By Melvin Seah

HOT off the press are two new budget cameras - the Canon PowerShot A1000IS in classic colour combinations such as grey-and-silver, and the E1 in cute hues like baby blue.

Launched last month, the A1000IS replaces the old A580, while the E1 is a new extension of the PowerShot line catering to women.

Canon claims these new models are 'over 20 per cent smaller than their predecessors'. Not only are they more compact, I must say they look much better too.

Even so, it seems these cameras can't escape their budget roots with their plastic casing. It's also a pity that the hand grips in these new cameras are now barely-there humps which don't provide a good grip.

Apart from their design, the two cameras seem similar under the hood.

Both sport the same button layout and specifications: a 10-megapixel sensor, Digic III image processor, 4x optical zoom lens, image stabiliser and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

The cameras have enough technology and shooting options to keep the casual photographer happy.

A dedicated Face Selector button lets you turn on its face-detection talent, which tracks moving faces effectively. Even better, the AF-Point Zoom function magnifies faces when you depress the shutter halfway, so you can make sure everyone is smiling before you take the shot.

To counter blurry photos from shaky hands, the cameras have Hi-ISO Auto with motion detection technology. This, together with an optical image stabiliser, reduces subject movement blur by automatically selecting ISO settings.

The cameras also feature the usual preset scene modes such as portrait, landscape, kids and pets, fireworks and sunset.

For the newbie, Canon's new easy mode dumbs down the options. Shooting settings in this mode are automatically set, while playback functions are limited to simple image viewing and deletion.

The two cameras are fast performers: start-up takes about 1.5 seconds. They are quick to focus under good lighting and in low light, thanks to a powerful AF-assist lamp.

Shot-to-shot timings are decent - there is a short blackout of about one second before you can take the next picture if you turn the preview mode off. My only gripe is the flash recharge, which takes over two seconds to reload.

For their price, these cameras take great pictures and are wonderfully easy to use. Focusing, white balance and exposure are generally accurate and pictures taken with flash are natural and they manage to keep red eyes out too.

Visible noise starts to creep in at ISO400, which will be a problem with the Hi-ISO mode when the cameras kick in their auto-detect feature in poorly lit rooms.

Unlike many others, these two cameras run on two AA batteries, which makes the gadgets convenient to use as these batteries are easily available. However, I wish the cameras have a power gauge so you know how much juice you are left with.

There is a low-battery warning though and this came on after I took about 200 shots (about 80 per cent without flash). Not too bad at all.

• Canon PowerShot A1000IS and PowerShot E1
  $319, from authorised dealers

Final say

You'd be hard pressed to find cameras at this price range that perform as well and look as good as these two.

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Oct 29, 2008.