Canon's early budget compact — 2001 PowerShot with 2MP CCD, 3x zoom, CompactFlash and AA power
The PowerShot A20 was the 2-megapixel model in the first wave of Canon's Axx budget digital compacts, launched in 2001 alongside the 1.3-megapixel A10 with an all-new body design. The A-series sat below the S-series as Canon's affordable family camera line.
It combined a 2.0-megapixel 1/2.7-inch CCD with a 35-105mm-equivalent 3x optical zoom, a 1.5-inch LCD and an optical viewfinder-era body of roughly 250g. There is no movie mode. Images store to CompactFlash and the camera runs on readily available AA batteries.
Simple automatic operation and AA power made it a dependable first digital camera in its day; today it appeals to early-digicam collectors and anyone curious about the low-resolution CCD look. Its chunky body handles more securely than the slim compacts that followed.
Because it takes AA cells there is no proprietary battery worry, but alkalines drain quickly — NiMH rechargeables are the practical choice. Check the CompactFlash slot pins, the zoom action and the small LCD, and remember CF cards must be modest capacities for a 2001 camera.