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Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 288
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 On: 2008-11-17
Ive been using this camera for about 9 months now, and Im very happy with it. The battery life is great, the display is big, and its packed full of great features. The only drawback is that it can take a few seconds for the flash to recharge, and the camera isnt the smallest one you can buy. But on the other hand, you have a lot of control over how your pictures are taken through various manual settings, the picture and movie quality is very good, zoom is decent, and the camera uses non-proprietary NiMH AA batteries.
 On: 2008-11-16
Takes good pictures. Not user friendly and not enought settings to what i like to use it for. Need to look into the manual better to figure it out. But it does take great pictures.
On: 2008-11-07
This camera has turned me into a photographer. I take it with me everywhere and its held up well. I shoot almost entirely on macro setting and have discovered an entire new world. The pictures are so clear that you can see individual hairs on the back of a half inch spider.
I was always frustrated by cameras (always point and shoots)that wouldnt focus as close as I wanted to get to a subject and now Im not.
 On: 2008-11-01
This is a $200 camera. ($199 MSRP according to the Canon website itself.) The $449 price tag on Amazon for this product is either or mistake or a complete ripoff. Even the $319 "sale" price is more than this product was ever or will ever be worth.
This would be a top choice camera for $200, with great quality and features for that value. But for $449 or even $319 you can get a much, much better camera.
This gets 1 star from me until Amazon reduces this atrocious price back down to the $200 range where it belongs.
 On: 2008-10-25
I have been using this camera for awhile now and have to say that it has some of the best overall picture quality I have seen in a camera of its price range and cost.
Some strong points include:
-Amazing picture quality
-low cost
-easy operation
-extremely large array of advanced features and controls
The Negatives:
-Durability
-Battery life
I had to turn picture preview and anything that uses battery life off to get as many pictures as possible out of it. Gets between 80-150 pictures off of one set of batteries. Battery life aside, this is a great camera at a great price.
On: 2008-10-11
The Canon A720 IS has to stand as one of the best all-round cameras of the decade. Sadly (and stupidly) Canon has discontinued this model which has sold in the hundreds of thousands world wide for the past 18 months, and replaced it with an inferior product -- in the form of the A2000 IS. What were Canon thinking!
Pricing point, features, full manual control, high quality 6x zoom lens, true image stabilisation and eye-level viewfinder, all wrapped up in a sleek, easy-to-hold package. Add in wide-angle and tele-converter lenses, and its the perfect advanced-amateur camera. Image quality is spot on -- perfect colour rendition, good dynamic range, noise-free high ISOs, sharp and fast auto focus, and accurate auto white balance round out its technical capabilities.
The A720 IS is a camera that needs to be grabbed ASAP before it disappears forever!
On: 2008-09-30
Im no camera whiz. This camera worked great for me on a recent vacation. It does the smart stuff autamatically (facial recognition, image stabilization) and the viewfinder is a blessing in bright sunlight.
On: 2008-09-13
I recently bough this camera as an upgrade for my Canon A620. It is pretty much the same camera, except is has better specs and new features such as the image stabilizer. One of the selling points for me on this camera was the 6x optical zoom, which is a rarity in the point-and-shoot cameras. It is usually 3x. The only features that are present in my older Canon that I wish this one had is the Color Accent/Color Swap feature and I also wish there wasnt such a long delay between shots when using the flash.
On: 2008-09-10
I always research before I buy. Suggested retail price for this cam is $199.99 according to the Canon website.
On: 2008-09-06
Every time I learn more about this camera. I have several other Canon digital and regualr cameras and Im a true fan of Canon cameras.
On: 2008-09-04
This is the first top notch camera I have ever purchased. IT is easy to use and easy to read the instructions. My purchase through Amazon was very easy and quick, plus the cost was the best. It took 4 days to get my camera and then I was sooo excited. I took it to Yosemite this weekend and took over 400 pictures. I think the screen is very easy to see. And I have rechargeable batteries, which last about 100 pictures. I also purchased a SDHC 4MB memory card which will hold over 1700 pictures. I would buy this camera again. I am very happy!!!
On: 2008-09-01
The camera is super! Its light weight and take-it-anywhere-you-go thing. Im taking it with me every weekend when I go out and the pictures it creates are cool and satisfying. Has quite many functions that lets you make a lot of fun. Strongly recommend if you want a camera to take high quality pictures with reasonable price (when on sale) and comfortable to use. Love my Canon.
On: 2008-08-25
This is my first digital camera, so I had no idea which of the hundreds to buy. Consumer Reports listed this model as its "Best Buy" and thats why I purchased it. I am very happy with the quality of pictures, which are much sharper than I was getting with my 35mm film camera and I find it very easy to use, even for a digital beginner. The instruction book was a pleasant surprise as it was actually written by a native English speaker and was very step by step and easy to follow.
My computer would not accept the CD that came with the camera, and regardless of the dire warnings that you "must" download the CD before copying pictures from the camera to the computer, I took a chance and connected the camera to the computer and the pictures went to "My Pictures" in the computer without a hitch.
I seem to be getting about 50 shots, many with flash, with 2 AA batteries.
On: 2008-08-18
I have now had this camera for over 4 months. I use it primarily for nature photography. It is outstanding for so many reasons. My fellow photographers are so jealous that I can get within 1 cm for macro photography. I like that it has AA batteries; easily rechargeable. Its my first digital so I like that I can adjust the aperture and shutterspeed. I LOVE that I can underexpose and see it through the LCD. I often underexpose by a third of a stop for more contrast. For motion photography, I can see throught the view finder and accurately get the subject (Thunderbird planes!). The flash is quite weak but you can buy one as an accessory. You can also buy an accessory lens and even waterproofing to do underwater photography! I also like that with the digital and optimal zoom I can zoom in 24X Wow! That has helped a lot too! I feel I dont need to go to the DSLR because I get outstanding pictures with this. Well worth the price!
On: 2008-08-05
I got this camera for Christmas. It is great for most types of photos. Consumer Reports recently listed this camera as a "best buy". Its predecessor, the A710, had also been a best buy. Canon seems to update their cameras every year, so my guess is that this cameras successor is due to be released within the next few months.
If you just want a point-and-shoot that does all the work for you, then keep this camera in "auto" mode and forget about all the other settings. If you are an experienced SLR photographer, go ahead and put it in manual mode for a near-SLR experience.
I have noticed that the lens does tend to slightly, but noticeably, curve straight vertical lines. Also, as with most point-and-shoot cameras, while the LCD screen is WYSIWYG, the viewfinder is not--especially when zoomed in.
Remember that for ALL auto-focus cameras, you should press the shutter button down half way so the camera can focus on the subject. Then press the shutter button down all the way to take the shot. This is no different than other point-and-shoot digital cameras.
One reviewer complained about getting blurry photos with this camera. I have not had any problems with blurry photos. If you have a broadband Internet connection, I have posted 433 photos online that I took with this camera during a recent vacation to Japan. As you will see, there are no blurry photos. To see the quality of the pictures that this camera takes, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/jparsons.net/
Recommended supplies: I bought the Tamrac 5290 Camera Bag for it, which holds the camera snugly and does a good job of protecting it from rain. If you would like to improve your photography skills, I recommend the book Understanding Exposure.
On: 2008-08-04
I did a lot of research before buying this camera. I decided to get this particular camera because of the 6X optical zoom which has been a plus. The image is clear and it is easy to use. The camera is small and has all the basic features. I am very happy with the purchase.
On: 2008-08-02
Ive had mine for about six months and really like it. I usually shoot with a Nikon D70 DLSR and have a bunch of lenses for that, but this little Canon is great for casual shooting. I use it for snap shots of the family when it is more important to get a candid shot of the people then to have the best technical shot. It is so much smaller then a DSLR so it is much easier to travel with. The manual controls are very good, they are easy to access and cover pretty much everything you need. I often shoot in either aperture priority (Av) or shutter priority (Tv), but also sometimes shoot in either full manual or full auto.
The eight megapixels is more then I need for this kind of camera and ends up just adding noise to the images that causes anything over ISO 400 to be unusable. I keep the ISO at or below 200 when possible and get the best results at ISO 80, but ISO 400 is still usable.
There are other Canon cameras that are much smaller like the SD850 IS, but I prefer the A720 IS because of the manual features and it has a nice grip that makes hanging onto the camera easy. But the SD850 IS is a better camera for novice shooters where simplicity and small size are more important.
Another important difference between the SD850 and the A720 is that the A720 uses two AA batteries, the SD850 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion. The lithium-ion battery is much better, it takes more shots on a charge and cycles the flash much faster. The AAs cause the length of time between shots with flash to be very long. Rechargeable AA batteries work better for this then non-rechargeables, but are still not as good as lithium-ion. The best way to use either camera is to have backup batteries with you so you never run out of power.
The things that keep this camera from being five stars:
- Noisy at ISO 400 and above (this is aggravated by the excessive 8MP count)
- The manual focus does not work in macro mode, where you need it most
- Uses AA instead of Lithium-Ion (for some, this is a plus)
If you are taking snap shots and want a little extra control, this is a great camera an a better choice then a DLSR.
On: 2008-08-01
This Camera is amazing. The only bug i had with it was that it took around five seconds to turn on. i fixed that by turning the start up volume off. now it takes around half a second to tun on. it is really amazing, and i love how much zoom it has. The image stabilization has really come in handy, because some times i have a shaky hand.
On: 2008-07-30
This camera has a firmware flaw: The firmware that interprets the batteries voltage is preset for high quality batteries only, if you use rechargeable or cheap off brand batteries, the camera is useless. They need to fix it so you can select the type of battery you are going to use and not shut the camera down in low voltage conditions.
Sensor Quality: I found that my PowerShot S50 takes much sharper photos at the same speed, and is higher quality. I generally use the S50 for indoor pictures as the A720IS has very poor performance (lots of image noise).
THIS IS A GOOD CAMERA FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY WHEN USING DURACELL BATTERIES!!
