots. Small details like far-away signs at night become clear when the IS is engaged. You can set the IS to run continuously during preview, only when the shutter is released (slightly lower battery drain), only on vertical movement (better for objects that are moving horizontally), or disabled (I have yet to find a reason to do so). And, unlike many cameras I've seen, the IS works in video capture mode.

Like the A540, the A570IS offers full manual controls. With the A570IS, Canon adds two more modes (Kids & Pets and Indoor) to the mode selector wheel (instead of having to find them on the Special Scene menu). The A570IS also adds a new Aquarium scene mode, while removing the useless Color Swap and Color Accent modes. Canon has also removed the "My Camera" customization menu (for changing the startup picture and various sounds) which I never used on my A540.

Although I never expected to use it, the movie mode is excellent. It's still not a replacement for a dedicated camcorder. But I have used it on a number of occasions to capture audio and video when a picture just won't do. Standard movie mode is 640x480 (VGA) quality at 30fps, but you can raise the capture to 60 fps at 320x240, or lower it to 15fps at 160x120. The A570 can now capture video up to 1 hour or 4GB whichever comes first. Video files are very large (around 1.9MB/second at 30fps) but they compress extremely well with QuickTime Pro's MPEG4 codec.

With the A570IS, Canon also addressed some of my minor complaints about the A540. Most notably, the LCD screen is much higher quality and higher resolution. The case plastics seem more solid, the small rubber door covering the USB - A/V - power ports pivots open from the side not the top, and the handle area no longer has a chrome insert which had a tendency to fall off. The ring that covers the conversion lens adapter mount has a chrome trim, making the camera more attractive but at least on my A570IS it is more difficult to remove than the A540.

Once again, I looked at the Canon A710IS which offers a 6x optical zoom, but has the same 7.1MP sensor, optical image stabilization and user interface with the older Digic II image processor. In the end, after trying both cameras in the store, I again settled on the A570IS. The A710IS is noticeably larger (about 0.25 inches wider and slightly taller), and the more complicated lens takes longer to startup and to zoom. Both cameras have a limited number of stops in their zoom range, but this is noticeable on the 6x of the A710IS where it is not noticeable in the 4x of the A570IS. For me, the larger size wasn't worth the extra zoom. And the benefits of Digic III are impressive.

In summary, Canon A570IS Pros:
- 7.1 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom
- ISO 80 to 1600
- optical image stabilization for higher ISO or zoom, even during video capture
- optical viewfinder for shooting with the LCD off
- full manual controls (shutter priority, appeture priority, full manual)
- preset and custom white balance control
- outstanding photo quality, even in relatively low light (good color balance, very low noise at higher ISOs, almost non-existent chromatic aberation)
- Digic III processor offers face detection, makes more intelligent decisions on exposure, and flash levels
- very good results from built-in noise reduction for slow shutter speeds of 1.3 seconds or greater
- very fast startup and shot-to-shot speed (flash not withstanding)
- excellent and speedy auto-focus even in low light (although the AF assist light can slow this down)
- orientation sensor recognizes if you have rotated the camera to take a shot
- flash adjusts angle based on wide-telephoto zoom
- built-in red eye reduction during playback lets you select an area to remove red eye and save as new or overwrite the existing image
- surprisingly usable movie mode
- outstanding user interface: options are well laid out and easy to locate, very well thought-out record and playback options
- extremely fast user interface and playback performance, even zooming in on photos
- high resolution LCD screen
- well built case, very comfortable grip
- uses SD cards and supports high-capacity SDHC (takes advantage of high-speed SD)
- uses 2 AA batteries (at least 2500 mAh NiMh rechargeable recommended)
- very good battery life (approx 400 shots on 2 rechargeable NiMh AA, with the display on)
- replaceable lithium battery protects settings when changing batteries
- supports optional high-power flash, conversion lenses and underwater case

Cons (to me, all very minor):
- flash recharge time is acceptable but not great (4 - 6 seconds between shots using NiMh batteries)
- preview display blanks while flash recharges
- Auto ISO for indoor flash close-up pictures doesn't seem to select below ISO 200; you can force ISO 100 in Program or manual modes
- ISO 1600 is of questionable real-world use because of noise and artifacts from noise reduction
- noise reduction cannot be adjusted or disabled
- it is possible to insert the SD card upside down and you don't realize until you try to close the cover (would be easy to break the cover if you force this)
- the markings for the battery orientation are difficult to read
- no RAW image support, but you can select from 3 different compression ratios for image quality

TIPS:
1) make sure you do a low-level format before you use your SD card in this camera, even if you had formatted it for another Canon camera. It makes a significant difference in shot-to-shot speed
2) always use high-capacity (2500 mAh or greater) NiMh rechargeable batteries - the flash recharge time is much improved (though still 4-6 seconds)
3) for indoor flash close-up shots, may need to override ISO to 100 for better quality
4) for outdoor shots in bright sun, setting exposure -2/3 gives better control of bright areas
5) if you use the conversion lens adapter, don't plan on using the built-in flash which is partially obscured by the adapter. I haven't tried it, but would expect the external flash to not have this problem.

I Used to have the sd600 this blows it away.
Great for taking pics from a moving car.
The IS is worth every penny for the zoom shots!
fast action too

Unfortunately or Fortunately, I briefly owned a Canon SD630. After it was lost/stolen, I began searching for a new digital camera. Canon's are great cameras, but they usually underacheive inside...i.e. low light situations. Bottom Line, the A570is isn't the best camera in low light situations. However, it's a great all around point and shoot. The greatest advantages over the SD630 are the image stabalizer, zoom (to include digital), face finder, overall comfort/feel, ability to add lenses and 2xAA batteries. Only negative of camera is the time to recharge flash (flash works very well though).

I bought a digital primarily because I hated developing film and not knowing if the shot I thought I got was actually what was captured. With children, who move so quickly, you never know what you're going to get. I hated paying for an entire roll of film only to find that only 1/3 of the pictures were even close to what I had hoped for.

I was a little intimidated by all the features, but this is truly a user-friendly camera. Even when switching from still photo mode to video mode, it's a pretty quick transition, even if you want to adjust some of the shooting features. Even after briefly glancing over the instructions, I found that it was very easy to learn how to use the features and make the most of my shots.

