Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Playback, Editing and Print Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software

Recording Features

LCD Monitor: The Canon PowerShot A800 has a 2.5" TFT LCD monitor, featuring 115,000 dots with approximately 100% picture coverage. The Night Display feature automatically brightens the LCD monitor to suit the brightness of the subject, making it easier to frame the subject in dark conditions.

Image Sensor/Processor: The camera is equipped with a 1/2.3" CCD image sensor with 10.6-million total pixels, and 10.0-million effective pixels. The A800 uses the DIGIC III processor to give you clear photos with accurate colors and less noise.

Face Detection Technology: The camera's Face Detection Technology finds and tracks the faces of moving subjects until you're ready to shoot, then delivers perfect focus. In addition, exposure, flash, and white balance are compensated, so that faces exhibit natural skin tones and backgrounds are properly exposed.

Face Self-Timer: The Face Self-Timer automatically detects an increase in the number of faces, and makes the appropriate adjustments. When the Face Detection Self-Timer is set, the camera waits for the photographer's face to get on-camera before it takes the shot. The camera will shoot, two seconds after the new face is detected.

Optics: The A800 has a 3.3x optical zoom lens with a 6.6-21.6mm focal length (35mm equivalent is 37-122mm).

Zoom: In addition to the 3.3x optical zoom, the camera features a 4x digital zoom. When used in combination, the total zoom is approximately 13x. The focal length when using the optical zoom and digital zoom together is approximately 37-488mm.

Digital Teleconverter: The focal length of the lens can be increased by an equivalent of 1.4x or 2.3x through the use of the Digital Teleconverter. The equivalent focal lengths of the lens (35mm equivalent) are 51.8-171mm when using the 1.4x digital teleconverter, and 85.1-281mm with the 2.3x teleconverter. The digital zoom and digital teleconverter cannot be used simultaneously.

Recording Media: The camera records still images or moving images with stereo audio on SD Memory Cards (2GB or less), SDHC Memory Cards (4GB to 32GB), SDXC Memory Cards (32GB and higher), MultiMediaCards, MMCplus Cards, and HC MMCplus Cards. Still images are recorded in JPEG format, and the movies are recorded in AVI format (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAV (mono). No memory card is included with the camera, nor is there any internal memory in the camera.

Still Image Resolution/Compression: The A800 can record still images in 5 different resolutions: Large (3648 x 2736), Medium 1 (2816 x 2112), Medium 2 (1600 x 1200), Small (640 x 480), and Widescreen (3648 x 2048). For each resolution, you can set the compression to Fine or Normal. The estimated number of still images that can be recorded on SDHC Memory Cards is as follows:

Movies: Movies can be shot in Standard Definition at 640 x 480 pixels or 320 x 240 pixels, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second and monaural audio. Recording will automatically stop when either the clip file size reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches approximately 1 hour. SD Speed Class 4 or higher memory cards are recommended. The estimated length of movies that can be recorded on SDHC Memory Cards is as follows:

Continuous Shooting Mode: You can use the continuous shooting mode to shoot successive frames while the shutter button is fully pressed. You can shoot continuously at approximately 0.8 image per second in Program Mode. In the Blur Reduction and Low Light modes, the rate increases to 2.2 shots per second.

AutoFocus Frame Modes: The camera utilizes TTL (through-the-lens) automatic focusing with two focusing methods:

• Face AiAF: The camera automatically detects the position of a face and uses the data to set the focus, exposure (evaluative metering only) and white balance (auto). When the camera is pointed at subjects, a white frame appears on the face the camera judges to be the main subject, and up to 2 gray frames will appear on other faces.
• Center: A single AF frame in the center of the frame is used.

AF-Point Zoom: You can magnify the AF frame and check the focus. In Face Detect mode, the face selected as the main subject will appear magnified in the monitor. In Center mode, the contents of the center AF frame will appear magnified.

Auto Focus Lock: If it becomes difficult to focus on the subject due to low contrast to the surroundings, close up and far away subjects in the same shot, or quickly moving subjects, you can choose to lock the focus or auto focus on an object at a similar distance, then shoot the picture after recomposing the shot.

Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus ranges (from the end of the lens):

• Normal: 0.4" to infinity (W), 9.8" to infinity (T)
• Macro: 0.4" to 1.6' (wide), 9.8" to 1.6' (T)

Shooting Modes: You can switch between the following shooting modes:

• Smart Auto: The camera will automatically select the best settings for the scene, detect and focus on faces, and set the color and brightness to optimal levels.
• Program AE: The camera sets both the aperture value and shutter speed, and you can choose the settings for various functions to suit your preferences. The focusing range in this mode is 2"-infinity (W), and 9.8"-infinity (T).
• Scene: Select from the following, according to the scene or effects desired:
  • Blur Reduction: take pictures with reduced camera shake and subject blur
  • Portrait: produces a soft effect when photographing people
  • Kids & Pets: captures subjects that move around, such as children and pets, without missing photo opportunities
  • Low Light: take pictures in dark places with reduced camera shake and subject blur
  • Beach: take pictures of brightly lit people on sandy beaches where reflected sunlight is strong
  • Foliage: shoot trees, blossoms and leaves in vivid colors
  • Snow: take bright, natural-colored shots of people against snowy backgrounds
  • Sunset: take pictures of sunsets in vivid color
  • Fireworks: take pictures of fireworks in vivid color
• Movies: Record movies in Standard Definition

Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:

• Evaluative Light Metering: used for standard conditions. The area within the frame is divided into several zones and light is measured based on subject position, brightness, direct light and backlighting.
• Center-Weighted Averaging: averages the exposure from the entire image, but places more weight on the subject at the center
• Spot: meters the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor or viewfinder

Exposure Compensation: If you are shooting against a bright background or strong backlight, you may need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't come out too dark. You can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 in 1/3-step increments.

Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock): You can set the focus and exposure separately to shoot. When the exposure is set, you can lock the setting, then compose the scene and shoot. This is effective when the contrast is too strong between the subject and background, or when a subject is backlit. Flash Exposure Lock (FE Lock), just as with the AE lock, lets you lock the exposure for shooting with the flash.

White Balance: You can choose from the following white balance settings:

• Auto: the camera sets the white balance automatically according to shooting conditions
• Daylight: for recording outdoors on a bright day
• Cloudy: for recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies
• Tungsten: for recording under tungsten and bulb-type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting
• Fluorescent: for recording under warm-white, cool-white or warm-white (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting
• Fluorescent H: for recording under daylight fluorescent, or daylight fluorescent-type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting
• Custom: allows you to manually set the white balance and store the settings

Flash Modes: The PowerShot A800 has a built-in flash with a range of 1' to 9.8' in Wide Angle and 1.6' to 6.6' in Telephoto. You can select Auto (flash fires in low light), On (flash always fires), or Off (flash doesn't fire). In the menu, you can turn on the Red-Eye Reduction lamp for the flash, and apply Red-Eye Correction to the images that have been taken.

ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set Automatically (ISO Auto), or manually to ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, or 1600. Lowering the ISO speed results in sharper images but there's a greater chance of subject or image blurring in certain shooting conditions. Raising the ISO speed results in a faster shutter speed, reducing blurred images. The images, however, will appear more coarse.

My Colors: You can choose the look and feel of the photos you take by using My Colors to add the following effects to the image you are currently recording or have already recorded:

• Vivid: Emphasizes the contrast and color saturation to record in bold colors
• Neutral: Tones down the contrast and color saturation to record neutral hues
• Sepia: Records images in sepia tones
• B/W: Records images in black and white
• Custom Color: Lets you adjust the contrast, sharpness, or saturation settings or the color balance between red, green, blue, and skin tones
• My Colors Off: Records with no effect

Display Overlay: You can customize the display with the following overlays:

• Grid Lines: Displays gridlines dividing the monitor into 9 areas, allowing you to check the subject's horizontal and vertical alignment
• 3:2 Guide: Gray bars appear on the top and bottom of the screen, indicating which areas will not print with printing on paper with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
• Both: Both grid lines and the 3:2 guide appear.

Self-Timer: The A800 utilizes a 10-second, 2-second, and a custom self-timer to allow the photographer to be included in the shot, or to avoid camera shake when using a tripod. The custom self-timer allows you to set the time delay to 1-15, 20, 25, or 30 seconds for up to 10 shots.

Playback, Editing and Print Functions

Slide Show: Images stored on a memory card can automatically be displayed one-by-one using the Slide Show function. You can set the playback time for each image, and the transition effects when switching between images. If desired, you can repeat the slide show automatically.

