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Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 137
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 On: 2008-06-23
Very good camera for the price. Be sure to get at least 1 GB memory.
 On: 2008-06-21
I bought this camera last march for our trip to Europe. The pictures were never of the quality of my Canon Elph 2 mp. A couple weeks ago the button to switch from shoot to view fell off. Yesterday the camera quit working all together. I have called Canon but they told me that the warranty was up. After three cameras and two video cameras, the rep told me; OH WELL!! I think I will buy my next camera from Nikon or Sony.
On: 2008-02-18
I am strictly an ameture photo guy...OUr primary criteria was keep it simple but with flexibility if we need it. Had it out of the box and running in 15 minutes. Looks like it has lots of adjustments, but I will most likely keep it on AUTO.
My wife has small hands and loves the fit... I have X-large hands and it is very comfortable to me as well.
Generally this camera gets great reviews and the only negetive that concerns me is that it may have a weak auto focus... primarily on faces... well see. I really like the LCD and it has nice larger icons and print and great "twist"
Definitely get a set of NIMHs and a charger. This baby uses 4 at a time. Some careful shopping and you should be able to get a set with charger for under 30; stay with 4 hours to overnight faster chargers will eat the batteries up.
I did a lot of comparisons between this and other models and makes of cameras...and read a lot of + and - reviews...for the bucks (329) this was very reasonable... I would not pay more.
I will up date this is 6months after we get some milage on this pig.
 On: 2008-02-16
You can spend a little more and get a G9, but what you wont get is a mobile display that is very handy and excellent AA battery options. Unless you require a raw mode, the display and the battery options far out way anything out there. Oh yea, it takes excellent pictures. Five Stars here.
On: 2008-02-09
Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
This is a great camera especially for the price. I bought it in the fall of 2007 for $[...] through Amazon.com....and surprisingly enough the price has risen greatly since then. So I feel I really got a good deal. Its ease of operation has been great. I am just starting to get into photography...and after my research found this to be just the ticket. My only complaint (hence the four star rating) is the blurriness at times during long exposures.. for example a dark path in the woods. I really wish it had an image stabilization feature...and I will make sure my next camera comes with it. Other than that it had everything I had hoped for. I did order some photo taking books to aid in learning more about all of the features....which have helped. So good luck! I hope you enjoy.
On: 2007-12-16
First, let me say, I think this camera is wonderful, and offers everything I really need, for taking every day and travel pictures.
The story of this Camera for me, and how I arrived at purchasing it follows:
About 8 years ago I purchased an Olympus 1.3 megapixel, that I really enjoyed and got a few years of great use. It had a flip up flash, that was sufficient for good pictures in dark lighting. It worked off a smart media card, which never presented a problem.
When I need a larger dimension format in photo size, I decided to look for a reasonably priced secondary camera that I could use.
I figured most of the Olympus line was good, since I had read that they usually focus on the quality of their lenses. Being tight with the budget, I ended up getting an Olympus Fe-110, figuring the 5MP would be better than the 1.3 megapixel.
I was so wrong, and I was disappointed in several things with The Olympus Fe-110 camera. I will write a separate review on the Olympus camera, but the core of it, was the photos were not as good, and it was impossible to get good night photos with its very small flash. (also the XD proprietary media card is just a compatibility inconvenience)
I always ended up going back to my Olympus 1.3MP camera, over the 5MP.
When I dropped my original 1.3MP camera, and broke it, I was very sad to see it go. I needed a reliable every day, every vacation camera, and it as not going to be the Olympus Fe-110.
(I know this isnt a review of these Olympus cameras, I simply wanted to provide some background on how I arrived at my selection of the Canon A640.
I did a little better research this time, and found this Canon A640 received very high marks and, as Ive come to find out, rightfully so. From day one this camera has given me very high quality photos and video with sound. Actually the video is probably better than my handheld Panasonic video camera, which Im amazed at. Good night photos with the flash, long battery life, and accepts standard SD media cards. Its been great.
Im just now experimenting with some of the various settings, but for standard, everyday or vacation photos, this camera is GREAT. It also seems to have some expandability options (larger zoon lens) that I like. It is very convenient to hold and shoot with this camera. (I like that). I will let the special camera features, be reviewed by other folk who experiment with that type of stuff. For my needs, this camera is great, and also seems reasonably durable. (I dropped it once, with no problems) (got lucky)
In summary of price ranges for my digital camera:
$250 - Olympus - with flip flash = Approx $250 (great camera)
$125 Olympus - Fe110 = Approx $125 (terrible camera)
$300 Canon A640 (wonderful camera for both photos & short video w/ sound).
Im usually pretty "brand loyal when it comes to purchases, since I dont like to upgrade or change very often, but this Canon sold me over Olympus. If you can stretch the budget just a little bit, this Canon A640 should treat you well for years to come.
On: 2007-12-08
I justed ordered the a640 from amazon for $419. Now, a day later, I see the a650 for $363. What happened? is the 650 not as good as the 640 or am i ripping myself off?Canon PowerShot A650IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
 On: 2007-11-12
I bought this camera and 2 kingston 8GB SD cards. Things were going smoothly until a video recording went poorly. Now both video and images on the two cards (even those previously ok) are corrupted with an "Unidentified Image" error. This is occurring even after several low-level formats of one of the cards. Too bad that I discovered this while on my honeymoon in India, which is why I bought the camera in the first place. I might consider going with a newer model, if I dont give up in frustration and go back to a trusty manual film camera.
On: 2007-11-04
I love this camera for many reasons...but, the two best features are the batteries and view screen...I like the fact that it uses batteries (4 AA), which can be purchased anywhere in the world...I use rechargeables most of the time, but no special batteries here...also, love the flip out screen, which can protect the screen or flip out to any angle for shooting...I use mine all the time and it is just as good or better than some of the more expensive cameras on the market.
On: 2007-10-20
I cant review this item as of yet because after checking free shipping, my purchase was sent into "no mans land!" In other words, youll have to wait a long time to get your stuff!! I was surprised to find that Amazon offers free shipping, but fails to tell you your shipping time may be lengthened. So, once I receive my product, Ill be glad to review it. I do think waiting longer than 7 days is a bit ridiculous and my projected 10 to 12 days borderline insane!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2007-10-19
I bought this camera about a month ago as a gift to my niece (couldnt wait for the A650). This is the fifth Canon digital camera we have owned (Powershot G1, Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XTI, A710 and A640), and she is pretty happy with it.
I will not go into too much technical details on this, but it does take sharp picture, exposure is better than XTI, great color, and the LCD is very good - like the G1 we are used to. The 4x range is a bit narrow, but enough for P&S camera. There is no IS feature, though it doesnt present a problem for my niece.
Build quality is very good, the look and color are bice, the use of AA batteries is also great, and there is enough functions to do just about anything with it. Not very compact, but also easy to handle than the real compact one, and the optical viewfinder is terrific. Overall, it is very nice.
All in all, it is only slightly less than the A710 though very close. About the only thing that can use some improvement is the built-in flash. It is never adequate (on both and any compact cameras), but thats known already. Dont know anything about the A650, however I do recommend anyone looking at compact digital camera to take a look at this one.
I bought it at Amazon, Ordering and delivery was typical Amazon smooth
On: 2007-10-19
This camera is everything I want a camera to be. It is easy to use, with additional advanced options for moderate to experienced users. I love the LCD screen with so many position options. Picture angles have become more flexible with the LCD swivel feature. I read in other reviews that some have had problems with the batteries falling out when they go to remove the memory card. I dont see how that could happen unless they are trying to take the card out without turning the camera over. I have not had any problems with removing the card or the batteries falling out of the camera in the process.
On: 2007-10-18
I bought this camera because a much more talented friend who has the same one recommended it to me. I am thrilled. Ive received multiple compliments from the people with whom Ive shared the photos weve taken with this camera...and believe me, its not because of my skill! A great decision to buy. Strongly suggest adding a 1GB memory card so you can be sure to have plenty of room for lots of photos.
On: 2007-10-13
I LOVE this camera. Its very portable, and takes wonderful photos. I have even had some of the images from this camera published in magazines! I use a Canon SLR for professional photography, and this little portable Canon digital is a great camera for sight-seeing and for those times I dont want to lug around the larger camera body and lens. The A640 is extremely versatile...and the many functions are easy to use. 8 x 10 prints and 2-page photo spreads in magazines have been sharp and crisp. An added bonus is the large, swivel view finder.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this little gem. Great job on this one, Canon!!
On: 2007-10-05
Well i have to say i did not get to us it much but with a 2gb memory card it really can take a lot of pictures. i think on the highest setting it was around 400 to 560 pictures and at the loswest setting it could take 6600 pictures. i like the things you can do from the camara and that any color changes that you do will show up on the LCD screen
On: 2007-09-30
I own an earlier version of the Canon Powershot Aseries that is 5 megapixels. I was very impressed with the older one so I decided to purchase the A640 (10 megapixels) thinking that it would have all the features of the previous one. Well, I was wrong. Two things that I was disappointed with are its Photostitch feature and zooming in/out in movie mode. Both of these features worked like youd expect them to in the older version, however...
The Photostitch feature doesnt work that well and it is more difficult to create panoramic shots compared to the older version. Ive tried the accompanied software and it doesnt work and have also tried adobe photoshop.
The other feature is zooming in and out while capturing a movie. In order to zoom in or out you will have to stop the movie capture, zoom it in or out, and start the movie capture. Not so with the previous version, while recording a movie you can zoom in our out.
Overall, I am disappointed with this camera. The only good thing about it is the 10 megapixels and that is about it. Im considering selling this camera and going back to my older camera.
By the way the older camera is a Canon Powershot A530.
On: 2007-09-24
I purchased this camera as a gift, and the person appears to be very happy with the product.
On: 2007-09-23
I purchased this camera as a gift, and the person appears to be very happy with the product.
 On: 2007-09-08
I really love this camera. It takes amazing photos and the batteries last forever. Ive only changed the batteries twice and Ive had this camera for 9 months. I use it very often! But the lense cover is flimsy and broke the first month just from opening and closing. And now there are lines in the pictures! I have to try to return it already and I take extremely good care of it so there is no reason that it should already be broken!
On: 2007-08-28
Im not a photography expert but I know what I like and I like this camera! Technical things intimidate me but this camera has been easy to use and has given me wonderful photographs. I wanted something that would allow me to "play" like I did with my old 35mm SLR film cameras as well as do it all automatically for me, be lightweight, easy to use, and provide beautiful images. This camera does all that. Im still learning and playing and enjoying every minute. Having used 35mm film SLRs for many years I wanted a more substantial sized camera, and this fits the bill. Its just the right size to feel comfortable in my hands, yet lightweight. I added a Gorillapod tripod and thats made the perfect combo. If they would havecombined the manuals into one book rather than two (basic and advanced use)it would be easier for the user to look things up though.
I only wish this technology had been around 20 years ago for all those trips where I had to lug that heavy camera and equipment and then wait for film to be developed to see how my shots turned out! This great little camera gives instant gratification!
On: 2007-08-24
I have used 35mm manual cameras for a lot of years - a Pentax I still use is over 25 years old - and my first venture into digital photography was with a Panasonic SV-AV20U. It was, and is, a delightful toy. I have had a more serious digital for a few years, the Lumix DMC-FZ30, which I still find a bit baffling with all its features and settings. None of these cameras allows me to take the kind of quick shots needed for say, an instance of Mongolian ger life glimpsed from the Bejing to Moscow train. So, I looked for a "point and shoot" and found the Canon A640. I like it.
Its easier to use than the Lumix and, of course, smaller. I like the weight of it and the shape of it because it feels familiar in my hand, having used 35mm manual cameras for so long, but it doesnt have their size and bulk. Using AA batteries is an advantage since they can be bought anywhere. The black color and the shape give it a more "serious" look than most other "point and "shoots," which makes it more familiar and comfortable for some reason. And, it takes good photos. So far, Im very happy with it.
On: 2007-08-23
Ordered the product via amazon with shipping paid on purchase. Item was shown as in stock took 3+ weeks to receive.
On: 2007-08-23
Easy to use, great pictures and none of the annoying shutter lag as in the older models.
On: 2007-08-16
I purchased this camera just prior to going on a cruise and tour in Alaska. This camera is so easy to use and took pictures of postcard quality (without any computer editing). I was able to get quality shots of animals off in the distance while others could not. I am extremely pleased with this purchase!
On: 2007-08-14
The PowerShot A640 seemed to be the natural replacement for my PowerShot A80 (which Id had for years and liked). While the A640 is fairly decent, it has some annoyances and flaws:
1) Very, VERY noticeable vignetting. E.g. pictures of the sky have awful dim black triangles in the corners.
2) Too much barrel distortion. The slightly wide angle of the lens can come in handy for squeezing in near subjects... but take a picture of the horizon, and its curved like a rainbow. Also, people will look about 20 pounds heavier thanks to this. Additionally, if you stitch photos together, the curvature in each segment is too much for good results.
3) Changing scene modes does an intensely annoying animation on the LCD screen, so that it slows you down if you need to take a picture in a hurry. Each notch on the dial makes you wait 1+ seconds before you can take a picture, or even see which mode youre in. Whoever decided to put this feature in a point-and-shoot camera needs to be fired, and then soundly boxed about the ears. Then fired from his next job.
4) The added megapixels are nice, but overall this camera produces much noisier photos than the old A80. This camera has one of the larger sensors in this price range, but evidently its not good enough for 10MP.
5) The plastic doors/flaps on this camera are much flimsier than on the A80. Ditto the folding LCD screen.
6) The refresh rate on the LCD screen is slower than on the A80 -- distractingly so. I.e. the LCD image lags way behind what its pointed at. This just adds to the A640s overall SLOW feeling.
7) Only one Custom mode, compared to the A80s very handy two Custom modes.
There are other flaws also, but they are more minor. Some positive things: I like the wide-screen mode; although it doesnt add horizontal resolution, it helps frame some types of shots, such as landscapes.
Yes, you will be able to take some nice pictures with this camera (as with most digicams these days). But I wanted to point out the very big cons to the A640, especially if you are thinking of upgrading from an A80 or comparable model. Its kind of sad for a camera line to get worse over time, rather than better.
On: 2007-08-09
I like this camera a lot. Its easy enough for the general user, like me, but also has some nice features for an advanced user. I bought it for the swivel LCD and because it runs on AA batteries, both extremely useful. My old camera was frustrating and inconsistent, and even though the Canon A640 is a little bulkier than my old one its been worth it. I live in a country where taking pics in public can sometimes be taboo, so the swivel LCD is awesome for for capturing moments on the sly. You can even take self-portraits in a pinch with up to three or four people. The LCD screen is very well designed giving the user countless options. I love it.
Highlights -
1) Well designed, well lit and extremely useful swivel LCD screen. Hands down the best feature.
2) Nice size - not too big and not too small.
3) Takes AA batteries.
4) Highly user friendly.
5) The picture quality is very nice both inside and outside, day and evening.
6) Overall consistency! I live outside the US and need nice quality pics all of the time to post on the net, to send back home, and to use as gifts for my national friends.
7) Nice zooming capabilities.
8) Adequate video capturing feature.
9) Its an attractive camera (you forget its plastic) and very fun to use.
10) Nice file output size, making cropping a breeze.
Downsides -
1) No general "sports/motion" mode or IS feature, so if you really want IS at the touch of a button, youll be disappointed with this camera.
2) Its annoying to have to open the battery compartment to insert or eject the memory card - the batteries have fallen out on me when I havent been paying enough attention.
3) Automatic face focus feature can be squirrelly and not always accurate. Sometimes the camera will focus on a branch ten feet away instead of the face right in front of it.
4) Fits in your hand, but not in your palm, if that makes sense. If you want something smaller with SI and dont need a swivel LCD screen I would recommend a digital Elph. (but seriously, consider a swivel LCD screen, theyre just so darned handy!)
5) The night mode is a great feature but the aperture has to stay open for so long that unless you are taking a photo on a tripod it will inevitably will be blurry.
6) Its a little noisy, especially turning it on and off.
7) The flask works well though itd be nice to have more flash features.
Overall the A640 is extremely user friendly, takes great pics and is fun to use. I highly recommend it. If it had a one-touch IS option I would have given it five stars.
On: 2007-08-06
Im sure youve read the reviews of this camera and how its heralded for great image quality.
However, one thing none of the reviews mentioned is that it has a very loud zoom motor. I like the vari-angle LCD for stealth shots, however the very loud zoom motor makes you awfully conspicuous. Im not exaggerating either.
In my opinion, the LCD is too low resolution also. It makes it hard to tell whats in focus and whats out of focus. 2.5" is a good size, but the resolution should really be twice what it is. Also, the optical viewfinder is not located exactly where the picture will be taken, its off to the side. So when taking pictures close up make sure you dont look into the optical viewfinder. This effect is mitigated the farther away the subject is.
Just as long as you take these into account before buying, youll be very happy with this. I like the higher ISO performance, its very clean when compared to other compact cameras. The flash is powerful also. Its looks and feel are nice of course also, however, it lacks a rubberized feel to the handle. As it is it doesnt quite feel secure in my hands.
So, to wrap up I think for the price this camera is as good as it gets. Its decent for outdoor and indoor shots (with flash indoor, or ISO cranked to 400), although the CCD/lens combo is being stretched to its limit. The A570 IS is worth a look also (perhaps the A710 IS also).
On: 2007-08-02
I used to use a 35mm Canon camera and a very early model Canon digital (1 MP). Taking photos was never much fun with those cameras, it always seemed like more of a chore, so I just didnt see the need to go out and grab a new camera - until this one came out. At 10 MP and with all of the amazing features it has I decided that when it went below $300 it would be a real bargain. Well at current prices it is a steal! The pictures I take are amazing, and I usually use "auto" mode. I have two small kids and it is so easy to grab this camera and just start shooting. I always get great shots. What really amazes me is the quality of the shots I get indoors, at night, with minimal lighting - and no flash! As a matter of fact, I usually turn off the flash unless I really need some extra light. One of the greatest things about this camera (and the single biggest reason I didnt buy many others that I tried-out) is that it focusses continually while you are moving around, then when you press the shutter button it does a quick fine focus and takes the shot very quickly with no noticable shutter lag. I have absolutely not missed a single shot in the several months that I have owned this now. So many of the other cameras that I tried had such noticable shutter lag that you could literally press the shutter button and wait a few seconds for the shutter to click. So now I have fun taking pictures again and printing them out myself on my Epson R800. What a great combo!
On: 2007-08-02
Ive been holding onto my much beloved Powershot A95 because of its simple manual controls which provided me with the flexibility I needed; and also for its rapid photo mode which I used as my defacto default setting to get those shots that required a quick reach-for-the-camera-and-shoot reaction. I had been skeptical about the newer cameras, which lack that function on the dial; but my aging 5 MP camera was showing signs of wear from its intensive use in nearly every environment imaginable.
I opted for this on the recommendation of other users and have been extremely pleased: the auto setting serves its purpose quite well, doing to great job even with fast-moving targets. The manual setting provides plenty of flexibility and lets me get some great macro shots, though I have had some difficulty getting a good balance in lighting with landscapes into the sun during sunrise or sunset. I am by no means a pro at manipulating controls and am everyday learning new things, but I have yet to find a good approach to getting enough light on the shaded terrain whilst keeping a darker sunlit sky.
On: 2007-07-30
Had been searching for months since I knew I wanted to make a purchase (easy, good, point & shoot camera) before going on a cruise to Alaska. After deciding on the Canon A640, purchasing a 2GB Memory Card, the camera arriving 2-days before I left and not having time to read the directions - I just hoped for the best. Wow! The pictures of Mt. St. Helen thru the window of the plane, the scenery in Alaska, the zoom (for the whales, close ups of glaciers...) Took approx. 300 pics and not really sure how they were going to turn out until I got home and loaded the card on my computer. They all came out great. The colors!! Most of the pics were on automatic but did try some on manual settings. Not being a "knowledgable" digital camera person except for the basics (megapixels, zoom, LCD size, ISO speeds) I feel the pictures tell the story. You can read "specs" all day long.
On: 2007-07-24
Got this camera for a Christmas present for the wife and she loves it. 10mp and all the options you can ask for. Of course its not as great in low light as a DSLR, but then youre not paying the same price as a DSLR either.
On: 2007-07-23
This is a really great Camera. It is unbelievable how many features they can bundle in such a small package. I have only scratched the surface as to what this Camera can do. I cannot think of anything it cant do. This is a learning tool. Just marvelous.
On: 2007-07-18
While ISO 400 and above produce more noise than I can comfortably live with in this camera, the ISO 80 to 200 range produces excellent images in any mode. I use the A640 for eBay listings, and the macro shots have made all the difference in sales. The 10 megapixel resolution allows for close cropping, which brings those superb macro pictures even closer.
Its hard--but still very possible--to get good, sharp existing light images indoors, but only because I stubbornly keep the ISO set at 200 or lower. Although I dont use it much, the flash is excellent--you can adjust it up or down in any mode except Auto, Scene and of course Movie.
The swivel LCD (the reason I chose the A640 over the G7) has spoiled me. Im very short--only 5 tall--and with this feature, I can compose shots of subjects that are completely out of my field of vision. Just today I stretched up on tiptoe, held the camera over a birds nest in a tall shrub, swiveled the screen and composed a beautiful macro shot of the eggs. Without the screen, I wouldnt have even known whether the nest was in use, much less whether the eggs were centered or in focus! The swivel screen is also great for taking pictures of subjects at or near ground level, shots that would completely elude me without this feature.
FlexiZone is awesome, and I keep my camera on that setting almost exclusively. It offers great control over exactly where in the frame the camera focuses. Enabling grid lines is not only helpful for the rule of thirds but also for making sure horizontal and/or vertical lines in the composition are nice and straight.
Ive only run on a couple of situations, both times under fluorescent lighting, where I couldnt achieve accurate white balance. I found that using the flash corrected the problem.
Power-up time is speedy, and the camera focuses pretty nimbly. I have noticed some focus lag time when shooting high contrast images, but not as much as with the little Nikon Coolpix P3 I used before I bought this camera.
If there were any one change I could make to the camera, it would be the inclusion of image stabilization. Ive encountered some frustrating situations without it. This is a very affordably priced camera, though, chock-full of features and controls, and for that reason I am not deducting a star. I knew it didnt offer image stabilization when I bought it!
There are too many features to cover in this review, but Ive touched on most of the things Im finding make me dread the day when this camera "wears out" or breaks down. Im loving my little camera, and I enthusiastically rate the Powershot A640 a full five stars. It picks up where my EOS 30D leaves off, and my bases are fully covered!
On: 2007-07-14
This camera is pretty much amazing, I love it! The pictures are awesome, so far. The LCD is really pretty crappy. Not very high quality at all, also the battery compartment is kinda hard to maneuver at first. Once you get the hang of it its not a big deal, but when I put in my 2.0MB sd card, apparently its too thick and it wouldnt come out of the camera easily. All in all, the camera is great, pics are awesome. Video is very good for being a digital camera and not a camcorder. I would recommend it for someone looking for a good quality camera for just personal use.
On: 2007-07-09
This was my third Canon Camera purchased. I currently have the Canon Rebel Ti. The digital camera I had was the canon A510 which was great, but I decided I wanted to upgrade to the A640.
It has 10 megapixels which seemed great, however, a lot of the pics I took came out slightly blurry and fuzzy. Outdoor pics came out better than indoor but nothing to rave about. The darker the setting, the worse the pics come out. This is probably the thing that disappointed me the most, even with some light, evening pictures were just not good. I went to see some TV shows in NYC....I was in the Regis & Kelly studio...which isnt that dark....I even used the flash for the pics....but they turned out awful. On top of that, the camera is very slow....the darker the environment, the slower it is....to the point where it drives you crazy, because you are missing important photo opportunities.
Videos turn out decent. The camera is very solid and has a nice display window.
I have only had it for about 7 months and I am already deciding to get a new camera that has better ISO settings and is quicker.
On: 2007-07-08
Oceanmania wrote:
"Blurry photos - Canon did not include image stabilization in this camera & it clearly shows. Many of my pictures are blurry, fuzzy & look out of focus"
The same happend to me after paid over 300dls. I got this!!!!. Have you seen the sony camera comercial about the face detection features? that is exactly what happen to me, I shot the pic to my subject,and the subject is blurry.But ooh!! other parts of the pics are really clear,Like the flowers centerpices etc..this happen with the automode and with the others pre-settings.
but I can take excellent panoramics with this camera.I can take excellents photo of flowers with the macro.by the way its working very nice,Im really impressed with this macro option.But my activities are not taken pics of flowers!!!!!!!
On: 2007-07-07
Oceanmania wrote:
"Blurry photos - Canon did not include image stabilization in this camera & it clearly shows. Many of my pictures are blurry, fuzzy & look out of focus"
The same happend to me after paid over 300dls. I got this!!!!. Have you seen the sony camera comercial about the face detection features? that is exactly what happen to me, I shot the pic to my subject,and the subject is blurry.But ooh!! other parts of the pics are really clear,Like the flowers centerpices etc..this happen with the automode and with the others pre-settings.
but I can take excellent panoramics with this camera.I can take excellents photo of flowers with the macro.by the way its working very nice,Im really impressed with this macro option.But my activities are not taken pics of flowers!!!!!!!
On: 2007-07-02
I think for most folks, most of the time, this will be a fine camera. But for me, there was one big show-stopper: a minimum aperture of f8. This means you can take good portraits and vacation shots with it, but doesnt allow anything semi-serious. You wont get very good depth of field. For a nature photographer, this wont work!
I was looking for a lightweight, high capability digital that I could use for mountaineering and rock climbing. The weight and capability seem fine, but I need the small aperture. I returned this camera (Amazons return policy seems quick and easy--thank you!) and will instead try the Fuji S700 (which has a minimum f13). Note--almost all the compact digitals seem to have this problem. If you want good depth of field, youll need to either look hard or go with a more sophisticated (i.e., heavier and more expensive) camera.
On: 2007-06-30
This camera can capture excellent quality pictures, used with the right settings.
- Do not buy this camera if you dont have a steady hand. U ll end up getting not so good pictures.
- U need to buy 4 AAA batteries separately.
- Captures good pictures if u know to get the right settings.
Overall, a good value for money if u can do manual adjustments.
On: 2007-06-29
I bought this camera to replace my Olympus C5060 Wide Zoom. I bought this camera to take pictures on a faily trip to Disneyworld & was sad to see many "could have been great" pictures marred by blur & red-eye. Here are my thoughts on this camera:
1) Blurry photos - Canon did not include image stabilization in this camera & it clearly shows. Many of my pictures are blurry, fuzzy & look out of focus. On my old Olympus this rarely happened, on the A640 it was commonplace.
2) Red-Eye: Many pictures indoors were plaged by terrible red eye. Again Canon did not include red-eye reduction & it is evident in many of my pictures.
Overall I got some good pictures with this camera, but far too many blurry & bad photos to give this camera a good rating. After owning it for over a month, im already in the market for a camera that will take better pictures! My Olympus served me well for several years but this camera is not consistent enough for me.
On: 2007-06-27
The adjustable display can be tucked in protected from damage or folded out, then rotated to give you the lens view even when the camera is at belt level or overhead. Shots are quicker than my last camera, and the first set of batteries has not run down yet. This is a ringading deal.
On: 2007-06-27
If youre looking primarily for an outside-use camera, then this one is very good, but if you take a lot of indoor shots, then you may want to look elsewhere. Not to be too negative, overall Im pleased with the picture quality of the camera, but here are a few things I found to be both good, and not so good, about the A640. Good-to-great is the high quality outdoor pictures it takes. But the not so good is its built-in flash capability. Ive found the A640 flash to be hit or miss (on indoor shots) and very unreliable. I recently took pictures during my daughters (indoor) graduation ceremony and was highly disappointed with the results. Most of the shots over 20 feet were dark and unusable. Ive since stopped using Auto mode indoors entirely and discovered I get better, (but still not consistent) results in the Program-mode. In Auto-mode Ive taken numerous shots inside 10 feet that have come out horribly overexposed and unsalvageable even with good photo editing software. As an old SLR photographer (Nikon F4 w/speed flash) I became spoiled with fill-flash photography and used it even on the sunniest of days to remove shadows. Ive yet to figure out how to manually manipulate the flash outdoors to allow fill-flash. I realize the A640 is a relatively inexpensive point and shoot camera and not a pro-SLR, but given the other hi-tech features Cannon built into this little box, it seems only natural that someone at product development would have thought to add a fill-flash feature as well. The lack of shot stabilization is also a negative feature that you may want to consider, especially in low-light conditions. Ill finish with a positive. Ive really enjoyed the movie-mode capability and find myself using this camera instead of my DVD mini-cam.
For the money, this is pretty good camera but I cant wait to compare it to the new Nikon 10MP thats coming out soon. You may want to do the same!
On: 2007-06-27
I am a purist in the photography realm. I still use 35mm film. This was a birthday gift. But Canon did a brilliant job here. Starting with the large swivel screen, one can view the subject from any position or angle relative to the camera. The image will even adjust on the screen to match how you turn it.
This takes excellent close up shots. The color and detail saturation is impressive. Of course it has the standard options of white balance, timer, zoom, light source compensation, shutter speed and F stop adjustment.. etc. The photo quality can be changed of course. High quality option eats up quite a bit of memory on the card. It will take video and audio for as much as the card can handle. You will be pleased with this.
On: 2007-06-22
Ive owned two digital camera so far, a Nikon Coolpix and a Sony Cybershot, but Canons little creation simply outclasses them all. The interface on the back is simple and easy to read and its hard to press the wrong button. The LCD is big, and the ability for it to swivel makes it easy to get the angle you want (Combine that ability with a Gorillapod to get some interesting perspectives). All in all, an excellent point and shoot camera that uses AAA batteries AND its 10 MP to boot.
On: 2007-06-17
I am a Canon Freak. Not gunna lie.
Im also an aspiring photographer...
I owned a 5 mgp Canon Powershot a few years back,
sold it to buy a Canon Powershot Pro1 8 mgp 35mm
and now I just bought this A640.
It takes amazing pictures, and keeps up well with my Pro1.
I highly recommend this camera.
Easy to use, great pictures, amazing quality, and you defiantly get a large bang for your buck!
I just ordered one for my mom...whos very technology illiterate...
Not to mention...its very sexy looking :)
On: 2007-06-17
looks like a great product once you figure out all the bells and whistles
On: 2007-06-14
I recently ordered this item from one of the "newly launched" sellers under the "Used and New" link. I e-mailed the seller after purchasing the item asking when I would receive it. After three e-mails I still have not received my product nor a response from the seller. Now I am stuck waiting until July 3rd (as my little one grows older, without a decent camera to take pictures with) until I can file a claim under Amazons "A-Z Guarantee" to get my money back. Do not make the same mistake I did and ONLY BUY FROM REPUTABLE SELLERS WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK, no matter how great the price seems to be.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-06-08
These PowerShot "A" cameras are Canons attempt to deliver the quality and features of its more expensive PowerShot "G" and PowerShot Pro "S" lines (such as full zoom lenses) at a budget price. The results, though, are a mixed bag. The entry-level A460 is lousy, but the rest of the line gives you a lot for the money. (How do I know all this? Because Ive actually gotten to use all of these cameras. I earn my living shooting photos at Walt Disney World for a travel guidebook, and nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShots.)
Heres my opinion of the "A" series line:
Canon PowerShot A460 5.0MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Silver)
Yuck! This 5MP camera is like a relic from five years ago: the simple but poorly designed controls -- a little joy pad surrounded by four buttons -- make it far too easy to do things like change the zoom setting when you set the flash. I have fat fingers and I mess things up almost every time! Also, Ive seen photos taken with this camera, and they often have that purple fringe around their highlights, which are typically blown out. On the plus side, the camera does have an optical viewfinder.
Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Looking for a good bargain camera? Take a look at this one. Its a 2006 model, but it works just fine. You get 20 shooting modes, a full set of manual controls and can record low-res sound video at 60 frames per second. Before you buy it, however, check Amazons price of the better, and newer, A560. It may be cheaper.
Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
This basic camera isnt that bad, but theres no reason to buy it. For about $25 more you can step up to the PowerShot A560 (see below), which has the same body, sensor and lens but Canons much better Digic III processor. Buy this one and, yes, youll save a few bucks, but your photos wont look as good.
Canon PowerShot A560 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Here is a nice camera! Featuring Canons acclaimed Digic III processor, it includes the companys face-detection metering system and a decent red-eye removal.
Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
RECOMMENDED. Same as the A560 but with optical image stabilization and the ability to shoot manually.
Canon PowerShot A630 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. You can do a lot with this sweet little camera. It has a flip-out LCD panel and lots of manual controls. The shots Ive seen from this model look great. Keep your ISO under 800 and you wont get any noise.
Canon PowerShot A640 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
Same as the A630 except 10MP.
Canon PowerShot A710 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
RECOMMENDED. This fully-loaded model has all the toys, including a full-range zoom (35mm film equivalent of 35-210mm), adjustable flash power and optional second-curtain flash. This last features means you can make the flash fire at the end of a long exposure, instead of the beginning, so moving subjects streak into focus instead of out. Much more for your money than the A640.
By Mike Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.
On: 2007-06-06
I have had this camera for about 6 months and I think I made the right choice. I was either going to buy this camera, or the A710 IS. I tested both of them at a camera store, then decided to buy the A640 based on battery life, features, and flash.
I have taken a digital photography class and am pretty artsy, so I wanted something that would last, would take amazing pictures, and I would be able to carry it around with me. Both the cameras would have done the job, but when you take a picture with a flash (and sometimes even without a flash), it takes the A710 a decent amount of time before you can take another picture (usually between 5-10 seconds). Because the A640 has 4 batteries, you can take one picture after the other without ever having to wait for the camera to be ready.
Also, I have taken several thousand pictures in 6 months and have only had to change the batteries once- and they were just regular energizer batteries, nothing special.
The one downfall I have with the camera is the weight. Because of the four batteries, it does weigh a little bit more (obviously), and if you want a pocket camera, this is not the one. However, I have no problem fitting it in my purse.
I was also nervous that it had a flip screen. However, it surprised me how much I use it! (It makes those shots where you hold out the camera in front of you a whole lot better and easier) And, I have never had any problems, and it seems very sturdy. I do not even notice that it is a flip screen until I use it- in other words, it does not get in the way or cause problems. It is also nice to flip the screen around to protect it if I will not be using the camera for a while.
10 mega pixels seems excessive- the average person does not ever need this many probably. I have found the "program" function useful, in which everything is set to auto, and my file size is set to Medium (about 7 MP) instead of the full 10 MP (Large). It serves as my Auto when I am just taking everyday shots. But, I love that 10 MP is very crop-able, meaning that if I am zoomed in all the way optically, I can still crop in even further to get a good picture of that far away object. (However, if you have only a small amount of space on your computer, 10 MP pictures will fill that space fast. I can easily take a couple of gigs worth of pictures on a vacation using the 10MP file size. I also have a 2GB SD memory card for the camera and have never filled it, but a 1 GB wouldnt be quite enough space for me.)
All in all, a good choice for me! Hope this helped somewhat!
On: 2007-06-06
I just bought this camera instead of a film camera because of a friends advice. Nothing can or will replace the beauty of film but this is a great camera. I havent learned all the tricks yet but I have been having fun doing so. You need to get a memory card with this because the one that cames with doesnt hold much. LOVE the camera.
On: 2007-06-04
What a great little digital camera. Compact. Easy to use. Choice of using the viewfinder or the panel display. Multiple options for transferring the pics onto your computer. Large number of megapixels. Sips power from the batteries. Excellent price.
Closest thing to a negative is the fact that picture quality will vary significantly depending on which setting you use (indoor, portrait, landscape, that sort of stuff). So that means you spend five minutes reading the beginner manual and youre set.
On: 2007-06-02
While it is not much of an improvement over my A620, it would be the best choice for your first point and shoot. Canon defintely makes the best and affordable PS camera. Cant go wrong.
On: 2007-06-01
Only had a few days playing around, super simple and great pics even on auto. Like the rotating screen and easy function settings.Needs some type of lense cap. Over all, very kool .
On: 2007-05-25
design: i would give it 3rd rank after samsung nv series and olympus sp-350
picture quality: great
menus: very intuitive
performance issues: noisy zoom, overheats, extremely fragile shutter/zoom button.
plastic construction, feels cheap.
heavy, but this is a good thing for me
no image stabilization of any kind - optical or electronic. this is the biggest FLAW!
only digital zoom during movie recording.
slow continuous shoot mode (more than 1sec/image)
no auto bracketing.
On: 2007-05-22
I really like this camera and its lcd screen. The biggest thing is that I cant keep it steady very well so unless I have it set to pets and kids most of the pictures come up fuzzy, but that is my fault not the cameras. The other thing I really dont like is memory card is in the compartment with the batteries so I have to open up the battery area every time I want to take the card out to load them in to the computer.
The memory card is pretty much the only reason I dont give it 5 stars.
I really like the quality. All the options that the camera has to offer is great for me to dink around with.
On: 2007-05-22
I bought this camera recently. I like this camera for the picture quality, 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD display(rotates and swivels LCD) with 10 Mega Pixels - which is really useful for varied angle pictures with high resolution quality. Easy to hold and its a perfect powershot camera.
On: 2007-05-19
The camera was everything I expected of it... I was looking for a camera that was better than your usual point and click and that was the step before buying an SLR camera so this was the perfect fit. It has enough controls that I can start playing with some features and start creating interesting pictures. At the same time its very easy to point and click and just snap pictures during a special event. I would definately recommend it as an easy transportable and flexible camera.
On: 2007-05-19
I purchased this camera recently and am blown away by its quality and the great pix it takes. Granted we had a cheap 3.1mp Kodak with no Zoom prior to this one, but I can tell this one takes amazing pictures..It was actually recommended to me by a photographer friend and I am happy I listened. The screen come out and everything so you can see at different angles.
On: 2007-05-18
I have loved this camera since I got it. Extremely impressive zoom and very easy to use.
On: 2007-05-17
Canon 640 10mpxl PowerShot: Good all around camera, some limitations but a great value.
On: 2007-05-17
Was dead out of the box.
Returned and got the money back.
Went with Fuji F40.
On: 2007-05-16
I just bought this camera to replace my Canon A60, which is a 2 megapixel model. I think the A640 is a direct descendant of the A60, so I expected it to be of similar quality.
I just want to say that my first impression was that they have cut back a lot on quality of materials since my A60 was made. The A640 has a MUCH cheaper feel to it than the older A60.
Its almost a guarantee that the A640 takes great pictures. But it feels like a toy compared to the A60.
On: 2007-05-12
After much research, I settled on the Canon A640 as my first digital camera after many years using Nikon SLRs. Taking the advise of techy friends, I took the camera out of the box, put the manuals aside for later and began taking pictures. LOVE THIS CAMERA! The size is perfect for me -- large enough for a good, secure grip; small enough to carry in my pocket, backpack or purse. The camera is easy enough to satisfy someone new to photography and challenging enough to keep me browsing the manuals for a long time learning the many features of this camera.
On: 2007-05-10
My wife and I recently had a child and needed to take pictures to send to relatives so knowing nothing about cameras I shopped around and this one had the most mega pixels for the money so I bought it. Mostly we keep it on auto pilot for quick take a shot anywhere pictures, but occasionally I use the panoramic sticher or the portrait feature. High quality photos made easy for the non photographer
On: 2007-05-09
There was a mix-up in my order, but Amazon graciously fixed the problem. I love the camera and have no regrets. Theres a lot to learn about it yet, but it is fairly easy to use.
On: 2007-05-07
Very pleased with the detail and the size of the sharp pictures. The panorama feature is also great. The auto setting does most of what I need to do but there is lots of manual control if I want it.
On: 2007-05-07
Has lot of standard options. Stedyshot is missing. But overall the cam is
Excellent. Worth the money you pay. Runs on normal AA batteries, thatz really qool.
On: 2007-05-06
I got this camera a couple of weeks ago. It is amazing.the picture quality is very good. So far all has been good but to be honest i have had one glitch. It seems that when i take photos on low resolution they keep coming blury, this is due ot that this cam is sooo sensitive, at that resolution , to vibrations. How ever when i bump the resolution up all that is gone.
i do recomend this cam. i still have not explored all the options :) but the potential seems very very tempting.
On: 2007-04-11
Yes the camera has excellent image quality under 400 iso...above that its wayyyy too noisy. Controls and menus are easy enough.
But I have had the camera only 3 months and today it fell out of my hand dropping only 2 feet. The flimsy, hard to use battery door is now broken and will not stay closed. There are two pieces of thin plastic that were part of the body inside the door that snapped off. I will have to keep very strong tape on it if I plan on using it. Since the batteries are spring loaded, they want to push the door open, so keeping it closed with tape is not easy.
I have had two Olypus digicams over the years that never broke from dropping.
I use very long lasting 2700 Maha Powerex batteries, so at least I wont have to open it much.
Oh well another $300... next time I will look closer at the build qualty before I buy.
On: 2007-04-08
I bought this camera to get more megapixels. My old camera had 4.1 mpx.
I have had no complaints with the A640. It is easy to use. So far has been simple to figure out (bear in mind I am basically an amateur, and the software has been straightforward as well. It does not seem to eat batteries . I have printed several pictures myself and the increase in mpx has been wonderful. Videos do tend to fill up your card even with a 2G card.
I thought about getting a 7 mpx camera with image stabilization, but went with this one and have no regrets.
On: 2007-04-02
Upon purchasing this digicam I was very excited. This was my first digital camera and I read many very positive reviews and was confident in my purchase due to those reviews and the Canon name. Not wanting to get ahead of myself, I perused the manuals first wanting to make sure I was familiar with the basic operation of the camera before using it for the first time. At last, I was ready to use it for the first time so I opened up the batteries included with the unit and followed the instructions on how to insert the batteries. This is where my relationship with Canon ends.
The instructions require you to slide a latch sideways and hold it in order to open up the battery/memory card hatch which is apparently hinged. This is about as far as I got. Its awkward enough to have to hold a spring-loaded switch in one position while trying to open up the door in a different direction but the operation simply did not work. I fiddled with the thing for over 15 minutes and never managed to get the door open. I even attempted to use a small mini screwdriver to help but to no avail. The plastic the hatch and unit are made of seems rather brittle and delicate so I decided not to continue with it and risk breakage. After all, an operation such as inserting batteries and memory cards should be simple. I proceeded to box the thing back up to ship it back and exchange it for another brand.
Simply put, I attribute this issue not to a defect but to poor design which is a shame since I was really excited to use this camera. Not only will I not exchange this for the same thing but not even for the same brand. This Canon product boasts many features and high quality that I didnt even get a chance to test.
I will never again purchase a Canon product and warn potential buyers that the physical structure and operation of this unit are of poor quality.
Big thumbs down.
On: 2007-04-01
This camera has the feel of a sturdy and well-built instrument that you dont mind taking into the field. It offers sufficient control--aperature, shutter speed, iso, exposure comp, file size, etc. --to make it a versatile companion and "spare camera" for pros and primary camera for most photo needs. Reasonable image quality (compared to my 5D) combined with great macro capacity, without OVER sharpening. (Canon could add/use a control here..) Surprisingly long life from the four AA batteries.
This is not a tiny "tuck in your shirt pocket" camera, but it has become my reliable companion on hikes and drives just so I dont miss anything. Also use it to teach basics of photography.
Only complaint--Rinky-dink "leaves" for lens protection when the camera is turned off. I find myself pushing the "protecting" slats together fairly often, and fully anticipate that they will break one of these days. Canon SHOULD do better--the camera deserves pro-sumer-level lens protection!
On: 2007-03-29
very comfort and highend camera
when i brought this camera my friends love to take pic with A640 cannon rather than their camera. :)
overall really nice
On: 2007-03-26
This is an excellent camera for the price. Takes great pictures, has continuous shooting mode, has both manual/full auto modes, well built, takes regular batteries. A bit big, but other than that, cant complain about anything with this camera. If I regret anything about this camera, its the size--but thats because it takes regular batteries, and not some small proprietary (i.e. expensive) battery. Trade-offs!
On: 2007-03-25
I bought this camera because it fit my needs perfectly. I was looking for:
A high megapixel camera
A large rotatable LCD
A full range of manual features
A Canon - my previous experience with them has been great
Decent Zoom
Ability to use standard AA batteries in a pinch
When I saw this camera, I knew I had found what I was looking for. Image quality is fantastic. Another feature I love that I didnt know I was looking for was loadup time. It is so nice to be able to turn a camera on and immediately be able to take a shot. This camera is small enough to fit in my every day bag, but full featured enough to take more sophisticated "photographic" shots. As other reviewers have mentioned, it has a couple small downsides:
Plastic tripod mount
No image stabalization
Slightly noisy in low light and high ISO
I havent found any of these to be terribly problematic under most of the conditions I use the camera in. If you havent tried a 10 megapixel camera, it makes a huge difference. Even though this camera has great macro features, you dont even need them with 10 MPX - just get as close as you can with good focus, snap the shot, and then zoom and crop on the PC. Pictures are sharp and bold. If you have a wish list similar to mine, look no further, you have found your camera.
On: 2007-03-22
Camera is great and takes wonderful pictures. Only thing missing is RAW ability. Time from when I ordered it, when it was shipped, and when I got it was unexcusably long.
On: 2007-03-18
The picture quality of this PowerShot is great, and if you take your time to teach yourself about it, you will see the difference. You can make really nice pics from this Canon. I own a Canon 30D, and it is one of the best cameras Ive had, but when fast shooting is the goal, I take the A640.
On: 2007-03-17
Ive had this camera for over 2 months and I really enjoy using it. Its the compact camera available for serious photographers looking for advance features. The pics come out good and sharp, very big and with little noise if you shoot at 100 ASA. Its got all the necessary features including manual control...however the manual focus a bit cumbersome but available if nesecessary. The best feature is the rotating LCD screen witch allows you to shoot in many interesting and different angles will still having access to the LCD screen to view your framing. It has made all my friends envious cause their cameras have fixed LCDs.
However it is not without some major problems The flash can be very bright and you have to adjust it to the environment. The shutter lag is very slow sometimes 2 sec. so dont always expect to catch the moment...this can be very frustating at times...if you need something fast just get an SLR. Also the Autofocus can be slow in lowlight areas and take a few sec. to adjust and thus you cant take your pic and miss a great moment, just as equally frustrating.
Perhaps My biggest gripe with the camera is that for a compact its still a bit bulky it doesnt fit in a pants pocket so if you need something you can slip in your jeans this is not it.
Otherwise is a solid camera that will produce expectional pics in the hands of good photographers just snap and enjoy.
On: 2007-03-09
Nice camera, but the quality is not as good as my fathers Canon Rebel that has 7MP. Anyway, still good for the money.
On: 2007-03-09
There are still many functions I have yet to explore on this camera since I only own it for less than month. Had a 4yr old 4MP Kodak Easy Share with similar characteristics, but this one is much better. However, here are some pros and cons about it.
Pros:
-The capability to change lenses
-High resolution photos. Good for people that deals with graphics.
-The AA batteries. No worry about charging while traveling
-Easy upload to PC. No need to install software, which enables it to upload to any PC with a USB port and windows XP.
-The view finder. Good for those who want to shoot the old fashion way and saves battery life.
-Manual functions. Works like a SLR in a compact size.
Cons:
-Heavier than most of the other cameras due to the AA batteries
-Its bulky, so it wont fit in a pocket
-Night shots are a little noisy
-Battery compartment and memory card slot are at the same location. Needs to be careful when taking the card in and out.
Overall, I am happy with what I got, but would like it to be a little lighter and smaller.
On: 2007-02-27
Before buying this camera, I did a great deal of comparison shopping carefully weighing my options. I originally thought Id opt for some type of SLR or another high end camera for optimal quality portraits and scenic shots. Im not a professional, but I wanted a high quality digital since I dont do film any longer and I wish to preserve my childrens memorable events for years to come and Im very glad I chose the canon a640. I love the versatile LCD that allows me to take shots myself with my kids. It gives excellent print quality at even close-up range, and the night photos are pretty impressive. The battery life is great for a digital camera, and a 1 GB memory card holds around 600 photos. Overall, Im very VERY pleased with my purchase. A few of my friends have even bought their own a640 once they tried mine out. Most of all, I cant imagine needing to "upgrade" for many years to come. The camera is sturdy yet compact enough to keep in my purse.
On: 2007-02-19
Prior to buying the A640, my wife & I had been long time users of the Sony Mavica. The A640 was our first new camera purchase in quite some time, so we had expected a product advanced well beyond what we had.
In many respects, our expectations were met. The A640 takes excellent pictures at distance and in less lighting than the Mavica required. At distance, the high resolution photos are quite crisp and well detailed. The light weight of the camera is also convenient.
However, there are some areas in which Canon seems to have stumbled.
For fans of taking close-ups, the major problem area is the focus mechanism. At very close distances, the A640 will frequently focus in crisply -- then zip back out to a completely unusable setting. The "manual" focus is no help, as it is a digital mecahnism that will not take the lens out to the point where the item of interest comes into focus. The only solution is to move the item further away and use the zoom mechanism to compensate. As the digital zoom jumps in very discrete steps once you go beyond the 4x lens capability, this can be quite challenging.
Again, with close-ups, the focus area selected by the camera in auto mode is frequently baffling. Quite often I feel as if I am struggling against some odd sort of random number generator, as the camera selects spot after spot around the periphery of my item of interest without locking on to the center of the item itself.
Dealing with the volatile nature of camera settings is often painful as well. Unless one wishes to use the Custom mode, ones settings will only last so long as the camera does not go back from picture taking mode to play mode. If you take too long setting up a shot, the power save will take the camera out of its picture-ready state -- wiping out your flash and macro settings in the process. By contrast, the Mavica always remembered the last settings used as long as it had a good battery in it -- and even slightly beyond, as I could swap batteries on that and still retain our camera settings.
Photo deletion also seems to be surprisingly primitive for the state of the art. On the A640, if you are using the camera only (i.e., not tied directly to a computer), the options are limited to deleting photos one at a time and confirm each one or to delete all photos at once. Again, the Mavica had an overview mode by which one could select photos for deletion and then remove the selected photos with a single confirmation. This is a surprising deficiency for a camera that has so much more image storage potential than the Mavica, though one may overcome it to a large extent by using a much higher capacity flash card than the 32Mb baseline one provided.
Two other areas of concern are the computer interface door and the battery chamber door. The door protecting the computer interface slots feels like a soft plastic; flimsy and delicate and seemingly unlikely to remain for long on the camera. The battery chamber door is not much better, as the batteries have to be jiggled and gently worked into place before the battery door will close -- again in contrast to the Mavicas battery door, which was firm enough and secure enough to push the battery down into its proper place.
Despite its shortcomings, the A640 remains an overall improvement over our original Mavica. But it is surprisingly cumbersome to use for close-up photography. It leaves one feeling that, aside from pixel resolution and its ability to focus at distance, the A640 has taken a few steps backwards from older cameras.
On: 2007-02-18
Its not really clear as it says in the ads. My 4.00 MP seems to be clearer than my new 10.0 MP.
On: 2007-02-13
Coming from the Canon A80 from a few years ago... The A80 was a similar shape, size, and feature set but with only 4.0 megapixals, 3x lens, and a much smaller swivel viewing screen. Good Canon software has gotten better.
Whats better with the A640:
It has similar features and body but a bigger screen and it is lighter.
The screen is much bigger.
The screen brightens nicely in dim and dark conditions.
The flash works better and the flash assist lamp works MUCH better. (A relief from the worthless A80 lamp).
It is a bit faster with less shutter lag.
It has more manual settings, many of which can be very useful.
It has a 4x lens (A80 had 3x)
Disappointments:
The screen is very grainy compared to the A80s sharp screen. So grainy that you have to trust the pictures are sharp and rich (which they usually are) because they look very grainy and muted on the screen.
Would like even less shutter lag.
Some of the huge number of settings are not intuitive or easy to find and use (though many are).
They wasted a button (valuable real estate) as a dedicated "print to printer" button.
Overall:
Love the camera, am getting used to the grainy but bright screen, will use if for a few years and look forward to what Canon has done by then.
On: 2007-02-12
This camera takes awesome pictures and adequate videos. Prior to the Canon A640 I had a Kodak that gave me more problems than I care to discuss here. I decided to get this camera because of its compactness and versatility. Ive had it for 5 months and have used it quite a bit, including on a 21-day expedition to Aconcagua in South America, and it has worked beautifully. The one problem that Ive had with it is sometimes the shutter dont open fully, otherwise it works great and takes awesome pictures.
On: 2007-02-09
I use the camera on almost a daily basis. The 10 megapixels produce excellent pictures and prints. Pictures that I have downloaded for training come out perfect. I would reccomend this camera to anyone that wants an easy camera from taking the picture to processing it.
On: 2007-02-07
Please dont misinterpret the brevity of my "review" as a poor reflection on the Canon A640. The simple fact is that this is a beautiful, easy to use device. I find the audible shutter sound very pleasing. And yes, the software connecting the camera to the computer is easy to install and actually works nicely without an enormous instruction manual.
On: 2007-02-07
Amazing little camera. For the price, its packed full of stuff! Unbelievable. 10mp is huge. The images come out sharp and clear. Love looking at hair shafts, pimples, pores, eye lashes. Make sure your subjects clean their nose and teeth because this camera will reveal EVERYTHING. Lots of room to crop. Very fast focusing.
It takes tons of pictures on a set of nickel metal hydride batteries. 300-400 shots. Thats amazing. Thats more than any other camera on the market. The camera has a real solid grip system. Dropping your camera is a horrible thing to do. With this cameras grip, you would be able to access every feature with just one hand. And that swivel screen... amazing! You can stand in a crowd, raise the camera above everybody, focus, using the swivel screen, and take your shot. You wouldnt be able to do that without the swivel screen. You can take perfectly framed pictures of yourself. You can jump in and actually tell if you are in the picture frame when you set the camera up for auto shutter release.
As with all point and shoot cameras, I would recommend getting a external flash for anything beyond 12 in low light. The Phoenix D91-BZS 4-Stop Digital Slave is very good, powerful and inexpensive, but big. Canon makes the Canon HF-DC1 High Power Flash for about $100. Its tiny and can easily fit in your pocket.
Wish they had a provision for installing a lens filter. Almost no manufacturer makes this feature. All cameras should have a lens filter to protect the cameras lens. Avoid cleaning the cameras lens to prevent lens scratches. Guess they rather have you replace the camera rather than a cheap filter.
Point and shoot digital cameras have come a long way and this camera leads the way! Canon Rocks!!!
On: 2007-02-02
Not for beginners, but a good intermediate camara. READ THE BOOK/MANUAL. Batteries last awhile, even with video.
On: 2007-01-29
I purchased this digital camera when it was reasonably priced, just
before Christmas in 2006. My Vivitar 5MP had finally died after dropping
it during our summer vacation so I was looking for something quick to
have in time for the holidays. I got online to look at camera reviews and
this model had excellent reviews from professionals, novices, and even
beginners. I liked the fact that I was upgrading from 5MP to 10MP, but
was still amazed at how much more quality I actually get from this camera
vs. my old one. The pictures are clear and bright with almost every
function. The brighter the room, the better, but not as much light needed
as other cameras I have used. I have not had any luck with the landscape
function, as the pictures are quite blurry, but I may just need to read
up more on what I might be doing wrong. Otherwise, it is very easy to use
right out of the box. The fact that it takes regular AA batteries is a
plus, as they are easily replaceable wherever I might be. I have taken
over 600 pictures and have not had to change the batteries yet. Amazon
had the best price online at the time, and the camera came with an extra
512MB SD card for free. Local stores couldnt even come close to
competing with the price. It is the best digital camera investment I have
made thus far.
On: 2007-01-22
I purchased the 10MP Canon A640 camera in December 2006 to replace my 2MP Canon A40. I originally bought (and returned) a 6MP Canon A540 but it made noisy movies (i.e. you could hear the aperture and/or focusing mechanisms making clicking sounds when playing back the movies on a computer.)
Unfortunately, my A640 suffers from a different problem with the movie mode: the movies have a high-pitched whine during playback on a computer. Also the sound is muffled. In contrast, my older A40 has a wonderful microphone that records very clear sound (but the movies are low-resolution, and can only be about 15 seconds.) On the A640, the movies can be up to 1GB in length, which is around 7 or 8 minutes for 640x480 at 30 frames/sec. Thats plenty of time to make little snippets that can be assembled later into a longer video.
Overall, I like the A640 well enough to keep it in spite of the sound issues. The design is good, the flip-out screen is handy, and the pictures are detailed. However, because it has such a large number of pixels, it is easy to get slightly blurred images (though not all that noticeable) due to the lack of an image stabilizer. You may be interested in the A710 IS instead of the A640 if you need that feature.
On: 2007-01-22
This camera has fulfilled my expectations. Its ease of operation, general all round ability and quality of pictures taken can be recommended as a top point and shoot camera.
On: 2007-01-21
I love the quality of picture this camera takes, the zoom is awesome. I bought the rechargeable batteries for this camera so in the long run the batteries will be more cost effective. Going from a 3.1 MP to a 10 MP Sure makes a big difference.
And as one other had said when I read their review, it looks fabulous, very sharp.
On: 2007-01-21
This camera have all you need if you are, or wish to be, a creative photographer but do not want to carry with your DSLR or dont have the money to first experiment into the photography world.
I assure you that into its category this camera have no contender. By now I have almost a month with it at it works flawessly, great picture quality and ease to use.
Here are my pros & contras:
PROS:
- A lot of manual controls. You can even control the flash for less or more power and when to fire it, 1st or 2nd curtain.
- AA battery powered. Ill never buy a camera that doesnt use this kind of batteries (unless it is a DSLR). I can get AA anywhere if my rechargeables go dead or if I forget them in the charger, as it happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Be powered by 4 AA lets you shoot a lot more than other cameras even with regular alkalines.
- Excellent macro, 1cm (I think even less) excellent focus, clear images, great details.
- The vari-angle screen its a great thing. You can get easy ground level shoots or over the head, or shoot yourself for the perfect self-portrait. And i love to close the screen when not in use.
- Fast and accurate auto-focus.
- Excellent white balance features.
- The red eyes reduction works really great.
- Remote control with your computer. You can control all the features with your computer with your camera in a tripod. Cool for a photo session.
- Great body, it feels great in your hand. Heavy enough to keep it in control. Doesnt feel cheap at all.
CONS:
- The plastic tripod socket, i hate it. Are you kidding me Canon? Respect yourself! I feel this thing its going to brake or wear. Bad thing.
- Memory and battery in the same compartment. Not practical at all. And you have to unmount from the tripod if you want to put a new memory card.
- No cable or wireless control for remote shooting. I know that the cameras in this range doesnt have that option but I wish someday they have it cause its an important accessory. You can deal with your self-timer if you need something similar.
I DONT CARE FOR:
- IS (Image Stabilization). This camera doesnt have IS, maybe in the future it will but I really dont care about it.
- No Wi-Fi connection. But I think a Bluetooth option could be an excellent thing for this camera.
On: 2007-01-21
I purchased the Canon A640 from Amazon for $315 in December 2006. I was blown away by the price as the best price locally was in the $400 range. The camera has delivered everything as promised without any malfunctions and has performed even better than expected. The images are huge at 10 megapixels and theres little need for much zoom as you can crop the images way down with little quality loss. I also purchased a 2 gig SD card and even on the finest setting I can hold about 800 pictures. Using the auto setting under low light there is one slight hiccup wherein the camera has a hard time finding focus on the subject but it doesnt happen often and is easily solved by using one of the night settings. Overall, this is a great camera and I would highly recommend.
