Canon PowerShot A700 6MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom
By: Canon
More Information
 On: 2007-12-27
Pros:
(1) Amazing 6x zoom lens. All other cameras have 4x or less.
(2) Lots of different settings so its good for beginners that dont know how to use a camera and just want to point and shoot all the way up to more advanced users.
(3) Excellent video camera abilities. Can take lots of footage with nice, loud sound.
(4) Nice big viewing screen.
(5) Viewing window in addition to viewing screen. Great for sunny days.
(6) AA batteries used means you dont have to run out of power in the middle of the trip like you would with a built in battery.
(7) There is automatic lens protection when you turn the camera off. No losing caps, forgetting to cap it, or having the lens cap fall off.
Cons:
(1) Flash recycle time is impossibly slow. Ive missed out on so many pictures because the camera wont take any pictures for a period of time after you used the flash, even if you turn the flash off.
(2) There can be LOTS of noise on the picture, especially if its dark.
(3) For some reason night pictures look great on the screen right up to when you push the button to take the picture...the picture suddenly gets dark like if you were using a disposable camera. For some reason, the camera does not have this issue if you record a video of the scene. If anyone can figure out how to make it stop doing that, please let me know.
 On: 2006-12-27
Ive had this camera for 6 months now and taken several thousand pictures. The pics have been consistently excellent - the sharpness, colours and contrast all rival much more expensive cameras, particularly in good light conditions (outdoors in daylight or indoors with flash).
It works very well as a point and shoot, but also has lots of programmable modes for more experienced users.
To another reviewer : Fill in flash can be done by switching to P mode, which allows you to force the flash to always on.
With regard to other reviewers comments on speed, mine speeded up a lot with an Ultra II SD card. Cycle time is now sub-1s without flash, although with flash it does still slow down to about 5s due to the flash recharge time. I would strongly recommend getting a 512Mb or bigger, Ultra II-type, SD card.
The drawbacks apply to any compact camera, the lens is smaller than an SLR etc. so in conditions of low light, or with high zoom, or both, its running long exposure times with resulting restrictions on movement.
On: 2006-11-20
Overall, I really like my A700. I took the camera on a trip to Italy and was extremely pleased with the performance, shooting 95% on automatic. After spending considerable time researching available cameras, it replaced my Powershot S40, as I wanted to upgrade to the 6MP and the 6x zoom. Im used to the Canon settings (having had the S40 and a Rebel), so that was a consideration. Yesterday I took some head and action shots at the Eagles game (sideline pre-game warmup)and was impressed by the ability to stop action using the Tv setting.
I do agree with some of the issues pointed out by reviewers, namely:
1. I had to return it after two weeks, as the automatic lens cover started sticking. Servicing was quick, but it seems to be an issue with this model. Im hoping it isnt a reoccuring problem.
2. Flash recycling time IS slow. Mine runs about 6-8 seconds. Luckily, its a minor annoyance with my shooting.
3. For all the great features they built-in, a hot shoe for an attached flash would have been a nice addition.
4. I wish they had added a remote shutter release...oh well.
5. True, the 800ISO setting is extremely grainy, but you quickly learn not to use it unless you expect and can accept the results (and a tripod isnt permitted). And, easy to pretend its not there.
Overall, I found these to be minor items when balanced with the near-perfect blend of features.
Lastly, one of the features I thought Id use was the ability to add telephoto and wide-angle lenses, as well as filters. At 6X, I dont think Ill have a need for it.
On: 2006-11-10
I am extremely satisfied with this camera. It has exceeded my expectations. Also very good delivery, only 2 days.
 On: 2006-11-07
The product is good but the timing between every shot is very slow and sometimes disgusting. I own Cannon A75 and like A75 over this product
 On: 2006-11-04
Camera has been nothing but problems. Ive owned it about 3 months. It was sent to Canon for about 2-3 weeks over a month ago and its going back tomorrow. Same problem. The problem is the LCD does not always come on when you turn the camera on. When that happens you cant take a picture (youll get a blank picture). Problem doesnt happen all the time, very annoying. Canon repaired it once and Im getting the same problem. They offer no recourse other than to repair again at their service center in the midwest (free shipping this time, big deal!!). Camera is turning out to be an annoying piece of junk that their own service department cant repair. Camera, service, and warranty all very poor. I would highly recommend cameras from any other vendor but this one.