On: 2008-07-29
Camera takes great pictures, took several hundred pictures while on vacation in Florida without anybad shots. The battery lid is a little flimsy and should be stronger, plastic just does not cut it for this price. Flash is a little slow to recycle. Battery life with rechargable batteries has been very good. This camera is replacing another Canon and Im very happy with it so far.
On: 2008-07-28
My Canon A720 IS developed the traditional A720 IS blank screen with the wavy blue lines. It is one of the thousands of Cameras that Canon has refused to fix (although it was under warranty) using the now traditional dodge that it was damaged by liquid although it was never exposed to any. The Camera was simply put back into the mail and returned to me without nofitication that there was to be no repairs. This is their standard, scripted response to customers with a damaged camera. I called to inquire about the repair and was stonewalled by the Canon personnel in the repair facility. A followup call by a "customer service rep" was nothing more than the attempt to sell me another camera. I have used Canons various products for over 30 years but this experience was traumatic enough that I will never buy another.
On: 2008-07-26
Recently I lost my Canon PowerShot A720 IS through sheer carelessness. I liked the Camera so well that I ordered another one. The service from Amazon and Ritz was great. Will buy from these people again.
On: 2008-07-22
This is a great camera. I have a Canon PowerShot A520 which I was very pleased with, but wanted more zoom and image stabilization for a forthcoming trip out west. This camera sure gives it to you. This is a great camera with many wonderful features. I took a lot of photos with it recently and they are outstanding. Highly recommended.
On: 2008-07-20
Picked this as it was a Consumer Reports "Best Buy". I am super pleased with it. Easy to use, light and with a good grip. Especially like that I can zoom in on a picture already taken to make sure everyone looks good on a "people picture". Buy a larger memory straight away. Amazon did not offer it at the same time as I purchased the camera. Pity! Sale missed!
On: 2008-07-19
This is my fourth Canon camera and it is a good camera. However, the software that they provide to download the pictures is terrible. It is much worse than the software that came with every other Canon camera that I have purchased. I recommend buying a different Canon camera just for this reason.
On: 2008-07-19
Great camera, good buy. Takes nice crisp pics and has no noticeable lag time. Easy tool for removing red eye. I agonized over which camera to get and am extremely happy with this one.
On: 2008-07-16
$345 for this camera from Toyzz when the MSRP is $199?!? I just bought this from Dell Home for $170 with free shipping. I wouldnt be telling you all this if it actually came from Amazon, because Amazon wouldnt mark it up like this.
I needed a small, pocketable camera to keep in my car when I dont feel like lugging around lenses and my DSLR. Its terrific.
On: 2008-07-15
I wasnt going to write a review of this camera until I had more time to use it; however, I quickly discovered a significant weakness which I think people should be aware of before they buy one. Apparently the camera has little or no buffer memory. In addition to the long recovery time after a flash which has been mentioned by others, there is a big delay between shots. And it is not minor. Evidently the processor has to write directly to the card. I spent yesterday afternoon putting the camera through its paces and I was quite taken aback by this problem. I was repeatedly frustrated as I tried to take a series of shots quickly. The zoom is also frozen each time until the write is completed. Anyone used to a modern DSLR is in for a big surprise. My experience was duplicated by a friend with his 720. A fast card is very desirable, but it wont solve the problem (I used one). Otherwise, I have been pleased with the camera, and it seems to meet my basic requirement for a camera I can throw in my jacket pocket and take with me everyday. It will just require a more deliberate approach. I will soon be going to Europe and after I get back and recover from jet lag, I will write more.
On: 2008-07-14
Perfect pocket camera for taking on trips for someone who wants more control over their photos than the usual point and shoot. I have used it camping, boating, biking, hiking, flying, and for all sorts of other outdoor activities where a larger camera would be impractical. All controls accessible with one hand.
The program mode allows me to permanently suppress the flash (I almost never use it) and the image stabilization allows slow shutter speeds in low light conditions. The shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual modes give me all the flexibility I could want in setting exposures.
The combination of 6X optical zoom, 8 megapixels, image stabilization, and AA batteries cannot be found in any other camera this small and light. The optical viewfinder is great for bright conditions where the LCD screen is washed out. The viewfinder crops the actual image - you should zoom in tighter than you normally would.
The camera has a few flaws. At the higher ISO settings (800 and 1600 but also a little at 400) the images start to go a bit grainy (but still usually yield good quality up to 8x10 enlargements). The camera does not do well with regular alkaline battteries - the low battery indicator lights up early and the camera soon rejects the batteries even though they have plenty of power for other devices. I think it has to do with the batterys voltage characteristic. Rechargeable Lithium ion batteries, however, do very well in it. Alkalines are good for backup if nothing else is available. But these problems are small compared to the utility this camera provides in a small, inexpensive package.
If you have someone else using the camera who is not comfortable with all the settings available, you can simply switch it to auto mode and let them point and shoot.
On: 2008-07-14
Got this camera to capture pics for my trip to my home country and also for my marriage. Purchased the camera after lot of reviews at amazon and other camera review sites. I gave this to my brother so he could capture pics of our family on their trips, he enjoys using it for the quality and ease of use. If you are looking for an inexpensive and good camera this is a good choice.
On: 2008-07-12
I bought this particular camera after Consumer Reports rated it a best buy. It is small and light, but has all the features one wants in a point & shoot, plus it is one of the few that offers better than a 3x optical zoom. (It has a 6x optical zoom.) I have been using it for a month now and have not yet found any shortcomings.
On: 2008-07-11
This is a great camera. It would be better if it had more than one video mode, right now you can record on high or low resolution, one is pretty good the other one is bad. Its great you can remove the lens to change it for a better one. Easy to use, not pro not simple, great balance!
 On: 2008-07-09
I have had this camera for about 7 months (bought christmas 07). The pictures are great. The first digital camera I bought 5 years ago was a fuji and decided I needed a smaller camera and after much research decided to purchase this one. I have only had the camera 7 months and the mode switch just stop working which means you cant see the pictures you just took or download them to your computer. I emailed canon and waiting for a response. If the mode switch doesnt work your camera doesnt work. I am very disappointed . Of course I didnt buy the extended warranty because canon got great reviews. The mode switch goes up and down and it seemed fine until yesterday. ( july 9, 08). I am the only one who uses the camera so it hasnt been abused by kids or different people. If you decide to buy it , hope it last longer than mine. good luck.
On: 2008-07-07
I just received this camera about a week ago. Took it to Muir Woods and took outstanding pictures. Still learning all of the different manual options this camera offers which are many.
Pros:
Outstanding Pictures
Great Price
Good Zoom
Cons:
Batteries Die fast
Picture taking a bit slow especially when using Flash
One other very small gripe is the ability to "preview" the last picture taken is not possible unless you slide the lever down. Wish it were possible to have a one button click to view the last picture taken. Other than these very small gripes this camera is excellent.
I would highly recommend this camera.
On: 2008-07-07
I bought this camera for my family safari trip to Tanzania. I chose it especially because of the 6x zoom. I also like the extra weight and size that some people consider a minus.It feels good in the hand, and can be used with one hand. I was able to photograph wildlife from great distances with the zoom, and then zoom again to see the image up close. This brought hard to see cheetahs and rhinos into better view than the naked eye, and sometimes as well as binoculars. The stabilizer works well too, as I discovered taking pictures even while on bumpy unpaved roads. I made short movies, which could have been even longer, up to the amount of space left on the memory card. The LED was hard to read in the bright light outdoors, so I used the viewfinder instead. (Im old fashioned). The low price (about $185) made it irresistible. I do only the simplest stuff, so I cant comment on all the features it has. I havent printed anything yet.
On: 2008-07-05
This is our second PowerShot Camera. We enjoy using both of them. This camera takes great pictures. We are not professional photographers but this camera helps make the shots look professional. The price is very reasonable and the shipping speed is very prompt.
On: 2008-06-30
I love how I can point and focus on what I want to take the picture of - The camera knows this and brings this item more the focal point to fade the background not to take away while capturing the vision. The Canon A-720 IS where its at. ;)
On: 2008-06-30
This is one outstanding camera. Takes sharp, color-rich pictures. Delivery was on time.
On: 2008-06-28
There is a lot of extensive descriptive reviews about this camera. I will just say I love this camera and glad I purchased it. I was wanting a 10x optical zoom, but because of what was available locally, I chose this Power Shot A720 IS 6x optical zoom. It is a real nice camera. Outside pictures are probably better than indoors, but if you practice, you can take good inside pictures as well. Lots of settings, or just opt to set the camera for automatic exposures. I bought some Sony rechargeable batteries and they last a very long time. I have only changed the batteries once and I have had the camera since March. Amazing!
On: 2008-06-26
I cant help giving this camera an average review. I have done a lot of research online and the Powershots always come out best. This is the second powershot I bought and return (sorry Amazon, you are the greatest). It takes OK pictures but it just doesnt compare to the cheap Olympus Camedea that I have. My friend also has an Olympus taking GREAT pictures. According to online reviews, Olympus would be worse than Canon...Let this be a review in favor of Olympus.
On: 2008-06-26
I cant help giving this camera an average review. I have done a lot of research online and the Powershots always come out best. This is the second powershot I bought and return (sorry Amazon, you are the greatest). It takes OK pictures but it just doesnt compare to the cheap Olympus Camedea that I have. My friend also has an Olympus making GREAT pictures. According to online reviews, Olympus would be worse than Cannon...Let this be a review in favor of Olympus.
On: 2008-06-26
Im very satisfacted with this camera. Is easy to use, the photos are very nive, and the resolutions photos exceptional. Im very happy with my canon A720IS.
On: 2008-06-25
I loved, loved, loved this camera. When I showed people prints they would say "wow, these are great photos, what kind of camera do you have?" BUT, after 6 months, it just stopped working. I was using it, turned it off & I wouldnt turn on again.
