Canon PowerShot A2600 Review

The Canon PowerShot A2600 Digital Camera is a straightforward small camera that, thanks to its 16MP CCD sensor and DIGIC 4 Image processor, captures high-quality, color-accurate photographs and 720p HD video straightforwardly.

HD video can be accessed through a dedicated movie button, which allows you to instantly transition from taking photos to recording videos.

The A2600 is equipped with a 5x optical zoom lens that may be used to capture images from a broad angle to a telephoto distance. It has a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 28-140mm, with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the wide-angle end of the spectrum.

In low light circumstances, the ISO sensitivity may be increased to 6400, and digital picture stabilization helps you to capture clear shots even when the light is dim.

More: Best Canon Point and Shoot Camera | Best Point and Shoot Camera | Best Point and Shoot Camera for Travel | Best Point and Shoot Camera under 300

Design & Handling

Compact and point-and-shoot camera

However, we should mention a few apparent tradeoffs for a cost. Considering the price of the A2600, it is tempting to treat it with kid gloves, but this would be a mistake. To begin, although it seems as though a portion of its case is made of metal, the majority of the body is almost certainly made of plastic. Therefore, it will not be able to withstand the inclination of young children to damage electronic devices.

Add your name to the list of individuals likely to drop stuff since the camera does not have a perfect hold on it. Therefore, ensure you utilize the strap supplied in the package should you accidentally send your new camera tumbling into the River Styx with only a tiny drop.

Assuming that the strap has been attached and you are now prepared to begin taking pictures, you will be pleased to discover that the screen is a good size and features an appealing menu. This is a significant advantage when you only have one hand available to operate the camera; nevertheless, the buttons are small, making it difficult to touch them.

This camera will feel very little in your hands if you have enormous gloves as I have, which will make operating it in the field challenging for you. In addition, this is not a camera that you will be able to use very frequently with just one hand.

The A2600 is incompatible with AA batteries, in contrast to earlier models of Canon point-and-shoot cameras. As a result, those of you who plan on using the A2600 for extended periods might want to invest in an additional NB-11L battery to get more use out of it during a night out or a trip with the family.

You can often find a better price online than in the shop, and third-party or after-market options will run you a little bit less money. This is true even if you are hesitant to spend more money.

Features

We’ve seen point-and-shoot cameras with a pretty restricted number of options. Still, the Canon A2600 has many possibilities considering the price you’re paying for it.

In addition to the standard controls for ISO speed, white balance adjustment, exposure control, and so on, this camera allows you to slow the shutter speed and take images in low-light situations.

It is a feature that is not included on many entry-level point-and-shoot cameras, but it is a feature that is a decent benefit if you are in a bar or club and want to record the event. But there is a catch: if you shoot images with the A2600 while holding it in your hand, the results will be grainy and noisy.

However, apart from the typical shooting settings, there isn’t much else to be excited about with this camera. It is acceptable for the price to have an optical zoom of 5x, but you should not expect to take nice pictures of a school play unless you are sitting in the front row. Ultimately, this is a camera for a night out, not something you would use to create an album for your family.

Do not be fooled by the camera’s bold advertising of a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor; that high megapixel number makes the camera sound much more impressive than it is. Your images, despite their size, will not have nearly the same quality as those taken with a DSLR or a prosumer camera. This is mainly due to the optics of the camera as well as the size of the sensor.

This is not the camera you want to use to assemble a photo album of your family vacations.
The controls are about as simple as they can be, and several shooting modes cover all of the typical scenarios in which you would want to use a point-and-shoot camera.

Because it has presets for fireworks, snowy shots, and even low-light circumstances, the A2600 should feel comfortable in various settings and scenarios. However, keeping ring that the picture quality leaves much to be desired; this will work in a pinch, particularly for photos uploaded to Facebook.

When I had the A2600, my friends and I enjoyed playing with the various effects filters. Filters like the toy camera mode (faux-vignetting) and miniaturization (faux-bokeh) can make your images look quite intriguing if you’re creative. However, the quality of your pictures won’t convince anyone that you’re a professional photographer.

Performance

Considering that the Canon A2600 is about as entry-level as a digital camera can get without being a build-it-yourself kit, the astute purchaser ought to be aware that there are certain compromises to be made in terms of its overall performance.

To begin, if you shoot at an ISO higher than 100, you will notice a steep decline in the overall quality of your photographs. Your ability to take high-quality pictures in low-light conditions will be severely hindered. The higher the ISO setting is allowed to go, the more noticeably the quality of the images degrades.

Canon PowerShot A2600 Specs

Body type	Compact
Max resolution	4608 x 3456
Other resolutions	4608 x 2592, 3264 x 2448, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
Image ratio w:h	4:3, 16:9
Effective pixels	16 megapixels
Sensor size	1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor type	CCD
ISO	Auto 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
White balance presets	6
Custom white balance	Yes (1)
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	No
Focal length (Equiv.)	28–140 mm
Optical zoom	5×
Maximum aperture	F2.8–6.9
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterTrackingSingleContinuousFace Detection.
Digital zoom	Yes (4x)
Manual focus	No
Macro focus range	3 cm (1.18″)
Number of focus points	9
Articulated LCD	Fixed
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	230,000
Touch screen	No
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	None
Minimum shutter speed	15 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/2000 sec
Aperture priority	No
Shutter priority	No
Manual exposure mode	No
Subject/scene modes	Yes
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash Range	3.00 m
External flash	No
Flash modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Continuous drive	0.8 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Metering modes	MultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation	±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	No
Resolutions	1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Format	H.264
Videography notes	Miniature Effect (HD (5, 2.5, 1.25 fps) or L (6, 3, 1.5 fps))
Microphone	Mono
Speaker	Mono
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	No
Remote control	No
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	Lithium-Ion NB-11L rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	220
Weight (inc. batteries)	135 g (0.30 lb / 4.76 oz)
Dimensions	98 x 56 x 20 mm (3.86 x 2.2 x 0.79″)
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	No
GPS	None

Conclusion

Let’s face it: if you spend less than $150 on a camera, you won’t receive something that will be passed down from one generation to the next in your family. On the other hand, the Canon PowerShot A2600 is a camera that is worth looking into if you want to get a simple camera without spending a lot of money. 

It is not as good as the camera on a typical smartphone. Still, it takes considerably better photos than the average smartphone camera (and can be purchased online for about one hundred dollars).

However, you should be aware that if you are prepared to spend more money, you may be able to achieve more significant outcomes. This is something you should keep in mind. For example, the Sony DSC-WX80 ($199) offers improved zoom and low-light performance for only a $50 premium over its predecessor.

If you are looking for a “next step up” camera from the one you now have, the Canon PowerShot SX280 HS is a good option. This model offers significantly improved image quality and an enhanced zoom range. Although the prices listed on the packaging for both models are excellent, getting discounts on older models still in production is not difficult.

Canon PowerShot A2600 Price

Canon PowerShot A2600 FAQs