I highly recommend buying the Canon batteries and charger. We used a different type of rechargeable camera battery and th battery life was definitely as good. The Canon batteries made a huge difference in the lag between photos, too. The flash seemed the charge faster and the transition from "photo review" to "ready to take another picture" was shorter. Again, when you have kids, sometimes the next 2 seconds is when they do that thing you were waiting for!

We also bought the case for this camera. The strap is a good length - I can loop it around the stroller handle and it's good to go - still protected in the bag and easily accessible.

All in all, I loved this camera's versatility and ease of use. Even uploading the photos was quick and easy and the software it comes with is pretty self-explanatory.

This is a great camera for parents!

We've had this camera about a month and have taken quite a few different shots inside and out. The pictures aren't as sharp as we expected. It takes good pictures in low light levels. The digital and optical zoom work great. If you want a really sharp image, you have to take care to hold the camera very still. I don't know how it will work from a moving car. We replaced and old model HP315 with this Canon A570. It seems to be a good camera for the money.

I am not a pro in digital cameras but I like the one I purchased, really do. Besides all the advantages it has the big LCD so it's really convenient.
Everything is good except one thing: power supply. You have to purchase new batteries every time(but they last quite a long time though) or the battery charger which is like about 42 bucks. But anyway, I liked the item and sure Canon is always the best.
PS: I saw the AC adapter in the system map which comes with the camera but I doubt that it will fit with the camera..or not..anyway, someone write what you think of that. I'm about to buy the battery charger though.
Peace,

I would say for 200$ this is the best camera available in the market,
Make sure to go through the Advanced User Manual before start testing this product. It has hell lot of features which will help you a lot. The color details and shadows are great, Good In house Photos. I have used a Sony DSC 60 and my friends Sony W55 earlier this camera is a lot better than those. Get it and start exploring the manual controls you will know the power of this toy.

Maybe it is too soon to be sure about it, but I think the red eyes reductor doesn't work well. I used to have another Canon, the A70, and the same system in the old camera was way better. One other point: it takes too long to save the image in the memory card. But, as I said, maybe I don't know yet how to operate the camera.

This camera is a pocket-sized SLR ! I mean it has all the capabilities of advanced Prosumer SLRs like the Rebel XT in a compact size. The Image Stabilization (IS) and Face Detection works well and is a very helpful capability. The full creative control is a major plus and is very similar to the Digital Rebel XT controls.
The Pros : good start up time, quick focus lock even in low light, face detection, IS, creative controls, AA batteries

The cons : Slow zoom, very average battery performance - about 50 flash shots drained 2 alkaline AA batteries.

This camera has more capabilities than I will probably need, but at the same time, it is simple to use. Combined with the Kingston 4GB SD Flash Card, you can take a ton of pictures. And since it uses just two AA batteries, you can easily carry a few extra with you and never have to worry about recharging. And of course, it's a Canon. I love this camera!

Does one feature warrant an upgrade. In this instance, yes! I went from the A540, which I liked a lot, to this model to get the IS feature. It is FANTASTIC! It actually negates the need for flash much of the time and makes moving objects clear and sharp. A wonderful advacne for just a few dollars more. The additional megappixels don't matter too much unless you are taking really BIG photos. I use a 4GB SCHC card and get over 4,000 shots on the next to highest (M1) setting! How can you go wrong?

I bought this camera for my wife. She does not like high tech anything! the size and convenience factor made her a believer. It produces excellent photos due in part because of the image stabilization feature. The quality of construction, the size, and the long battery life makes this one of the best I've seen. My camera is a Nikon D70, big, much more complicated and versital, but I know I'll be borrowing my wifes Canon a lot!

These PowerShot "A" cameras are Canon's attempt to deliver the quality and features of its more expensive PowerShot "G" and PowerShot Pro "S" lines (such as full zoom lenses) at a budget price. The results, though, are a mixed bag. The entry-level A460 is lousy, but the rest of the line gives you a lot for the money. (How do I know all this? Because I've actually gotten to use all of these cameras. I earn my living shooting photos at Walt Disney World for a travel guidebook, and nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShots.)

Here's my opinion of the "A" series line:

Canon PowerShot A460 5.0MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Silver)
Yuck! This 5MP camera is like a relic from five years ago: the simple but poorly designed controls -- a little joy pad surrounded by four buttons -- make it far too easy to do things like change the zoom setting when you set the flash. I have fat fingers and I mess things up almost every time! Also, I've seen photos taken with this camera, and they often have that purple fringe around their highlights, which are typically blown out. On the plus side, the camera does have an optical viewfinder.

Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Looking for a good bargain camera? Take a look at this one. It's a 2006 model, but it works just fine. You get 20 shooting modes, a full set of manual controls and can record low-res sound video at 60 frames per second. Before you buy it, however, check Amazon's price of the better, and newer, A560. It may be cheaper.

Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
This basic camera isn't that bad, but there's no reason to buy it. For about $25 more you can step up to the PowerShot A560 (see below), which has the same body, sensor and lens but Canon's much better Digic III processor. Buy this one and, yes, you'll save a few bucks, but your photos won't look as good.

Canon PowerShot A560 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Here is a nice camera! Featuring Canon's acclaimed Digic III processor, it includes the company's face-detection metering system and a decent red-eye removal.

Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Same as the A560 but with optical image stabilization and the ability to shoot manually.

Canon PowerShot A630 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. You can do a lot with this sweet little camera. It has a flip-out LCD panel and lots of manual controls. The shots I've seen from this model look great. Keep your ISO under 800 and you won't get any noise.

Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
Same as the A630 except 10MP.

Canon PowerShot A710 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. This fully-loaded model has all the toys, including a full-range zoom (35mm film equivalent of 35-210mm), adjustable flash power and optional second-curtain flash. This last features means you can make the flash fire at the end of a long exposure, instead of the beginning, so moving subjects streak into focus instead of out. Much more for your money than the A640.

By Mike Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.

The Canon PowerShot performs just as the specifications says it should. It is very easy to handle and the controls work perfectly. I think returning the battery/SD card lid should be easier. The one significant place for improvement would to do something about the small obtuse Owner's Guides. Even the pdf versions have a problem. Why can't these manuals cover each feature first by saying what it is intended to do and then clearly telling you how without having to go to many other pages for more information?