On: 2006-10-28
I purchased the Canon a700 about 4 months ago after spending weeks deciding on the right camera for me. The size is good and fits in a pocket and the features are great. In the end the 6x zoom and 2.5" LCD won me over compared to other models that had only 3x or 4x and 2" LCD. After pictures at a wedding and a trip to Australia, I can say that this camera takes amazing quality photos. My girlfriend has the Canon sd400 and we both took pictures on our trip. The a700 zoom allowed me to take better photos in many instances than the 3x on the sd400 and the pictures were still clear at full zoom. Canon picture quality overall is outstanding and I was cautious to buy a digital camera because of the slightly fake looking images ive seen with some digital cameras compared to a good quality regular camera. However, I could not be happier with the quality of images with the a700. The battery life is good and last about 300+ shots and I was able to get an extra 20 pictures after the camera had shut off and told me to change the batteries. The video quality is decent and the sound quality is good. 8x10 prints that I had made looked fantastic and I ordered larger images because the 8x10s turned out so clear. Everything is easy with this camera. Almost all the pictures I took were on the Auto Setting except when I used the Color Accent feature which can make some cool photos. Almost no blurry images, out of 500 pictures I had 4 or 5 that were slightly blurry. Overall a great camera and a spectacular value for under $300. Image quality is extraordinary.
On: 2006-10-15
The 6x digital zoom is nice, and the zoom is fast and easy to use with precision. The camera has a very quick startup speed, which makes it easy to capture things like birds which wont sit still for you. The menu and user-interface are very easy to use, and it is very easy to view pictures. The screen is huge and very clear.
This camera loses, though, when it comes to the quality of photos. It takes decent photos outdoors in bright sunlight, but under any other conditions the photos are unacceptably noisy for a camera in this price range. My old Olympus that was only 4.0 megapixels actually took much better flash photos indoors. The ISO-800 setting is almost worthless because of the noise, and the 400 setting is still noisier than my old Olympus. The flash-cycling is very slow, making it impossible to shoot flash photos in quick succession.
My biggest complaint about this though is that after less than 6 months of moderate use, the covering mechanism for the lens broke; it would not shut properly when the camera was turned off. Although it was still under warranty, I was frustrated by having to return a product for service so soon. For a $300 camera, there is no excuse for having such a basic mechanical failure.
Bottom line, this is not a $300 camera, it is a $100 camera with a lot more zoom, and a $300 price tag. Canon is trying to make a fast buck with a poorly designed product. Do yourself a favor and dont make the same mistake I did by buying this. Like I said, I have had much better experience with my much older Olympus camera.
On: 2006-09-21
I am as I call myself an "advanced amateur" photographer and own an SLR for those times when my serious photography mood kicks in.
I needed a digital camera for everyday photography and my criteria was:
1. Ease of use / handling
2. Compact (Not really really small - I have cell phone for that)
3. Point and shoot features, i.e. good results with minimum fuss
4. 5 MP minimum
5. Decent zoom
6. Within $ 300
I did a fair amount of research spread over 3-4 magazines and 7-8 websites and I narrowed down to Canon Powershot and Nikon Coolpix as the two shortlisted brands (Sony is out because of its proprietary cards).
Narrowing it further, I decided on the Canon A700 and I believe it was a great decision. Not only does the camera more than satisfy all my criteria, it has phenomenal results.
I am very very happy to say the least
On: 2006-09-13
Sure, its got some flaws. Dont get grit in the lens, you *will* have to have it serviced out of warranty. Yes, the flash recycle time is horrible, I wish the thing had a hot shoe. Yes, the noise level at ISO 800 is worse than an SLR, but...
From an artistic/aesthetic standpoint, if not a strictly technical one, the overall image quality, color and sharpness are SUPERB. A thousand times better than my new Pentax SLR.
The focal range of the one lens-- 35-210 mm or thereabouts -- requires the equivalent at least two lenses on my SLR, which feels like an albatross around my neck. This baby fits in my pants pocket. Plus most SLR kit lenses start at f/3.5 or 4 and this is an f/2.8.
Its unobtrusive. I can go more places, and hence, take more photographs, with this camera.
It has enough manual controls to satisfy the most experienced photographer and the LCD is a delight to see through.
Surprisingly, I can manual focus better with this Canon than directly through my Pentax SLRs viewfinder. The grid overlay on the LCD is also helpful when taking architecture shots or lining up the horizon of landscapes.
Its macro focusing, especially, is a delight.
Except for distant wildlife shots, I can do everything I ever wanted to do with a camera.
An absolute gem.
On: 2006-09-05
We are very happy with the product exept that when we took it to Mexico the lenses on the inside of the camera kept fogging up. We had another canon digital camera and this did not happen. I had read a review earlier about problems with the seels on this model and ours has done the same thing. We live in a very dry climate and have had no problems and only had problems on our vacation in Mexico. Other than that it has been a great camera.
On: 2006-09-02
a bit misleading, the "zoom" begins at such a wide angle that it doesnt really do much. Plus, you cant even use it zoomed out all the way without a tripod, or the shot is too blurry.
One of the reasons I bought this camera was because I wanted a compact camera with a self closing lens cap and more optical zoom than my 3x Nikon. well, the zoom is not too noticeably much more, and the self closing cap doesnt always close all the way. I really like the large screen, and it is small enough to fit in my purse. It is a decent camera for the price. but if youre looking for real zoom, try the panasonic. Hope this helps someone!
On: 2006-08-31
This camera is AWESOME! Ive had two Sony camera and they always seem to take a long time to snap the picture even on normal settings. The Canon A700 takes photos quickly, the colors are beautiful, and zoom was something I really wanted in a camera and this has it and is still compact. I love my Canon!
On: 2006-08-19
Superb Camera, Superb Pictures and Super light too. My 2GB SD card worked fine, older A-xxx supported only upto 1GB.
The large display looks nice.
A bit disappointed with low light Hi-ISO pictures
On: 2006-08-16
I "loved" this camera till it broke. I take VERY good care of all of my camera and the camera was never dropped or even a small scratch. But i bought this camera brand new in June and it broke just the other day. I sent it in for warranty and i will see what they say.
It got stuck in Play mode and will not switch back to the camera mode.
Seems minor, but i will just wait and see what they say.
So i gave it a 4 out of 5. 5 of 5 for sure if it didnt break.
On: 2006-08-10
The output of this inexpensive camera is great. Well exposed and sharp across the board. The "Auto" mode will satisfy almost any shooting condition you come across. The "Program" mode will add even more control for the unusual type of subject. With another 18 modes to use, if needed, almost anything you would want to record is possible. The only shortcoming I can find is the weak builtin flash, but this is a common shortcoming to almost every point and shoot digital camera. The real plus of this camera is the long zoom range. Coupled with a really good lens it makes this an outstanding camera in its price range.
On: 2006-08-05
Ive blown 1000 + shots through the A 700 since buying in Jun. Ive used from my home in Long Beach, CA to Cranbrook, British Columbia and back.
I was looking for a camera with a lense greater than 3X, but not as great as 10X, as the camera had to fit easily in a ziplock sandwich bag, and into a cycling riding jersey. In short, a camera I could carry conveniently, and also keep it dry and handy.
The A700, I found was perfect. I could dismount from my bike, reach into my jersey pocket, pull out the sandwich bag with the camera dry inside. It took seconds.
Doing slide shows in our campsite showed scenes of Canada that were breathtaking. On an iBook screen, the colors popped out (Even more so on a 20 in screen).
I used the camera to take scenic shots, and close-up, i.e. macro shots of plants (in one case, bear scats). It seemed to deal with that range well. I worked around the long flash cycle time by shutting the flash off and working in available light. The results I thought were excellent.
