Canon’s functional and practical A-series digital cameras have always made great complements to its sleek Digital Elph line. This compact Canon Powershot A520, a 4-megapixel replacement for the PowerShot A85 isn’t as light and pocketable as its Elph counterpart, the PowerShot SD300, but it offers the full range of manual controls that photo enthusiasts require, outdoes its stablemate in number of scene modes and zoom range, and costs less to boot. The PowerShot A520 has significant improvements over the model it replaces, too, including a 3-ounce weight reduction.
If you’re looking for a tiny snapshot camera that will fit in your pocket, the PowerShot SD300 Digital Elph might be a better choice. But should you be seeking a model that not only lets you switch to manual focus and exposure but also includes plenty of scene modes to fall back on, the PowerShot A520 will cost you $50 less. You can save another 50 bucks by opting for the PowerShot A510, which has the same features in a 3.2-megapixel package.