Canon’s latest addition, the PowerShot A480, is the lowest priced model in Canon’s extensive range of compact cameras and reviewers are generally agreed that it is good value for money.

The A480 is 25 percent smaller than its predecessor, the PowerShot A470, and offers a simplified button layout, larger 10 megapixel sensor, a 3.3x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 37-122mm, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

Inside it boasts a DIGIC III image processing engine, Face Detection, Motion Detection and Automatic Red-Eye Correction technologies and 15 different shooting modes.

Respected photography blogsite, Photography blog, said: “In summary the Canon PowerShot A480 is a cheap, well-made, straight-forward compact camera that’s particularly suited to the beginner, also offering some useful features found on much more expensive A-series models.”

PCWorld magazine said: “Canon’s PowerShot A480 ($US130, as of May 19, 2009) is designed for people who want to shoot pictures without fussing over camera settings. It’s a dead-simple, reasonably stylish point-and-shoot camera to have on hand when you’re hanging out with friends and family.”

Alexandra Savvides at CNet Australia, said: “If you’re looking for a cheap, easy-to-use camera under $AU200 ($US160) you could do far worse than the PowerShot A480. Design issues aside, it’s a capable compact with decent image quality.

The one noticeably absent feature is Image Stabilization, however, for the price, Canon seem to have another winner for the lower end of the market.