I brought it into a camera shop to see if it could be repaired & they said that they had seen 3 of these 720 cameras that had exactly the same problem.
So, dont do what I did, which is not bother to fill out the warranty information. I wont make that mistake again!
On: 2008-06-24
This camera is terrific, the picture quality is excellent and it has a lot of good functionality for taking different kinds of pictures. The face detection is very helpful for getting the correct focus. A good point and shoot camera with functionality for more advanced users as well.
On: 2008-06-22
Bought two, one for me and one for her, we were impressed and everything was as advertised, we tried them out immediately and everything was good.
On: 2008-06-22
It is pretty good unit. I am satisfied with it. You can change many settings to meet your need. You will get very good picture with good settings.
The cons are:
The background noise is a little high, especially when the ISO is high.
You have to know some knowledge of taking pictures and it take some time to be used to this camera.
Do please shorten the timing of the shutter at night or you will get very blurred pictures.
On: 2008-06-17
so far we really like our canon powershot A720IS. takes great pics, has lots of options and isnt big and heavy but still enough to hold onto. great camera for the price.
On: 2008-06-16
I ended up not purchasing this through Amazon.com as I found it for a little less locally during a special sale. Amazon.com still has, overall, the best price (even including shipping).
I got this camera for my wife who wanted a good combination point-n-shoot and of manual control options. We researched several others in the price range and certainly the Nikon was a good competitor. But we have both used and enjoyed Canons for years and, in the end, decided to stick with Canon...mostly just so we wouldnt have to learn a different strategy for the various controls. For us, this was a good decision, as we were up-n-running with the A720IS right out of the box.
We have not used this little camera so far; havent had a lot of time. But my wife is already pretty proficient with it having used it around the house and at the zoo. We will be on photo-safari in Kenya in a few weeks and by all of the practicing with the A720IS so far, I suspect it will be a wonderful camera companion for my wife.
The large 2.5" LCD and the optical viewfinder are great. We have used cameras without the optical viewfinders and have vowed never to have a camera with one again. The optical viewfinder on the A720IS fill the bill for us just fine. The large LCD is still completely useless in bright light situations (especially for those harsh mid-day sunny shoots...which I know we shouldnt be trying to take pictures in...but sometimes you just dont have a choice); but that is a problem with all of the contemporary point-n-shoot cameras. I recently purchased a nice bellows-style LCD hood that attaches with velcro and so far it has completely and satisfactorily solved the LCD washout issue. So, with that challenge solved, this is a great camera.
I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone looking for an inexpensive, flexible, point-n-shoot style camear...especially to anyone that would like to have the option of just about any level and type of manual control that you could want.
On: 2008-06-15
This is my first digital camera. In the Auto mode, it takes great pictures, is easy to use, and it is easy to upload pictures to my computer. However, the instruction manual is poorly written and Im still trying to figure out all the various modes and options available for taking pictures.
On: 2008-06-14
I loved my Canon advanced point and shoot camera! This is my first digital camera purchase and Im very satisfied. It has a lot of great features. The price was right. Im learning more about its capabilities every day. The menu features are clear and concise, very well thought out for beginners. Im now the official photographer for all of my familys get-togethers. The flash is compact but strong. The pre-set film settings for auto, night portrait, kids and pets, snow, fireworks are great! Each has its own advantages. Im still experimenting with the macro lens setting for still life shots. They put a lot of bang for the buck in this camera. I recommend this for beginners to intermediate photographers. You will not be dissapointed.
On: 2008-06-13
This is my second Canon digital, love the brand, takes great shots, easy to use.Automatic and manual modes. The optical zoom feature takes very clear shots. The price is right too. I was convinced by the review in this months Consumer Reports. I am an intermediate amateur photographer and this fits my needs nicely. I love to take photos of my gardens and this fits the bill for that.
On: 2008-06-07
My husband needed an easy-to-use point-and-shoot to capture images for later use in his art. This camera has been perfect: user-friendly and great images.
On: 2008-06-02
I checked this out on several web sites and with consumer reports. This camera is highly recommended by every place I checked so I bought it and LOVE it! It is easy to use, large screen, good pixel/zoom for the price. I highly recommend this.
On: 2008-05-31
I totally love this camara. It has everything I was looking for. Thanks.
On: 2008-05-29
Loaded with more features than I will probably ever use. Got the camera because Canon has a solid line of cameras. Really like the zoom and image stabilization, the 2 main reasons I got the camera. Also, amazon.com has it at a great price. The camera is a good size, fits nicely in my hands. I also like the view finder. Not many cameras have a view finder now days, which forces you to use the LCD, which in turn eats up the batteries. So, I only use the LCD to view photos, and can take a lot of photos on a couple of batteries.
The only thing I dont like is that the flash will give some people Red Eye although there is a setting to minimize it. Course, most any camera will give Red Eye. The only way I have found to prevent it is to use a separate flash that is at least 6 inches away from the lense.
On: 2008-05-29
purchasing this camera, i think was the best choice that i made, the picture quality is excellent and the various features have proven to be very effective.
On: 2008-05-27
This is a great little camera. Ive had so much fun taking pictures with it. Its easy to use and the pictures turn out great. I would definitely recommend it to others.
On: 2008-05-25
I have been a long time photographer. I am fussy about image quality and to me that includes the sharpness of the image, the exposure/meter accuracy and the quality of the color. This camera really delivers in all of those areas. Its no wonder that Canon point and shoots overall are good performers because their image processing is excellent.
It has a great set of manual features that are easy to navigate. If you appreciate great quality images and dont want to lug around an SLR this is a great choice. The video quality is good as long as you dont use the zoom lens. That works fine for me in a pinch.
The only two things that are missing are a wider lens - I would have preferred 28mm and almost went with the Lumix for that reason alone. Also, the cycle time on the flash could be faster - but thats no big deal.
The "kids and pets" special mode really works and eliminates a lot of the shutter lag that is a problem with digital cameras. So, thats a big plus.
All in all - its a winner and I would not hesitate to purchase even at the list price. I got mine from OneCall here on Amazon and they shipped it very fast.
On: 2008-05-23
I was so thrilled to receive my new
camera so quickly. Thanks a million!!
On: 2008-05-23
I have a Nikon DSLR camera and love it, but it is large. I wanted a camera that I could take traveling with me, to friends houses, to parties, etc that was a little more portable. I have a Panasonic DMC-TZ3 which takes excellent outdoor photos, but the indoor ones are terrible. I wanted good quality indoor and outdoor photos, but did not want to pay too much.
PROS:
1. Good quality outdoor and indoor photos.The outdoor photos werent quite as good as the Panasonic (when compared side by side), but youd never know it if you were just looking at the Canon shots. They are very good and I am happy with them. The indoor shots are miles better than the Panasonic and really quite good too (but obviously not as good as the Nikon DSLR). I was impressed. The color balance and brightness quality is right on.
2. I love the auto red eye correction feature. Very useful.
3. I found that that Auto setting is just about right for all situations. I dont really have to worry about changing the settings for various situations.
4. I LOVE that you can zoom in/out while taking a movie!
5. The movie quality is great - the video recording not quite as good as my Panasonic, but the audio recording is much better.
6. I like that it records movies as AVI files.
CONS/WISHES:
1. I wish it has a battery level indicator on the LCD.
2. The MAIN PROBLEM (which is really very annoying actually): As everyone else mentions - the recharge time is almost unbearable. It is worse than my 7 year old Sony cybershot. After a weekend of taking photos (the batteries are on the low end) I have to wait a full 10 seconds before being able to take another photo. Count to 10 slowly - that is a long time!
NOTES:
1. I took 160 photos and 6 movies over the course of a 4 day vacation on the two batteries. They arent dead yet, but I did get a battery low warning.
2. A number of indoor shots were blurry though (like I took 6 pictures of the same two people in the same position, and 3 of them were blurry). Weird. Could be due to taking the photos when the batteries were low or the auto focus just focused on the wrong subject (I will have to experiment more with the various auto focus options).
OVERALL:
I wouldnt pay $250-$300 for this camera (which is why I didnt stick with the other Canons I tested, the 870IS, 850, 750), but I would happily pay $170 for this camera (which I did). It is definitely worth it. Its a great cheap camera. And you can even get an underwater case for it! I am curious to try it out while snorkeling.
On: 2008-05-21
I bought this camera with a focus on faster shutter speed, and it certainly came up to my expectations. I can now capture the pics I want before that split second when the subject moves, (especially pets). The display is great and I also liked the fact that this had a viewfinder as well as the LCD display. In bright sunlight, this came in handy. When the sun is too bright, the display wasnt easily seen (as with most digitals).. It fits in the hand nicely and I took multiple pics one-handed. The zoom is located in the right-hand corner and was smooth to use. As someone who falls in the middle of "camera expertise" this camera works great.. I like it simple, but there are a ton of options for other features to explore. Ive had the camera about 2 months and am still learning all about the features; but the pictures I have taken, have been excellent. Great camera..!! Would highly recommend.
On: 2008-05-20
***
Summary: It is very easy to use and delivers great quality photos in a variety of situations with an absolute minimum of skill and zero talent.
***
About me: I bought this camera to take pictures of my daughter and my family. I am a very poor photographer with a good appreciation of photography, which is a painful situation to be in. In the past I have used a 3 mega-pixel camera phone, a Kodak camera in about the same price range, and then some Sony digital mini-cameras. I use this camera mainly indoors in medium light (energy-saving bulbs, late afternoon, overcast or raining). My approach is to take pictures early and often and hope for the best. I was looking for a camera that had great potential and that even I (read: one of the worst picture-takers youll ever meet) could get some decent pictures with. I have never taken a photography course and never will, because if I have the time and money I will spend it on something I can hope to actually get good at. I think I am a pretty typical camera-buyer.
About the camera: This camera met all of my expectations. It is very easy to use and delivers great quality photos in a variety of situations with an absolute minimum of skill and zero talent, which is what I wanted from a point-and-shoot.
When the other reviewers say it doesnt work well in low-light, they mean, very low light, like this is not a camera for amateurs that want to do some good photography at night or in a room with only a 20-watt bulb. The flash works fine for the rest of us! I certainly have not had any light issues and we do not live in the brightest of houses or climates. I used the night mode for quiet times and the auto-with-flash for active night pictures and they turned out fine.
This camera is nice because it has two functions that help poor photographers in particular (in addition to other modes that probably help everyone equally): the kids and pets function, which allows you to take picture after picture in quick succession so you dont miss any action, and the auto function which provides a higher-quality picture. If I use these according to the recommendations in the users manual, I can usually get 25 - 50% of my pictures of a moderate to good quality, as compared to an (imaginary) amateur photographer who actually knows what she is doing. That is compared to 1 - 5% of pictures using a camera phone or another cheap camera without these easy-to-use modes.
This camera is not so small that I lose it in my purse, which is a danger with tiny cameras, if your purse is anything like mine.
The stabilizer is also great since I take pictures while running after my toddler. I had considered buying the very cute Nikon in the same price range (the one that looks like a Brownie camera), but they did not have stabilizers, so I finally went for this one and I am very glad. The function works great.
One thing that they dont mention in the descriptions is that you do not have to switch between the viewfinder and the LCD display, like on some cameras. What I mean is that you can look through the little window like on regular cameras, OR at the big screen, like on digital cameras, all the time, without switching view mode. So you can switch from person to person without having to switch the view mode. This is great because my mother likes the viewfinder and I like the LCD. I also like to switch between them.
Another nice thing that I like is the ease with which you can switch from taking pictures to review mode to look at the pictures you took. It is a separate switch that you could find in the dark if you needed to. That is nice because I have deleted many a batch of photos trying to figure out how to get into the mode where I can review the pictures I have just taken.
The pictures I have taken with this camera are located at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahimzade (this is an ad-free, non-commercial set of our family pictures). You can see which ones were taken with the Canon A720IS by clicking on the photo and looking in the right-hand column, and compare them with other pictures I have taken. As I have mentioned I have no skills or talent in this area so if you are someone who really wants decent pictures but are also a photo dunce who just wants a picture of your kid or grandkid, this would give you a good idea of what to expect.
(If you are an amateur or pro photographer, this review and those samples are not for you because you could probably do better with a camera obscura.)
I would certainly buy this camera again.
On: 2008-05-20
We just got back from a 2 week vacation, I took 179 photos. Im glad I only got the 1 Gig card, for it, as I didnt use half of the space. A little bulky, but great features and great price more than make up for it. It still fit in my pocket, to haul around all day, and the 6x zoom covers most things you want to shoot. GMVB
On: 2008-05-18
Amazing quality in this little camera. I have a 10MP Digital SLR, and this little Powershot A720 gets very close in quality. I carry this with me at all times because it is so small and compact. Battery consumption is very little, so a pair of batteries last a long time, even using a lot of flash. I like the fact that it uses conventional AA batteries, not Im not SOL because I forgot to charge them. The large LCD display is great, especially compared to my previous Powershot that I replaced.
On: 2008-05-17
I am very pleased with the camera so far. I plan to use it extensively on an upcoming trip to Europe. It does everything that I require. It does not have any internal memory. I quickly ran out of room on the sd card that came with it after 4 pictures. If it had a bit of internal memory it would have helped me to finish my project and go inside for a larger card.
On: 2008-05-17
Its versatile, good zoom range, handier and smaller than I thought. Noise is pretty bad after 100 ISO but Im pleasantly surprised by its crispy images. Best in the Daylight. Great snapshot maker with quasi manual controls you can play with.
On: 2008-05-17
I wanted a camera smaller than my "regular" camera for a recent trip to Europe. I found this camera to be fantastic for tourist shots. Im a very active composer of shots, intensively using the zoom to frame shots. Because of this, I was a bit concerned about it only having two batteries and some comments about battery life in these amazon reviews. However, I found I was able to get about 350 pictures for each set of rechargeable batteries. I suspect this difference from other users is due to my infrequent use of the electronic image display for composing shots; Im a viewfinder user. The only time I used the display was for closeups, when the viewfinder had parallax problems and didnt line up the image correctly. Otherwise, image quality was great and the 6x lens worked great for getting in close. (Macro quality was also excellent, for the other kind of getting in close.) My only complaint about the lens is that the wide angle is equivalent to about a 35 mm lens. For many tourist shots, a wider angle would be nice, say about 28 mm. But, I knew this going in and learned to live with it. The flash unit is small, but provided adequate flash outdoors up to about 8 feet, which is about all that can be expected. Closeups with the flash have a lens shadow in the lower right side of the image, so users need to compensate for this while shooting or when editing. The flash does take several seconds to recharge, but not much longer than other digitals Ive used with four batteries. For the money, I feel I more than got my moneys worth.
On: 2008-05-16
This is a GREAT camera! I bought one for my wife and we liked it so much that I bought one for myself. We will be using them when we dont want to carry our DSLRs or as a backup to our DSLRs while on our trip to Europe this summer. Picture quality is extreemly good for a point and shoot camera (actually it is almost as sufisticated as my DSLR). It has a very good zoom range (equivalent to 35mm to 210mm). I really like the image stabilization feature, I wish my DSLR had it. Great buy and high quality camera.
On: 2008-05-16
Perfect for a travel size or to drag around for a day. Easy to use and takes great shots. At a concert, when back from the stage is doesnt have enough zoom, but its not trying to be a Nikon either. A good all around purse size camera.
On: 2008-05-16
This is my first digital camera, but not my first Canon. I am till learning how to use it.
So far this camera has exceeded my expectations. The basic point and shoot is very simple to learn. Great pictures indoors without a flash.
I really am looking forward to learning and using all the great features.
On: 2008-05-15
This camera is decent, excellent if you consider the price point. However, I was simply not thrilled with the image quality and ended up returning the camera. I also found that when the camera was on center focus (my preference over face recognition) that I found many of my picture focused on the background instead of the focal point which I set.
For the Amazon price, this is a good point and shoot camera. However, I recommend the S5 (which I bought after returning the 720)for superior performance and image quality.
On: 2008-05-15
I have had the camera for two months and I love it I needed some thing that I could carry on a daily bases to get quick snap shots of my hyper there year old son and my now on the go 9 month old. It is a little chubby but has better quality pictures then my Kodak Easyshare Z885. I am not a photographer by any means so I like that it is pretty much point and click. Although I do find myself playing with the many maul controls it has, which has almost inspired me to learn more about photography.
On: 2008-05-15
We moved up to this camera from the Canon A520 and are very pleased with the picture quality and the ease of operating. Just returned from a 14 day Alaskan cruise with lots of great pictures.
On: 2008-05-14
This is a nice-to-buy camera.
The memory slot and battery slot could have been separate.
On: 2008-05-14
Scenario: fibre artist with a touch of obsessive compulsion.....
Decision: need a new camera.....
Justify: update/keep up w/technology.....
Research: hunt for info/pros & cons (kudos to Consumer Reports).....
Narrow the list - visually inspect/touch/handle (and avoid getting slapped).....
Browse, brood, choose ------> SUCCESS!!!!!
This is a great camera - slimmed down & upgraded version of my PowerShot A95 that Ive had for several yrs now. Easy to use, larger LCD monitor, logical & user-friendly instructions; I use it mainly for still photos.
I recommend this camera highly!
On: 2008-05-14
This camera is great. I originally owned a Kodak easy share which I enjoyed, but since Im going to be traveling to Africa, I needed something which relied on rechargeable batteries rather than a lithium battery which requires an outlet to be recharged. So far I really enjoy the Canon powershot, its easy to use, the picture quality is very high and its a great value.
On: 2008-05-13
Does anyone know why it takes 1-2 months to ship this camera? Is this a mistake? I am looking to buy this camera but dont want to wait that long.
On: 2008-05-12
Cannon maybe great in the first two years of use but dont expect to be happy with it for long. My PowerShot A610 showed me a black LCD after two years of use and I was not alone. Many people reported the same problem at about the same time of usage on various forums (e.g. read forum on CNET). They say it is probably due to defective CCD. Whats worse? I have to pay to get it repaired. Canon USA customer services sucks! Be aware when you buy Canon. I was just as happy as you were when I bought my A610 and was happy until it turned black on me. I realize that what we are buying is really a disposable camera at a hefty price for that reason.
On: 2008-05-12
We had previously tried both a Gateway and an Olympus digital. Both cameras were the "point and shoot" variety, as is this little jewel. We could not be happier with the photo results. Unless the lighting or the speed is severe, the Canon 720 will do a wonderful job in the Auto setting. It even has special settings to rescue the amateur from troublesome shots such as darker venues, florescent lights, etc.. I have nothing but positive comments for the camera. If you dont have the expertise of a professional or the patience of a craftsman this is the camera for you. We have yet to take an unusable photo--even our carpet looks good as we were learning to use it. Definitely a keeper.
On: 2008-05-12
This is my first digital camera and was surprised and relieved at how easy it is to use.
On: 2008-05-12
Nice camera, easy to use, with great resolution and useful zoom in a small package. More than 2-second delay between shots, however, is a nuisance and often results in missing a good photo.
On: 2008-05-11
I had a higher end canon before, but when I was in Vegas, some sand got into the zoom motors and well, its no longer with us.. I had a trip to NYC planned, so I bought this as a replacement..
I have to say, I wasnt disappointed. Even in Times Square at night, this did a great job. So many great modes to pick from, and great stabilization. 8MP is more than enough for me, I set it down to 5 to save memory, and the pictures are nice and crisp and clear.
As others have pointed out, the AA batteries are such a huge feature. I have friends with HP cameras that use special battery packs. I laugh as their packs go dead, while I can walk into any store and buy a pack of AA and get back to the picture taking fun :)
Its much smaller than my old camera, so I dont need a big bulky bag for it, but I get just as nice pictures out of it. Im so glad I got this one.
On: 2008-05-10
Ive had the camera about a month. The ONLY drawback is still the time to save the photo (especially with flash on) to the card. Wish THAT was a little faster. I bought a san media 2gb card...extreme III. Anyway, the camera itself takes great photos. My only regret is that I dont have enough time to take photos and truly explore all the customizations available to shutter, aperture and iso. Ill get there, too! I recommend this camera. Its small enough but not too small to hold comfortably. Got a cheap case at Target for about $6 or $8 dollars (dont remember) and its perfectly adequate. Batteries last long enough - use the rechargeables.
On: 2008-05-10
This camera I returned, as the person it was meant for as a birthday gift, decided they wanted an SLR! But, having checked it out, I was disappointed it was out of **parallax by about 30%. That to me, is completely out of order, even for a viewfinder camera. I wrote to Canon, but their response did not impress me. All they did, was to suggest a viewfinder camera would not be as accurate as an SLR. I checked out other Powershots in stores, and the problem was the same. I guess most people use the preview screen to take shots these days, but the viewfinder is better in bright sunlight and for a quick snap-shot. I used to test cameras, so I know a bit about the parallax problem you get with viewfinder cameras. But I repeat, to be so far out is unacceptable, and defeats the object of having a viewfinder in the first place. So, if you intend to use the viewfinder, forget about buying a Powershot. Sadly, this model is one of the few point and shoots that still use a viewfinder. A suggestion, go for a EVF camera, a sort of mid-point between a point and shoot, and an SLR.
**This means what you see through the viewfinder, and what the sensor sees is out by about 30%
On: 2008-05-09
Great camera, easy to use...on my first trip took it out and it was fabulous with rave reviews from everyone on the picture quality.
On: 2008-05-09
This camera has, to date, lived up to all our expectations, in spite of the fact it initially had some foreign material on the surface of the photo sensor internal to the camera. This was discovered in the images after about a week of use.
The unit was quickly cleaned/repaired by Canon (less than a week from date of return to back home). They even covered all shipping costs both directions to the repair depot.
It is exceptionally light due to its use of only 2 AA rechargeable batteries for power.
The 6x lens, Image Stabilization, 8 mega pixel resolution, and 1600 ISO capability in one package make it a great value for its size and price.
On: 2008-05-08
I didnt realize that image stabilization really works great at maximum digital power, without a tripod. I used my camera at a concert that my grand daughter was in. It was a low light setting with no flash allowed. I set the camera to low light scene and went to max power and pushed the button half way down to focus. The stabilization took over and I got unblurred picture without flash or tripod.
On: 2008-05-08
Title says it all. I was looking for a reasonably priced camera that would do better in low light than the cheapie point and shoot I was coming from, and this camera really delivered on that for me.
The only complaint I have (which I had read about prior to purchasing and decided to anyway) is the flash recovery time, which is very slow - the entire camera locks up during that period, so you cant even be looking at shots, or getting settings ready for the next one. Other than that, this is a wonderful camera for the money.
FYI - the first camera I receved had several hot pixels in the CCD, in the center of each image. Return/replacement went smoothly.
On: 2008-05-08
Great camera, very good snapshots. The zoom is good, but you really need to have the camera on a tripod or other very stable platform to get good pictures at the extreme zooms. I tried at a recent graduation, and most shots were just wavy lines! Does anyone make a cable release for these cameras so you dont have to push the button on top of the camera?
On: 2008-05-06
Ive had the chance to own the A710 before the A720. I returned the A710 as I learned the difference would be the movie ability. The DIGIC III has a lot more power. Longer continuous recording time, faster photos and a higher resolution. Also the ISO 400 is more useable. One important factor is that it uses AA batteries. I travel a lot and if for some reason I cant use my recharger or I hadnt had a chance to recharge I can always buy some AA Alkalis and continue. There is a trade-off in size, but then with all the Manual controls and priority settings this is an extremely versatile camera. It becomes even more versatile with the lens conversion adapter which will allow me to use lens filters such as a UV and Polarizing Filter as well as the telephoto lens doubler and the wide angle increaser. Not quite pocketable unless you wear baggy pants but for my travels its been useful in every situation. It even has an underwater setting but youd need to buy the housing. I havent gone there, yet.
On: 2008-05-05
Got this one today at Sears for $160.00 Easy to use and more features than I need. Light weight and portable. I like using AA batteries instead of expensive rechargable ones, especially when traveling overseas, easier to get batteries. I have my own recharable ones though. Takes clear pictures and great video with sound.
On: 2008-05-05
Even for a novice like me, the camera is easy to use, but still has plenty of more advanced features that can be learned. Size is a little bigger than some digital cameras making it a good transition for those still accustomed to the feel of a 35mm camera. Size also makes the buttons easier to use. Conveniently uses AA batteries, but goes through them fast so rechargable batteries are advisable.
On: 2008-05-05
This camera is everything I expected and more! The ease of use is very good and the picture quality is outstanding.
On: 2008-05-05
This camera is perfect for amateur photographers who want to explore additional features. I especially like the way the lcd screen automatically brigthtens when shooting in a dark setting. Ive only had it for a little while; it is very well made. feels comfortable in my hands, which are big. A little too big to fit in a shirt pocket. Price was the lowest of anywhere I researched. Amazon has the best prices. Youll need an sd card, the sixteen mb that comes with it is filled up very fast. Takes great pictures. Canon makes great cameras. No point and shoot cameras with 8mp and a 6x power zoom can beat the price. More than enough for great pictures and close ups.
On: 2008-05-03
I had the oldest predecessor, the A700 for some time. I gave it to my mother and bought a S3is on sale. The S3is was very nice, but too big for my purposes. I travel a LOT and the S3is took up too much space both in my luggage and when walking around. So I sold it and got this A720is.
I enjoy the A720is very much. It is not tiny, but small enough to lug around and put in a jacket pocket. The Image Stabilization works very well, those low light pictures which were just a little fuzzy with the A700 which didnt have IS are now tack sharp.
Two AAs last a long time for me. It seems to do best with my 2700 mAH NiMH batteries. Sanyo Eneloops didnt work too well for me, not sure why, maybe their voltage drops below the cutoff point too quickly.
The image quality is quite good. I have the same complaint as always, I dont need a kazillion megapixels, I would rather have less noise and wider dynamic range than more megapixels. So really, the image quality is the same comapared to the A700, you just get more megapixels. And it does still blow out highlights, just like the A700.
I keep the ISO at 80 whenever I can. Pictures are acceptable at 100 and 200, but above that it does get very noisy. Although Id rather have a noisy picture at 1600 than none at all, so I guess I cant complain.
What I like a lot is that this camera has many of the options a DSLR offers. You can use aperture or shutter speed priority and all manual mode. You can under and overexpose, set the white balance manually and then it has a lot of other fun options I dont use much but some may enjoy them. You can also focus manually, but its near impossible to tell when you are in focus.
Of course there is still the flash issue. It can take upwards of 5 seconds to recharge the flash which is painful if youre trying to take another picture right away. I dont do a lot of flash photography, so it doesnt really bother me, but if you are going to take a lot of indoor kid pictures, this is probably not the camera for you.
All in all, I would highly recommend this camera. It is a great bang for the buck. You get IS, good image quality, relatively small size for not a lot of money.
On: 2008-05-02
This is an amazing little camera. For me, it takes the place of a much bigger predecessor, meaning I can carry it easily in a pocket. On the plus side, it takes very good pictures, and the ability to change nearly all the settings gives a flexibility that I really appreciate. My wife happily sticks to the pre-sets and is pleased with the results. On the negative side, carry lots of batteries! It goes through them rather quickly; of course, youll get lots of pictures, but that only makes the battery situation worse. In addition, the focus time is often greater than I would like, especially in less-than-optimum lighting situations (like taking pictures of granddaughters dance recitals, for example.) It would also be nice to have RAW capability. Also, there are so many possible setting changes that it takes a while to get used to all of them. Fortunately, most of the locations for the commands were familiar, since I have owned other Canon cameras. Overall, this is a wonderful little camera that gives excellent value for the money. We carry ours with us all the time, and are glad of it.
On: 2008-04-25
I did a lot of research before I bought this camera. I own a few other digital cameras that are not made by Canon and I was not pleased with quality of the pictures these cameras took. So, I began to do a lot of research on the internet and asking people I know what type of digital cameras they had. Pleasantly supprised a lot of the people I spoke to prefered Canon Digital Cameras. Ive had this camera for about two months and I love the pictures that I have taken with it.
Im extremely happy with this camera and would recommend to anyone.
On: 2008-04-23
I bought this camera because of the CHDK. In general, this camera is not good for indoor and dont think about flash (flash interval is too slow). Outdoor is perfect for this one, picture quality is very good(compare with the DSLR). Video with sound recording is amazing.
Outdoor--LCD is bad, I always use the viewfinder.
Convertable tube for external filter (52 mm) blocks view finder about 30%, but it worth for lens protection.
Image stabilizers not good, I cant tell the different between on and off(Blurrr) for slow shutter speed. 2AA-Battery is good for all day use.(show %Bat with CHDK)
But with the CHDK modification, you get everything you want: RAW, Interval timelag photo, bracketing, overide-shutterspeed-aperture-ISO, histogram, DOF value, and you can write your own a basic script. The CHDK affects only for the SD memory card, dont worry about the damage of your camera. If something wrong, just take the SD out. I used CHDK for 3 months without any problem. Thank you CHDK..
On: 2008-04-21
This is my third Canon camera. As Canon offers more MP, I try to upgrade.
For the price this camera is absolutely awesome.
On: 2008-04-21
Canon made a great camera here.The A720IS takes wonderful photos in auto mode or feature rich manual mode.The only problem I had with my camera was when I used the video feature (Which was great) except for the spot which appeared on all the video I took. The spot did not appear on the photos I took though, ruling out a spot on the lens. Even with this problem I did return the camera for another A720IS hoping it was just a fluke. I did love the camera outside of that.
On: 2008-04-21
This camera is excellent for the price. Gives you plenty of choices in controls for a point-and-shoot, and the color is exceptional. It takes pix quickly and it is easy to learn. Simple and quite effective. I would buy it compared to other higher-end point-and-shoots for the features alone, and, compounded with the price, its just the best in its range.
On: 2008-04-18
I bought this camera because it has a manual focus mode, it takes a regular SD card, and many more things. The pictures it takes can be blown up to sizes I can hang on the wall and it takes regular double A batteries, and they last a really long time! This camera is really easy to use and you can be shaking the camera and the pictures come out clear! It has great features, I couldnt be happier. The reason I went ahead and bought the camera with higher mega pixals was just because I had the money but all the canon powershots have great features like manual. The price was great too. I would highly recommend this camera to all my friends I love it.
On: 2008-04-17
This camera is everything I need in a camera and more! I wanted to have the option of manually controlling the camera without the big price tag of a DSLR. I did extensive research before deciding on this camera and I couldnt be happier with my choice. As for the ones who have complained about how long it takes for this camera to recover and be ready for the next shot - I moved up to this camera from a 5 year old Kodak Easyshare 5 megapixal - this ones like lightning to me! My Kodak took 10 seconds, this one takes about 3 to 4 seconds! Pretty darn good to me! If you want some extra options on your camera, and dont want to pay a fortune, then this one is the one you want!
On: 2008-04-14
Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom This is a great camera for taking all kinds of snap and shoot pictures. It has a great size. Easy to carry and once you read the manual, is great for all those pictures you take on vacation. I also have a Nikon D80 which has its place in the picture taking agenda. Enjoy this camera.
On: 2008-04-12
Chose this unit based on reviews. Wife had smaller, thin camera and left it somewhere. This is not a big camera but is large enough that it is harder to leave behind. LCD screen is very large and nice. Easy to read controls, pictures have been excellent.
On: 2008-04-12
This was a replacement for a four year old Canon--and its wonderful. The 6x zoom is significantly better than the 3x. The stabilization works wonderfully well. The additional pixels preserve more detail. The 720 is also small enough to fit conveniently in my pocket.
On: 2008-04-12
I did a ton of research and wanted a semi-compact digital with a good zoom for catching action shots of my kids at sporting events. Needed as much automatic as could get, but loved the option of learning more and the flexibility of being able to manually control some settings. I am very pleased with this camera! Great Canon quality, fantastic price, durable and easy to use.
On: 2008-04-10
Ive had the camera about two weeks and Im quite happy with the pictures it takes. Ive also taken a film clip which looks great. I have not yet explored the plethora of modes and options on the camera. The pictures are quite detailed and Ill attach on to the review if possible.
On: 2008-04-08
This camera is a really nice one for the money. It is not too big for what you get. I took it on a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois and took some great pictures from the car at speeds of 50 to 60 mph. The pictures turned out really good. I took some pictures of pelicans in a little park. The pelicans were in the Mississippi River and quite a distance away. Those pictures turned out really good for the distance and movement of the birds. You can tell that they are pictures of birds and not just white blobs.
I am recommending this camera to anyone who is considering buying one. And of course on the technological end of the recommendation my husband approved. He picked it out.
~C~
On: 2008-04-06
This camera is all we expected and more. It is easy to use, takes very clear pictures, and is small enough that we actually take it with us. The 6X optical zoom sets it apart from most of the cameras in this class.
On: 2008-04-06
I bought this camera as a birthday present for my son and he is extremely pleased with how easy it is to use and the great pictures it takes.
On: 2008-04-06
This is an excellent take-along camera for trips and social events. I have used it for two months and had excellent results for casual photography, mostly people and pets. I especially like that, even though it is of compact size, it is much easier than some to hold steady and compose shots through the viewfinder as I am used to doing with film cameras. I also like that it uses standard AA batteries, allowing the use of relatively inexpensive NiMH rechargeables, and I can have several charged-up sets with me; also the ubiquitous SD memory chip, which I bought as 2-Gig chips from Newegg for $9.50 ea, a pleasant surprise from what they were even a yr ago! A 2-Gig chip will hold a LOT of hi-res pictures!
On: 2008-04-05
THIS IS MY FIRST CANNON PRODUCT BUT WONT BE THE LAST THIS CAMERA HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE THUS FAR.....THE ONE THING WHICH IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT CANNON IS THEIR EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF...I SIMPLY CALLED THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR SOME FEATURE EXPLANATION AND WAS GREETED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SPENT OVER AND HALF AN HOUR EXPLAINING TO ME HOW TO USE SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE CAMERA (AN EXPERIENCE I WILL LONG CHERISH) I HAVE TOLD ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHAT A GREAT STAFF OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL CANNON HAS...NO WONDER THEY ARE THE PREFERRED CAMERA FOR THE NFL
On: 2008-04-05
I got this camera with great excitement. It really did perform as advertised with the exception of the battery life. Maybe I got a lemon, but the little red battery indicator kept coming on way sooner than it should have. Yes, I understand from other reviewers that the little red light is not necessarily an indication that the batteries need to be changed right away, rather it means they may need to be changed soon. It didnt matter in my case, not long after the red light came on, the entire camera would poop out. Totally unacceptable for me. I would say I could take maybe 60 pictures and then the batteries would give out. I tried turn off IS and moving it to 5mp, I tried energy saving mode, I tried turning off the preview screen after only 20 seconds, believe me, I tried!
Pictures were quite sharp, the zoom worked very well. Colors looked good and accurate. Dynamic range isnt all that great as low light photos showed mostly dark and light areas with very few shades in between, but its a point and shoot so Ill go easy on it here. My D40 creams this camera in this category, but I paid a lot more for that.
The camera is small enough, I was able to keep it in my jacket pocket and tote it around with no problems. I love the ability to stitch together panoramas, too bad I didnt get a chance to play with that feature. I also love the clarity of the videos that I made with this camera. Very clear, almost better than my camcorder! I never did find the feature that allows time delayed video creation but then again I didnt have this camera for long.
I wont be recommending this camera to anyone, but I wont give up on Canon since I know they have quality cameras. Maybe Ill give the A570IS a try.
Btw - if you use the "P" setting (Programmed Auto Exposure) and you move the setting of the flash down (making it a little less powerful) you can get the flash to fire every 3 seconds or so, maybe more if you set it lower. So you can get those shots of your little kids. Theres also a continuous mode shooting which will allow the camera to continually take pictures as long as you hold the button down.
On: 2008-04-05
Its easy to use and has all the features a amateur to semi pro photographer would need
On: 2008-04-04
I had mine for about a week and had to return it to Amazon. The time between flashes is way too long. I missed many shots as I was waiting for the flash to recharge. I did use the Kingston Elite Pro SD card and was not shooting at maximum resolution. The lag obviously isnt related to writing the picture to the card as there is no lag when shooting a picture without the flash. My previous Canon was a four-battery model and didnt have this issue. So I bought a new Canon PowerShot A630 which is a four-battery model and the problem is fixed. I would give that camera five stars!
On: 2008-04-01
I purchased this camera to photo my baby , and it was very useful , I got great shots , and it has many options
On: 2008-03-31
This is my second Canon Powershot and I love the extra features as well as the use of regular batteries. I am still learning about some of the features.
Highly recommend.
On: 2008-03-31
I am enjoying the Canon a720is camera. I was looking for a camera that a person without a lot of experience could use. I also wanted image stabilization and some features that I could learn to use. I wish the shutter speed was a little faster. It is still hard for me to capture the smiles of little kids. Overall it is a great camera. The zoom is a feature that I am learning to apprectate.
On: 2008-03-31
We bought the Canon 720 IS camera with underwater housing and accessory kit, and we could not be more pleased. It takes crystal clear pictures, and is super easy to use. Gorgeous clear bright shots. We bought the housing as well and used it on a recent scuba diving trip to Cozumel, MX. We did not buy the strobe, and found we really did not need it for day diving. The pictures were wonderful. Great camera! Highly recommended.
On: 2008-03-30
My friends are jealous! They own much more expensive cameras and want to borrow mine. Easy to use, great quality, and the price was excellent. Much better than I expected.
On: 2008-03-30
Like all digital cameras, you really have to read the directions and use the camera to fully appreciate its sophistication. However, it even works great with just knowing how to turn it on and take a picture in the Ph.D. (Push here Dummy) mode.
On: 2008-03-30
Ive loved this camera so far. Its a little slow displaying pictures after you take them, but other that that I really dont have any problems with it. I love the size of it, and it takes some really high quality pics. I would definitely recommend it.
On: 2008-03-30
I HAD READ MANY REVIEWS AND EXPLORED EVERY CAMERA OUT THERE BEFORE I PURCHASES THIS ONE. I SHOOT JUST REGULAR FAMILY PICTURES, I JUST WANTED GOOD QUALILY PICTURES NOTHING TO FANCY OR HARD TO GET USE TO. WELL LET ME TELL YOU, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CAMERAS I HAVE EVER OWNED, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY WENT WITH KODAX, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE AND WHAT A GREAT CHANGE IT WAS. IT IS VERY EASY TO USE AND THE SETTINGS ARE GREAT FOR A NEW PERSON TRYING TO MOVE UP IN CAMERA USE. A FEW OF THE FEATURES I AM STILL LEARNING ABOUT, BUT I JUST CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT IT.
THE ONLY DRAW BACK I HAVE SEEN IS SHOOTING INDOORS, THE TIME ITS TAKES BETWEEN PICTURES WITH FLASH, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOOT FASTER THEN IT ALLOWS, BUT WITH MORE TO LEARN ABOUT THE USE OF MY NEW CAMERA IM SURE THERE IS A CURE FOR IT.
I HAVE SHOT OVER 2 THOUSAND PICTURES AND NOT DISAPPOINTED IN A ONE, ACCEPT FOR A FEW HUMAN ERAS.