However, the flash cycle time did seem long. A missing fill flash feature was especially disappointing. Also missing was a bracketing feature which was available on my older, 3x Minolta. As a result of the above factors, Ive downgraded this camera to 4 stars.
Everything considered, this is a camera Im glad I bought. Hopefully there isnt the dread, "E 18 error" message in this cameras future.
On: 2006-08-04
This is my first digital camera. It has a very nice easy to see screen. Zoom is the reason I bought the camera and Im very pleased with it. The cover over the computer cord receptical is a little flismy. And Ive run batteries low while downloading to computer but that was more my error. The lack of stabilization has not caused problem. Overall, its what I anticipated and would but again.
On: 2006-07-31
This camera is unique on its kind.
It has awesome features. Just to name a few:
-Very quick, Ive used it with an 1GB SD Card and there is not slow response.
-Excellent combination: 6 Megapixels and 6X optical zoom
-640 x 480 video
-Easy to use shooting modes. vegetation, snow, fireworks...
-Histograms to check if the picture you took has well balanced light levels.
-2,5 inch screen
I recommend this camera, because it takes excellent pictures,
really good pictures, the auto mode of this camera really works,
there are other cameras that do not take pictures so good in auto mode.
On: 2006-07-31
I bought this camera so I that I wouldnt have to carry my Rebel XT everywhere with me.
I am very happy with the quality of the pictures. They still somehow do have the look of a cheaper digital camera. Im not sure what exactly it is, slightly higher JPG compression, or just more noise. But I can immerdiately tell the difference between Rebel XT pictures and A700 pictures. Im being a little picky though, overall the results are really good.
My major complaint is the flash recycle time. Its really horrific. About 5 seconds for me with rechargeable NiMH batteries. Thats a long time if you want to catch a specific shot... Its a good thing I dont do much flash photography.
Yes, the noise does get pretty bad at 800, but its still better than not having a picture at all. You can reduce the noise somewhat later with software.
This camera does clip highlights pretty bad. I find that annoying at times. Areas of light within a darker shot are completely washed out. This really shouldnt be the case in this generation camera.
Im not sure what the people with the E18 error are talking about, this camera has not been on the market for a year, heck, barely 6 months...
I always use custom functions and usually shoot in Av mode with the highest quality and 80 or 100 ISO to get the best results possible. I love how this camera is nearly as flexible with options as an SLR.
To summarize, this is a very good camera. I would buy it again (unless something newer and better was available). If this camera had a shorter flash recycle time and didnt clip highlights as much as it does, I would have given it 5 stars.
4 Months Later:
I have used this camera quite a bit and it has travelled with me to a lot of places. Unfortunately the automatic lens shade got stuck and would not work anymore. I sent the camera to Canon and it was repaired under warranty and returned to me within a week. Great customer service. If I would do it all over again right now, I would probably get the Canon A700 IS or the A 640 which will all be released this October (2006).
On: 2006-07-26
I had the same experience as the other reviewer!
The camera worked great for about 1 year and our family loved it!
One day we turned it on only to find a black screen with E18 error. The camera never worked again!
I thought someone had dropped it.
We got ANOTHER Canon Powershot. SAME PROBLEM!!!
I thought it was our fault until I Googled Canon and E18.
STAY AWAY!!! Its not worth the frustration.
On: 2006-07-18
Google "Canon" and "e18" before you buy this camera! They have a major flaw in the lens mechanism of all their cameras.
On: 2006-07-17
Im satisfied with this camera except for three things.
First, ISO 400 and 800 has too much noise. Especially ISO 800 is almost unusable. I thought my camera was defective and returned it and received replacement. But it has same problem. I have Canon XT which works beautifully even with ISO 1600. I expected similar quality, but I was diappointed.
Second, during video taking, I cound not change the focus. It is very inconvenient. My old Nikon can do that but this advanced Canon cannot do that. Another disappoinrment.
