Canon's 2003 enthusiast A-series compact — 4MP 1/1.8-inch CCD, flip-out LCD, full manual modes, AA power
The PowerShot A80, released in October 2003, was the range-topping Axx compact of its day and the first A-series camera with a vari-angle LCD. It offered much of the control of Canon's pricier G-series in a cheaper AA-powered body, and was later succeeded by the 5-megapixel A95.
It pairs a 4.0-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD — larger than most budget compacts used — with a 38-114mm-equivalent 3x optical zoom. The 1.5-inch LCD flips and rotates for waist-level or self-portrait framing, movies record at 320x240, storage is CompactFlash, and power comes from AA batteries.
Full manual, aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes make it one of the more capable early-2000s compacts for learning exposure, and the articulated screen is rare at this price and age. The trade-offs are its bulk next to slim rivals and the slow small-format video.
The vari-angle screen is the key check on used examples — work it through its full range and look for ribbon-cable faults or display dropout. Inspect CompactFlash slot pins, test the flash, and fit NiMH AAs rather than alkalines. CCD-era colour is part of the appeal, but confirm the sensor shows no lines or blotches.