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Canon PowerShot A75 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3X Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 128
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 On: 2008-05-08
This originally purchased for my intro to photography class in 2005. I still use it today! Truthfully, I only ever use manual mode. Occasionally I make mini-movies with it (the movie function only records for 1.5minutes at a time). Its been somewhat abused (dropped a couple of times)- so Im impressed that it still works great. This is excellent for beginners who aspire to develop their photography skills but arent ready to commit to the higher end SLRs like the Rebel.
Many people dont like the autofocus boxes. Over the years Ive learned to manipulate them so they arent quite the hinderence they could be. You just gotta learn how to trick the camera to focus on what you want- I use my hand, its the best tool to get the autofocus boxes to move to where you want it to go. Obviously that adds more time to the setting up process of a shot.
For fast spur-of-the-moment pics, youll either want to turn that feature off or switch over to auto. The hard part with auto of course, you cant control the fstop and iso settings as well as you can in manual. So give and take.
Not a pro camera by any means- but for the enthusiast, it is a good little workhorse. I love it! --- I would definitely recommend rechargeable batteries and 1GB+ memory cards.
On: 2007-11-29
This camera is a winner. I got this last year for Christmas and man was it the perfect gift. Super easy to use and it takes the best pictures. I love that it is little and fits in my purse but still takes great pictures like the big cameras. You wont go wrong with this one.
On: 2007-11-28
This camera is a winner. I got this last year for Christmas and man was it the perfect gift. Super easy to use and it takes the best pictures. I love that it is little and fits in my purse but still takes great pictures like the big cameras. You wont go wrong with this one.
 On: 2007-11-24
It was a pretty good camera until Canon came up with this tiny bit of cameras which does not require 4 AA batteries. Man, that is so unfair!
Anyway, I still used it, it drinks the batteries very quickly.
I would definitely pay a little bit more and buy a s300 or sth better.
Now, after 2 years, suddenly, no falling, no nothing, its display is not working and it will not take any pictures.
So I am left with it. I am planning to buy a sony this time, hope I will be lucky.
On: 2007-11-23
It was a pretty good camera until Canon came up with this tiny bit of cameras which does not require 4 AA batteries. Man, that is so unfair!
Anyway, I still used it, it drinks the batteries very quickly.
I would definitely pay a little bit more and buy a s300 or sth better.
Now, after 2 years, suddenly, no falling, no nothing, its display is not working and it will not take any pictures.
So I am left with it. I am planning to buy a sony this time, hope I will be lucky.
On: 2007-11-04
I bought this camera a few years ago and it worked wonderfully up until this summer. It started saying "memory card error" on the screen and wouldnt take pictures. If I executed a complicated series of commands, I might get the camera to turn on and take pictures for a brief amount of time. There was no guarantee that the memory card error would not come back and delete the pictures or make them inaccessible, so I never left pictures on the camera for more than a few minutes. This made using the camera outside of the house pretty much impossible.
Eventually even the complicated button mashing was no longer enough. It was all memory card error, all the time. Then the camera stopped turning on and/or off. It would freeze with its lens extended and not turn on no matter what, or it would refuse to turn off unless I removed the batteries. If I did get the camera on, when I pushed the menu button it was anywhere from 5-10 seconds for the menu to come up if it did at all.
I borrowed my moms camera for a few months and hadnt bothered with this one, but I recently started messing around with it again. Once I figured out that simultaneously holding down the power and set buttons would let me turn the camera on, I contacted Canon support. I told them that I was getting a memory card error and that the camera was very difficult to turn on.
The response that I got was to reset it to the factory settings, and if that didnt work then I would have to send the camera in to them to repair. There was no mention of trying to format the memory card, cleaning the memory card and the slot, try a different card, nothing. Just send it in. I pay for shipping and insurance, and theres a minimum repair charge of $79, not including parts. Oh, and if I dont want to do that, theyll sell me a refurbished camera for $110. Why would I ever want to buy another Canon with customer service like that? No attempt was made to be helpful, they just wanted more money.
The only reason I gave the A75 three stars instead of one was because it took pretty decent pictures for the time that it worked, especially outside. So if you want to buy a camera that will only work for a year, year and a half tops, go ahead. I know Ill be replacing this one with a different brand and I doubt Ill ever buy Canon again.
The A75 is not the only Canon that has the memory card error problem; it seems like all the different models do. Buy at your own risk and dont expect any help from customer service.
On: 2007-11-03
I bought this camera a few years ago and it worked wonderfully up until this summer. It started saying "memory card error" on the screen and wouldnt take pictures. If I executed a complicated series of commands, I might get the camera to turn on and take pictures for a brief amount of time. There was no guarantee that the memory card error would not come back and delete the pictures or make them inaccessible, so I never left pictures on the camera for more than a few minutes. This made using the camera outside of the house pretty much impossible.
Eventually even the complicated button mashing was no longer enough. It was all memory card error, all the time. Then the camera stopped turning on and/or off. It would freeze with its lens extended and not turn on no matter what, or it would refuse to turn off unless I removed the batteries. If I did get the camera on, when I pushed the menu button it was anywhere from 5-10 seconds for the menu to come up if it did at all.
I borrowed my moms camera for a few months and hadnt bothered with this one, but I recently started messing around with it again. Once I figured out that simultaneously holding down the power and set buttons would let me turn the camera on, I contacted Canon support. I told them that I was getting a memory card error and that the camera was very difficult to turn on.
The response that I got was to reset it to the factory settings, and if that didnt work then I would have to send the camera in to them to repair. There was no mention of trying to format the memory card, cleaning the memory card and the slot, try a different card, nothing. Just send it in. I pay for shipping and insurance, and theres a minimum repair charge of $79, not including parts. Oh, and if I dont want to do that, theyll sell me a refurbished camera for $110. Why would I ever want to buy another Canon with customer service like that? No attempt was made to be helpful, they just wanted more money.
The only reason I gave the A75 three stars instead of one was because it took pretty decent pictures for the time that it worked, especially outside. So if you want to buy a camera that will only work for a year, year and a half tops, go ahead. I know Ill be replacing this one with a different brand and I doubt Ill ever buy Canon again.
The A75 is not the only Canon that has the memory card error problem; it seems like all the different models do. Buy at your own risk and dont expect any help from customer service.
by: olive553 On: 2007-06-09
First of all--its a great little guy. I have owned it for 3 years, and it has not failed me. It takes AMAZING pictures in lowlight settings. As someone who much prefers natural light to using a flash, that is an important feature for me. I also have found that the 3.2 megapixel ability of the camera is fine. I dont plan on printing over 20x30 sized prints, which I am able to do with this camera (according to photo printing websites).
The macro lens is a nice feature, and it works well, although sometimes I have a difficult time seeing on the LCD screen if its in focus. LCD screens never seem to be sharp enough.
The video function is pretty good. The sound is recorded great. It is a little bouncy, though, if you dont hold your hands perfectly still, but I can record 3 minutes worth of video on this. Not too shabby. However, the light meter doesnt adjust as you record video. So, if you move from a dark area to a lighter area, it just overexposes, and vice versa if you start out somewhere bright and go into a dark room.
All in all, it is a great camera. What you should be aware of in 2007: CF memory cards are getting harder to find. I luckily found a 1GB card for this in November 2006, but that was the only one they carried on a whole display of other kinds of cards. If I were you, I would check around and make sure you can find extra CF cards. The 32MB card that comes with it doesnt hold much at all. A positive: it uses AA batteries. If you travel to a foreign country, you can always find those. If you have a lithium battery in a camera that requires its own charger, you would have to bring a power adapter with you, etc, just to charge your battery. Get rechargeable AAs and youre set to go.
On: 2007-06-08
First of all--its a great little guy. I have owned it for 3 years, and it has not failed me. It takes AMAZING pictures in lowlight settings. As someone who much prefers natural light to using a flash, that is an important feature for me. I also have found that the 3.2 megapixel ability of the camera is fine. I dont plan on printing over 20x30 sized prints, which I am able to do with this camera (according to photo printing websites).
The macro lens is a nice feature, and it works well, although sometimes I have a difficult time seeing on the LCD screen if its in focus. LCD screens never seem to be sharp enough.
The video function is pretty good. The sound is recorded great. It is a little bouncy, though, if you dont hold your hands perfectly still, but I can record 3 minutes worth of video on this. Not too shabby. However, the light meter doesnt adjust as you record video. So, if you move from a dark area to a lighter area, it just overexposes, and vice versa if you start out somewhere bright and go into a dark room.
All in all, it is a great camera. What you should be aware of in 2007: CF memory cards are getting harder to find. I luckily found a 1GB card for this in November 2006, but that was the only one they carried on a whole display of other kinds of cards. If I were you, I would check around and make sure you can find extra CF cards. The 32MB card that comes with it doesnt hold much at all. A positive: it uses AA batteries. If you travel to a foreign country, you can always find those. If you have a lithium battery in a camera that requires its own charger, you would have to bring a power adapter with you, etc, just to charge your battery. Get rechargeable AAs and youre set to go.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-06-04
I bought this when 3.1MP was just giving it up to 4MP and 5MP cameras. I needed an affordable solution with decent features and good quality digital photos and the Canon A75 3.2MP did the job for over 2 years, until someone stole the camera from my bag!
This camera traveled with me through Europe for 2 months, China for 1 month and was always carried on me, in my sack or in my car almost all the time without a case every single day for 2 years. It was thrown around in my sack or backpack and it did not fall apart or break, though it did show some cosmetic wear. I was impressed that it never mechanically broke and the camera worked flawlessly even after all the miles I put on it.
I must have taken well over a 1000 pictures with the camera and the flash never dimmed but I did go through batteries much quicker at high quality settings. But at mid level (1024x768) and low res settings, the camera was very battery efficient.
I was impressed by the quality of the pictures, very clean and very nice high quality images for the most part. I was also impressed with the high ISO sensitivity for indoor pics. I took a bunch of indoor sports picks without a flash at high shutter speed with ISO mode and they turned out very well for a point and shoot camera. I was impressed for a cheap camera. At the time, the A75 3.1MP camera was great and I will miss it. Im sure the person who stole this camera from me is getting great use from it too.
by: soymarisa On: 2007-02-28
I got this camera for my 7-year-old girl.
I compare this camera with my cameras and it does crappy pics.
However, for her what else I want?