I AM VERY GLAD I TOOK WEEKS TO PICK MY CAMERA THIS CAMERA WAS WORTH THE WAITE.
BATTERY LIFE IS GOOD, I PURCHASES GOOD BATERIES AND THEY EVEN CAME WITH A CHARGER THAT IS CAN ALSO USE IN MY VEHICLE, SO I AM NEVER WITH OUT CHARGED BATTERIES.
THE CANNON IS A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN THE PREVOUS CAMERAS I HAVE OWNED, BUT I LIKE THAT IT MAKES ME A LITTLE MORE STEADY WITH MY SHOTS.
PICTURES OUTDOOR ARE SUPER GREAT, AND THE ZOOM IS GOOD WITH GOOD PICTURE QUALILTY AS WELL.
AS FOR NOW, CANNON CAMERAS WILL BE MY ONLY PURHCASES IN THE FUTURE.
On: 2008-03-28
For an everymans digital camera, we have been very impressed with the detail, color, and quality of the photos it delivers. For the price, and after doing some serious comparison shopping, we feel this was a real bargain.
On: 2008-03-27
I bought this camera to replace an aging Powershot A40 that I bought several years ago. I wanted something easy to use, somewhat small, good picture quality and some macro capability. This camera had it all. The macro mode has been unbelievable. It is able to focus and shoot a lot closer than I will ever need and still gets really good quality.
On: 2008-03-25
A great camera for the money and my needs! Does everything a good camera should do and does it well. Love the special effects, the sepia mode makes some great looking photos with that old time look. The Movie Mode works real well, though the sound is a bit muddy, but this is not a video camera after all. The viewing LCD is bright and larger that my other digicams screens. The controls are well placed and intuitive (for me, anyway). It is far lighter than my 8 year old 1.3mp Olympus, and takes pictures much faster. The 6X optical zoom is a great improvement over the usual 3-4X zoom found on most digital cameras in this price range.
I am very happy so far with my purchase.
The Cons:
1- Short battery life! Take along extras! It is nice that it takes easily available AA batteries, though.
2- It seems to have a fairly long flash recharge time. I have found myself shooting back-to-back shots and often the flash is not ready, yet. Not a big problem, but I have to remind my self to be more patient between shots, at least for a few extra seconds.
3- Memory card that ships with the camera (16 megs) is WAY too small for an 8 mega pixel camera, maybe 8-10 shots. Buy a 1gb card or bigger when you purchase the camera. You are going to need it and memory is cheap right now!
Overall I would give the Canon 4 1/2 stars if that was an option.
On: 2008-03-24
I like the quality of the photos except in low lighting. Also the flash cycle is really slow - kind of a disappointment. Battery seems to run out fast.
On: 2008-03-24
Ive had this camera about a month now and I really like it. It is fairly easy to use, has little shutter lag and takes great pictures.
There are alot of features that I probably wont use, but its good to know weve got options :)
On: 2008-03-23
This camera is a joy to use. The optical zoom and viewfinder are features that make possible shots that are very difficult to get otherwise. The AA battery form factor lets me toss in fresh batteries whenever I need, without spending a fortune for specific batteries. An LCD viewfinder would have been a nice touch, but for the price, Im not complaining.
The user interface is wonderfully intuitive. Great buy- Ive recommended it to anyone who will sit still for my pitch!
On: 2008-03-21
This Canon camera (Powershot A720IS) is just wonderful. In fact its my 5th Canon digital camera! (This one was a gift. All the old ones are still working fine, in fact and have become gifts for others as I update my own camera with the newest and greatest features.) It has great optics, controls that go from point and shoot to semi-pro, the batteries are cheap and easy to replace (AA) and you can use alkaline batteries in a pinch. And its ergonomic... very easy to hold. Its a tough little camera too. I have dropped my previous edition of this camera (A620) a couple of times onto concrete and it didnt hurt it a bit. Ive been so impressed with my Canon cameras that I have since purchased a Canon printer and scanner... the first of 3 scanners that actually works! I find their technical support to be far better than that of other companies. On the one and only time I ever needed technical support I got an answer to my question from a real human being who solved my problem... no being put on hold. Ive been so pleased with Canon in fact that I can hardly imagine buying a camera from another company. It would have to be 1/3 less money for the same features for me to even give another camera a second look.
On: 2008-03-19
Purchased at Circuit City for $179 last night. Returning today.
The time it takes for the flash to be active again in between photos is way to long.
On: 2008-03-13
I am impressed with this camera. It has all the features I need in a point and shoot and takes good photos with ease. The price is right.
On: 2008-03-11
Very pleased with this camera after several weeks and several hundred pictures. The only reservation I have is the "system pause" after taking a picture. This small characteristic can be bothersome at times. Battery usage is low and with a 4-gig card you can shoot pics all day without having to transfer. Great camera which I would recommend to anyone, even for semi-pro use with the good selction of manual features.
On: 2008-03-09
The Canon Powershot A720IS was all that I expected. After researching most brands and price ranges it definitely gives you the most camera for your dollar! Only operating feature that was a little confusing is the auto flash on vs. off.
On: 2008-03-09
Whether you are an amateur or experienced photographer, the Canon Powershot A7201IS delivers great pictures without the bulk or expense of a digital SLR. Compact size and a range of automatic modes make it a handy "point and shoot" camera anyone can use with ease. Manual modes allow the more experienced photographer to control the aperture and shutter speed to manipulate lighting effects and depth of field -- just like with an old-fashioned SLR. Is that cool or what? Extra zoom (4X) and large LCD screen are icing on the cake. Very impressive little camera.
On: 2008-03-05
This is a great little camera with one big exception. It eats batteries. With only 2 AA batteries I can only get 20 - 30 pictures using a flash before I need to change batteries. I can get more if shooting outside but not much if you use the zoom and LCD display. The delay between flash photos is very long when waiting for the flash to recharge. This camera takes a very long time to focus and is not good for "candid" shots. This is my third Canon camera and a big disappointment in the picture department. It does take decent quality video but it uses the memory very quickly.
It does come with a memory card included with the camera. BUY A MEMORY CARD. You can only get about 18 pictures on the card that comes with the camera. If you were going to include a memory card with the camera it could at least hold enough pictures to be somewhat useful.
On: 2008-03-05
I bought this product because of the glowing reviews from CNET, Consumer Reports etc. Although they mentioned slow flash recycle time I figured it couldnt be that bad if it was still getting such great reviews...WRONG! Buyers beware- if you are looking for a camera to take pictures of kids, especially indoors look elsewhere. The flash recycle time is unacceptably slow...and I mean SLOW! Especially if the batteries arent straight off the charger. The camera does take pretty good pictures, very good in low light but I mainly take pix of my kiddos so I find myself often cursing missed shots while the flash recycles. If I had to do over again I would have gone with a Kodak or another brand that has much faster recycle times (granted the pictures arent as good of quality as a Canon but I am at least getting the shots!). Hope this review helps you undecideds out there!
On: 2008-03-03
Ive used this camera for a few months and find the resulting photos to be of excellent quality. The default quality setting means huge sizes, so I dropped it down a notch. Still can make very fine 4x6 and 8x10 prints. Ive also shot a number of videos and was surprised at how good the quality is, compared to my previous digital camera. The controls are pretty easy to use, and the large display on the back makes framing a shot easy too. I have one complaint: Even with fresh batteries the next-shot delay when using flash is quite long. If you can deal with that shortcoming, this is a fine digital camera for the price. Oh, do buy a memory card--the 16MB one included will fill up in no time. I got a Kingston 2GB SD card and it works just great.
On: 2008-03-03
Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Excellent camera but the door on the battery/SD compartment is balky when trying to close it. Obviously, have to be careful because busting the door means a useless camera. Could have been better designed, as it was on earlier models Still, I rate it highly.
On: 2008-03-02
There are plenty of technical reviews allready on this camera and they convinced me to buy it and I have not been disapointed. So I will not write a long review, but just touch on some points. A big reason I bought it is the optical view finder which is disapearing on most cameras in this price range and I wouldnt own a camera without one. It is a great point and shoot camera with also a lot of good manual options. You can quickly use it as a point and shoot, but will need to spend some time with the owners manual to take advantage of the manual features. Some reviewers think it is too big, but I have no trouble carrying it in my shirt or pants pocket. With rechargable batteries and a 2G card, I have no problem with the recovery time. I saw a recent review that said you could only erase one picture at a time, this is not true, you can erase one at a time or you can erase all by going into menu.
On: 2008-02-27
Camera is an upgrade to my previous A710. The image stability works as advertised and resolves a problem I had with the previous model. My wife has a basic tremor and the feature allows her to take zoomed shots without a hint of blur
On: 2008-02-27
If you want a point-and-shoot, and want some more advanced configurations, this is your camera! I ve compared it with my friends same category cameras, and the pictures are really better (compared with a sony w-55 and a hp r937).
When in auto mode the daylight pictures are nice, but if you dont have a big sun, I recommend you to adjust manually the white balance in order to avoid blueish tones.
The wide variety of ISO modes (ranging from 80 to 1600) is almost useless, as above ISO400 the noise becomes unacceptable. Instead of this, I recommend the aperture/shutter time priority modes in order to get a good picture with low light conditions. Of course the results will be quite different from the dSLRs, but the pictures still pretty good for a point-and-shoot.
The wide selection of drive modes (multiple shots, 1~10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds of delay combined with 1~10 shots) and the white balance pre-defined options are nice features.
The face detection works very well too, and the stitch assist is a plus (but youll need to merge pictures on a computer, using software supplied... hp r937 and kodak fz812 do this automatically on the camera.. I think this is not a big problem, as probably you will take just some panoramic pictures).
The zoom controls are great, and the 6x lenses are sufficient to regular pictures where you want to highlight main subjects. The movie mode is good (but if this is very important to you, consider looking canon S5 with stereo sound)..
