Canon PowerShot A2600 Preview

by Mike Tomkins
Posted 01/07/2013

Want a new digicam that gives you a bit more resolution and zoom reach than yesterday's entry-level models, but aren't willing to break the bank to get it? The Canon PowerShot A2600 may well have your name on it.

On its front deck, the Canon A2600 sports a 5x optical zoom lens with a 28mm wide angle. Maximum aperture varies from f/2.8 to a decidedly dim f/6.9 across the zoom range, and there's no optical image stabilization, so compromises are definitely being made to achieve the price -- but that was true for yesterday's cameras too. Canon does at least include digital image stabilization, which will try and prevent blurring, but will likely increase noise levels in the process. The A2600 features a 16 megapixel image sensor paired with a DIGIC 4 image processor. There's also a three-inch LCD screen.

To keep things simple and approachable, Canon has included a Smart Auto function that lets the PowerShot A2600 recognize one of 32 scene types, then configure itself appropriately. And as well as stills, you can also shoot 720p high-def video clips. Power comes from a proprietary lithium-ion battery, and the Canon A2600 features an unusual Eco mode that detects when the camera is stationary and puts it in sleep mode after ten seconds.

The Canon PowerShot A2600 ships from February 2013 in five body colors: black, silver, red, blue, or pink. Estimated retail pricing is around US$150.