She is very happy with this camera and it is easy to use for her
so I do recommend this for a kid.
by: droot20 On: 2007-01-13
This camera has been nothing but trouble, I will never buy another Cannon Camera again. It started with the dreaded E18 error where the camera just wont turn on and now its a lens that opens when it feels like it. This camera is so unreliable. I hate it.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-01-13
Purchased the Powershot A75 after extensive research approximately 2 1/2 years ago. Excellent everyday use camera (great photos and great ergonomics) for those who do not want an SLR. I was completely satisfied with the product until the display went bad on December 25, 2006. Display went dark with flashing horizontal lines and no photos could be taken. Since the camera was out of warranty, I decided to look for a new camera as repairing it would not be cost effective. While checking the new Canon camera line on their website, I found a Powershot A75 service advisory related to my problem. In addition, the advisory stated that Canon would pay for the shipping and repair the camera for free, regardless of the warranty status. I called Canon and spoke with a representative on December 26, 2006 and was told to mail the camera in for repair. Canon emailed me a prepaid UPS label and a service request the very next day. I shipped the camera to Canon on December 28. On January 3, 2007, I received an email from Canon stating the camera was received for repair. Also included was a link to their service center where I could track the repair progress. Estimated time to repair and return the camera was 10 working days. On Jannuary 11, I received an email staing camera was shipped on the 10th and would be delivered on the 12th. Fedex delivered the camera mid-morning on the 12th. The enclosed invoice (NO CHARGE) indicated Canon had replaced the CCD unit, updated the firmware and cleaned the camera. Checked out the camera and everything is working perfectly. This is OUTSTANDING customer support! Will I buy aother Canon product? ABSOLUTELY.
On: 2007-01-12
Almost 2.5 years since I had this little babe, A75, I have accidentally swung it to the floor at least 5 times. And each time it survived. It takes excellent pictures. Four batteries might add some weight to the camera, but hey, when your batteries die in the middle of road, you will appreciate the fact that you can go into a convenient store and walk out with a camera fully charged. I love every single bit of this camera. My parents are very satisfied with this camera and the quality of the pictures taken. They dont need the camera to be too light or small in size. So they are going to take over this 2.5 year old camera. I am going to move on to another canon PowerShot. It had been a wonderful experience with A75.
On: 2007-01-12
This camera has been nothing but trouble, I will never buy another Cannon Camera again. It started with the dreaded E18 error where the camera just wont turn on and now its a lens that opens when it feels like it. This camera is so unreliable. I hate it.
On: 2007-01-12
Purchased the Powershot A75 after extensive research approximately 2 1/2 years ago. Excellent everyday use camera (great photos and great ergonomics) for those who do not want an SLR. I was completely satisfied with the product until the display went bad on December 25, 2006. Display went dark with flashing horizontal lines and no photos could be taken. Since the camera was out of warranty, I decided to look for a new camera as repairing it would not be cost effective. While checking the new Canon camera line on their website, I found a Powershot A75 service advisory related to my problem. In addition, the advisory stated that Canon would pay for the shipping and repair the camera for free, regardless of the warranty status. I called Canon and spoke with a representative on December 26, 2006 and was told to mail the camera in for repair. Canon emailed me a prepaid UPS label and a service request the very next day. I shipped the camera to Canon on December 28. On January 3, 2007, I received an email from Canon stating the camera was received for repair. Also included was a link to their service center where I could track the repair progress. Estimated time to repair and return the camera was 10 working days. On Jannuary 11, I received an email staing camera was shipped on the 10th and would be delivered on the 12th. Fedex delivered the camera mid-morning on the 12th. The enclosed invoice (NO CHARGE) indicated Canon had replaced the CCD unit, updated the firmware and cleaned the camera. Checked out the camera and everything is working perfectly. This is OUTSTANDING customer support! Will I buy aother Canon product? ABSOLUTELY.
On: 2007-01-11
Almost 2.5 years since I had this little babe, A75, I have accidentally swung it to the floor at least 5 times. And each time it survived. It takes excellent pictures. Four batteries might add some weight to the camera, but hey, when your batteries die in the middle of road, you will appreciate the fact that you can go into a convenient store and walk out with a camera fully charged. I love every single bit of this camera. My parents are very satisfied with this camera and the quality of the pictures taken. They dont need the camera to be too light or small in size. So they are going to take over this 2.5 year old camera. I am going to move on to another canon PowerShot. It had been a wonderful experience with A75.
On: 2007-01-10
The camera was delivered on schedule. I examined the used camera and I found no scratcnes, wear marks or other regularities; all of the manuals and cables were provided. I could not believe that it was a used camera. I read the instructions and was impressed with the number of operating moads available; about 6 point and shoot moads plus series of manual moads. I shot a few pictures and was pleased with them. I would buy a used camera from this vendor without hesitation in the future.
On: 2007-01-09
The camera was delivered on schedule. I examined the used camera and I found no scratcnes, wear marks or other regularities; all of the manuals and cables were provided. I could not believe that it was a used camera. I read the instructions and was impressed with the number of operating moads available; about 6 point and shoot moads plus series of manual moads. I shot a few pictures and was pleased with them. I would buy a used camera from this vendor without hesitation in the future.
On: 2006-12-31
great product. So easy to use. Compact. I would reccomend buying rechargeable batteries for it. Play around with all the different shooting modes, they are cool.
On: 2006-12-26
I have had my A75 for two years, and it just wont turn on now. I recharged my batteries, then tried brand new batteries, but it just wont turn on. Since the warranty was one year, I guess I am out of luck. Probably more to repair it, than to get a new camera.
On: 2006-11-21
If you can get a new one, this so easy to use. I bought it for a boyfriend about 4 yrs ago and I still use it everyday to take pictures for work. I dont use the movie feature but the macro also is fine. For the money if you need to take everyday pictures of family and friends you wont go wrong. Only problem is that you need to make sure you press firmly on the botton. If you have anyone take pictures of yourselves, ask them to take a few just in case. It is great to use with all your left over compact flash cards. I carry a small battery charger on trips so I never run out of juice. I only wish I could carry this in my pocket. You cant have everything. The price is right.
On: 2006-11-20
If you can get a new one, this so easy to use. I bought it for a boyfriend about 4 yrs ago and I still use it everyday to take pictures for work. I dont use the movie feature but the macro also is fine. For the money if you need to take everyday pictures of family and friends you wont go wrong. Only problem is that you need to make sure you press firmly on the botton. If you have anyone take pictures of yourselves, ask them to take a few just in case. It is great to use with all your left over compact flash cards. I carry a small battery charger on trips so I never run out of juice. I only wish I could carry this in my pocket. You cant have everything. The price is right.
On: 2006-11-18
Ive owned and loved canon cameras for 35 years. I bought the A75 and was satisfied until one month after the warranty ran out. My A75 pictures came out almost black in auto focus. I called Canon support and was told due to the age (one month out of warranty) I would have to pay for repairs and postage. I looked on the internet and the problem seems to be rampant. I wouldnt buy another Canon camera on a bet.
On: 2006-11-17
Ive owned and loved canon cameras for 35 years. I bought the A75 and was satisfied until one month after the warranty ran out. My A75 pictures came out almost black in auto focus. I called Canon support and was told due to the age (one month out of warranty) I would have to pay for repairs and postage. I looked on the internet and the problem seems to be rampant. I wouldnt buy another Canon camera on a bet.
On: 2006-11-02
I have now had my Canon for almost 2 years now. I bought this camera to take pictures of my son and my nephews. When I first got the camera, I loved it! It was my first digital camera, so I did not know what to expect. The main problem I was having at first was that it took a few seconds from the time I pushed the button til the time it actually took the picture. With kids, you have to get a good shot when you can. This problem was annoying, but not really a big deal, at least it worked. I also had the problem that if there was a great deal of white in the background when taking the picture, the picture would be white washed out. I tried to take a picture of my son in our white bathtub, and I could barely make him out. It looked as though I took the picture in a room full of bright lightbulbs. That was back when the camera worked.
Then, after about a year of having the camera, the LCD screen went blank. I could look through the viewer and take pics and view them on the LCD screen, but could not use the screen for any other purpose. This was another annoying problem, but I was glad it still worked and did not want to spend money for another camera. Well that lasted for about 6 months, and Im having the same problem, only now the pictures that I can take are all very dark!!! I just had a new baby and couldnt wait to take pictures with my camera. All the pictures are barely visible they are so dark. Im currently looking for a new digital camera. I will certainly never buy a Canon again, and will advise everyone I know not to buy one either.
On: 2006-11-01
I have now had my Canon for almost 2 years now. I bought this camera to take pictures of my son and my nephews. When I first got the camera, I loved it! It was my first digital camera, so I did not know what to expect. The main problem I was having at first was that it took a few seconds from the time I pushed the button til the time it actually took the picture. With kids, you have to get a good shot when you can. This problem was annoying, but not really a big deal, at least it worked. I also had the problem that if there was a great deal of white in the background when taking the picture, the picture would be white washed out. I tried to take a picture of my son in our white bathtub, and I could barely make him out. It looked as though I took the picture in a room full of bright lightbulbs. That was back when the camera worked.
Then, after about a year of having the camera, the LCD screen went blank. I could look through the viewer and take pics and view them on the LCD screen, but could not use the screen for any other purpose. This was another annoying problem, but I was glad it still worked and did not want to spend money for another camera. Well that lasted for about 6 months, and Im having the same problem, only now the pictures that I can take are all very dark!!! I just had a new baby and couldnt wait to take pictures with my camera. All the pictures are barely visible they are so dark. Im currently looking for a new digital camera. I will certainly never buy a Canon again, and will advise everyone I know not to buy one either.
On: 2006-09-11
I bought this camera two years ago and love it. I now have two others that are newer and more expensive, but I still end up using this camera so often because its practical, the batteries last forever and it takes the right size pictures for uploading fast to online printing services. The pictures are great when printed as long as they are not enlarged much past 8x10 and the camera is extraordinarily sturdy. I have kept it in my purse for extended amounts of time, taken it on many trips, it has been dropped several times, and it just keeps working It is so easy to use in every way. All of the menu items are entirely self explanatory. I would highly recommend this camera. My others are Canon also and I love them all.
On: 2006-09-09
When I bought my A75, I did a little research, and the reviews I read were great. 2 years later, I am happy with my choice. I got an excellent camera that has taken a lot of pictures on different places: beaches, mountains, cities... The quality of the pictures is awesome. Even if it is not a 7MP, I think that for an "amateur home user", this camera is more than enough
On: 2006-09-08
When I bought my A75, I did a little research, and the reviews I read were great. 2 years later, I am happy with my choice. I got an excellent camera that has taken a lot of pictures on different places: beaches, mountains, cities... The quality of the pictures is awesome. Even if it is not a 7MP, I think that for an "amateur home user", this camera is more than enough
On: 2006-07-18
I havent read the other reviews, but wanted to put my thoughts in. Ive had this camera for two years and it has performed wonderfully. At one point my brother dropped it from about six feet onto concrete and it hasnt affected performance at all. The 3.2 megapixel is more than enough to print great quality pictures ... Ive printed mostly 4x6 and 5x7. I think this is a great point and shoot digital camera, and its a nice bonus to have the movie mode.
There are a few limitations ...
It guzzles battery power, particularly if you use the display all the time, which leads me to another point ... if you try to save battery power and sight photos through the viewfinder, the picture will be quite different than you think. The only way to truly compose a photo to be exactly what you want is to use the display screen, which again causes short battery life. Since it uses AA, I would recommend buying some rechargeable batteries, which is what I did.
Another drawback is that it doesnt take good action shots. Theres a delay of about one second when you push the shutter button, particularly if the subject is moving and the AF wont lock. You can hold the shutter button halfway to lock focus, but sometimes the subject has moved out of focus. So, if you want to shoot a lot of action stuff, this might not be the camera for you.
Another thing that Im conscious of when I shoot with this camera is its photo dimensions. This camera offers image quality/proportions of 2048x1536, 1600x1200 and 640x480 ... all of which are basically 4x3. So, if you want to any common print sizes - 4x6, 5x7, etc. - you have to go in and crop some off each photo. If you cant do this manually, you photo processor will likely do it themselves without much care, taking equally from the top and bottom of shots, which might cut something you really want in the picture (like peoples heads). So, I have to be very careful now when I take pictures that I include enough space to make that crop.
Overall though, I think this camera is worth the money. It does a lot and has a lot of great features, but if you buy it you should be aware of its limitations.
On: 2006-03-27
Ive had this camera for about a year and a half and I cant really complain! It takes fairly decent photos ~ outdoor photos are generally better. I dont normally use flash indoors (I like natural photos) and it does OK with this (better with a small tripod), but could be better when it comes to low-light settings as the images get grainy. I love that the batteries last on this thing so long. I bought two sets of rechargeable batteries and they seem to last forever. I can get a good 500 images at a time, which is good for travel.
The best part about this camera is the durability. I dropped this thing on my hardwood floors once (gasp!!) and the side of the camera actually popped out. Guess what? The camera still works beautifully and I keep taking photos even though the piece is kind of popped out.
On: 2006-03-26
Ive had this camera for about a year and a half and I cant really complain! It takes fairly decent photos ~ outdoor photos are generally better. I dont normally use flash indoors (I like natural photos) and it does OK with this (better with a small tripod), but could be better when it comes to low-light settings as the images get grainy. I love that the batteries last on this thing so long. I bought two sets of rechargeable batteries and they seem to last forever. I can get a good 500 images at a time, which is good for travel.
The best part about this camera is the durability. I dropped this thing on my hardwood floors once (gasp!!) and the side of the camera actually popped out. Guess what? The camera still works beautifully and I keep taking photos even though the piece is kind of popped out.
On: 2006-01-24
I purchased this camera based on my previous experience with my Canon EOS Rebel 35mm. I have had the Rebel for many years and it has been a wonderful camera and has never let me down. I have probably shot thousands of photos with it. I recommend Canon cameras as my personal choice. I read many reviews before buying this camera and I believed it would serve me well for many years. Five or six months after I purchased it developed the same problem it has now. I brought it back to Best Buy but it started working the minute it got into the technicians hands. It has worked fine up until last week, 11 months after I purchased it, 1 month out of warranty. Given the failure mode I would think that this is an electronic problem, not a mechanical one. When the shutter release is fully depressed the meter boxes come up but the shutter does not release. Without moving the camera or changing any settings I press the shutter release again and a different set of meter boxes show up. The camera focuses just fine and beeps to indicate focus has been achieved. Also, the IR Focus assist comes on even though it is turned off in the menu.
I am extremely disappointed that this camera has not lasted longer. Canon Customer Service said it is going to cost me $79 or more to have it repaired. What is to say it will not have the same failure a year from now? They offered an A95 for $149 + $10 shipping. Why would I spend $159 on a camera "upgrade" that has the same potential for failure and disappointment?
I searched Google for "canon a75 problem" and found this website:
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/canon-powershot-a75-reviews.html
On this page alone there are 2 reviews that indicate the same failure that I am experiencing and possibly a third but the reviewer did not elaborate. This is just my first stop in my search and I have already found a trend. Both of the reviewers said they would not purchase a Canon product again.
Canon has had such a good reputation in the industry and I hate to see it wasted on poor decision not to repair an obvious factory defect. Charging customers for poor quality control will lead to fewer and fewer sales in the future. I have been saving to purchase a digital EOS but after this experience I believe I may have to put my trust in another manufacturer.
I believe Canons reliability department has already found the trend (heck, I found it in .005 seconds) and possibly the source of this failure. I can only say that Canon will lose more than the cost of repairs for failing to treat their customers fairly and with respect.
I hope Canon chooses to do the right thing, but I dont think they will.
On: 2006-01-18
I got this camera over a year ago. I am very satisfied with the quality of the images. It does have a few limitations.
1. Cannot shoot action shots because of the 1 second delay when auto focus is "on".
2. Cannot shoot bright objects - they will over saturate.
3. Occasional glitch when camera will not switch to capture mode.
4. The viewfinder does not show the full view of the digital capture-only LCD show the true field of capture.
5. Auto focus does not work well in low-light situations.
6. Flash is too strong for close-up shoot.
7. 3X optical zoom not quite enough and 10X digital zoom lead to noisy images(almost useless feature).
Other than these, the camera is easy to use and handle.
Recommend you get 256KB flash memory and 4 rechargeable batteries. You can take up to 250 shots. Great for vacations.
 On: 2006-01-08
At first I loved this camera. It was my first digital camera and seemingly idiot-proof. But as time goes on, I am getting frustrated with it.
1. It is not compatible with the newest ibooks (Mac OSX 10 or higher) and I just got a new computer so now my camera is pretty much useless. Canons website says theyre working on it, but for now, I have no convenient way to get my pictures!
2. Good for close ups but you cant zoom out very far at all. Plan to back up and cross roads and fields to get the shot you want.
3. The flash washes things out really badly. My Christmas tree looks white.
4. With the batteries (4 AA) in its really really heavy.
5. One piece has come apart at the seam. It still works, but Im sure its filling with dust and grime.
6. Takes a few seconds to take a picture. By the time the beeping and flashing has satisfied itself to take the photo, the cute dog has looked away, the kid on the bike is out of the frame, the jumping fish is back in the water, etc.
I got some good pics, but next time I want something a bit lighter and more versatile.
On: 2006-01-07
At first I loved this camera. It was my first digital camera and seemingly idiot-proof. But as time goes on, I am getting frustrated with it.
1. It is not compatible with the newest ibooks (Mac OSX 10 or higher) and I just got a new computer so now my camera is pretty much useless. Canons website says theyre working on it, but for now, I have no convenient way to get my pictures!
2. Good for close ups but you cant zoom out very far at all. Plan to back up and cross roads and fields to get the shot you want.
3. The flash washes things out really badly. My Christmas tree looks white.
4. With the batteries (4 AA) in its really really heavy.
5. One piece has come apart at the seam. It still works, but Im sure its filling with dust and grime.
6. Takes a few seconds to take a picture. By the time the beeping and flashing has satisfied itself to take the photo, the cute dog has looked away, the kid on the bike is out of the frame, the jumping fish is back in the water, etc.
I got some good pics, but next time I want something a bit lighter and more versatile.
On: 2005-12-27
I had this camera for not even a year and was very happy with it. My only complaint was the weight due to the four batteries. That was until I used it to take pictures of my babys first Christmas and five minutes after I moved her pictures onto my computer the camera died on me. When I turned it on I received a "Memory Card Error" message. I reformated the memory card and was able to take a couple more pictures, but when I tried to view them I recevied the error message again. Then the camera would get stuck on, then it wouldnt turn on, then the LCD was blank, etc. etc. etc.... Currently its stuck in the off position and no matter how many fresh batteries I put in it, the camera wont turn on.
Its not the memory card because the card works fine in another camera. I needed a new camera ASAP for the holidays, so I signed onto ebay to see what was out there. Lo and behold I found many listings for broken A75s. It seems that lots of people have had the same thing happen to their cameras.
Also note that no other notable camera uses the same memory card, so when I bought a new camera (I opted for the Canon A520) I had to purchase another memory card. Bah!
If you buy this maybe it will break down, maybe it wont. My advice would be to transfer all your pictures as often as possible. I am so lucky I saved all my babys pictures before the camera went out on me. If I lost all those shots I would have been livid.
On: 2005-12-22
Camera has tons of features. Metering and exposures appear to be very good as well. Very easy to use.
But the picture quality is very POOR - pictures appear to be very soft. By adjusting ISO to 50, it gets a little sharper but still not sharp enough.
On: 2005-12-21
We initially thought it was a pretty good camera. However, it fell from 18 inches to the ground and shattered. We spent $100 to repair it through Cannon. Six months later, its got the same problems that were supposed to have been repaired. In fact, on the last trip, it actually started smoking! Im not kidding. Now, it wont focus at all and Canon says the repairs were only good for 60 days. After this experience, I cannot recommend Canon or this camera.
On: 2005-12-20
We initially thought it was a pretty good camera. However, it fell from 18 inches to the ground and shattered. We spent $100 to repair it through Cannon. Six months later, its got the same problems that were supposed to have been repaired. In fact, on the last trip, it actually started smoking! Im not kidding. Now, it wont focus at all and Canon says the repairs were only good for 60 days. After this experience, I cannot recommend Canon or this camera.
On: 2005-12-19
After about a year E18 struck and camera is toast. Do a google search and type in "canon A70" and "e18" to understand the magnitude of the problem with this camera.
On: 2005-12-08
I wanted something relatively easy to use that took high-quality pictures. I got just that and so much more. There are so many options and easy-to-use preset settings. I love that I can take short videos with sound. And even black and white (sepia-colored?) vintage-looking photos. I also really like that although its easy to take good pictures without a lot of fooling around with settings, I also have the option of playing around with all the different settings and speeds to take more artistic images.
The quality of the images is remarkable. My boyfriend and I both tried to photograph a vineyard scene at sunset-directly towards the sun. I with my Canon and he with his Kodak. I didnt even think it would come out but mine came out beautifully and his-not at all. I love, love, love this camera. I take photos of my artwork and need to capture color accurately and fine details and this camera does a wonderful job. By the way, Ive had it for a year now without any problems at all. I never usually write reviews, but in this case, I felt compelled because I think this is such a great product.