I did a lot of research before deciding to purchasing this camera. I wanted to replace my 3.1 Olympus which I had a number of years with a lighter one to take on vacation and have with me at all times. Incidently the PSC-65 carrying case is a must have. It has a handy belt loop and you hardly know it there and contains enough room to drop a couple of spare batteries in the bottom.I considered the smaller sub compacts but decided on the compact because it uses AA batteries vs. propietary rechargable batteries. Also the controls are well laid out and fit nicely in your hand. After using the camera for several months I do not regret my decision. I found the controls to be intutive and the user manual well written. A feature I liked is that Canon included two manuals, a 32 page basic user guide for all us point and shoot types and a more detail advanced user guide to takes advantage of the more advanced manual settings if you are so inclined.
I found little difference in leaving the camera on auto vs some of the other settings in the quality of the pictures which were all excellant. The pictures I took in a cave came out dark and I did switch to Night time mode and they were better. There are a number settings that basicly either adjust the f stop or exposure time while holding the other at a predetermined fixed value.I haven't had the camera long enough to appreciate the difference between all the settings. I believe the average person will do best by leaving it on auto except in very low light condition. I feature that Canon has on its cameras is a view finder, which has gone missing on other brands. Hence the reason I did not consider another Olympus.Without the view finder you have to frame the picture with the screen which has to be on during picture taking and draining battery power. Also it takes away from the moment because you have to position yourself in strong light condition to keeping the screen from washing out as well as hold it at arm's length. You can't go wrong with this camera. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I didn't test the others

I have owned the Canon A540 for a year and recently purchased an A570IS as an upgrade. The 540 had performed admirably, but I wanted image stabilization to allow shots with a slower shutter speed for pictures shot in rooms with low lighting using a low ISO setting for quality. I took over 200 shots at my son's wedding. The IS worked well, but the pics were too dark, so I reverted to flash shots to maintain the low ISO. To my great disappointment, MOST of the pics had redeye even when the subject(s) was not facing the camera. The in-camera redeye fix did not do well, especially when 6-8 people had redeye in the same frame. The 540 was never this bad.
The outdoor photos, on the other hand, were extremely good with nice color and exposure and good focus. I couldn't be more pleased with those shots.
But I really wanted a camera that could at least take decent indoor flash photos but preferably non-flash with medium ISO settings. In my experience, the 570 is not that camera. At this time there are digicams that excel at indoor photos and others that take great outdoor shots. I'll wait for a great all-arounder before my next purchase.
P.S. Most of the shots were made in AUTO or PROGRAM mode.

This is a great camera, a little bigger than what most people carry around but the quality of the pictures is incredible ( and definitely better than the digital elph) - this is the best compromise if you do not feel like carrying an SLR camera with you all the time.

There is no better camera for the money! It takes fabulous pictures, even when your target ie not the most stable item. I purchased this to capture my active twin toddlers, and believe it or not, I am able to get a clear shot everytime!

This is the 2nd Canon model A camera I've had, and it seems they are still a good value. The image stabilization feature works really well - definitely has improved the quality of my pictures in almost all lighting conditions. My only personal complaint is that the camera is much lighter than I'm used to, so that makes it feel a little delicate; however, I haven't had any actual problems with it at all. A lot of people might like a lighter camera anyway because that does make it easier to carry in a pocket - definitely possible with this camera. Bottom line: a great value, and I'm very happy with my purchase.

I had high hopes with the IS and 1600iso, but I think we got a defective copy:
- The shutter button had to be pressed very hard to take a photo.
- There was a lot of shutter lag when it did press.
- Flash recharge was very slow.
- All photos blurry.
Maybe the IS or chip was defective.

I returned it for an A560 (also 1600iso), which takes GREAT photos out-of-the-box, for my daughter to use in Europe this summer, hence the preference for a AA battery model.

Otherwise, I've had very reliable cameras from Canon (slr and point-n-shoot).

Received my new Canon PowerShotA570IS in good time. The camera takes excellent photos. I recommend this camera to anyone whose interested in digital photography, especially to beginners.

Thank You;

H. Honda

The camera works very well. We bought it for use as just a camera, although the video is easy to use and upload if you need it in a pinch. Pictures are very good, and surprisingly bright. Close up pictures (2-3 feet) still come up a bit blurry, but for normal use this should not be a problem. Definitely easy to use, and I would recommend for anyone looking for a point and shoot camera to just get some pictures.

I found the camera to be excellent in every respect pertaining to the quality of the pictures taken. However, the instruction booklet is practically worthless. (I have found this trend of writing very bad instructions in many companies, such as Sony electronics and nearly all software companies.) I don't think it would have cost Canon more than perhaps $25K to $50K more to write a decent set of instructions. They could then use that as a template for all their cameras. The user interface (i.e. buttons and menus) could have been much better designed. But overall well worth the price, and probably better than the competition.

This is my first digital camera, so I don't have a lot to compare it with, but so far I'm quite pleased.

I did a lot of research. I was looking for a camera with a decent zoom lens, image stabilization, an optical viewfinder, and a 2.5 inch LCD; all for under $250. I think I got a very good camera for a very good price.

My pictures have come out great. I'm a little slow in learning the fine points, but so far I've managed to take some decent pictures and do some very nice editing. I kind of wish I'd spent a little more for a stronger zoom, but I'm still pleased. I'd definitely recommend this camera.

This camera offers an excellent value for the price that you pay. It takes excellent pictures set on the automatic mode but yet offers the opportunity to set the shutter speed, aperture, etc. if you are so inclined. It also offers a large screen which makes it great to review the pictures. The only complaint I have is that the batteries do not last long and you always have to carry an extra set with you.- You do not get much warning that they are low. I suggest that you purchase a set of 4 re-chargable AA batteries and rotate. However, the fact that it uses AA batteries and does not have a built in battery is an assect and one of the reasons I like this line of Canon cameras. At least you can easily purchase and replace them and keep shooting!

I am somewhat familiar with Canon cameras as this is my 3rd Canon digital camera, I've updated because I've needed more megapixels. These cameras seem to be getting more and more user friendly.

I don't know the technical specs on this camera. I know I was looking for a small camera to travel with. I was also looking for a camera with the "handle" on the side to hold the camera steady. This camera slips nicely in my purse, takes a great photo and is very easy to use. The photos have come out sharp and clear.

I've never used the video feature in my older cameras but found this camera video friendly.

