Canon's 2011 budget compact — 10MP CCD, 3.3x zoom, Smart Auto, runs on two AA cells
The Canon PowerShot A800 was announced in January 2011 as the entry point to Canon's PowerShot range, effectively succeeding the A490/A495 pair. Launched at around 90 US dollars and offered in red, black, silver and grey, it was one of the last of Canon's true budget AA-powered compacts.
It carries a 10-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with Canon's DIGIC III processor and Smart Auto scene selection. The 3.3x optical zoom lens starts at a 37mm-equivalent wide end, and composition is via a 2.5-inch LCD with no optical viewfinder. Video records at 640x480 VGA at 30fps, storage is on SD-family cards, and two AA batteries deliver a strong CIPA rating of roughly 300 shots per set.
The A800 suits buyers who want the simplest possible digital compact: switch on, let Smart Auto pick the scene, shoot. There are no manual exposure modes and the lens is slow at the long end, so it is not a low-light tool, but the unusually good AA battery life and simple controls make it a dependable snapshot and travel spare camera.
Used examples are inexpensive and low-risk because AA power removes any battery-sourcing problem. Check for lens-extension errors, a scratch-free LCD and clean CCD images with no banding, and confirm the card and battery door latches still close firmly on these plastic-bodied models.