On: 2005-12-07
I wanted something relatively easy to use that took high-quality pictures. I got just that and so much more. There are so many options and easy-to-use preset settings. I love that I can take short videos with sound. And even black and white (sepia-colored?) vintage-looking photos. I also really like that although its easy to take good pictures without a lot of fooling around with settings, I also have the option of playing around with all the different settings and speeds to take more artistic images.
The quality of the images is remarkable. My boyfriend and I both tried to photograph a vineyard scene at sunset-directly towards the sun. I with my Canon and he with his Kodak. I didnt even think it would come out but mine came out beautifully and his-not at all. I love, love, love this camera. I take photos of my artwork and need to capture color accurately and fine details and this camera does a wonderful job. By the way, Ive had it for a year now without any problems at all. I never usually write reviews, but in this case, I felt compelled because I think this is such a great product.
On: 2005-11-15
I bought a Canon A70. I am hear to warn you that it will eventually not retract if jarred. Some people say its an E18 error. You can google that, but I just know that canon charges $100-$200 to repair and charges for shipping both ways... Not worth it. Investigate what your brand will do for you, if something goes wrong before you buy! Have a Great Day!
On: 2005-11-02
I owned a Kodak DC3400 before and the Canon Powershot A75 seemed so much better when I started using it. It took great pictures, no complains there, great saturation and focus. About 11 months later it started to have glitches. At first it would auto switch from capture mode to playback mode, making it impossible to take pictures. Eventually the capture mode would kick in and after a few shots...bang!..all by itself the camera would switch to playback mode again. This was very annoying and it continued for awhile until recently.
Now my camera only previews images that are stored in the memory card but CANT take pictures. The lens does not open no matter what I try.
I have searched the internet intensively and discovered that Im not alone; many people are experiencing similar situations. I dont think that the Canon Powershot series was built to last.
Take my advice: Avoid this camera!
On: 2005-11-01
I owned a Kodak DC3400 before and the Canon Powershot A75 seemed so much better when I started using it. It took great pictures, no complains there, great saturation and focus. About 11 months later it started to have glitches. At first it would auto switch from capture mode to playback mode, making it impossible to take pictures. Eventually the capture mode would kick in and after a few shots...bang!..all by itself the camera would switch to playback mode again. This was very annoying and it continued for awhile until recently.
Now my camera only previews images that are stored in the memory card but CANT take pictures. The lens does not open no matter what I try.
I have searched the internet intensively and discovered that Im not alone; many people are experiencing similar situations. I dont think that the Canon Powershot series was built to last.
Take my advice: Avoid this camera!
On: 2005-09-27
I have a Canon A70 that until recently was a great camera. On a trip to the Grand Canyon the camera failed. Lens would not retract and E18 error appeared on screen. I thought it was just bad luck until I got home and Googled the E18. Discovered that this was a common complaint and that it is a waste of my time to pursue this with Canon. I am now looking at other brands for a replacement.
On: 2005-09-26
I have a Canon A70 that until recently was a great camera. On a trip to the Grand Canyon the camera failed. Lens would not retract and E18 error appeared on screen. I thought it was just bad luck until I got home and Googled the E18. Discovered that this was a common complaint and that it is a waste of my time to pursue this with Canon. I am now looking at other brands for a replacement.
On: 2005-09-21
Canon powershot A75 is an excellent choice for an affordable digital camera with outstanding quality. The size of the camera allows easy handling and its controls to be easily accessed. Still images and video clips taken using its default automatic control setting are almost of professional quality even for novice users or children. The rechargeable 4 AA batteries and CF memory card allow one to enjoy it for very long time at a minimal cost.
On: 2005-08-13
When we first bought this Canon Powershot A75 digital camera I was very impressed. This was my first "real" digital camera (because I had used a simple free one before with very low quality pictures at 640*480 resolution) and I really liked how it was easy to use and had a clear and colorful 1.8" LCD screen on the back.
We originally had the 32 megabyte memory card with the camera, which can hold enough pictures (the storage depends on the resolution of the pictures, however 32 megabytes is good for about 100 pictures at decent resolution). My brothers and I mainly used the camera to take pictures of awesome sports cars and rare foreign cars such as old vintage Porsches, Dodge Vipers, and Lamborghinis (we participated in what we dubbed drive-by-shootings, where we would drive by and take pictures of rare and awesome cars, and now our collection has over 1000 pictures). The pictures were generally very good quality, but the problem is that this camera is very susceptible to movements while taking a picture. Therefore, many of the pictures come out blurry. However, there are many modes for the camera, such as outdoor mode, action mode, indoor mode, night mode. These modes help when youre taking action shots, but unless you have a tripod there are too many pictures that will come out blurry.
The zoom capabilities of this camera were a pretty cool feature, although 3X zoom is fairly common on digital cameras. The menus and options are generally easy to use, and you can get by without learning about all the advanced features if you just want basic pictures. However, I suggest that you get the 512 megabyte memory card, because then you can store an almost unlimited number of pictures. With this card, at high resolution you can store over 700 pictures, and if you opt for the email-friendly low resolutions pictures at 640*480 (which come out looking pretty good) you can store thousands of pictures. This is great for overseas trips or for convenience because you dont have to keep uploading to your PC. Also a 512 MB or 1 GB memory card is great for taking videos.
This camera also takes short videos, which are actually impressive quality for a digital camera of this price. The sound quality is pretty decent also, and the videos are either 320*240 or 640*480. With our 512 MB card we could take a video of about 20 minutes at the lower resolution.
By now youre probably wondering why I gave this camera 3 stars. Well, after having this camera for about a year it had a major failure. I was using it to zoom in and out at one of my brothers school award ceremony and then the LCD image just became very blurry. From then on, the LCD monitor was constantly blurry and all the pictures became blurry. So after that we couldnt take any more pictures. Now the camera is ruined, and with our warranty expired well have to probably get it repaired at a high cost. Hopefully, the new Canon Powershot A90 doesnt have this serious malfunction. There are many other excellent Canon cameras to purchase, but I dont suggest this one unless you get at least a 2-year warranty and perhaps use the zoom sparingly.
On: 2005-06-04
I have owned many brands of Digiams from HP to Sony to Kodak and have found this to be the best of them all(with Sony as a close runner-up). The pictures you get from this are simply stunning. Perfectly saturated colors with VERY little noise(Even on high ISOs). Battery life is very good with nimhs, mainly due to utilizing 4 batteries. The interface is FULL of features, yet not overwhelming. Canon really did their homework on the A-series cameras!
On: 2005-06-03
I have owned many brands of Digiams from HP to Sony to Kodak and have found this to be the best of them all(with Sony as a close runner-up). The pictures you get from this are simply stunning. Perfectly saturated colors with VERY little noise(Even on high ISOs). Battery life is very good with nimhs, mainly due to utilizing 4 batteries. The interface is FULL of features, yet not overwhelming. Canon really did their homework on the A-series cameras!
On: 2005-05-03
Pros:
- Features: does everything automatically for you with pretty good results and lets you do anything you want manually (ISO, F-Stop, Exposure, Focus, Flash Power, etc.)
- Good feel: most smaller cameras feel flimsy and dont fit well with a grip, but its big enough to feel like a camera.
- Great picture quality. 3.2 Megapixel is plenty for any home photography, including being able to crop.
- 3x Optical zoom works great
- Uses CompactFlash, which is really cheap to upgrade.
- Uses 4AAs, so you dont have to switch batteries nearly as often, and has pretty good battery life.
- great panoramic software thats easy, and produces good results, even without using a tripod (though they reccomend using one)
Cons:
- A little large to put in a pants pocket.
- no swivel screen. Consider the higher models if you want to do more artistic photography that involve holding camera at ground level or above head that have a swivel screen if you want to use the camera for these things.
Overall, a great camera. I have had mine for close to a year now, and my dad has two, one for work and one for home use. We love this camera, and have had excellent results from it. Great for someone who wants good quality photos from a camera that is easy enough for your wife to use, but has enough features to appease your desire to tweak with the pictures.
by: mikiehorn On: 2005-04-23
[Canon has discontinued sale of this model since the review was written. The A75 still may still be found in some retailers inventories - and factory reconditioned units are still available at great prices. You should still consider the A75 as a great entry level camera.]
As a Defense Contractor, and the owner of a Canon Digital Rebel, I wanted a backup camera that would not cause much attention to be paid to me or my camera - here or in some parts of the world. Looking at price point and sharing of compact flash memory cards were two prime considerations in camera choice.
Im partial to Canon digital products. Fit, finish and performance at every level of purchase price make them dependable buys. Ive not been disappointed in any of my 3 cameras, printers or 3 lenses purchased from Canon.
The A75 camera takes marvelous daylight pictures - and pretty good flash pictures. It has enough control features to satisfy even advanced photographers like myself. With a Canon made underwater housing (purchased while scuba diving in Aruba WP-DC30 ... see my review) it allows me to go places no other camera I own will take me.
Movie mode is limited. Although good for some - the picture quality and lack of zoom features says - get a camcorder! Redeye is a distinct problem in lowlight and all flash modes. The lens/flash position allows only a narrow angle of satisfactory picture taking. Redeye reduction might be effective -but I havent seen it work acceptably. Plan to spend time in Photoshop or other software products to remove what the camera has created.
Shutter and auto-focus lag time. Most disconcerting. Sometimes the camera hunts forever. Even in controlled circumstances - the processor speed (or lack thereof) becomes annoying. Most disappointing feature of this camera.
Plan on purchasing Ni-Mh recharable AA batteries. This camera - while not a battery hog - will drain your wallet with non-rechargables. A spare (2nd) set is a good bet - if this is your only camera - and you take a lot of pictures.
Case and lens ring wear is evident after 18 months of use. Dirt and grit can get into the zoom lens mechanism in high dirt/dust environments. A mini-vac or air blower bottle has become a permanent fixture in my camera kit.
Buy a camera pouch that firmly holds the A75, and has a separate compartment for a spare set of 4 AA batteries. I share compact flash memory with my Digital Rebel. A 512mb high speed card - and you can shoot forever. 250-300 pictures in full quality on a 512mb card is possible.
After 18 months of use - Im more than satisfied. The camera is starting to be phased out by many retailers. A reconditioned A75 would make a great entry level camera at a great price.
As critical as Ive been - I LIKE this camera. Many 8x10s of grandchildren adorn our walls and those of our kids. Great pictures - sharp (enough) - if somewhat oversaturated color (makes snapshots look great) and a perfect camera to create and send e-mail photos. While still a great fan of my Digital Rebel, this camera has its place in my equipment bag wherever I go.
On: 2005-04-22
[Canon has discontinued sale of this model since the review was written. The A75 still may still be found in some retailers inventories - and factory reconditioned units are still available at great prices. You should still consider the A75 as a great entry level camera.]
As a Defense Contractor, and the owner of a Canon Digital Rebel, I wanted a backup camera that would not cause much attention to be paid to me or my camera - here or in some parts of the world. Looking at price point and sharing of compact flash memory cards were two prime considerations in camera choice.
Im partial to Canon digital products. Fit, finish and performance at every level of purchase price make them dependable buys. Ive not been disappointed in any of my 3 cameras, printers or 3 lenses purchased from Canon.
The A75 camera takes marvelous daylight pictures - and pretty good flash pictures. It has enough control features to satisfy even advanced photographers like myself. With a Canon made underwater housing (purchased while scuba diving in Aruba WP-DC30 ... see my review) it allows me to go places no other camera I own will take me.
Movie mode is limited. Although good for some - the picture quality and lack of zoom features says - get a camcorder! Redeye is a distinct problem in lowlight and all flash modes. The lens/flash position allows only a narrow angle of satisfactory picture taking. Redeye reduction might be effective -but I havent seen it work acceptably. Plan to spend time in Photoshop or other software products to remove what the camera has created.
Shutter and auto-focus lag time. Most disconcerting. Sometimes the camera hunts forever. Even in controlled circumstances - the processor speed (or lack thereof) becomes annoying. Most disappointing feature of this camera.
Plan on purchasing Ni-Mh recharable AA batteries. This camera - while not a battery hog - will drain your wallet with non-rechargables. A spare (2nd) set is a good bet - if this is your only camera - and you take a lot of pictures.
Case and lens ring wear is evident after 18 months of use. Dirt and grit can get into the zoom lens mechanism in high dirt/dust environments. A mini-vac or air blower bottle has become a permanent fixture in my camera kit.
Buy a camera pouch that firmly holds the A75, and has a separate compartment for a spare set of 4 AA batteries. I share compact flash memory with my Digital Rebel. A 512mb high speed card - and you can shoot forever. 250-300 pictures in full quality on a 512mb card is possible.
After 18 months of use - Im more than satisfied. The camera is starting to be phased out by many retailers. A reconditioned A75 would make a great entry level camera at a great price.
As critical as Ive been - I LIKE this camera. Many 8x10s of grandchildren adorn our walls and those of our kids. Great pictures - sharp (enough) - if somewhat oversaturated color (makes snapshots look great) and a perfect camera to create and send e-mail photos. While still a great fan of my Digital Rebel, this camera has its place in my equipment bag wherever I go.
On: 2005-04-12
Ive had this camera for nearly a year now, and I couldnt be more pleased. Unlike some of the smaller cameras, it feels like a "real" camera in the hand. It takes beautiful pictures and is very easy to use. I couldnt be more happy with it!
On: 2005-03-12
Ive used Canon SLRs quite a bit and I was pleased to find out how much this little point and shoot has in common with its big brothers.
Thirteen different shooting modes are easily accessed by the dial on top, giving the user total control. Naturally you would expect this camera to have a fully automatic modes, and it does. But, unlike many other point and shoot digitals, this Canon allows you to control the shutter, aperture, and focus manually.
I am pleased with the lens on this camera, but it is not a stand-out feature. The zoom is adequate most of the time. Just dont expect it to catch any real macro or telephoto shots.
Overall picture quality is excellent and colors are bright and accurate. You can now buy consumer digital cameras with 8 or more megapixel CCDs, but save your money. This cameras 3.2MP will be enough for 90% of consumers. Unless you do a lot of cropping or want to make prints bigger than 8x10, a camera like this one will do quite nicely.
Some cost cutting on this camera led to a couple disappointments, but they were easily fixed. The included alkaline AA batteries lasted less than two days. I purchased a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries and they have lasted much longer and can be recharged in 30 minutes. Also, the included Compactflash card is only 32MB. This means you can only take 22 high-resolution photos before the card is full. I purchased a 256MB CF card which allows me two take 242 high-resolution photos.
Overall I am very pleased with this camera. If you are looking for an inexpensive point and shoot digital, this one has a lot of good features and is made very well.
On: 2005-03-11
Ive used Canon SLRs quite a bit and I was pleased to find out how much this little point and shoot has in common with its big brothers.
Thirteen different shooting modes are easily accessed by the dial on top, giving the user total control. Naturally you would expect this camera to have a fully automatic modes, and it does. But, unlike many other point and shoot digitals, this Canon allows you to control the shutter, aperture, and focus manually.
I am pleased with the lens on this camera, but it is not a stand-out feature. The zoom is adequate most of the time. Just dont expect it to catch any real macro or telephoto shots.
Overall picture quality is excellent and colors are bright and accurate. You can now buy consumer digital cameras with 8 or more megapixel CCDs, but save your money. This cameras 3.2MP will be enough for 90% of consumers. Unless you do a lot of cropping or want to make prints bigger than 8x10, a camera like this one will do quite nicely.
Some cost cutting on this camera led to a couple disappointments, but they were easily fixed. The included alkaline AA batteries lasted less than two days. I purchased a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries and they have lasted much longer and can be recharged in 30 minutes. Also, the included Compactflash card is only 32MB. This means you can only take 22 high-resolution photos before the card is full. I purchased a 256MB CF card which allows me two take 242 high-resolution photos.
Overall I am very pleased with this camera. If you are looking for an inexpensive point and shoot digital, this one has a lot of good features and is made very well.
On: 2005-03-11
I received the A75 as a Christmas gift from my daughter who had purchased it from Amazon.com. When I went to use it for the first time, it didnt work! Message says "no memory." When I called Canon I was advised to send it to Elk Grove, IL for repairs and Id be advised about the cost of repairs! What about the warranty? When my daughter contacted Amazon to see about a return she was advised that Id had the camera too long. So, Canon sells a defective product to Amazon who in turn sells it to my daughter who gives it to me as a gift. Never used, never out of the box and it wont work and neither Canon nor Amazon is willing to assume any responsibility. Some support! Ive been a customer of Amazons for some time, but I see no sense in buying anything more from them!
On: 2005-03-10
I received the A75 as a Christmas gift from my daughter who had purchased it from Amazon.com. When I went to use it for the first time, it didnt work! Message says "no memory." When I called Canon I was advised to send it to Elk Grove, IL for repairs and Id be advised about the cost of repairs! What about the warranty? When my daughter contacted Amazon to see about a return she was advised that Id had the camera too long. So, Canon sells a defective product to Amazon who in turn sells it to my daughter who gives it to me as a gift. Never used, never out of the box and it wont work and neither Canon nor Amazon is willing to assume any responsibility. Some support! Ive been a customer of Amazons for some time, but I see no sense in buying anything more from them!
On: 2005-03-10
This is the second canon camera Ive had. I replaced the first one because the LCD screen broke. Never dropped it or anything, but found out it would have been over a hundred bucks to fix it. Got the A75 and after only 5 months the LCD broke on this one too. The camera mostly sat on my desk for the last two months, but then I pick it up and its broken. They say its not covered under warrenty, so there goes more money downt the drain. Takes great pictures, but save yourself the hassle and dont buy Canon, I know I wont buy one again.
On: 2005-02-21
The digital camera market is very vast these days, and after researching and reading the rave reviews of the A75 on amazon, my decision was an easy one. The Canon Powershot A75 is a GREAT camera. This was my first digital camera buying experience, and I am very impressed with the results. It is very easy to figure out how to take the pictures and movies, and I am excited to figure out the different picture effects. The best part about this camera is that I can upload the pictures and movies onto my computer easily with the USB cable and CD-ROM provided, so I can share them easily. I also love the size; its small, but it has a gripping area where the batteries go in so you can hold it easily. Overall, I love this camera and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to buy a Canon.
On: 2005-02-20
I got this camera for Christmas and am totally thrilled with it. It takes supurb picutres, has the ability to do manual settings and it really tough. One of my kids knocked it from the top of an old upright piano and it bounced off the leg of the piano and hit the floor. Nothing wrong at all, it just kept on working. I would recommmend the A75, A85, or A95 to anyone!
On: 2005-02-19
I got this camera for Christmas and am totally thrilled with it. It takes supurb picutres, has the ability to do manual settings and it really tough. One of my kids knocked it from the top of an old upright piano and it bounced off the leg of the piano and hit the floor. Nothing wrong at all, it just kept on working. I would recommmend the A75, A85, or A95 to anyone!
On: 2005-02-17
I just bought this camera because the cheaper Fuji I wanted was sold out. It is my first digital camera. Well am I ever glad I spent the extra $50, this camera is amazing. Upholding the good Canon name with flying colors. The first time I used it I got 75% amazing pics and 25% of not so good ones but I believe that was more operator error. Also I was photographing action so there are always a few that dont turn out. This camera takes pics that are better quality than some more expensive cameras. I would suggest it to anyone who is a 1st time digital user, its easy to use & takes great pictures.
On: 2005-02-16
I just bought this camera because the cheaper Fuji I wanted was sold out. It is my first digital camera. Well am I ever glad I spent the extra $50, this camera is amazing. Upholding the good Canon name with flying colors. The first time I used it I got 75% amazing pics and 25% of not so good ones but I believe that was more operator error. Also I was photographing action so there are always a few that dont turn out. This camera takes pics that are better quality than some more expensive cameras. I would suggest it to anyone who is a 1st time digital user, its easy to use & takes great pictures.
On: 2005-02-08
Got this camera for Christmas. I loved it, the quality of pictures was way better than my old Sony Cybershot. Its been less than a month and it got the infamous E18 error. I didnt have a clue what it was...I thought I accidently swung it into a wall or something...Apparently not... I went to Wal-Mart photo center...The guy knew right away what it was and gave me the number to call. I sent it in today for fixing. I have the warranty...So hopefully all I have to pay is that 3 bucks for shipping.
I also heard though that even though they fix it under warranty...The problem still has a good chance of coming back. *sigh*...200 bucks down the drain (possibly)...Im back to using my Sony camera...Ive had it for a year...And hey the pictures arent awesome but at least it still freaking works.
On: 2005-02-06
There is so much to like about this camera that I dont know where to begin! According to Consumer Reports, it has the best battery life on the market and the image quality is top-notch. Its compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket, is loaded with extra functions and features, and for the price will not let you down!
On: 2005-02-05
There is so much to like about this camera that I dont know where to begin! According to Consumer Reports, it has the best battery life on the market and the image quality is top-notch. Its compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket, is loaded with extra functions and features, and for the price will not let you down!
On: 2005-01-31
I got my Canon A75 for Christmas and LOVE it. Its very easy to use, attractive, small, and takes great pictures. Its a great value, but Id reccomend buying a bigger memory card with it!
On: 2005-01-30
I got my Canon A75 for Christmas and LOVE it. Its very easy to use, attractive, small, and takes great pictures. Its a great value, but Id reccomend buying a bigger memory card with it!
On: 2005-01-29
I am a beginner in digital photography. Plus I had never bought a camera online before- after doing extensive research I finally decided to buy the PowerShot- and have not regretted it. All I did was follow the super easy instructions. Nothing to it-just follow the instructions and you will have no problems. You will not regret it.
by: brownthing On: 2005-01-26
Ive owned this camera for 6 months and taken it on a trip round the world, so Ive got to know it quite well. Here are the pros and cons:
Good points:
------------
+ Picture quality is excellent for the price.
+ Flexiblility. This is the main thing that appealed to me about this camera (and still does). It has all the settings of my old SLR Canon A1 (i.e. shutter speed or aperture priority, manual mode) plus a load of new digital ones (e.g. black and white, sepia, vivid etc...).
+ Battery life is very good if you get some decent rechargeables.
+ Nice big, crystal clear screen.
+ Uses flash memory, which seems cheaper than the other formats.
+ Movie mode is good fun and surprisingly good quality on the high setting.
Bad Points:
-----------
- A little bit bulky.
- Ive noticed that the image through the viewfinder and the screen dont always match. The one on the screen is the accurate one, which is annoying as in bright conditions its not always easy to see.
- Works best in light conditions. I find it sometimes struggle to get the exposure right when using the flash. So use a tripd where you can.
Summary
-------
A very versatile (and quite tough) camera that with a little effort gets great results. I wouldnt recommend it for people just looking for a point and click, there are plenty of smaller, lighter cameras that will take just as good pictures. This camera is perfect, however, for people who like using SLRs and want a digital camera that lets you experiment a little whilst still producing excellent pictures.
On: 2005-01-24
The Cannon A75 is a great little camera, but the zoom lens at its widest is about equivalent to a normal 55mm lens on a 35mm camera. If youre planning on using the wide angle lens attachment you may be in for a disappointment: The add-on lens blocks part of the optical viewfinder, so you have to rely on the lcd screen. The screen is fixed and sometimes impossible to see in bright light. On the other hand, when using the lens attachment in low-light situations youll find that the lens blocks the built-in flash. If you need a digital camera with wide angle capabilities, this is not the one for you.
On: 2005-01-23
The Cannon A75 is a great little camera, but the zoom lens at its widest is about equivalent to a normal 55mm lens on a 35mm camera. If youre planning on using the wide angle lens attachment you may be in for a disappointment: The add-on lens blocks part of the optical viewfinder, so you have to rely on the lcd screen. The screen is fixed and sometimes impossible to see in bright light. On the other hand, when using the lens attachment in low-light situations youll find that the lens blocks the built-in flash. If you need a digital camera with wide angle capabilities, this is not the one for you.
On: 2005-01-13
I have a Powershot A70 that stopped working within a year because of the E18 error. Because it arrived at the Factory Service Center just after 1yr, the repair was not covered by warranty. The charge is ~$115 for repair but the repair work only has a 3month warranty. This is obviously a design flaw which has been carried over to the A75 and several other models. Search the internet and youll find out how common it is. Instead of fixing the problem, they are using it as an opportunity to make even more money off their customers. DO NOT BUY A CANON CAMERA WITH E18 PROBLEMS!
On: 2005-01-12
Hi, I previous owned a Canon A40, and I was very satisfy with that camera, I really liked it. Later I upgraded to this one (A75): More pixels (from 2 to 3.2), Large viefinder (1.8"), more video capacity (up 3 min) and extra stuffs. But I was very surprised not to see what I was expecting ... The pictures were fussy, a lot of Red Eyes (even with the red eye reduction On), quality not so good in some cases.
Im a snapshooter and all I want is to put in Auto (Large and Superfine) and take pics, But i didnt like how they looked like, specially in dark situations it was very dissapointing to me.
The movie option is very good, up to 30 sec in Large (640x480) .. up 3 min. in smaller format. You can edit them directly in the camera and hear them. Nice!
I sold it, Im going to continue with Canon beacause i think theyre the best, now im going to buy the A400 and see.
On: 2005-01-12
I bought the A75 because I wanted to upgrade to a digital camera that had some control over the manual settings, but didnt want to spend a mountain of cash. This camera is everything I hoped it would be, and more. Its small and comfortable to hold, and it packs a big punch of features. I was previously a point and shooter all the way, so Im new to manual settings, but I havent shot anything in auto mode since I bought this camera a month ago.
Set up properly, it takes awesome shots in almost every scenario you can throw at it. If you are interested in learning manual controls, there is no better camera out there for the money that can do what this one can.
If youre someone who just wants to strictly point and shoot, its still a great choice because the image quality is right up there. When you feel comfortable with the camera, you can then experiment with the manual controls and I guarantee you will want to keep learning more. Oh and the movie mode rocks too. Id hook up with at least a 128MB or better memory card though because it only comes with a 32MB card and if you take shots at the superfine rez, you wont have alot of room for images on the 32 meg card. Id also recommend at least one set of 2300 mah batteries. I got two sets plus a 3 hr. Maha charger that works like a champ.
You definitely wont be disappointed with this camera, and CF memory is reasonably priced, so a larger card wont cost you a mint. I put 4 pages of images online from this camera. You can view them at http://www.pbase.com/sporty04/canon_ps_a75&page=1
Bottom line is, the Canon A75 will not disappoint if you just take the time to LEARN how to use it...start by reading the manual. These people who are saying theyve got fuzzy images are not setting up the camera properly, and probably have the digital zoom engaged, which will produce fuzzy looking photos. As you may know from research, digital zoom is just hype and pretty useless. Its not rocket science folks, rtfm and youll get great shots from this canon. You do have to hold these cameras still, or again, youll get crappy looking images. As I said, check out my gallery at the link included above and see for yourself what awesome images this thing produces. You cant get a better digital for this price!
On: 2005-01-11
Hi, I previous owned a Canon A40, and I was very satisfy with that camera, I really liked it. Later I upgraded to this one (A75): More pixels (from 2 to 3.2), Large viefinder (1.8"), more video capacity (up 3 min) and extra stuffs. But I was very surprised not to see what I was expecting ... The pictures were fussy, a lot of Red Eyes (even with the red eye reduction On), quality not so good in some cases.
Im a snapshooter and all I want is to put in Auto (Large and Superfine) and take pics, But i didnt like how they looked like, specially in dark situations it was very dissapointing to me.
The movie option is very good, up to 30 sec in Large (640x480) .. up 3 min. in smaller format. You can edit them directly in the camera and hear them. Nice!
I sold it, Im going to continue with Canon beacause i think theyre the best, now im going to buy the A400 and see.
On: 2005-01-09
This canon is a decent point-and-shoot digital camera. Its size is great you can pretty easily, stuff it in a pocket. One thing to note the soft case is only five dollars bonus!
The camera also has all the extras that make a little more powerful than your standard point-and-shoot. It is aperture priority and shutter priority selection, which is great. If youre new to cameras, shutter speed allows you to control how long the shutter stays open. So the picture you took his dark too dark to use. Just drop your shutter speed from 1/250 of a second to 1/125 of a second this will let in more light. And maybe salvage the picture.
Thats what makes these cannons so powerful and great if you want to go beyond the basics of point-and-shoot, but it still will be a great point-and-shoot camera. And the price in these cameras just cant be beat. Between 150 and $200.
you cant go wrong, one last bonus to note is that this uses four AA batteries and not a battery pack, which is totally important. If youre on the go and out of juice. No matter what camera you got your not taken pictures. You can buy AA batteries anywhere bonus!
On: 2005-01-08
its not the best digital camera but with decent price it has so much features and great for snap shots with your friends
On: 2005-01-08
This canon is a decent point-and-shoot digital camera. Its size is great you can pretty easily, stuff it in a pocket. One thing to note the soft case is only five dollars bonus!
The camera also has all the extras that make a little more powerful than your standard point-and-shoot. It is aperture priority and shutter priority selection, which is great. If youre new to cameras, shutter speed allows you to control how long the shutter stays open. So the picture you took his dark too dark to use. Just drop your shutter speed from 1/250 of a second to 1/125 of a second this will let in more light. And maybe salvage the picture.
Thats what makes these cannons so powerful and great if you want to go beyond the basics of point-and-shoot, but it still will be a great point-and-shoot camera. And the price in these cameras just cant be beat. Between 150 and $200.
you cant go wrong, one last bonus to note is that this uses four AA batteries and not a battery pack, which is totally important. If youre on the go and out of juice. No matter what camera you got your not taken pictures. You can buy AA batteries anywhere bonus!
On: 2005-01-05
I bought this camera online from Target about 2 months ago and I love it! It has many differant features that make it great to work with. There are a few drawbacks but they are minor... It takes regular AA batteries and can suck the life out of those quite fast, so I would reccomend you buy rechargeables for this bad boy; The auto focus isnt that great so sometimes you end up with a blurry picture. Also when you take video in dim light it shows up kind of dark since there is no light on the camera... But it is an otherwise great camera. This is the first Digital camera I have purchased for myself, I have used many I just didnt own one... LoL It has been wonderful for catching all the special moments I have with my son. Two thumbs WAY WAY up!! :)
On: 2005-01-03
this thing is awesome. i got it for christmas, good quality and interchangeable lenses. this thing is sweet mainly for beginers. personally i prefer a nikon d100 or 1d mark II, but its great for snapshots.
On: 2005-01-03
I didnt know if I was going to be overwhelmed with all of the options and modes on this camera, but within a few days I had nearly everything figured out (without opening the manual).
From what Ive seen from other digital cameras, this one has very good all-around picture quality. On other digital cameras that Ive borrowed from friends, they would have great outdoor pics but terrible indoor or night pics, or visa versa depending on the camera. The A75 has (from what Ive been able to tell) the best overall picture quality for a camera under $300.
Also, shutter lag is pretty good with this camera, although some of the newer cameras in this price range are better.
Overall, I couldnt be happier.