Index Display: This feature allows you to view 4, 9, 36, or 100 images at once on the LCD monitor so that you can search for an image quickly. Movies cannot be played in the index playback mode. You can view the index display by pressing the zoom button toward wide angle while the camera is in playback mode.

Magnifying Images: Using the zoom button, you can magnify a photo up to 10x. Once zoomed in, you can use the "arrow" buttons to move around the displayed area.

Playback Displays: You can choose from three types of displays:

• Simple Information: screen includes basic information about the image
• Detailed Information: screen include a histogram display as well as detailed information about the settings used when the image was captured.
• Focus Check: magnifies the area of a recorded image that was inside the AF frame so you can check the focus.

Red-Eye Correction: You can correct red eyes in already recorded images. However, red eyes may not be automatically detected in some images such as faces near the screen edge, faces that appear extremely small, larger dark or bright in relation to the overall image and faces turned to the side or at a diagonal and faces with a portion hidden which prevents the Red-Eye Correction from working. You can choose to overwrite the file with the corrected image, or store the image as a new file, retaining the original image.

Resizing Images: You can save images a lower recording pixel setting than the original image, saving the resized image as a separate file.

Trimming: You can cut out a portion of a recorded image and save it as a new image file.

Protecting Images: The protect feature allows you to protect important images from accidental erasure. You can protect images by the image itself or select All Images.

PictBridge: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge-compatible printer of any brand. You can also connect the camera directly to certain Canon SELPHY compact photo printers and PIXMA inkjet photo printers. In this way, you can make prints directly from the camera without having to connect to a computer.

Exif Print (Exif 2.3): The Canon PowerShot A800 conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

DPOF Print Settings: On your memory card, you can select which image or images you want to print and how many copies you want. This is convenient for printing images all at once on optional photo printers or at participating photo labs.

DPOF Transfer Order: You can use the camera to specify settings for images that you wish to download to a computer. The settings used on the camera comply with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standards. A maximum of 998 images can be selected per memory card, and are transferred in order from oldest to newest by shooting date.

Battery Information

Power Requirements: The Canon PowerShot A800 IS powered by two "AA" batteries. You can use AA-size alkaline batteries (supplied) or optional Ni-MH batteries. For long periods of continuous use, or when connected to a computer, it is recommended that the camera be connected to the optional ACK800 AC adapter kit. The typical performance of the batteries are as follows:

Date/Time Battery: The camera uses a CR1220 backup battery for maintaining the date and time data. The life of this backup battery is approximately 7 years, and can be replaced when necessary.

Power Saving Functions: The camera is equipped with the following power saving functions:

• Auto Power Down During Shooting: The screen will turn off approximately 1 minute after the camera is last operated. You can "wake" the camera at this point by pressing the shutter button halfway to turn on the screen and continue shooting. After about 2 more minutes, if no buttons are pressed, the lens will retract and the power will turn off.
• Auto Power Down During Playback: The camera power down approximately 5 minutes after the last control is accessed on the camera.

Note: The Power Saving Function will not activate during a Slide-Show or while the camera is connected to a computer.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Digital Terminal: The camera has a Mini-B Version 2.0 USB terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable. This USB 2.0 Hi-Speed-compatible terminal allows you to rapidly download images to your computer or printer.

A/V Output: The camera has a 3.5mm mini-jack A/V output. You can connect the camera to a TV or video monitor (composite video, monaural audio) with the optional AVC-DC300 A/V cable. You can set the video output to NTSC or PAL.

Supplied Software

Included Software: The PowerShot A800 comes supplied with the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk Ver.76.0 EFIGSCR CD-ROM. It contains the following programs:

• Canon Utilities:
  • Windows:
    • ZoomBrowser EX 6.7: manage images transferred to a computer (view, edit, and print)
    • CameraWindow DC 8.4: transfer images to and from camera, organize images on the camera, and upload movies on the camera to web services
    • PhotoStitch 3.1: use to merge still images to make panoramas
  • Macintosh:
    • ImageBrowser 6.7: manage images transferred to a computer (view, edit, and print)
    • CameraWindow DC 8.4: transfer images to and from camera, organize images on the camera, and upload movies on the camera to web services
    • PhotoStitch 3.2: use to merge still images to make panoramas
• User Guides: Camera User Guide, Software Guide

Minimum System Requirements: