Canon PowerShot A5 (1998)
At 810,000 pixels, it promised a megapixel future and delivered just shy of one.
Overview
The Canon PowerShot A5 came out in 1998, when digital photography was still a curiosity for most people. Digital cameras were bulky, expensive and short on pixels. At $89, the A5 was positioned as the cheapest Canon PowerShot ever made. The design borrowed from Canon's Ixus 35mm film camera line, which gave it a clean, minimal look next to the boxy digital compacts of the era. It was sold as a point-and-shoot for first-time digital users who wanted something simple, portable and functional. Think of it as a digital snapshot machine for the emerging Y2K crowd.
Later retrospectives call the PowerShot A5 a "landmark" and "influential," and credit it with helping democratize digital imaging. It has a fixed lens and runs on 2 AA batteries, which you can buy almost anywhere. The 1.8-inch LCD was small even for the time, but it was one of the few ways to compose and review images without a computer. The write speed was three seconds to save an image to memory. That was considered fast in 1998, when digital lag could feel interminable.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Canon |
| Model | PowerShot A5 |
| Type | Compact digital camera |
| Production Year | 1998 |
| Original Price | $89 |
| Resolution | Approximately 810,000 pixels (1024x768 max) |
| Sensor | One-third inch type CCD |
| Lens | 28-70mm equivalent, fixed |
| LCD | 1.8-inch |
| Power | 2 AA batteries |
| Battery Life | Approximately 44 shots |
| Write Speed | Approximately 3 seconds per image |
| Form Factor | Compact |
Fixed 28-70mm Equivalent Lens
The PowerShot A5 has a fixed focal length lens with a 28-70mm equivalent range, from wide-angle to short telephoto. There is no optical zoom, so composition is done with your feet. The lens was derived from design elements of the Canon Ixus 35mm film camera, which suggests the same emphasis on compactness and optical simplicity. Aperture and shutter speed ranges aren't documented in available sources. The fixed lens points to a design that put reliability and small size ahead of creative control.
The 2 AA batteries made the camera easy to live with, since users didn't need proprietary power bricks or rare battery types. Rated battery life is approximately 44 shots, so longer outings called for spares. That was common among early digital cameras and reflected the power demands of early CCD sensors and LCD screens.
Historical Context
Retrospective coverage describes the Canon PowerShot A5 as a landmark and influential compact digital camera. Some sources call it Canon's first consumer digital camera, marking the company's serious entry into the affordable digital market. It was released in 1998, during the shift from film to digital, and offered a low-cost way in for users hesitant to give up analog. Its design lineage from the Ixus series signaled Canon's intent to apply its film-era compact camera expertise to digital.
Collectibility & Value
The PowerShot A5 turns up now and then on the secondary market, often labeled "vintage" or "for repair parts." One eBay listing described a unit as "UNTESTED for Repair Parts," which suggests working examples may be rare. No current market value is documented. Its status as an early, budget-friendly Canon digital camera gives it niche appeal among collectors focused on the evolution of consumer digital photography. Units verified as "Tested Working" are likely to draw more interest, though the camera's limited functionality by modern standards keeps it from mainstream collectibility.
Market Value
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ CANON POWERSHOT A5 Nov 2026 │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ High $145 Latest $60 │ │ Median $80 Trend — │ │ Low $48 Volume ~22/mo │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ $200 ┤ │ │ │ │ │ │ . . │ │ $114 ┤ . . . . . . │ │ │. . . . . . .. ... .. .. │ │ │ . . . . . ... . ...... ...... .. ... .. .. ... . .│ │ │ . .. │ │ $0 ┤ │ │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ vol │▁▁▁▁ ▃▁ ▁▂▁ ▁▂▁▂▅▃▁ ▁ ▃▂▃▂▄▁▁▂▄▃▂▄▁ █▂▁▁▂▁ ▂▁ ▁▁ ▂▁▃ ▂ ▁│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ 2026-04 2026-06 2026-08│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
eBay completed sales. Excludes accessories, parts, and non-working units. Hover points for details.
eBay Listings
Recently sold on eBay: $60–$111 (median $80, based on 88 completed sales, past 12 months)
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.