On: 2004-12-30
You do NOT want to buy this camera. It does take great pictures and it is one of the lowest priced considering all of the features you get, but it is very unreliable. My first one (the A70 model) worked great for a year and then died. The second (A75) worked for a week and then got the E18 error which has something to do with a design flaw in the lens movement motors. Just do a web search for "powershot A75 error" and see what you find.
I am going to try to get my money back.
On: 2004-12-29
i got an a75. it has tons of stuff/features/modes. i dont even know most of it. but the video (mpegs) are nice and have good audio. id say the negatives are:
the size/weight, especially compared with some of the slim ones out now.
it needs 4 AA batteries. i have rechargeable. u might want to look into them.
and when u snap to take a pic, it takes like 2-3 seconds to actually take the pic. kind of annoying/awkward to sit there trying to hold the camera steady for a few seconds while pushing down on the button.
the pics are clean though.
On: 2004-12-29
You do NOT want to buy this camera. It does take great pictures and it is one of the lowest priced considering all of the features you get, but it is very unreliable. My first one (the A70 model) worked great for a year and then died. The second (A75) worked for a week and then got the E18 error which has something to do with a design flaw in the lens movement motors. Just do a web search for "powershot A75 error" and see what you find.
I am going to try to get my money back.
On: 2004-12-28
My mom recently recieved this camera as a gift, well to say the least the picture quality is so poor. They usually all come out blurry or disfigured. I would not recommend this camera.
On: 2004-12-28
I purchased this camera for my wife for Christmas after doing a heck of a lot of research. Let me share with you the reasons I chose the A75:
1) Resolution: With digital cameras getter "better" all the time 3.2 mp does not seem like a real high quality photo anymore. This is not true for the average camera user. I have a 2.1 mp Olympus that I blow up to 8X10 with no noticable loss of clarity. I am sure that the 3.2 will follow suit and is sufficient for the use of the wife. The main thing to remember is that the higher the pixel resolution, the larger the file size as a trade-off.
2) Batteries - I am a firm believer of the AA NiMH batteries and thier associated chargers. I was able to get the wife an Engrgizer charger with eight batteries for about $20, which will last forever. The other nice thing is that in a pinch any set of AA batteries, available literally anywhere, will keep you shooting.
3) Storage media - I prefer the compact flash media for one main reason, durability. The hard case with no external contacts make for a long lasting memory card. I personnaly like the size as well since some of the newer cards are so small they would be easily misplaced. The second reason I like compact flash is cost. [...]
4) Size - The wife loves the way the A75 fits in her hand, unlike my Olympus. The battery area forms a nice handle on the right side of the camera which fits her small hands just right. The over all compactness of the camera is great too. I figure the smaller the camera, the more likely we will actually have it with us to take pictures.
4) Brand - Its a Canon, after all. Nuff said about that...
5) Features - I have barely explored half of what the camera is capable of, but I am surprised at the depth it offers. Yet, the automatic mode is simple enough for the wife to "point and shoot" with exellent results.
Thats about it, I recommend this camera, from Amazon.com, to anyone looking to buy today!
On: 2004-12-28
i got an a75. it has tons of stuff/features/modes. i dont even know most of it. but the video (mpegs) are nice and have good audio. id say the negatives are:
the size/weight, especially compared with some of the slim ones out now.
it needs 4 AA batteries. i have rechargeable. u might want to look into them.
and when u snap to take a pic, it takes like 2-3 seconds to actually take the pic. kind of annoying/awkward to sit there trying to hold the camera steady for a few seconds while pushing down on the button.
the pics are clean though.
On: 2004-12-27
I purchased this camera for my wife for Christmas after doing a heck of a lot of research. Let me share with you the reasons I chose the A75:
1) Resolution: With digital cameras getter "better" all the time 3.2 mp does not seem like a real high quality photo anymore. This is not true for the average camera user. I have a 2.1 mp Olympus that I blow up to 8X10 with no noticable loss of clarity. I am sure that the 3.2 will follow suit and is sufficient for the use of the wife. The main thing to remember is that the higher the pixel resolution, the larger the file size as a trade-off.
2) Batteries - I am a firm believer of the AA NiMH batteries and thier associated chargers. I was able to get the wife an Engrgizer charger with eight batteries for about $20, which will last forever. The other nice thing is that in a pinch any set of AA batteries, available literally anywhere, will keep you shooting.
3) Storage media - I prefer the compact flash media for one main reason, durability. The hard case with no external contacts make for a long lasting memory card. I personnaly like the size as well since some of the newer cards are so small they would be easily misplaced. The second reason I like compact flash is cost. [...]
4) Size - The wife loves the way the A75 fits in her hand, unlike my Olympus. The battery area forms a nice handle on the right side of the camera which fits her small hands just right. The over all compactness of the camera is great too. I figure the smaller the camera, the more likely we will actually have it with us to take pictures.
4) Brand - Its a Canon, after all. Nuff said about that...
5) Features - I have barely explored half of what the camera is capable of, but I am surprised at the depth it offers. Yet, the automatic mode is simple enough for the wife to "point and shoot" with exellent results.
Thats about it, I recommend this camera, from Amazon.com, to anyone looking to buy today!
On: 2004-12-26
Canon A75 stands out for its performance and cost. It is the best entry level digital camera out there in the market. The pictures come out clean and crisp if you use it outdoor. Sometimes, I get blurred images when the lighting is not too good. But that does not happen always. The camera looks sleek and stylish. The user interface is easy to understand without reading the manual. Btaerry life is very very good. I was able to take aroun 200 pictures with LCD turned on always. It uses Compact Flash -Type I cards which are cheap as dirt. Optical zooom is good, but images get blurred if you use digital zoom(which is understandable).
Overall a must buy if you are looking to get an entry level digital camera that is worth having for 3 years and only wish to spend $200.
On: 2004-12-26
This is my first digital camera, so I cant really make any expert comparisons to other cameras. However there are a few things worth noting.
The image quality is definitely fantastic, especially for a 3 megapixel camera, and for anyone who does casual shooting (not for professional purposes) its more than adequate.
Some people claim the video mode is weak, but in my opinion its very good. Good capture quality, sound and enough features. It would be nice if you could capture as much video as the memory card could hold however.
I have heard one of the main cons of the camera is how long it takes after pressing the button to actually take the picture. I thought this was going to be a problem for me, but after trying it, I hardly noticed. It actually comes as an advantage, because when pressing the button, you exert force on the camera, and this can cause motion, so by the time camera is back in perfect position it takes the picture and it comes out fine. It may sound like a long time, but really its only about 1 second or less.
The camera build quality is very good, it feels strong and somewhat heavy, which may be a problem for shirt pockets, but it feels good.
In comparison to another camera I have used within the same price range and also 3.2 megapixels (I will not name the brand), it is like 10x better. This is a very basic and simple review, so for those of you who just need a good midrange digital camera and welcome the extra features and obviously the great overall quality, this is a must buy.
On: 2004-12-25
Canon A75 stands out for its performance and cost. It is the best entry level digital camera out there in the market. The pictures come out clean and crisp if you use it outdoor. Sometimes, I get blurred images when the lighting is not too good. But that does not happen always. The camera looks sleek and stylish. The user interface is easy to understand without reading the manual. Btaerry life is very very good. I was able to take aroun 200 pictures with LCD turned on always. It uses Compact Flash -Type I cards which are cheap as dirt. Optical zooom is good, but images get blurred if you use digital zoom(which is understandable).
Overall a must buy if you are looking to get an entry level digital camera that is worth having for 3 years and only wish to spend $200.
On: 2004-12-25
This is my first digital camera, so I cant really make any expert comparisons to other cameras. However there are a few things worth noting.
The image quality is definitely fantastic, especially for a 3 megapixel camera, and for anyone who does casual shooting (not for professional purposes) its more than adequate.
Some people claim the video mode is weak, but in my opinion its very good. Good capture quality, sound and enough features. It would be nice if you could capture as much video as the memory card could hold however.
I have heard one of the main cons of the camera is how long it takes after pressing the button to actually take the picture. I thought this was going to be a problem for me, but after trying it, I hardly noticed. It actually comes as an advantage, because when pressing the button, you exert force on the camera, and this can cause motion, so by the time camera is back in perfect position it takes the picture and it comes out fine. It may sound like a long time, but really its only about 1 second or less.
The camera build quality is very good, it feels strong and somewhat heavy, which may be a problem for shirt pockets, but it feels good.
In comparison to another camera I have used within the same price range and also 3.2 megapixels (I will not name the brand), it is like 10x better. This is a very basic and simple review, so for those of you who just need a good midrange digital camera and welcome the extra features and obviously the great overall quality, this is a must buy.
On: 2004-12-24
Almost exactly a year after I bought this camera the LCD screen broke and Canon refused to cover the warranty. The cost is almost $150 to get it fixed. I didnt drop the camera but it had scratches due to normal use. Heaven forbid you spend $400 on a camera (including additional memory and extended warranty) Canon give you a case to carry the camera in so it wont get scratches on it. This is probably so they can use the excuse not to cover the warranty. I wouldnt recommend this camera to anyone. Its not nearly as durable and easy to use as Canon claims.
On: 2004-12-23
Almost exactly a year after I bought this camera the LCD screen broke and Canon refused to cover the warranty. The cost is almost $150 to get it fixed. I didnt drop the camera but it had scratches due to normal use. Heaven forbid you spend $400 on a camera (including additional memory and extended warranty) Canon give you a case to carry the camera in so it wont get scratches on it. This is probably so they can use the excuse not to cover the warranty. I wouldnt recommend this camera to anyone. Its not nearly as durable and easy to use as Canon claims.
On: 2004-12-13
Bought this camera 2 weeks back. But used another one for a month. This camera rocks. For [...](on Amazon) you cant beat it with any other in its class or even till 5 megapixel (unless you want larger then 8x10 prints).
I,like most of you reading this review, agonised over which one to buy. It is just frustrating. There are so many options out there and after a while brain just gives up. My shortlist looked something like this : A75,A95,Fuji E550(6.3 mp , $250 after rebate at buydig.com)
A95, IMO, has more noise than A75. Also its bulky and it always shakes while pushing bit too hard snap button. Only great thing with this one is its swivel LCD. Resolution on LCD is extremely good. I liked images more on it than my flat panel PC monitor.
E550, seems to be excellent price as well, for 250 after rebate, this one is too tempting. But I thought Canon powershot is safer buy. Just because so many people have bought it and have given good reviews.
A75 is loaded with features, for the price it just offers unbelievably rich feature set. It has Aperture,shutter,manual mode, exposure compensation, white balance compensation, 3 metering modes, tons of special situation modes, addictive photostitching mode.