Third, I use this camera for snap pictures of family activity. And I want to put date on the pictures. But this camera can put the date only on the small post card format picture and not on the high quality picture. I want high quality picture with date on it. What is the problem with that? But Canon removed that simple option. It should be the users option not the designers rigid mind. Another inconvenience. Other than that this camera is up to my expectations.
On: 2006-07-17
I read many reviews on this camera as well as other cameras.I didnt know much about digatal cameras,but decided to buy this on after looking at many others.I have to say this camera takes great pictures in daylight as well as nights.All I have used is the Auto setting in both day and night.I have not found a long delay in the flash.In fact there was hardly any.The menu is very easy to read,and the downloading is a snap.I used it with the Corel 6Photo Shop and can print 8 different pictures at once in great quailty.The videos are clear and the sound is fine,and Im not even an expert in this stuff.I love the 6x zoom,and the view finder is a great asset.To be honest I have not used all the other settings,but for me I dont seem to need them.It is also light and I love the fact it uses 2aa batteries so I dont have to worry about charging it up,and the LDC readout is nice at 2.5.I closing this is a great little camera and it does a big job and for the price it was a great bargin
On: 2006-07-05
I opened the box, put in the batteries and the memory card and took my first pictures. It was that easy. Then I started looking at the many, many features this camera has. I was blown away. The first time user can use it just by turning it on and pointing and shooting. The experienced user can set shutter speeds, f-stops, do panoramic pictures, and many, many more things. The battery life is amazing. I have used other digital cameras, but this is the best Ive ever seen or used. The fact that it has 6 MP is just awesome. When I plugged the camera into my 32 inch TV, I saw no pixels at all. The 6x optical zoom is also wonderful. I attended a community event with lots of children, and I was able to zoom in on children clear across the park and still get good close-up photos. I am entirely satisfied with my purchase, and owe a lot of it to the reviews I read on Amazon.com.
On: 2006-06-30
Ive had this camera for over 3 weeks, but have only used it for about half that time, as its been in the shop for repair. I got it to use when I dont want to (or cant) use my big camera (a 20D), and I have enjoyed almost every aspect of it. I say "almost" because I cant recommend it, despite its great pictures, its ease of use, and its excellent controls.
Early Canon point-and-shoots had well-known problems with grit in the zoom lens, and this camera seems to revert to type. Maybe thats because Canon hasnt worked all the bugs out of the six-times optical zoom. Whatever the cause, the zoom lens started sticking about a week after I bought it, and I discovered that the lens seals had let some grit into the system. I sent the camera in for repair, only to learn that this flaw is not covered by warranty. I paid the rather large repair bill (and got very fast service). But I would not use this camera anywhere that the problem might recur. Canon needs to fix the seals, not disclaim responsibility.
Aside from this, I especially like the easy-to-use exposure compensation button, the flexible menus, and the fact that I can switch ISO so readily. Other than the lens seals, the camera is a gem. But those bad seals are a killer.
On: 2006-06-30
If you want more zoom than 3x (this one has 6x optical), if you want small size, if you want more than 5 megapixels (this one has 6), if you want a viewfinder, if you want good quality, this is the camera to buy! I have other VERY fine Nikon Digital SLRs but they weigh a TON. I travel a lot and want to take great pictures, this little gem fits the bill. As far as I can tell so far (I have had the camera just over a month) the only draw back is that it does not come with a rechargeable battery pack. (You can use rechargeable AAs) But given the other features, I will live with it! I am picky and I looked all over and this was the only camera that fit almost all my requirements.
On: 2006-06-22
This is a great camera with many options for users who want to upgrade an existing digital or replace an aging SLR (and keep features they love in the SLR). The screen is large and resolution is great. Photo outputs are fantastic, with very little noise (much better than the Sony this replaced). This assessment is made on a comparison of two identical images at the same resolution between the two cameras and images sent to Ofoto for processing. The price is fantastic for the options. Changing resolution settings between shots is quite easy, once you get used to the interface.
The only negative I found is the transfer of the image to a PC. I think it could be smoother. I prefer to use Windows Explorer for managing file locations. While that may be possible with this camera, I just have not spent the time to resolve the difficulties Ive had with that. None the less, the transfers are quick.
I would highly recommend this camera and could not be any happier.
 On: 2006-05-21
I bought this camera for my trip to Italy as a backup to my Rebel XT and although I certainly didnt expect it to compete with my DSLR, I found the A700 to have a very cheap plastic feel to it. The photo quality was actually pretty good but like others who have reviewed this camera, I also found the lag time between pictures to be a problem and for me the noise level starting at ISO 400 and above was not acceptable. I ended up returning this camera and getting Canons new Powershot S3 IS which I can definitely recommend. I think most beginners would be more forgiving with the A700 but for the more discerning photographer, I would recommend looking at other models.
On: 2006-05-20
This is a nice camera, but I bought it with the intention of reselling on Amazon my PowerShot A95. Its in excellent condition, but I wanted to upgrade to the larger A700 screen since I hardly ever used the swing screen.
Ive resold other items on Amazon and saw there were used models of the A95 and assumed and for that reason only (there are cheaper sources) bought it from Amazon.
However, never assume! Turns out Amazon has a closed market for certain items, allowing only certain resellers for some cameras, including the Canon PowerShot A95. Therefore, I am returning the A700, stuck with the shipping costs that are not refundable.
From the little Ive used it, its a definite upgrade over the A95 and shortly after getting it a couple of days ago I compared the two. For the quality of the camera itself, Id give it 4.5 stars (because of the slow flash recycling - otherwise, a 5.) But because of the deceptive listing, indicating one can resell your other camera, Ill give it only an attention-getting 3.
So, buyers beware: dont trust the "Sell Yours Here" --- some you can (you can resell your A700, for instance!); some you cant (the A95, for instance.) You will get the message "listing is restricted to pre-approved sellers only." There is no way for new sellers to get on that list, according to messages from Amazon, and no explanation as to why that is so.
On: 2006-05-19
This is a nice camera, but I bought it with the intention of reselling on Amazon my PowerShot A95. Its in excellent condition, but I wanted to upgrade to the larger A700 screen since I hardly ever used the swing screen.
Ive resold other items on Amazon and saw there were used models of the A95 and assumed and for that reason only (there are cheaper sources) bought it from Amazon.
However, never assume! Turns out Amazon has a closed market for certain items, allowing only certain resellers for some cameras, including the Canon PowerShot A95. Therefore, I am returning the A700, stuck with the shipping costs that are not refundable.
From the little Ive used it, its a definite upgrade over the A95 and shortly after getting it a couple of days ago I compared the two. For the quality of the camera itself, Id give it 4.5 stars (because of the slow flash recycling - otherwise, a 5.) But because of the deceptive listing, indicating one can resell your other camera, Ill give it only an attention-getting 3.
So, buyers beware: dont trust the "Sell Yours Here" --- some you can (you can resell your A700, for instance!); some you cant (the A95, for instance.) You will get the message "listing is restricted to pre-approved sellers only." There is no way for new sellers to get on that list, according to messages from Amazon, and no explanation as to why that is so.
On: 2006-05-10
I received this camera for my birthday last week and I simply love it. It is very user friendly and easy to understand. The quality of pictures that this thing produces are just great. I will admit the the flash recycle time may take 2-3 seconds but its really nothing to get worked up about unless you take alot of pictures at night or really dark places. Me, I just snap pictures of my 2 year old son outdoors in the day and in the house under regular and dim lighting conditions and the pictures are always about 90% acceptable. Considering this is Not a $800+ dollar Digital SLR camera, this is a pretty good percentage in my opinion.
On: 2006-05-08
Ive only had the camera for a couple weeks, however it was pretty obvious from the first pictures I took, these are quality crisp photograps. Im writing this review because Im beginning to appreciate the reviews from other customers when I buy things. I was in the market for a new digital camera because the one I had accidentally went for a swim. I had a 3 MP kodak easyshare from 2002. I was generally satisfied, it took decent pictures, definitely easy to use. So, this time I thought Id stick with kodak, just upgrade the MP and get a smaller camera. I bought the V603. To be fair, its small, probably too small trying to work the buttons. Outside the pictures are pretty good, inside, two words, horrible, and useless. I called kodak, they walked me through changing around the settings as I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, nope, still bad. It was unacceptable to me so I returned the camera, paid the restocking fee.
