Designed with the same easy-to-use controls as Canon's PowerShot A5 and A5Zoom, the PowerShot A50 remains portable and easy to operate, but its added features provide better image quality and more speed and functionality than its predecessors.
The 1.31-megapixel CCD (charge-coupled device) and Hardware Image Processing help produce sharper images and increase the shooting speed. Features such as Night Shooting mode, Slow Shutter mode, white balance control, and exposure compensation help eliminate color irregularities and allow for a wide variety of shots. This camera also offers a 28 to 70mm-equivalent zoom lens with both wide-angle and telephoto settings.
The PowerShot A50 is Canon's first digital camera to support new industry standards for image storage and printing. Its DCF (design rule for camera filing system) format and DPOF (digital print order format) make it simple to print and transfer images between the camera and other peripherals. The PowerShot A50 comes with a rechargeable battery, power adapter, and an integrated set of Mac- and PC-compatible software; however, you have to buy the battery charger separately.