The battery life is awesome... if you buy 4 AA rechargeable so youll have no problems with this... I suggest buy the duracell 2650mAh ones. I took almost 2000 thousand pictures in 1 month and I am very satisfied as I didnt recharged the batteries a lot (I think I recharged them only 5 times).
Pros:
- good manual controls for a point-and-shoot;
- great zoom and zoom controls;
- good relation between pocket-size and sensor size (1/2.5") (for me this was very important when deciding between S5 and A720)
- Nice playback and video controls .. you can jump 1, 10, 100 photos, jump to next date, or just jump to the next video...
- you can change many configurations while shooting, this is nice when you are trying to get the best exposure through minor adjustments
- good focus options
Cons:
- you can just erase one photo per time
- sometimes you must adjust manually the white balance when in auto mode in order to avoid blueish pictures
- flash takes much time to recharge (4~6 seconds)
thank you and sorry for my english!
On: 2008-02-25
For a P&S it takes good pictures. Dont push the ISO past 400 and youre OK. Feels quite well built and it customizes nicely.
On: 2008-02-24
Nice little camera. Takes nice pictures. The refresh time after taking a picture can be slow. It burns through batteries pretty quick. It can take a second or two to take the picture after pressing the shutter button. With that, the moment can be lost when it actually shoots.
I shoot with a Canon Digital SLR and got tiered of lugging large camera around for family gatherings or just to take a few shots. This camera definitley does the job. Small size, fits right in a coat pocket or pants pockets easily, its very light.
On: 2008-02-24
After exhaustively comparing the reviews, sample photos, features, costs and side by side comparison the A720 came out on top. It feels much more rugged than the A570, it has an 8 MP sensor, and the 6X optical zoom. It just feels solid when your holding it. While I liked the look and feel of the SX100 the sample photos on dpreview and flickr were not impressive and neither were the reviews. As for the flash delay for my camera it was only 2-3 seconds. People who say it takes 10 seconds are exaggerating unless they have really low batteries. The photos I have taken so far are awesome! I have taken numerous indoor and outdoor shots and the clarity / colors are perfect from edge to edge. Having owned 4 previous point and shoot cameras this is by far the best.
On: 2008-02-20
I bought this camera in anticipation of a trip to Costa Rica. This is my first digital camera, and I wanted something similar to my old Point and Shoot 35 mm.
Im extremely pleased with the quality of the pictures. The colors and clarity are awesome. The software that comes with the camera enabled me to zoom into the pictures to get some amazing closeups of birds and other animals. Once I got used to the camera I found it easy to use.
On: 2008-02-19
This is my second Canon A series camera. The camera is simple to operate, has a great 6X zoom and takes high quality pictures. Only negative is the relatively slow flash recycle time of 4.5 seconds. Large LCD display is great even in bright sunlight. Canon has been a very good suppier to deal with for questions or problems. Very easy and fast to speak to a human.
On: 2008-02-18
I think the camera is worth it for under 200 dollars. This my first canera and find light an issue with it. But it will give you clear photos. I did some research with consumer reports and other on line sources. This was the camera for the money. I have been happy so far.
On: 2008-02-18
I purchased this camera awhile back and Im very impressed with the quality.
My one and only complaint would be the massive amount of documentation that comes with it. Im still using auto mode because I havent gotten thru the pages and pages of info. The manual is 208 pages long, the English portion of the direct print user guide is 77 pages and the English part of the software guide is 88 pages. Too much information! I dont know if Ill ever learn how to use this camera. A quick start guide would be nice.
The little tidbit that you should format the memory card comes on page 56 of the manual. It should be at the front of the manual where it tells you how to install the card!
This is bad. I usually complain of tech stuff that doesnt have ENOUGH info. Not this time!
On: 2008-02-17
I have this camera for almost 2 months.It is my third camera to own and the best. The pictures are perfect.The night setting worked great in a low light restuarant party recently.It is a little bigger than my other cameras but will still fit in a jacket pocket.The only one negative thing about this camera is the next shot flash delay, I would recomend it highly. All the setting are very easy to use.
On: 2008-02-17
I needed a good point and shoot camera and this really fits the bill. It takes really good pictures and Im very satisfied with this camera.
On: 2008-02-15
I really enjoy the camera. I think its great and I love the zoom. The original purchase I like, except for the memory card. The memory card the camera came with only held three pictures and then it was full. I didnt realize this when I bought the camera so I had to go out and buy a new memory card.
On: 2008-02-14
This is a great camera. Ive only taken a few pictures so far but believe me the features of the camera are well worth the sales price!!
On: 2008-02-13
I ordered this camera after doing quite a bit of research online.
The reviews were "right on". They said this camera was easy to use, dependable, easy to learn (which I needed as I purchased it for an upcoming vacation and only had a couple of days to tinker with it before departing) and takes WONDERFUL quality photos.
I never did get a chance to "tinker" with it before we left, I took it out of its box, glanced at the instructions, packed it in the carry on bag, and away we went!
When we reached our destination, I was a bit worried as I had chosen not to bring the instructions, it was not an issue. It was so user friendly I was taking beautiful pictures with-in minutes! I am sure I have lots to learn about it yet, and only took advantage of a few of its many features, but the pictures I got were breath taking!
I took one of the couple that went with us and had it made into an 8 x 10 for them, and framed it as it turned out so nice. A visiter to our home asked why I had a picture of "those people" before I gave it to the couple. I told the visiter about taking the picture and making it for our friends. They were astounded to say the least! They thought it was a professional portrait =) I did good LOL
I am VERY pleased with the camera, it does not "eat" batteries like so many low quality cameras do, it takes awesome photos, easy to use, looks nice, I cannot say enough how happy I am with it!
If it got ruined today, I would order another exactly like it tomorrow.
On: 2008-02-11
I needed an upgrade from my .3 megapixel digital camera...and I can sum a 200 word review into one...AWESOME...lots of adjustments available to suite your needs...I also purched a 2gb memory card to hold many pictures...
On: 2008-02-10
I first had access to this camera from my dad. I borrowed his to take pics of my daughter at her kindergarten graduation. I was amazed!!! The coolest feature is that you can adjust your pictures using the software provided if a picture is too dark or too bright.
I purchased my own just after Christmas and Ive been trying out all the features. I was amazed at the different shooting options available!!!! Therere options for portrait, kids and pets, aquarium, fireworks, foliage, landscape.... the list goes on and on. Theres also the image stabilization feature which is important if youre taking pics of kids and pets. The video feature is also great!!!
The cameras really easy to use and the instructions are pretty clear. You may want to purchase a larger memory card than the one provided; I purchased a 2gb with mine.
For average person who just wants to take good pictures this is a great camera. In fact, anyone whos purchasing a camera for the first time should invest in this one.
On: 2008-02-10
Great camera, at a great price. I could not go to the store and get anything close to the quality, for the price.
On: 2008-02-10
I ordered the Canon Powershot 8MP Digital Camera with 6x zoom. The camera has been great, it is easy to use on automatic, the zoom is awesome, and the clarity of the photos are the best. I have downloaded and emailed several pictures and they transmit very nice. I am very pleased with the size, ease of use, and overall camera.
On: 2008-02-08
This is an amazing camera for the price. Excellent optics, fast time from pressing the shutter release to the picture taken, and start up time. It takes great pictures without the flash in with normal room lighting, in fact, pictures are generally better without the flash.
Excellent stability control and face recognition.
I like the way the camera changes pictures from landscape to portrait when they are being reviewed in the camera and the camera is rotated.
Canon also kept the operation pretty much the same as my 3 year old Powershot, so there was almost no learning curve. They only made slight improvements that only took 1 minute to get used to.
The only complaint I have at all is that the flash is somewhat slow, as the reviewers pointed out.
My fussy film camera daughter even loves this camera!
On: 2008-02-08
This camera takes great outdoor pictures or indoors with ample lighting. Shutter and refresh rates are quick and shots are crisp. Low-light situations, on the other hand, require a shutter delay of up to two seconds, and refresh rate is just plain slow. Also didnt realize how big the unit is - not really pocket sized, but my fault for not researching better. Consumer Reports rated it highly albeit with the low light caveat, but Id think twice if I had the choice.
On: 2008-02-08
bought this camera to take pics everywhere!! fits in my purse, easy one hand use (with canons grip on the side) best price out here on amazon (of course) not sure how to work the image stabilization yet, some blurry pics, but im sure its because i havent read the manual yet
OVERALL--LOTS OF BANG FOR THE BUCK!! LOVE CANON PRODUCT!!
On: 2008-02-05
This camera is horrible concerning red eye. The red eye setting is on but every picture has it. Canon has no advice other than is happens for small children. Every adult has it too. Also the flash takes forever to charge. Other than those two items the quality is good.
On: 2008-02-03
I am a semi-professional photographer. My main camera is a Nikon D70 with a number of lenses. I bought this to take with me when I dont feel like lugging the Nikon around. (The A720 is lighter than even my lightest Nikon lens.) I researched compact cameras for many months and read dozens of reviews before deciding on this one.
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PROS:
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* Very compact, light, and ergonomic. Great placement of dials and buttons. Intelligently designed menus. If you have any experience with digital cameras, this one will take about 10 minutes to learn how to use.
* Excellent exposure metering, contrast, and color. The exposure metering is far superior to that of my Nikon D70. The colors are beautiful, especially in vivid mode. Contrast is top notch. The highlights dont burn out and the shadows are true shadows, not mid-tones.
* Great manual controls: aperture, shutter, ISO, exposure compensation, flash compensation, saturation, contrast, even manual focus. When using manual focus, the LCD magnifies the section of the shot you are focusing on, allowing you to more easily get the focus just right. Great feature.
* Nice optical zoom (6x) to 210mm.
* Large f/2.8 at 35mm (f/4.8 at 210mm) aperture allows you to blur backgrounds nicely and take shots with small depth of field. This is great for portraits and artistic shots.
* Ability to focus as close as .39 inches. Good camera for macro shots.
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CONS
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