Anyway, after reviewing a bunch of different brands, sizes, etc, I purchased this one. Very, very satisfied. Particularly with the picture quality (after all thats the whole purpose of a camera anyway, right?) Better then expected. So far, pretty straight forward to use, Ill confess ive only kept it on automatic settings. I put my daughter on the swing, I was facing the sun and took some pictures to put it to the test. Awesome, they looked like perfect still pictures. My wife couldnt believe she was moving in the picture.
So, its not a pocket/compact camera, or whatever you call it, although its still fairly small. At this point, I wouldnt want to get a smaller camera and compromise the picture quality.
On: 2006-05-07
Ive only had the camera for a couple weeks, however it was pretty obvious from the first pictures I took, these are quality crisp photograps. Im writing this review because Im beginning to appreciate the reviews from other customers when I buy things. I was in the market for a new digital camera because the one I had accidentally went for a swim. I had a 3 MP kodak easyshare from 2002. I was generally satisfied, it took decent pictures, definitely easy to use. So, this time I thought Id stick with kodak, just upgrade the MP and get a smaller camera. I bought the V603. To be fair, its small, probably too small trying to work the buttons. Outside the pictures are pretty good, inside, two words, horrible, and useless. I called kodak, they walked me through changing around the settings as I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, nope, still bad. It was unacceptable to me so I returned the camera, paid the restocking fee.
Anyway, after reviewing a bunch of different brands, sizes, etc, I purchased this one. Very, very satisfied. Particularly with the picture quality (after all thats the whole purpose of a camera anyway, right?) Better then expected. So far, pretty straight forward to use, Ill confess ive only kept it on automatic settings. I put my daughter on the swing, I was facing the sun and took some pictures to put it to the test. Awesome, they looked like perfect still pictures. My wife couldnt believe she was moving in the picture.
So, its not a pocket/compact camera, or whatever you call it, although its still fairly small. At this point, I wouldnt want to get a smaller camera and compromise the picture quality.
On: 2006-04-14
I just received this camera today and I am excited. My first impression is that this is a very nice camera. The screen is big and bright, and the camera in general is fast (the flash may be slow as others say). The camera senses which way round it is when you take a shot, and rotates the image accordingly, which is cool. The camera is jacket pocketable rather than trouser pocketable, but smaller than I had feared and will suit me. AA batteries and SD card are both nice features for me - it took me about a minute from first opening the camera box, to getting that first shot (and that included 30 seconds to find the SD card from my old broken Casio).
I chose this camera after 4-6 hours of research taking in the main camera websites, and a quick peek at the related A620 (which I think it bigger than the A700). It was a toss up between the Canon A700, and the Canon SD700.
On the one hand, the SD700 is superdinky and megacute, and has image stabilization. On the other hand, the A700 is significantly cheaper, available now, and has 6x instead of 4x zoom. To be honest, Im not sure when the image stabilization on our other camera (a Konica Minolta) is on, so I guess image stabilization isnt so important to me.
On: 2006-04-08
The fellow who said the flash recycling on the A700 is "horrible" was correct. I bought this camera to replace a Canon S500 because it focused too slowly.
The A700 focuses and shoots quickly- but only if you are NOT using the flash. If you use the flash you have to wait a very long time between shots- and thats with brand new batteries. It was unbelievably slow- slower than the camera I bought it to replace.
I ended up returning the A700 and buying an A620. The A620 is slightly larger than the A700, has a smaller viewing screen, and has less zoom. Other than that its a better camera. I dont mind the slightly larger size and smaller screen- the only thing I miss is the longer zoom. Even so- the A620 has a 4X zoom (equivalent of a 35-140mm lense on an slr)and thats not bad for a camera that will fit in your pocket
On: 2006-03-30
I wonder what the other reviewer was smoking. By his own admission, he never used the A700. How in the World his "review" was helpful to 3 out of 3?