I bought the camera mainly for outdoor pictures. Shooting at ISO 80 in superfine mode at 3072x2034 pixel mode, outdoor pictures come out very clear. Still learning how to deal with dark shots and moving shots. I even accidentally shot in movie mode a couple of times experimenting around. The unplanned videos were pretty good as was the sound. The Image Stabilizer Technology works well because rarely do I get blurry pictures and I'm not the steadiest person when shooting. Having a viewfinder is priceless because using the LCD screen can be a hassle at times. One bad thing is the delay when using the flash. You must wait a few seconds for the camera to recover after a flash shot. Also, I did not like many of the shots in Auto mode so I read some of the manual to learn how to set up my own shots. The manual is not the most well written and always leaves me guessing as to why to use one setting over another. It explains how but not why. Being a beginner I had to do some internet research to learn why some settings work better with other settings in certain situations. Overall very pleased with the camera. It has awesome image quality, good movie mode, viewfinder, 4x lens, and many other nice useful features. A very capable camera for the price and fun to use.

Bought this camera and the underwater housing for it mostly for scuba diving use. I have to say this camera does extremely well. My primary camera is a Nikon D50 DSLR. This camera takes wonderful pictures however. We use it in scene mode mostly. Set it for beach and it took really nice pictures with good detail in everything. The underwater setting was great for it's first test with scuba pictures. We are going to Bonaire this fall and it is well known by divers for beautiful, untouched coral reefs. I am looking forward to using this camera to take as many pictures as possible. We have had very few bad pictures and they were taken while kayaking in some rough waters. The image stabilization does well for the minor shaking a person does while trying to hold steady. When not using the flash, it is ready to take a picture very quickly. It takes a picture fast, getting the autofocus done set almost immediately and is ready to go soon as it finishes taking the picture. The recharge on the flash is average for a camera like this so it shouldn't surprise any one. It is very easy to use, the buttons are laid out nice, and it's comfortable to hold. The camera fits nicely in most pockets too. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants a small camera but wants to use personal settings that more entry level point and shoots don't offer. However if you don't know much about photography, this camera will still do a great job for those but it may not be worth the extra money if you only plan to use this for family gatherings and the occasional photo shot.

After an exhaustive Internet and camera store search I finally decided to buy this Canon camera. The only superior cameras I could find were all relatively large and heavy SLR's. This PoserShot model has most of the features and perfornance of any of the best digital cameras, including an unexcelled image processor, an optional optical viewfinder, face detection, 4X optical zoom, and image stabilization.

I have used the camera for about a month and taken hundreds of photos, mostly in the "auto" mode, although there is almost no limit to the available settings. Unfortunately, many of these settings need a navigation of the menu system, which must be studied in advance of any serious shooting. I have found that the "auto" mode is uncannily capable of producing images that require a minimum, if any, Photoshop editing. This is no doubt due to the latest Canon image processor which, among other capabilities, usually produces an "auto levels" image with great automatic white balance, and excellent colors. Perhaps the most stringest test I gave the camera was to take several hand held photos using 4X optical plus 4X digital zoom of the home plate action at a major league baseball game from a seat at the top level of the stands. These 16X images were quite usable, even showing the baseball leaving the bat.

While there are a number of competitive cameras in this size range, and even smaller, very few have an optional optical viewfinder that is essential under sunlit conditions. I also own such a camera, but was totally frustrated in my attempts to use it under these conditions, as it has no optional optical viewfinder.

You will not be disappointed if you buy this camera, and I don't have any connection with Canon!

This camera was bought as a present for a person who wanted a very simple point and click interface, with nothing to stand between them and the art of taking great photos. It achieves that goal with utmost elegance in a way not seen since the old Brownie cameras of the 1950's. Of course the Brownie didn't have image stabilization nor the capability of taking hundreds or thousands of photos on a single roll of film!

I spent about 15 minutes checking batteries, formatting an aftermarket 2GB SD card, going through the menus and assuring it was set up correctly. After another 10 minutes teaching the user how to download photos to the computer and erase them from the camera it was good to go.

A large memory card is essential with a camera of this sort. The camera I bought came with a small (I recall it being 16 MB) SD card but I installed an aftermarket card, the Kingston SD/2GBKR 2 GB SD Memory Card. The user might also consider getting something like a Western Digital WDG1U2500 My Book Essential Edition 250 GB Hard Drive or other USB drive for more portability of the photo files which otherwise can quickly clutter up one's C drive. (Computers will not allow simultaneous connection too many USB devices so one usually can't download one's picture files from a camera directly onto a USB drive.)

I've had this camera for about a month now and have taken well over a hundred photos in different settings ranging from indoor birthday parties to outdoor hunting photos of dogs.

Overall, this is by far the best digital camera I've owned. Previously I've used a Sony DSC-W5 and Nikon Coolpix L3 -- all were in the $200+ range.

Shutter lag on this camera is minimal. I've missed many pictures of my dogs in the past because they've run out of frame during the time from when I pushed the shutter button to when the camera actually took the shot. I've not had that problem at all with this camera. Using the kids/pets setting, it uses a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action as well.

I also like the Shutter Priority priority mode as well. It allows me to set whatever shutter speed I think is necessary for the shot, and the camera takes care of everything else. It flashes a warning if I have the shutter set too fast for available light.

Other useful features I've noticed making a difference is the "face recognition" technology and the "Image Shake" reduction. There are lots of bells and whistles on cameras that I do not use, but with these two I have had very few bad pictures.

The flash has FAR better coverage than the Nikon. I frequently had shadows at the edge even when the subject was fairly close. While not as good as a separate hot shoe flash on a SLR, this flash is the best I've had on a compact digital.

Finally, I love the optical viewfinder! I take many photos outdoors in bright sunlight that can be difficult to frame with any LCD screen. The viewfinder is a lifesafer in those situations. It is easy to compose a photo and so far they have turned out perfectly when using the camera this way.

This camera has tons of features that I have not mentioned. I just listed those most important to me and the way I take photos. I would highly recommend this camera to potential buyers.

I researched cameras like everyone else using the internet, talking to friend/family, and going into a few brick and mortar stores. I read several online reviews, both professionally done and from amateur photographers. First off, this camera is highly rated by several places. Obviously there is something to be said for that. However, in my hands this camera was a complete disapointment. I don't know if I just got a bad one or what, but I tried several settings, under several conditions, even had other people take photos, yet this camera produced a blurry image everytime. I never could achieve a very crisp image. I read the entire manual, used all the tweaks and everything. Most of the time the face recognition focus feature of the DIGIC III never even identified the faces in the shot. Typically it would focus on anything BUT the subject! Some people told me that Canon cameras tend to give a softened more "studio portrait" image. I don't know about that, but my old digital camera (although it is lower megapixel) produced a crisper image. This might be a good thing if that is what you are looking for.