On: 2007-01-20
I bought this after much research. My daughter has a Canon A510 and the pictures are clear and the camera is so easy to use. When we book a trip to Europe I decided to get the A640 for myself.
Even though the camera is 10Megapixels the photos seem a little blah.
Color is not as sharp as I had hoped.
Speed is still slow...when trying to take a quick shot, even with the high speed card, which was $150, the speed to shoot is slower than I need.
Love the LCD viewfinder that is adjustable. Maybe I just need more practice with this one.
On: 2007-01-19
I am not exactly the sharpest blade in the pack, but this camera makes taking pictures a snap! I was taking high quality pictures within minutes. The instructions were adequate, but I found that "playing" with the camera was the easiest way to learn about most of its features. The one drawback, which this camera shares with all cameras which have the flash so close to the shutter, is that the redeye reduction isnt as good as Id like. However, software easily corrects that problem once the pics are downloaded to my computer.
Would I buy this camera again, knowing what I do. YES!!!
On: 2007-01-19
My Epson broke a while back and I have been sadly without a camera. This was my Christmas present this year and I absolutely LOVE it!! I was interested in this particular camera after seeing it mentioned in Consumer Reports as Canons latest. The digital & optical zoom are fantastic for a smaller size camera and I also LOVE the movie feature. I had checked everywhere and Amazon definitely had the best price plus it qualified for free shipping and it arrived super fast. I would highly recommend this camera. Note: The memory card that comes with it has a very small capacity so I did need to purchase a 2GB card.
On: 2007-01-19
This camera comes with an extensive (advanced) instruction book. It takes some reading and playing with the camera, but is not difficult if you understand the basics of camera operation/photography. The size and handling characteristics make this camera easy to hold and use. The disc program (included) is easy to load and easy to use. Ive not printed any large photos, so cant comment on the resolution/graininess.
On: 2007-01-18
I replaced my older Canon A95 and found that this is WAY better and smaller than the older models. It produces faster, better pictures and video! The shutter-lag is much better but still not as good as instantaneous as a DSLR. I am seriously considering selling my larger video camera since I find I like the size and convenience much better that the larger/heavier 3-CCD video camera.
Warning - you might have to get a newer/recent SD card reader as my older USB 1.1 multi-card reader is not compatible with recent newer SD cards. However the direct USB-cable-to-camera connection works fine with any PC.
Summary - worth the money and easy to use!
On: 2007-01-16
Very, very good camera. All the features work really fine. It has a lot of characteristics, adjustable parameters, color adjustments, sizes. And awesome video quality (but in .avi, long archives).
On: 2007-01-16
The camera is great, though I agree it does less well in low light. We have Windows98SE which means you have to install their software ZoomBrowser. This opens every single image on the card before you can do anything. Way too slow. After 2 calls to tech support, we gave up. They suggested it is not really designed for 98SE, and I suggested they should say that in the description. After much frustration, we went out and bought a card reader for $20. It does enable you to directly pull the images from the card onto the computer so that problem is solved, but you have to remove the card each time which is more cumbersome. I wrote this review to let those with Windows98SE to expect glitches, and that a card reader, while cumbersome will solve the issues.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-01-14
I saved up my money for a while to buy this camera. It was kind of expensive, but it was worth it. I looked at bunch of other cameras, but when i saw this one, I had to have it. It is so easy to use, and has a bunch of great settings to use! I loved it because it was really easy to figure out. It is a little bulky, but the quality is great. So much better than those little skiny cameras! Get it!
On: 2007-01-14
I purchased this camera to replace an old 2MP. I also have a 3.2MP in the household, which is just a very basic camera. I was torn between going with the G7 and more "extras" or just to save myself $200 and stick with a simpler model. I am happy with my choice. I have not used any manual functions for the simple reason that every photograph I take is important and really didnt want to risk messing it up by having the wrong setting. I have used a lot of the preset functions and they all work wonderfully. I compared my pictures side by side with a Nikon digital SLR and you could not tell the difference in the photos. Maybe blown up to a 3 ft. picture you could? The features are easy to use and for the most part I was able to just navigate through the menus on the camera to figure out what I wanted. I enjoy the flip screen and mainly because my old camera did not have one. I can now take snapshots with my children that include me in the picture! I must make comment on the battery life since that seems to be a big gripe on some cameras. This uses 4AA batteries. I have taken HUNDREDS of pictures and had the LCD screen on navigating the menus and I still have not replaced the batteries. Its excellant and way beyond my expectations! This a great point and shoot camera that you cant go wrong with. The price is great too. When I purchased it you got a Canon all-in-one photo printer ($165)with a $150 rebate, a free memory card, and the great low price of just over $300 for the camera! One heck of a bundle for a great price!
On: 2007-01-12
i have the same problem like the other reviewer for the canon A640 the first few days of receiving the camera! bad quality pictures. xmas pictures came out bad and cant recapture xmas 2006. what is the deal here? i have a 5 megapixels canon sd model that i bought over 4 years ago and the quality whether low light or bright light, the 5 megs came out much crispier and clearer than the 10 megs. My in-laws got the 5 megapixels in the A model the same time i got mine few years back and my pics always came out 100 times better. so i should have taken the hint with the A640. youd think buying what kind of issues would be in a 10 megapixel camera or would not have much problems. but the A640 is by far a lower end camera than my 5 megs canon SD. I want to return the canon A640 to amazon, but after reading their return policy it would be a waste of my money to even exchange it for the canon SD900. i should have spent another $60 or even $200 more for the G7 and not have to deal with this kind of fustration. from now on, i will only buy the canon SD or G models.
On: 2007-01-12
Ive been very pleased with this Canon product. I bought it to replace a Power Shot S-45, which finally gave up the ghost, after two or 3000 excellent pictures. At first, I was a little hesitant about the size of the A640, which is a little bit larger than the S-45, but I rapidly became used to it. I do not miss the RAW format capability very much.
On: 2007-01-12
Best camera I have ever owned. I still need to learn scads about it and how to use it but from the little I do know it takes great pics and it is very easy to use. Very user friendly, a precision instrument made very well by Canon. My only drawback is I wish they would have included a more indepth book on just what the many possibilities it has and I know it does - I am more of a novice and I would have liked a little more information on just what I could really do with it.
Glad I bought it though and I figure I will have the rest of my life to figure it out to my satisfaction.
On: 2007-01-12
This camera is the best point and shoot available. there are so many things it can do without having much knowledge in the digital camera world. The images are extremely sharp. The only negatives are a poor image quality at 400 iso and above. But, most of the point and shoot cameras have the same problem. And you cant use the flash with the wide angle lens attachment. For me it doesnt matter because I hate using flash and rarely do so. The wide angle attachment is huge but, great to have on a trip. Definitely worth the money.
On: 2007-01-11
I bought this camera because I wanted a small camera with good features and high image quality. I have a SLR and its to big sometimes to carry around. This small camera surprisingly has almost all features found in SLR cameras, however it can be troublesome to get quickly to some features. Anyways I think it is a great buying for those who like to take pictures and not worry about manual settings. The lcd panel turns 360 degrees, and it is really handy.
I love it and definitly recomend it.
On: 2007-01-11
Excellent camera - many features. Easy to use - great definition and good price
On: 2007-01-11
I love Cannon cameras and I went to a great deal of work to research this camera before purchasing it. Actually, I bought the A620 first and had to return it for a misfuntion .. I tried to exchange it because I loved the camera but alas, they were all out of stock ... so I paid $100 more and got the 640. The biggest disappointment is taking picture indoors using the "auto" feature (which is how I take most of my pictures ... I am pretty much a point-and-shoot photographer). The pictures are incredibly grainy and blurry in certain light situations. I think the camera automatically switches to 800 speed file mode or something. It will take a clear picture one minute and a blurry one the next ... in the same light situation. Very frustrating because on the LCD screen I cant tell the picture is grainy until I get it home and view it on the computer ... and I never know when it is going to "switch" into that other mode. Most pictures outdoors are sharp (they should be ... its 10 megapixels!) but I certainly didnt expect such a large percentage of my pics to switch to the grainier mode .. and very frustrating when you dont know when it is switching!
On: 2007-01-10
This is a great camera. The only problem I had with it is it takes a while to figure out how to use the features. I still havent figured everything out and I bought it a few months ago.
On: 2007-01-10
This is a great camera that is easy to operate and takes great pictures. Much faster recovery than other digital cameras. Not too small or too big. Easy to grip and hold.
On: 2007-01-10
I bought this camera to put in my purse when I dont want to lug the larger digital SLR one around. Very impressed with the quality of photographs under all lighting conditions. The price makes it that much better.
On: 2007-01-10
I love Cannon cameras and I went to a great deal of work to research this camera before purchasing it. Actually, I bought the A620 first and had to return it for a misfuntion .. I tried to exchange it because I loved the camera but alas, they were all out of stock ... so I paid $100 more and got the 640. The biggest disappointment is taking picture indoors using the "auto" feature (which is how I take most of my pictures ... I am pretty much a point-and-shoot photographer). The pictures are incredibly grainy and blurry in certain light situations. I think the camera automatically switches to 800 speed file mode or something. It will take a clear picture one minute and a blurry one the next ... in the same light situation. Very frustrating because on the LCD screen I cant tell the picture is grainy until I get it home and view it on the computer ... and I never know when it is going to "switch" into that other mode. Most pictures outdoors are sharp (they should be ... its 10 megapixels!) but I certainly didnt expect such a large percentage of my pics to switch to the grainier mode .. and very frustrating when you dont know when it is switching!
On: 2007-01-10
It is just what I was expecting and more. The pictures are great on the automatic settings and manipulable on the manual settings. The movies are easy to download and the sound is really surprising. The price was the best I found for the camera anywhere.
On: 2007-01-10
This Camera is awesome, its quality is superb both in snap shots and video recording. i love the fact that it caters for a lot of different scenary which gives you the best quality for those conditions that exist.
And what Can I say about its 4 optical zoom when combine with digital zoom? Lets just say my eyes are on you:)
On: 2007-01-10
$ for $ one of the best kept secrets on the net. Would recommend this camera based on picture clarity and ease of use!
