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PowerShot A85 Digital Camera
Reviewed by
Aimee Baldridge
on 08/19/2004
camera on top back sides

See all products in the Canon PowerShot A series
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A versatile 4-megapixel compact camera.

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  • Reviewed by:
    Aimee Baldridge
  • Reviewed on: 08/19/2004
Canon added a megapixel to the popular PowerShot A75 to create the 4-megapixel PowerShot A85. The two cameras are virtually identical, except for their resolution and some minor color differences in the finish on their plastic bodies.

Upside: Like the PowerShot A75, this camera offers a lot of versatility for an affordably priced model, including fully manual exposure, a good selection of automatic settings, and a broad range of adjustable controls. You can add a lens converter to the A85's 3X zoom lens to get a wider or longer view, and Canon also makes a compatible underwater housing for the camera.

Downside: If you're looking for an ultracompact pocket camera, the Canon PowerShot A85 isn't it. You'll need to purchase four rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride cells and a charger to get decent battery life, since only alkalines come with the camera. More-advanced photographers might not be satisfied with the A85's JPEG-only image file option.

Outlook: The PowerShot A75 has been very popular, for both its versatility and its image quality. There's no reason to expect this higher-res version of the camera to fare worse, unless some unexpected image quality or performance problem crops up. However, photographers who like to make large prints and shoot at odd angles should consider Canon's new 5-megapixel PowerShot A95, which adds a flip-out LCD along with the higher resolution. The Canon PowerShot A85 will be available in late August 2004 for a list price of $299.

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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

  • alaTest.com

    Editors' rating: 84

    Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 552 reviews of Canon PowerShot A85 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 77/100 and users 84/100. Comparing these reviews to 573168 other Digital Compact Cameras reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 84/100 = Very Good.

    Read full review

  • dpreview.com

    Editors' rating: 80

    Summary: As the successor to the popular G5 the G6 has a lot to live up to.

    Read full review

  • t3.com

    Summary: PROS: Nice images. High-end features. Great value. CONS: Predecessor had a neat flip-out LCD.

    Read full review

  • dcresource.com

    Summary: When it comes to batteries, Canon leaves it up to you. The A85 includes four AA non-rechargeable alkaline batteries in the box, which won't last long and end up in the trash (or better yet, the recycling bin). My recommendation is to buy two or more ...

    Read full review

  • digitalcamerainfo.com

    Summary: The Canon PowerShot A85 is perfect for newcomers to the photography world. At $299, the A85 is priced well for a 4 megapixel digital camera. It provides automatic and semi-automatic functions that are solid enough to give a shooter confidence while ...

    Read full review

  • pcmag.com

    Editors' rating: 60

    Summary: The A85's 4MP images are a bit soft on automatic settings, though it does offer plenty of manual controls. The A85 is a solid camera in terms of features, but we feel the Kodak EasyShare LS743 is a better buy, as it's smaller and offers better image ...

    Read full review

PowerShot A85 Digital Camera

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