A700 is as quick as the compacts get these days. There is no 5-10s wait time between shots. There is no compact camera that gives you a low noise ISO 800 pic. In fact there is very few that can compete with the A700 at that (not to be used) high 800 setting.
To my eye, the pics are all looking great. No one should expect a camera at this price range to compete against a dSLR. It holds its own easily against the S2 (with S2 having advantage in zoom range of course and IS).
Also, the 6x zoom is just about the most you can use without an effective IS system. In other words Canon gives you an excellent compromise of price, on paper specs and the performance to match.
Overall, youre looking at a small (but not too small, mostly due to its grip), light (but not too light), fast shooting quality performer. Im positive there is other models with similar quality and other brand may be more to your liking. But if you do like Canons digital output and are looking for a useful compact ... the A700 might just be it.
---------------------------------------------
I thought I get back here for some more after having used the camera a little bit more.
On the flash recycling time: it does not reach 4 seconds on my unit, measures more like 3s, whatever is LONG for you, this is not long in my view. Im sure there are compacts that recycle faster (a bit), but it seems were beginning to expect miracles.
On the rest of the camera: handles very well, movies are of excellent quality, macro is just fantastic, and 6x zoom is a major upgrade. No issues with exposure control. Noise is low and quite useable at 200, above degrades quickly. Use manual ISO settings for most situations so at least you can control noise levels (auto ISO is fine in bright daylight).
I dont like the cover on the battery compartment. It looks/feels out of place (camera is built very well). While you can open it with one hand, it seems you should use two so as to minimize ware on the latch system (its small plastic latch that you need hold open while sliding the cover out). I sure wish Canon stuck to S30 type cover, slide only and extremely rugged.
I must say I was too considering the A620. In the end the 6x zoom won me over, but I still see the advantage of a flip screen. I did not feel the need for the 7 mpixels (I use the Rebel XT if large print size comes into play).
On the final note: the wrist strap that came with the camera is nothing special. I purchased the Casio neck strap for their Exilim line (cat. no. ENS-2BN, or 2BK for grey/black). This is THE strap to have for any compact w/single eye strap attachment. It seems to be in high demand, most places are out of stock. Got mine directly from Casio site. Search for it and youll see what I mean.
On: 2006-03-27
Ive seen samples from the A700 and Id say pictures are great quality at low ISO. At the higher ISOs like 800, theres noticeable noise (grain). Color is good, saturation is good, and this camera produces canon quality pictures that are awesome.
i would have given this camera a 5, but the thing that pulls it down is that the flash recycle time (time between when the flash fires and when you can take another shot) can pretty bad at 5-10s when using flash. w/o flash, its better and under 5s. So, if you are taking pictures of little kids, sports events, pets, etc, this camera might not be the best since youll be waiting for the flash to charge up before you can fire the next shot. Youll have to try it out first. Id recommend the canon a610/a620 which uses 4 aas as well as the S2 or S3 which have 12x zoom and image stabilization. Flash recycle time is only a few seconds. Even canons elph series have faster flash recycling from my knowledge. If canon can provide a firmware to improve flash recycling time, this would be a super camera.
On: 2006-03-23
Many more features than other cameras in the same same category and price.
I have been seaching for a while & this camera met all my needs. Could not find any other camera in this category will all these great features at $350.
1.) High optical zoom 6x Optical- most others only 3x to 4x.
2.) High Megapixels at 6MP - most others are 4 to 5MP.
3.) Great (short) shutter lag response. Very little delay.
4.) Many shooting modes - Manual mode, Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority, Widescreen Panorama, & others.
5.) Great in low light - ISO 800, faster shutter speeds
6.) Large LCD
7.) Very compact
8.) Easy to use. No hassel.
The combined 6MP resolution and 6 x optical with all other features is ahead of others.
I have used the camera thoroughly and its performance lives up to my expecatations.
Going to be a very competative camera and top seller.
Nice job Canon. You have raised the bar.
|
|