This camera really left me baffled. It's pack with numerous features, too many almost. I mean do you really need that many functions in a point and shoot? I expected it to snap great photos right out of the box, but instead it took some tweaking to get decent photos. Either this camer is highly overrated, or I got a complete dud. In either case it either says something about people who are biased toward reviewing canon cameras ( I mean what manufacturers has 80%+ of their products get positive reviews?) or it says something about how fragile the mechanics in this camera are. I really wanted this to be the great camera everyone says it is, but it just wasn't for me.

BEST ADVICE: Buy from a retailer with a good return policy. Theres no single digital camera meant for everyone despite what anyone else says regarding it's performance, usefulness and fit to your needs. In more recent times, buying a camera seems to be on par with trying to find a pair of shoes that fit. (sigh) This one went back to Amazon.com. I hope they don't resell it to you!

Reading the previous review I have to say that I could not understand how it is possible that this person had such an experience but bad products happen once in a while.

This camera has left me extremely satisfied. To start with, the screen is much bigger than my previous camera (Canon Powershot A530). The pictures come out great. I have tried most of the settings and they work. (It is going to be a while to try snow because we do not have snow in this part of Texas very often) I live in Galveston Bay.

It is also the same weight as my previous camera so it is very easy to carry and transport. The movie flicks feature seems to make bettermovies (I will have to talk to my friends in Hollywood about this) (Just kidding, people)

I got it with the "free" 2GB card and it is fantastic!!!! Now I can store more pictures in a trip, for example.

IO think I am going to keep this camera for a while........

I have had this camera for about 2 weeks now, I got it out and clicking photos in 3 minutes.
It is very easy to use, easy to carry in your pocket.
It is so easy to use, now my 3 year old son is clicking photos too !

WOW! I love this camera, wish that I would have bought a Canon the first time around. I haven't been disappointed with a picture yet. Nice clear photos. No blur like my old camera. I highly recommend this camera. GO CANON!!!

I love this camera. I had a Nikon L6 a few months earlier and it was not have the camera. The lag time drove me nuts. After 2 months it had a defect (Lens Error) and I returned it (Amazon was very graceful and courteous and offered!) I purchased the Canon A570IS (andother great product and great price thru amazon.com) and LOVE it. It's been a huge difference. I take it everywhere. It's so quick and easy to use. Very little lag time. I'm just a mom that doesn't want to miss a second of my children's lives and this is the camera for me. I don't have hours to read the instruction manual. My photos turn out great though. I couldn't be happier! I would highly recommend this camera! It's great!

A great camera any way you look at it. For the price, there is not a camera on the market that compares to it. It has optical image stabilization, full manual controls, takes many optional accessories including wide angle lenses and tele lenses and a great movie mode all for $196 plus free Kingston 1gb SD card with amazon code.

This is my first 2.5" LCD screen. I love it, and the grid-lines are really nice in squaring up a shot. The on screen info is useful and not intrusive. I have had no problems with the Menu or Function buttons, probably because this is my first Canon.

Movie clips are not bad, even though I shoot 640x480 at 30fps.

5 stars!

Very nice camera. I purchased one for work and liked it so much I got one for home use. So far (2 months) so good. The only negative with this camera is the battery door. Canon could have done a better job on the latch. It is tricky to close. I am still happy with my purchase.

I recently bought this camera as a gift for my daughter. The camera is incredible. Pictures are just great. Colors are just about right, and the pictures are very sharp, with minimum noise and with the correct exposure. Macro is also good. She is beginning to use the camera this last week, and she is very pleased with it. I recommended this camera to some friends also. You won't have anything better for the money.

I needed a digital camera that was really automatic and this is it! My previous 2 cameras needed too many manual adjustments to get a decent picture, but this one is great. It also takes great videos, which I hadn't really required but which I have already used. I highly recommend.

We bougt this camera to replace another Canon that we lost. It is easy to use and takes nice pictures. The 2.5in LCD on the rear is easy to read and using the camera is straightforward. The previous Canaon used to run on 4 AA but this one runs on 2 AA batteries so it weighs a little less. Unfortunately battery life is not too good - maybe due to the larger LCD? I have started to turn off the LCD as much as possible to see if that helps.

I chose this camera based on a few practical requirements, including ease of use, image-stabilization (my wife has a shaky trigger-finger), use of aa-batteries, large and bright LCD screen, and a decent zoom function. Our camera use is primarily family functions and trips, and my wife is an avid "scrapbooker" documenting our children's lives. Obviously, our needs are somewhat modest and this camera more than satisfies. I was able to use it "out of the box" without reading the booklet, a plus for us as my wife will never read it anyhow.
Pictures are sharp and clear, flash system is effective with minimal error, and the LCD is quite bright and easy to view in outdoor settings.
Battery usage is surprisingly good, we use rechargeables and are quite happy, much better than our previous high-end Fujifilm cameras.
I love the ability to store hundreds of photos on a 2gb card as well, and simply pop it into my card reader for quick download. I can also read the card on my PDA which is kind of neat for reviewing a day's pictures.
While this camera has many advanced options for the more adventurous, it is equally effective for the point and shoot crowd.

Good quality in outdoor, indoor, and sports modes. The only thing I miss is the color accent mode, which you can get with the model above in hierarchy. Overall I'm highly satisfied with the quality of pictures and video.

I am not a particularly avid photographer, being one who is just learning to use the advanced settings now. However, my previous digital camera was a Fuji - and I must admit that the color and quality of the image with this Canon, combined with the options available, made it the best choice for myself. It is the lowest priced/best featured Canon Powershot with image stabilization.

This camera may not be as tiny as some ultra-slim cameras, but it is, by no means, a large camera. It can be easily held and operated by one hand.

The camera is perfect for someone that doesn't want to worry about any complicated procedures. It's about as easy as can be to just pop in the batteries, a memory card, and get started shooting pictures.

We upgraded from a 3MP camera, and everything about this camera is so much better.

Some of the reasons we chose this camera are:
- Optical viewfinder (very hard to find these days on small cameras)
- 4x Optical zoom. Most compact cameras max out at 3x.
- Image Stabilization for little or no blur in shots
- Digic III chip with face detection.

There's really nothing I can think of we don't like about this camera. The price was nice and affordable. It's compact and easy to carry. It only requires 2 AA batteries. Nice screen on the back to preview pics, etc, etc.

