Canon PowerShot A590 - Is it Worth the Money?

All in all, the design of this camera is likable. Immediately, most buyers gravitate towards the solid feel, and style of the case. The dark, graphite grey makes it look more professional than it actually is, and the screen size leaves most buyers feel like they are buying something that will remain technologically competitive for at least a year. However, this camera, like most others, leaves a buyer with at least one thing to be concerned about. The following is a short review of what a potential buyer can expect.

Pros
Well, as stated before, this camera looks good. It feels and looks like something that will last forever - it fits nicely within one hand, but it isn't so small that you'll lose it in your purse. The chrome zoom tab/button look nice against the dark case, and all of the mechanisms feel like they were tested time and time again. The overall ease of use gets at least a "B" grade, because I've had absolutely no problems using the various functions. The software is also easy to use, and you don't have to use the software that comes along with the camera, as long as you install the driver. The screen is clear and large, making it easy for users of all backgrounds to use it. But that's about where it stops.

Cons
Where to start? This camera promised to be reliable and take quality pictures - after all, it is a Canon. However, a part broke off the battery door, so it doesn't close properly, which is only one downside of this camera's battery use. It will not hold a charge, no matter what kind of batteries I use in it. That's right, it uses real batteries, like the one you put in your remote. This is nice if you're unfamiliar with using a digital camera and prefer to stick with something you know how to use, but for most people who are familiar with a digital, this is downright unspeakable. Most cameras that have been put into production within recent years don't use normal alkaline batteries, and this camera uses two double A's. So you'll be spending a lot of money in batteries, instead of one rechargeable battery that can be charged on a wall charger or through your personal computer.

The picture quality is also not that great - the zoom is a little bit higher than most entry-level cameras, but the quality is not good. When you lightly press down on the button which takes the photo, you can see screen go in and out of focus until it settles on a clear picture. However, when the photo is actually taken, it's not the clear picture you saw through your zoom finder or on the screen. The quality simply leaves something to be desired, and that isn't just on pictures taken from a distance. If you want to take video, expect to change the batteries. It simply isn't worth it.

Conclusion
Buy a different camera. I thought that this would meet my needs after a lot of research, but it simply does not. There are cameras out there that cost less money, and give better performance. The Canon Elph is the camera I bought to replace the A590, thinking that Canon can't be all bad, and I was right. It's a bit smaller, but it packs more of a punch. Consider what kind of batteries you personally are comfortable with using, but if you want them to last more than a day, try another route.