Digital Compact Cameras

Digital Camera

PowerShot A590 IS

PowerShot A590 IS

PowerShot A590 IS

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed February 2008

Succeeding the A570 IS launched last year, the Canon PowerShot A590 IS is standard model within the PowerShot series, known for the ease of use offered by its cameras. This model inherit from their predecessors a 4x optical zoom lens, which won high praise from users, and come equipped with a high-resolution 8.0-megapixel CCD sensor. The newly added “Easy” mode of the A590 IS automatically determines optimal settings based on shooting conditions so that even beginners can take impressive shots with ease. With their comfortable, easy-to-hold grip and Curvature Design form, the models convey a look and feel of stability.

The A590 IS also comes equipped with a lens-shift optical image stabilizer and 19 shooting modes comprising a range of automatic and manual settings, and offers compatibility with various optical accessories, including a wide converter and teleconverter.

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*
**/AiAF (9-points)/Center

* AF frame can be moved and fixed to specified face.
** 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*/Center-weighted average or Spot**

* Facial brightness is also evaluated in Face Detect AF.
** Fixed to center.

Exposure Compensation ±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
ISO Speed (Standard Output Sensitivity, Recommended Exposure Index) Auto* , High ISO Auto** , ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600

* Camera automatically sets the optimal speed according to shooting mode and subject brightness.
** 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* , Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H or Custom

* 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* and Movie**

* Night Scene, Sunset, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks and Aquarium.
** 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)*
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))
Sound Memo: WAVE (monaural)

* 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* (can record up to a maximum of 4 GB at one time** )
・ Compact
160 x 120 pixels (15 frames/sec.)
Maximum recording length per clip: 3 min.

* Using super high-speed memory cards (SDC- 512 MSH recommended).
** 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.)