And best of all, my wife absolutely loves using this camera. I am no longer the 'designated photographer'.

This camera was a little more than I wanted to pay, but my expectation of this product outshined any reservation I had about the price. I am not a camera savvy person so this camera is allowing me to become so. It has simple directions and is so easy to use and allows for mistakes. It was more than worth it.

I bought this camera a few months ago and do love to use it. My only beef with it is that the batteries and the SD card are both in the same compartment and the compartment door is a bit flimsy. I am afraid the door might break if I use it too much, so I will have to hook the camera up to the computer and download the pics that way. The other Canons and my old Nikon all had a separate compartment for the card, so I never really needed to open the battery area unless I changed the batteries. Otherwise, the camera is great!

I was excited to finally own a CANON. However my 4 yr. old Sony 3.2 megapixels Cyber-shot has features that I'm not finding on the CANON. Such as the date stamp, zooming and trimming a picture before downloading. As I understand it, you can't zoom when you're in "postcard" setting before taking a picture. Altho there's a good possibility I don't understand the instruction book. That happens a lot.

I've only had my A570 a short time, but I'm very happy with it so far. The main reason I chose this model is all the positive reviews I read about it on Amazon from other owners. I chose this one because it uses AA batteries and has a large viewing screen. When I first took it out of the box it had regular AAs in it that you cannot recharge. I took a lot of pictures with those batteries before they ran out of juice. My previous camera was the PowerShot SD10 Elph that takes a special battery you can't find over-the-counter very easily. That first battery lasted a long time, but when I bought replacement batteries for it they would never last very long. Then it got to where it wouldn't turn on like it should, and it would show the low battery indicator when I had just inserted a fresh one. The SD10 cost about $300 and was small enough to carry in your pocket, but the battery problems caused me to stop using it.
My new A570 takes sharper, more vibrant-colored pictures than the SD10, and I'm very happy with the A570. The instruction books should be written in a way that is easier to understand. I just have to experiment with the camera to get it to do what I want it to do. The instructions have not been very helpful to me. Overall, I'm pleased with the A570.

The price/performance ratio of this camera is very good and the features make it well suited for its main intended use, mounting on a motorcycle for on-the-road pictures. The user manual is vague in some areas such as how to set picture compression and file size and disabling the lens auto-retract function. Battery life seems adequate, better than my H-P 935, and the image stabilization function actually works !

This is the perfect all-around compact camera:

* Just about the best image quality you can get from a compact camera (see dpreview.com's review of the similar A710IS)
* Full manual control over exposure, focus, white balance (usually only found on cameras costing hundreds more)
* Optical lens-shift image stabilization
* Pretty small (although not ultra-compact)
* Uses convenient AA batteries
* Great movie mode (640x480 at 30 FPS with IS until memory is full)
* Big screen (low resolution, but who cares?)
* Good battery life (with rechargeables)
* Good performance (quick startup, focus, etc.)
* Good optical viewfinder for a compact camera
* Can even get lens converters (zoom, wide-angle, etc.)

You can't get this combination of features from any other camera or company unless you step up to Canon's own [much larger] S-series. I like photography but don't want a DSLR because it would be too big and I'd never take it anywhere; this is the only other camera I would ever consider. Not that you have to be a photography buff to use it--it has a great Point and Shoot mode too.

The only disadvantage of this camera is the flash recycle time, which is typically 4-5 seconds but up to 10 (!!) seconds in my experience. This is the price you pay for using only two AA batteries instead of four (or a custom high-voltage lithium ion battery like the kind that come with ultra-compacts).

People complain in their reviews about high noise at high ISO settings. A couple years ago, compacts only went up to ISO 400 and took noisy pictures. Now Canon is simply giving you the choice of using a higher ISO (800 or 1600) and getting correspondingly more noise. If you don't like it so much, don't use these new settings.

People also complain about blurry pictures. I'm not sure what to tell them. Professional reviewers say this camera has a fast and accurate autofocus system, plus it has optical image stabilization, plus a high ISO mode. All of my pictures are extremely sharp. How are you taking blurry pictures? Indoors with one hand at ISO 80 with the flash turned off?

Small, lightweight and packed with features. The bottom line is that it takes wonderful pictures. A great gift for a graduate or a young lady since she can carry it in her purse. It definitely has the "Wow" factor.

I'm an amateur photographer, and bought this camera to replace my old HP Photosmart 850 that cost $400 4 years ago (and took fantastic pics until it died). This Canon fit all my requirements:

1) takes regular AA batteries
2) simple point-and-shoot, but with manual adjustments when I want them
3) image stabilization
4) takes an SD card
5) smaller than the HP, so I can carry it around easier

My initial pics were a little disappointing. In low light on Auto mode, the camera adds enormous amounts of noise in dark areas, and in some cases the pics were way too bright. I did get some pretty good pics by turning the flash off and playing with the manual controls, and it was clear that the image stabilization was helping. Still, that first night I considered sending the camera back for the much cheaper A530.

The next day I took some outdoor shots and was totally blown away by the quality of them. Unbelievable clarity for a point-and-shoot, with very true-to-life, vivid colors.

Now that I've spent a few days experimenting with the manual controls, I can say that I'm VERY pleased with the A570. If you're just hanging out with friends or family and want decent pics, go with something a little cheaper and smaller like the A530 -- you'll still get great pics in good lighting, and acceptable pics in low lighting. But if you are interested in photography and want more control (but aren't ready for to invest in a DSLR), this camera's a steal.

Pros:
* manual controls
* beautiful photos in good lighting
* image stabilization

Cons:
* unremarkable low-light shots on auto mode
* not as small as some point-and-shoots
* zoom control is not as easy to reach as most cameras
* battery/memory card door is bizarrely designed, and I'm not confident that it will last the life of the camera
* some convoluted picture mode choices, like not allowing users to control ISO settings when shooting on Auto -- you have to choose a different mode to get the noise down to an acceptable level in low light. It would seem easier just to make the Auto setting a little more configurable, and have fewer overall mode choices (this is how the HP was -- WAY easier).

Nice little bonus: I recently started scuba diving, and the underwater housing for this camera is much cheaper than for many others I've seen.

I ordered this camera for a trip to Russia. So far it's easy to use, takes great quality pictures and the only improvement is to order a large memory card (2gb)when you buy the camera. The card included with the camera is useless.

