Canon's 2010 budget compact — 10MP CCD, 3.3x 37-122mm equiv zoom, Smart Auto, AA power
The Canon PowerShot A495 was announced on 5 January 2010 together with the PowerShot A490 as Canon's most affordable compacts of that year. The two shared their core hardware; the A495 was the better-equipped sibling, adding improved Smart Auto scene detection and creative modes such as Super Vivid and Poster Effect, reaching shops that February.
It uses a 10-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor producing images up to 3648x2736 pixels, behind a 3.3x optical zoom equivalent to 37-122mm. The rear holds a 2.5-inch LCD with no optical viewfinder. It shoots VGA-resolution video, includes a Low Light mode, accepts SD cards including SDXC, and runs on two AA batteries. The body measures a pocketable 94x62x31mm.
Like the A490, this is a snapshot camera for beginners and students, but Smart Auto makes it the easier of the pair to hand to a complete novice, picking scene settings automatically. The slow lens and small sensor limit indoor work without flash, while the AA cells and compact body make it an undemanding everyday carry.
Used prices are low and the AA supply removes battery-sourcing risk, though rechargeables are advisable. Verify the lens extends and retracts without errors, the screen is free of pressure marks, and the SD slot reads modern cards. A test frame will confirm the CCD is free of hot pixels or lines.