On: 2007-01-10
Great Camera. I dont think anyone needs 10 mega pixels, but it is possible to set the pixel number much lower and save space on the computer. Ive had the camera a couple of months and am still reading the instruction book. It sure has a lot of bells and whistles, but the basics are quite simple. I hope this will be my LAST camera. I especially like the size and fact that the little screne swivels and folds closed for your pocket.
One more piece of good advise I received while shopping for a camera was to buy one from a company: canon, olympia etc who makes cameras primarily and therefore has a solid reputation
On: 2007-01-09
Ive owned a digital camera since 2001. This is my second camera; purchased after doing a lot of research. I am very pleased with the camera. Its easy to operate. There are so many features to the camera, but it can still be treated like a point and shoot. The quality of the camera exceeded my expectations. The pictures are clear, sharp, and have the most vivid colors. Im looking forward to years of great pictures with this camera.
On: 2007-01-08
This is a great value and a great camera! Its the camera you can take anywhere and will tend to have with you when a photo-op comes up. It also uses AA batteries easily available anywhere in the world, so its great for your European trip, etc. No charger hassles. The color, fast-focusing autofocus, lack of shutter delay are excellent and the movable LCD is very convenient. I love mine!
On: 2007-01-03
Besides the tilting lcd panel and the excellent resolution, it has some really cool feactures that sets it apart from the competition, I really liked the Color Accent, that lets you take pictures in B/W but accenting one particular color of your choice, all of this without any software! on the fly!
On: 2007-01-03
I have been very pleased with the camera. It takes excellent photos
and has many options.
I would definetly purchase this camera again.
On: 2007-01-03
The camera is easy to use. Canon is a quality product and this is the 3 Canon camera I have owned. Works well with my Canon printer.
Very satisfied with procuct and Amazon
On: 2007-01-01
I have owned this camera for around three weeks now, and I really love it. I am not an experienced photographer, but I like to take snapshots and sometimes edit and enlarge them. This is my third digital camera in the past 10 years. The first, at 1.2 MP, served me well for a long time. The second was 5 MP, but it didnt have a viewfinder. I quickly learned that I am incapable of taking blur-free snapshots without supporting the camera against my face - which I cannot do without a viewfinder. Neither of these cameras could produce good close-ups.
I decided to upgrade to 10 MP even though everywhere I looked recommended lower quality. These recommendations were based on the fact that people like me do not need pictures that can be enlarged to sizes greater than 8x10 and 10 MP is not necessary for good 8x10 prints. I decided to ignore the advice because I have learned that technological advancements come so rapidly that todays overkill is tomorrows inadequate.
For the last few weeks, I have been taking my camera everywhere. I have been playing around with the settings and features, including video recording. My video of my nephew being an awesome child Christmas Eve at church is better than the one his father took with his not-so-new camcorder, and the sound is great too. I took a lot of fabulous pictures of my pets, two of which I posted in the gallery for this camera. I used the software that came with the camera to crop these photos, but did not otherwise edit them. Notice the detail of my yellow cats whiskers and the sunlight on his fur. At first I thought my pictures were fuzzy, but when I made them larger I found that it was because of the incredible detail. These are the kind of photos I have always wanted to be able to produce. My people photos do sometimes have red-eye, but I dont mind editing it out. Thats part of the beauty of a digital camera.
As for battery life, Ive taken hundreds of pictures and lots of videos and Im still using the batteries that shipped with the camera. I havent done much with the flip screen, but its very nice to be able to flip it around to protect the screen when the camera is not in use. I havent done much zooming yet either. I am a very happy customer.
On: 2006-12-27
This is my first digital camera and it was easy to learn to operate for a novice. But I have yet to take an indoor flash shot without the subject having the red-eye glow. Be prepared to use an image program to manually remove the red-eye on almost ALL indoor flash shots! Ive heard this is a normal occurance of the point and shoot Canon line, but thats a LOT of work to have to "fix" all of the red-eye manually in a graphics app.
If not for that I would surely give this camera 5 stars.
On: 2006-12-17
Every person I took a photo of had red-eye, even with the red-eye reduction on. This was completely unacceptable to me and I returned the camera. I also found the flash to be inadaquate in many situations. Outdoor shots were nice though.
I have owned 4 Canon Digital Cameras and this was the most disappointing to me personally. I have replaced this with the Canon XTI and am very happy so far. The extra cost is well worth it to me.
On: 2006-12-12
This is my first ever digital camera, but I did my research and I think I knew pretty much what I was getting into. The only reason I didnt give this camera 5 stars is its less-than-stellar performance in low-light situations, and when the ISO was set 800. I knew about these problems before hand though so I cant complain too much. I love the pivoting lcd screen, it lets me shoot from all different angles, and also do self-portraits. If I couldve found this exact camera with image-stablization, I wouldve paid extra, but in the end I had to make a trade-off, megapixels, and pivoting screen were more important to me.
On: 2006-12-10
This camera is awesome. There are just so many options to play with. I love the fact that you can flip the screen out and take pictures of yourself. You can also take pictures from your computer. Hooking your camera straight to the TV and watching the picture and videos you made is awesome. Im very statisfied, and the price was outstanding. 10 MP is overkill for me, but its nice to have it there. The hard black plastic body is very strong and scratch resistant. Having the double A batteries is a plus for traveling.
On: 2006-12-06
***THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF PRESSING THE DISPLAY BUTTON***
***The screen was ON but black***
If this review is editable. I will edit it after I get and test the replacement.
I loved the camera for the three days it worked. Any issues I had with it were likely due to my inexperience.
But on the third day it went black while I was using it. I never dropped it or banged it or anything. I was siting and photographing a tea ceremony. The menu still worked and I could see old pictures and the mechanical stuff seemed to work, but for new pics--nothing. I turned it off and on and it was fine for a few minutes and then went black again and stayed this way.
I have no idea why. The only advise I got from canon was to hit Reset All which unfortunately didnt work.
I told amazon and they apologized profusely and have a replacement speeding towards me at two day shipping. I also just had to print out a return label for the defective camera so I dont have to pay return shipping. All I really lose is three days or so of camera use and a fair amount of confidence in the products durability.
So for now two stars for the camera but five stars for Amazon, who are the nicest online retailer Ive dealt with.
On: 2006-12-05
I bought a Cannon PowerShot A640 last week and already have taken over 100 pictures with it. It is easy to use, the Auto mode does everything. The picture quality is outstanding and the detail in Zoom mode is impresive. This camera has far exceeded my expectations as to the quality and ease of use. I like the fact that it uses AA batteries which are readily available. My first digital camera was Sony and after 2 years I discovered that the battery was propriatary and no longer available. It also has a natural feel in your hand, Not too big and not too small.
Chuck Hoopes
York, Pa.
On: 2006-12-04
Great camera, Great features, Has a nice feel to it like older SLRs ,yet not too big and bulky. Resolution is excellent and advance features are plenty. Make sure to get a least 1GB card better yet I got the 2GB. I am very happy with this product. Canon does it right.
On: 2006-12-04
MY LAST CAMERA WAS A CANON A-300 IT WAS A VERY GOOD, THEN I WENT AND GOT THE POWER SHOT A-640 AND I JUST LOVE IT IT IS THE BEST CAMERA FOR THE PRICE
AND EVERYONE SHOULD GET ONE DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON OTHER CAMERAS UNLESS YOU ARE GOING FOR A REAL PRO CAMERA. IT IS VERY EASY TO USE. TOO ME ALL THE OTHER CAMERAS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY WHEN YOU CAN HAVE 10 MP X4 OPTICAL ZOOM.THANK YOU JUST BUY IT YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID.....
On: 2006-11-26
I have been a Canon camera fan for years, my first SLR was a Canon, and so I was excited about 10 MP in a consumer-grade camera from Canon. After one week of average usage, here are the highs and lows. BTW, my frame of reference is my Canon G5.
Highs-
*- Incredible battery life. The camera comes with four alkaline (no name) batteries. I have taken more than 220 pictures and 30 minutes of video using the original batteries.
*- 10 MP captures everything! At first, the pictures looked "off" somehow. Then I realized the level of detail in the pictures is just amazing.
*- The screen is excellent. It is bright, and big, tilts to every angle, and frames the entire picture, and, and, and.... Very impressive.
*- Video capture 640 x 480 @ 30 fps is phenomenal. The video clips are as good as any basic camcorder.
*- The camera is light yet feels well built. The lens moves smoothly, the dial clicks into each position, etc. The compartment doors do concern me (see below).
*- USB 2.x picture transfer is very fast @ about 2.5 min for 1 Gig of data.
*- The camera supports 4GB SD cards, maybe larger.
*- A610 and A 620 accessories work with the A640. I purchased a lens adapter and a few 52mm filters to refine my pictures. The lens adapter is not the plastic one from Canon it is a metal generic from Sakar. Everything works well and fits correctly.
Lows-
** This unit only, I hope, records a high pitch squeal in video mode. My replacement camera is on the way. The sound does not affect the quality of the images in the video clips.
[Updated for replacement camera- There is a less noticeable noise in the background audio of movie clips taken with the new camera. The sound does not drown out the movie clip audio like it did with the first camera, but it is still there. I now suspect this has something to do with the cameras "mono" microphone.]
** The camera stops recording video at 1 Gig. In 640 x 480 @ 30 fps mode, this is just over 9 minutes. So, there is a video limit though I could not find this data before I purchased the camera. I did read about a "One hour" limit somewhere but that would have to be in 320 x 240 @ 15 fps or "Compact" video mode to stay below the 1 gig limit. Also worth noting, 640 x 480 @ 15 fps video mode looks great and can record almost 20 minutes before reaching the 1 Gig limit.
** When the camera stops video recording at 1 gig, you cannot transfer the file from the camera via the USB connection. Removing the SD card and putting it in a SD reader is the only way to get the video onto your PC. For the technically frumpy, my PC is running Win XP 2 (SP 2) so this is not a file size issue for the PC.
** The battery and USB compartment doors feel like they might break at some point. Opening the battery door requires a dual action slide lock then slide door that is not intuitive.
** The picture control functions and the camera operating menus require reading, or lots of experimentation. I had a good frame of reference since my last camera was a Canon, but I remember the learning curve and it applies to the A640 too.
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