I have an olympus camera that has a 10x zoom and takes absolutely awesome photos, but the thing weighs over a pound and is hard to carry around. I chose this camera because is weighs like 6 oz. and has a decent zoom feature. I love the fact that it auto-focuses on faces and all I have to do is push the button. The colors were fantastic and clear. The only down side was at night. It has a delay before the picture snaps. So if you're trying to shoot a moving object, you might miss it. It has lots of fancy features, but I just like to point and shoot. The SD card pops right out my camera and fits into the slot in my laptop, so its really easy to download. I don't have the super steady hand, and my photos come out great, so I would say the image stabilazation feature actually works quite well.

I was so excited to get the camera and very let down after the first week of usage. I had to carry double A batteries every where I went. I was constantly replacing them. I missed some very important shots because of low batteries causing a delay in the shutter speed.

The zoom is extremely week and creates grainy pictures. A digital zoom is needed. I am returning this product and puchasing the sd870IS by canon.

Used in our recent vacation in Canada. Performed superbly. Zoom incredible. the IS worked fine, although in extreme "shaky" cases, there was still blur, but i expected that. All in all, we are extremely satisfied. I picked the right camera!

I've been playing with this camera for the last 2 days. It has rich features packed in it and lightweight.

Based on the pictures that I took, I feel you have to know how to use Manual setting to get better pictures. Several shots were taken outdoor with ISO 80 in P mode didn't look good (it was a little bit cloudy that day). I didn't want to bump up the ISO to more than ISO 100 (this camera has grainy problems on higher ISO values). Then I took several shots with Manual mode with the same ISO, changed shutter speed and set appropriate aperture, the pictures look very nice.

I can't complain too much about low LCD resolution or low battery efficiency. This camera is pretty cheap ($179) and has some nice features.

Overall is a good buy for somebody that wants to learn Manual setting.

I have zero complaints about this camera. I toke it with me on a trip to Utah and i have beautiful mountain pictures. They are just breath taking. Every picture i've taken has turned out clear. I am very pleased with my purchase of this camera.

Amazon provides the fastest shipping service. I ordered and received both the 570IS and Kingston 4G card in 24 hours.

I primarily use my SONY U-20 and camcorder in this past four years. Now I can simply carry my new Canon. My observations are:

1. The charging time varies from 3 to 6 seconds on a pair of old 2100 mAH batteries.

2. The two modes that I used are Auto and Movie. I am very happy with the results. They were all taken indoor with heavy curtain and no artificial lighting.

3. Using the stitch function and Canon's software to make panoramic photograph is extremely easy.

4. Transferring pictures between the camera and my ancient PC is very easy using the provided USB cable.

I'm primarily a dSLR user, but wanted a camera that I can easily tuck into a pocket and grab snapshots while I'm travelling. I had previously borrowed both an A710IS and a A540 from friends, and was happy with those.

The A570IS is generally a very good camera. The image stabilization allows me to take much better pictures. The noise level is low. The camera is compact, and the interface easy to use.

My only complaint: battery life. Several reviewers seem to be able to coax 400 pictures out of a single set of AA batteries. Myself, I can usually only get about 100 shots out of it on fresh disposable AAs, less than that on 2500 mAh NiMH. This with no flash, and IS set to "shoot only". So, while I can easily tuck the A570IS into my pocket, I also have to make sure I have some AAs handy as well.

I had been searching for a small/compact digital camera capable of aperture and shutter speed priority with the option of full manual control, but one that offered decent optical zoom capabilities and used AA batteries. Sounds like a tall order, but this Canon A570 IS delivered it and then some. The image stabilization works fantastic for indoor shots even down to 1/8th second shutter speeds. The macro quality is also remarkable. However, the LCD viewfinder resolution is sub-par. The optical viewfinder actually zooms when you zoom in versus a traditional optical viewfinder that remains static.

The small size and light weight of the camera are major advantages, but it does not sacrifice any of the features. Armed with a 2GB Ultimate SD card, I can take 646 photographs in the max resolution or almost 30 minutes of video footage.

I wish the quality of the photographs were better, and that the settings dial had more resistance to prevent accidental switching when removing/inserting the camera into the Canon PSC-65 case.

A co-worker had a Canon SD630 that I got to use. She purchased it because of its small size and I guess she had money to burn. I was amazed at its small size, but was disappointed at the lack of features. While it offered 6 MP resolution, it did not have aperture or shutter priority nor did it allow full manual control. I was impressed with the menu interface though. Her camera got me looking at Canons and I eventually settled on the A570IS because of the bang for the buck, features, image stabilization, and the use of AA batteries. I cannot stress the importance of using AA batteries. Modern NiMH AA batteries can have capacities of 2.5 Ah or greater, available in large quantities for little money, and are easily replaceable. Built-in proprietary Li-Ion battery packs will die within 5 years due to the nature of the Ion chemistry and are quite expensive and difficult to replace depending on how it is integrated. As my web-savvy friends would say, "NiMH AA batteries for the win!"

I'm so shocked that more people don't mention the red eye with this camera. It happens with indoor or semi-low light shots, EVERY TIME. This does not happen with outdoor shots.
Also, as one other reviewer stated, the images aren't crisp. They aren't blurry but they're definetly softer than the Olympus I had previously (which was only 3 MP).
Unlike others who gave this camera negative reviews I find the battery life to be ok, and there's something to be said for being able to buy AA batteries in every store whenever you need them.
One other drawback is the lack of in-camera editing capabilities. The editing features it does have, such as red hue, green hue, etc are frivilous, whereas you have to use software in order to do even the most basic edits: cropping, red eye reduction, etc.
In summation...

Pros:
Uses AA batteries

Cons:
Red eye
Softness of images
Lack of in-camera editing options

As a former professional photographer (back in the old days) I did not rush out to buy a digital point-and-shoot when they first came out, as the quality was poor compared to film. Also, they become obsolete very quickly. My first digicam was a Powershot A510 - a solid little camera - and I took several award-winning photos with it. I've used Sony and Panasonic digicams, and have looked at all the other common makes. At this price point, I haven't seen anything that I like better than the 570IS for features and ease of use. A real plus is that the Canon controls are well-designed and quite intuitive. I have one at work and one at home. It's a great travel camera, or for documenting field work on the job. Not as tiny as some, so not the best "party" camera, but it will easily fit into my front pants pocket, or goes on my belt with the Canon soft case. I'm much, much more likely to carry this camera with me on family or business trips than an SLR - and I find picture quality to be very good.