Image quality is excellent. I could not believe how crisp images it produces. Color are vivid, shadow details are great. In fact I think, colors are little more satuaated than they are. You dont need polariser to get a dark blue sky.
Battery life is amazing, around 400 images with LCD on and moderate use of review mode.
This review caan go on and on, just because I am impresses a lot with this camera. I just hope this lasts good. Body is plastic and I am scared of this E14... error people keep mentioning.
To summarize, I would say , if you are looking for a digital camera that you can comfortably carry anywhere and take good quality pictures then search no further. Just buy this one you will not regret.
PS. Buy lens adapter and Tiffen 3 filter set to save shipping, also a canon case ($5)
On: 2004-12-12
Bought this camera 2 weeks back. But used another one for a month. This camera rocks. For [...](on Amazon) you cant beat it with any other in its class or even till 5 megapixel (unless you want larger then 8x10 prints).
I,like most of you reading this review, agonised over which one to buy. It is just frustrating. There are so many options out there and after a while brain just gives up. My shortlist looked something like this : A75,A95,Fuji E550(6.3 mp , $250 after rebate at buydig.com)
A95, IMO, has more noise than A75. Also its bulky and it always shakes while pushing bit too hard snap button. Only great thing with this one is its swivel LCD. Resolution on LCD is extremely good. I liked images more on it than my flat panel PC monitor.
E550, seems to be excellent price as well, for 250 after rebate, this one is too tempting. But I thought Canon powershot is safer buy. Just because so many people have bought it and have given good reviews.
A75 is loaded with features, for the price it just offers unbelievably rich feature set. It has Aperture,shutter,manual mode, exposure compensation, white balance compensation, 3 metering modes, tons of special situation modes, addictive photostitching mode.
Image quality is excellent. I could not believe how crisp images it produces. Color are vivid, shadow details are great. In fact I think, colors are little more satuaated than they are. You dont need polariser to get a dark blue sky.
Battery life is amazing, around 400 images with LCD on and moderate use of review mode.
This review caan go on and on, just because I am impresses a lot with this camera. I just hope this lasts good. Body is plastic and I am scared of this E14... error people keep mentioning.
To summarize, I would say , if you are looking for a digital camera that you can comfortably carry anywhere and take good quality pictures then search no further. Just buy this one you will not regret.
PS. Buy lens adapter and Tiffen 3 filter set to save shipping, also a canon case ($5)
On: 2004-12-10
Unforutnately we did not heed the warnings; the compact flash slot on these cameras is NOT good. Brand new out of the box it was defective, which is a common complaint. Canon must do something about this, because it is otherwise a fantastic camera, for a great, great price. We will likely buy another Canon (they make good digital), or try again.
On: 2004-12-09
This review will be short and sweet. There are a lot of great detailed reviews here about every feature . . . Im going to just talk about what I think matters with this camera.
#1 - Picture Quality. I have a HP 2.1 MP camera that I just used to take a picture of my sons under the Christmas tree, then printed it out on photo paper. When I got my Canon A75 camera, I took the same picture of them, then printed it out. The difference was stunning! The color and quality of the Canon printed picture was 10x better than the HP. It looked like a photo center picture.
#2 - Software. Its okay, but not the best. For organizing and viewing after downloading, its fine. I wanted to print a picture, and all I could find was Album printing and "contact sheet". It didnt give me size option (4x6, 5x7, etc.) I ended up using my HP Printer software.
#3 - Fun Stuff. There are some fun things - like sounds. When you are in the Canon software, you can go to "My camera options" and change the sounds and opening screen picture (while your camera is connected). I have a nice Christmas scene for the opening picture and some cute Christmas sound effects. They have other themes like baseball, cats/dogs, wedding, etc.
#4 - My biggest problem with this camera is shutter speed. It takes a few seconds to actually take a picture. By the time my kids are done saying "CHEESE" the picture snaps. So Ive learned to tell them to say cheese a second after I push the button. I have a feeling Im going to miss some good shots because of this issue.
#5 - Batteries. Sure, it eats batteries, but all digital cameras do. But comparing it to my HP, the Canon A75 lasts twice as long. And does even better with a good set of rechargable batteries.
I would surely recommend this camera. It has amazing quality and a ton of features for the price.
On: 2004-12-05
I have had two Cannon digital cameras. Both have suddenly stopped working after a few months with an E18 error. This error seems to be common among Cannon cameras. It appears the lens motor stops working. Nothing you can do about it.
On: 2004-12-02
I just got my A75, and I must say Im thoroughly impressed. Ive been taking pictures ever since I was 10 (my first camera was a Kodak 126 cartridge model with the flip flash). We have a Canon EOS digital Rebel, which is awesome. That said, I wanted something smaller to tote around, and the A75 fills the bill nicely.
Initial Impressions
This baby is ready to use right out of the box. Although reading the manual is advisable prior to using any new gear, I found the cameras controls to be quite intuitive (perhaps owing to my experience with the EOS). Once you install the included batteries and 32mb CF card, youre ready to start taking pictures. There are many options for various shooting situations (sport mode, portrait, etc.), as well as a "scene" mode for more specialized scenarios such as "snow", "fireworks", and "foliage". The creative zone settings enable the most control Ive ever seen in a camera of this class, all the way down to full manual exposure and focus control. Using manual controls can make the camera work faster. For example, go into manual mode, set the focus around 2 feet and f2.8. Everything from 2 feet to infinity will be in focus, and you can zing off hip shots quickly. Although there is no metering in manual mode, the LCD will preview your shot (if your settings are wrong the preview will look too dark, too light, or too blurry). Exposure compensation controls are quickly accessible in most modes. There are three different metering modes, you can adjust the ISO rating of the sensor, and choose from one of several color balance presets (tungsten, fluorescent, etc.), and even define your own. Its got a rapid-fire mode, and can even take short videos with sound. The more you read the manual and play with this camera, the deeper you can get into the feature set, and its pretty dang deep. Quite a lot of bang for the buck.
PROS
1. Excellent image quality.
2. Ease of use.
3. Lots of features in a relatively small package.
4. High overall quality, good solid feel.
5. Uses standard AA batteries.
CONS
1. Size and weight not quite suitable for shirt pocket. Jacket pocket or purse will be fine.
2. Some shutter lag, which varies depending on selected mode. Not bad for a camera of this type, but certainly not on a par with, say, an SLR.
Although the A75 comes with software, I must recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements. It has a very nice capture feature and photo-organizer that makes managing your image library a pleasure. The editing features are quite extensive, and easy to use with many tutorials and liberal assistance. Its even got a feature that can stitch together the "photo stitch" panoramas from the A75. All in all, PS Elements works a treat with the A75 (and the EOS, for which it offers RAW file support).
On: 2004-12-02
I got lucky with my very first digital camera; I bought the Canon Powershot A40 and havent looked back. Now Im upgrading for the 3rd time to the A75 (the A85 is just too much). Heres the amazing thing: with the last two PowerShots (A40 and A60), I took *over 5500* pictures and neither one coughed once. I sold the A40 6 months ago (after 4000 pics) and the current owner says its still running like a champ. This line of digital cameras is the best thing going for the price. My Dad and brother both seem to insist on buying Nikon cameras. Then, every time we get together for the holidays, all I hear is "I wish my camera did that" or "Can I get a copy of your picture? It looks better." This camera sports features that even $400 cameras dont (I know, because I gave the other manufacturers an honest chance to get me to leave Canon this time, but they just couldnt offer anything comparable).
Now, Im no dummy when it comes to photography. Ive been an SLR user for many, many years (currently, I have a Canon EOS Rebel). Unfortunately, digital SLRs are still too expensive. I bought the Powershot because of the full manual mode (I do a lot of astrophotography and this is perfect for it). I have total control over the settings. Combined with a 52mm lens adapter, this camera satisfies 90% of my SLR cravings. The pictures are consistently crisp and well exposed. I rarely encounter a situation where the PowerShot isnt able to rock and roll. Battery life is stunning. I routinely get 500 pictures with the LCD on and maybe 30% flash (I have 2100 mAh NiMHs). Added features such as 600x480 movies, a really sharp panoramic mode (photos are "stitched" together on the computer), manual white-balancing option, histograms, manual focus, aperture/shutter priority modes and PictBridge printing are icing on the cake.
The one con Ive found is that the Powershot line seems to perform a bit sluggishly in low-light conditions, often requiring a few seconds to get a decent reading.
This really is THE best camera in its class(IMO and that of many "professional" reviewers). If you search for a certain price or megapixel resolution and a Powershot "A" line is included in the results, buy it. You wont be sorry at all. If you buy one of the others, youll honestly pay too much.
On: 2004-12-01
I just got my A75, and I must say Im thoroughly impressed. Ive been taking pictures ever since I was 10 (my first camera was a Kodak 126 cartridge model with the flip flash). We have a Canon EOS digital Rebel, which is awesome. That said, I wanted something smaller to tote around, and the A75 fills the bill nicely.
Initial Impressions
This baby is ready to use right out of the box. Although reading the manual is advisable prior to using any new gear, I found the cameras controls to be quite intuitive (perhaps owing to my experience with the EOS). Once you install the included batteries and 32mb CF card, youre ready to start taking pictures. There are many options for various shooting situations (sport mode, portrait, etc.), as well as a "scene" mode for more specialized scenarios such as "snow", "fireworks", and "foliage". The creative zone settings enable the most control Ive ever seen in a camera of this class, all the way down to full manual exposure and focus control. Using manual controls can make the camera work faster. For example, go into manual mode, set the focus around 2 feet and f2.8. Everything from 2 feet to infinity will be in focus, and you can zing off hip shots quickly. Although there is no metering in manual mode, the LCD will preview your shot (if your settings are wrong the preview will look too dark, too light, or too blurry). Exposure compensation controls are quickly accessible in most modes. There are three different metering modes, you can adjust the ISO rating of the sensor, and choose from one of several color balance presets (tungsten, fluorescent, etc.), and even define your own. Its got a rapid-fire mode, and can even take short videos with sound. The more you read the manual and play with this camera, the deeper you can get into the feature set, and its pretty dang deep. Quite a lot of bang for the buck.
PROS
1. Excellent image quality.
2. Ease of use.
3. Lots of features in a relatively small package.
4. High overall quality, good solid feel.
5. Uses standard AA batteries.
CONS
1. Size and weight not quite suitable for shirt pocket. Jacket pocket or purse will be fine.
2. Some shutter lag, which varies depending on selected mode. Not b | | |
