Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Digital camera Review: A great casual camera for a pro
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had mine for about six months and really like it. I usually shoot with a Nikon D70 DLSR and have a bunch of lenses for that, but this little Canon is great for casual shooting. I use it for 'snap shots' of the family when it is more important to get a candid shot of the people then to have the best technical shot. It is so much smaller then a DSLR so it is much easier to travel with. The manual controls are very good, they are easy to access and cover pretty much everything you need. I often shoot in either aperture priority (Av) or shutter priority (Tv), but also sometimes shoot in either full manual or full auto.
The eight megapixels is more then I need for this kind of camera and ends up just adding noise to the images that causes anything over ISO 400 to be unusable. I keep the ISO at or below 200 when possible and get the best results at ISO 80, but ISO 400 is still usable.
There are other Canon cameras that are much smaller like the SD850 IS, but I prefer the A720 IS because of the manual features and it has a nice grip that makes hanging onto the camera easy. But the SD850 IS is a better camera for novice shooters where simplicity and small size are more important.
Another important difference between the SD850 and the A720 is that the A720 uses two AA batteries, the SD850 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion. The lithium-ion battery is much better, it takes more shots on a charge and cycles the flash much faster. The AAs cause the length of time between shots with flash to be very long. Rechargeable AA batteries work better for this then non-rechargeables, but are still not as good as lithium-ion. The best way to use either camera is to have backup batteries with you so you never run out of power.
The things that keep this camera from being five stars:
- Noisy at ISO 400 and above (this is aggravated by the excessive 8MP count)
- The manual focus does not work in macro mode, where you need it most
- Uses AA instead of Lithium-Ion (for some, this is a plus)
If you are taking snap shots and want a little extra control, this is a great camera an a better choice then a DLSR.
Digital camera Review: A great little camera and a Consumer Reports "best buy"!
Summary: 4 Stars
I got this camera for Christmas. It is great for most types of photos. Consumer Reports recently listed this camera as a "best buy". Its predecessor, the A710, had also been a best buy. Canon seems to update their cameras every year, so my guess is that this camera's successor is due to be released within the next few months.
If you just want a point-and-shoot that does all the work for you, then keep this camera in "auto" mode and forget about all the other settings. If you are an experienced SLR photographer, go ahead and put it in manual mode for a near-SLR experience.
I have noticed that the lens does tend to slightly, but noticeably, curve straight vertical lines. Also, as with most point-and-shoot cameras, while the LCD screen is WYSIWYG, the viewfinder is not--especially when zoomed in.
Remember that for ALL auto-focus cameras, you should press the shutter button down half way so the camera can focus on the subject. Then press the shutter button down all the way to take the shot. This is no different than other point-and-shoot digital cameras.
One reviewer complained about getting blurry photos with this camera. I have not had any problems with blurry photos. If you have a broadband Internet connection, I have posted 433 photos online that I took with this camera during a recent vacation to Japan. As you will see, there are no blurry photos. To see the quality of the pictures that this camera takes, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/jparsons.net/
Recommended supplies: I bought the Tamrac 5290 Camera Bag for it, which holds the camera snugly and does a good job of protecting it from rain. If you would like to improve your photography skills, I recommend the book Understanding Exposure.
Digital camera Review: A great upgrade
Summary: 5 Stars
We moved up to this camera from the Canon A520 and are very pleased with the picture quality and the ease of operating. Just returned from a 14 day Alaskan cruise with lots of great pictures.Digital camera Review: A sleeper of a good deal
Summary: 5 Stars
I've worked as a professional photographer for 9 years. I retired from that profession 10 years ago and moved into IS Management. My eyes just can't focus the way they used to. This camera has all the versatility of my Leica m-3 (all manual) but I can use a whole collection of focusing routines as well as exposure tricks. The image processor and image stabilizer are quite good. The color is natural. The technology is fantastic. I just wish the shell was made of metal and more lenses were available. I've got 3 kids in college, so our budget is tight. At this price. the only better deal will be its Cannon successor.Digital camera Review: A terrific camera that deserves a better screen
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this camera for a friend for Christmas. She was using a basic point and shoot model prior to it, but seemed to enjoy photography, and I thought the manual controls on this camera would be a good tool for her to learn.
Photo quality is terrific in most any lighting condition, and the lens is sharp from corner to corner, something that cannot be said for most smaller cameras. I like how the camera displays the ISO speed it will use when in AUTO ISO mode. No problems with photo quality, but...
The camera deserves a better screen. Yes, the size is nice at 2.5", but the resolution at 115,000 pixels is not nearly enough for this screen size. When you zoom and review your photos in playback it is difficult to tell if they are in focus.
The camera runs on two double AA batteries. I have owned cameras that run on double AAs and some that run on Lithium Ion batteries. Both types of power sources have their pros and cons. The camera has good battery life with a set of rechargeable NiHM batteries, but it takes a while for the flash to recharge.
Overall, great pics, and a good value for the money with lots of features including an Image Stabilizer.