We own a BIG high end digital camera that has all the features. Too many features for an average picture taker like us. The biggest problem we had was the Size & Weight. We travel alot and to carry that monster around all day became a chore. The PowerShot A570 solved our problem. The A570 camera takes great "people pictures" & "action/scenery shots" not too far away. The Optical Image Stabilizer zoom actually works! If you have active travel vacations like us then this camera is for you. Also, We purchased the 2gig SD card and it appears to work find. Camera is battery friendly.

I am and have been a photograhy fan for many many years. I have used all kinds of cameras, including a pentax manual professional camera which I used for over 20 years. I decided to buy this Canon brand and I am delighted with its easy handling, its color brightness, and sharp images. Like for every product you buy, you have to read the instrtuctions and learn how to operate your camera so you get the best results. I bought one just like it for my daughter last December and I was impressed by the quality of the pictures she sends me so I decided to have my own. I would buy the exact same camera again. Just great. Great price too.

I've been playing with this camera for the past few hours, I have to say that I am extremely impressed with all the features it packs for the price! Not only does it take great pictures, but the image-stabilized video is great!

One other thing I really like about this camera is it's flash. Almost every other camera I've used have had strong, blow-out-your-picture flashes, but this one works very well.

This is the best camera I could have gotten for the price, and I'm very happy with my purchase.

An awesome camera, better than my last cannon which gave out after ~ 3 yrs. A great large screen. Takes great pictures at very high resolution. Even works OK in low light. Only problem is the battery indicator. After only a few pics it will start telling you the battery is low, don't believe it until it dies. I have taken more than 100+ pictures after the battery indicator says the batteries are low.

I found the image quality to be pretty good, as was the ease of operation. It won't give the same quality as a DSLR, but then again that wasn't what I bought. I wanted something light that I could carry with me anywhere, that has the flexibility to take a variety of pictures. It does this nicely. What I like best about this camera is the video function. There three versions of video recording--e-mail, standard and fast. I have used the e-mail version to put little videos on my website with very good results. The e-mail version's picture quality isn't so nice, since it is a smaller version, but it's bearable. The standard version--has a very good quality picture, and I have used it numerous times by now. I have a 2G card in the camera, and have not used it up yet.

Negative--not so good in low-light conditions, since the image becomes very noisy. Best to use inside/light or outside conditions.

I purchased this for my wife who wanted a camera that was easy to use. I especially like the Image Stabilization feature which is terrific for telephoto shots. Canon has an excellent reputation for "mid size" cameras and I have had great performance from my PowerShot A710 IS which I use on hikes in the High Sierras (easy to carry and use). Also all the review sites rate the A570 IS as an excellent camera.

I am an eBay seller - & this camera is my *Work Horse*... I got it to replace a $1K Sony Mavica FD95 SLR camera I'd used to get the job done for 6 years. And this Canon rose to the challenge. It not only takes stunningly beautiful pictures outdoors in nature (see my customer pictures) with crisp color & sharp focus - it also takes excellent, intricately focused, color true close-ups of sales merchandise in Program / Macro Mode. The Image Stabilizer feature holds things down nicely so that I can really nail a shot. The Mavica paid for itself in eBay sales & this camera is well on it's way to doing the same. To post merchandise I take 100-200 pictures at any one time, every few days with this camera - & it's performance is outstanding. It's easy to tell from the previews when I've taken a great picture. I don't open up what look like super shots in Windows & get a bad surprise, as my Samsung S730 is prone to deliver.

My first major complaint is, after I take a large handful of pictures where I have to repeatedly adjust the depth of the Zoom -- the camera tends to get confused, loses its ability to focus, & starts taking blurry pictures one after another. This happens both indoors & outdoors. Whenever I find its lost its grip on its focus - I turn it off, then turn it back on again, reset my settings, & all is well - until next time. Restarting it in this way is the only thing that works. That's frustrating, but it's easy to tell when it's gone off track, & it's a simple fix to get it back in line again.

My second major complaint is most of it's outdoor videos run from poor to fair, at best. My .AVI clips shot across the Lake look like rippling streams of colorful confetti... Absolutely awful. The movies lack a certain sharp definitive crispness, both indoors & out. Breezy days sound like a hurricane. Voice is muffled. All of my videos are full of distracting clicks & clacks, because the camera case creaks & groans with every little movement & breeze - *and* - you cannot turn the Sound OFF. It has better video than similarly priced Kodak cameras I checked out. But my Samsung S730 wins out over this camera in Video Mode, hands down--so I use the Samsung for my "cam corder". And the Canon for my eBay camera.

I would really like to have seen at least SOME emphasis on in-camera picture & video processing - & less technology dedicated to paper photo printing. I also wish Canon included more unique color settings in the My Colors Menu. It's not a camera geared toward the creative mind. I am a webmaster, & an eBay seller... & I'm not into printing piles of paper pictures to store away in boxes & books that take up space... at all. My photo albums & "brag books" are stored on SD Cards. But, when it comes to taking attractive, sharply detailed, accurate pictures to get REAL work done & score sales - this camera is second to none.

Used this only two months so far. Here are the pluses and minuses:

The Good:
Decent battery life for using two AA batteries.
Good image quality and excellent optics.
Pretty fast for most exposures.
Simple controls.

The Not So Good.
Can't figure why companies send these things with a 8MB card.
Batteries, should be lithium ion like the Elph series.

I got this for my wife in early July. It is a great little camera with great battery life, standard batteries, easy to operate, takes great pics even when you are twitching about. I think you will be very satisified if you are a casual user.

I love this camera! I have tested out and it will take a picture of a bullet in mid air and takes very very clear photos. It's a very good camera, it captures the smallest details in a photo. I just love it, it would be great for anyone. I'm not a pro by any means, and I figured it out with no problem. The software that comes with it is great too. I highly recommend this camera for anyone, especially for the great price. I haven't found it any cheaper at a store, Amazon.com is the best place to get it.

I was originally attracted to this camera since it's so highly recomended. I like that it has some nice features and is easy to use. But at times, I use it indoors in low light situation to take pics of Ebay Merchandise. Sometimes, the only time available is at night after the kids are in bed. The A570IS leaves a yellow hue and requires an extra step on my part to fix it and brighten up the image. I used to have a Fujifilm, which I really like but was lost. I could take pics any time of day with the flash and never had to doctor it up with the softw