I have owned 3 digital cameras before buying the Canon PowerShot A590IS. This is hands down the best camera I have ever owned and I have owned 35mm SLR cameras as well. The ease of use, the controls, the features, even the software that came with this camera makes it the best I have ever owned. The picture quality is phenomenal, even when shooting moving people indoors with flash. I take this camera with me everywhere and have taken over 450 pictures within the first 10 days that I have owned it. I am very pleased and would highly recommend this camera.

Exceeds expectations for such an inexpensive and high quality camera. I replaced an earlier generation Power Shot and have been impressed by the improved operation and optics. My photos are clear and the camera manages motion and light effectively. this camera is an excellent value and choice for anyone who needs a camera for travel (it's light and compact) or for family photos.

I have had both the A570is and the A590is. They are nearly identical. I do like the video modes on the A570is and it is curious that Canon reduced the quality and FPS rating on the video. Other than that, they are both superb cameras for the money. As for the flash issue that people keep reporting about. I don't understand how people expect normal cheap alkalines to be adequate. If you want the batteries to last anytime at all and have a reasonable flash recharge you have to have HIGH capacity rechargeable NiMH batteries in the range of 2400mah. If you do that you will find this camera a pleasure. If you try to cheap out and get by on the crummy alkalines from the drugstore this camera is going to be MISERABLE.

Please do yourself a favor and spend about $20 on a nice set of decent high capacity rechargables and a charger and its advisable to have at least four batteries that way you have an extra set of rechargables in your camera bag at all times. I did this on a trip to India with the A570 and with those high capacity batteries and the extra set on hand I never had problems with flash recharge time.

Otherwise, this is an excellent camera. It takes nice, clean pictures most of the time. Of course, it is not up to DSLR levels but I dont' expect that. At this price though it really is a superb camera. I like mine alot.

Real value for money camera. A light, "small" compact that gives me some control on exposure when I'm too lazy to lug around the DSLR.

Pros
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1. View finder - saves battery life
2. AA batteries - no extra camera specific charger; easy to find batteries in emergencies
3. quite small - still fits in a jacket/Bermudas pocket
4. Manual/Av/Tv controls
5. Cheap

Cons
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1. Av does not blur background much - since sensor size, distance to lens is different from DSLRs, its effectively like 4 to 5x the aperture value. (ie. at widest of f2.6, its more like f13 or more.... )The background just does not blur out unless its quite far from the subject.
2. 35mm at widest and not 28mm which would be ideal.

I love this camera. Super easy to use and it does all I want it to. The price was excellent and free shipping made it even better. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone wanting there first digital cameraCanon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom