Canon A2300 Review

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A2300 Overview

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A2300 Overview
Specifications

Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Canon PowerShot A2300
Resolution:	16.00 Megapixels
Sensor size:	1/2.3 inch (6.2mm x 4.6mm)
Lens:	5.00x zoom (28-140mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	LCD
Extended ISO:	100 - 1600
Shutter:	1/2000 - 15 sec
Max Aperture:	2.8
Dimensions:	3.7 x 2.1 x 0.8 in. (94 x 54 x 20 mm)
Weight:	4.4 oz (125 g) includes batteries
MSRP:	$150
Availability:	03/2012
Manufacturer:	Canon
Full specs:	Canon A2300 specifications

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16.00 Megapixels	5.00x zoom	1/2.3 inch size sensor

Canon PowerShot A2300 Overview

Posted: 03/08/2012

Looking for a new digital camera on a really limited budget? Do most of your shooting in reasonable ambient light levels, and happy to limit your low-light shooting to nearby subjects with flash illumination? The Canon PowerShot A2300 is near identical to the A2400 IS, with the sole exception of the absence of true optical image stabilization. That difference will save you only $10 over the A2400 IS--the final list pricetag is about US$150--but if you're aware of the tradeoff you're making, it might be worthwhile. For our money, though, we'd spend the extra $10 for the stabilization, because you never know when you need it. Particularly given the relatively dim lens on both versions of this design.

The Canon A2300' lens has a 35mm-equivalent focal range from a useful 28mm wide angle to a moderate 140mm telephoto. Maximum aperture falls from f/2.8 at wide angle to a decidedly dim f/6.9 at telephoto, and that will likely make the removal of stabilization a step too far for many purposes. There is, of course, digital image stabilization, but there's only so much to be saved by raising ISO sensitivity and noise levels in an attempt to raise your shutter speed and freeze motion.

Images and video are recorded using a 16 megapixel CCD image sensor. The ISO sensitivity range is fairly narrow, though, encompassing everything from ISO 100 to 1,600 equivalents. The maximum image dimensions are 4,608 x 3,456 pixels, and movies can be recorded at up to 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution, with a rate of 25 frames per second for high-def video, or 30 frames per second for standard-def.

On the rear panel of the Canon PowerShot A2300 a 2.7-inch LCD panel with 230,000 dot resolution. That equates to about a QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) array, with each pixel comprised of separate red, green, and blue dots.

Images and movies are saved on Secure Digital cards, including the higher-capacity SDXC and SDHC types. Power comes courtesy of an NB-11L lithium ion battery pack, and the A2300 has a rated battery life of 210 shots, hinting at the power consumption of the IS mechanism in the A2400 IS, although you could of course disable that to save a little power. Connectivity includes USB 2.0 High Speed data, and a NTSC / PAL standard-def video output.

The Canon A2300 ships from March 2012 in the US market, in four different colors: black, silver, red and blue.