Announced just before PMA in February, the A700 is the new flagship of the ever-growing ‘A’ series of affordable feature-laden PowerShot models. As well as sporting a 6x (35-210mm equiv) optical zoom and 2.5-inch screen the A700 is the first of many cameras launched this year to use the latest 1/2.5″ 6MP CCD, and the first to feature an ISO 800 mode. Before we get started on the review let’s have a look at the headline features:
- 6.0 megapixel sensor
- 35-210mm (equiv.) F2.8-4.8 6x zoom lens
- DIGIC II image processor and iSAPS technology
- Accurate focusing with FlexiZone AF/AE
- ISO 800 shooting
- Widescreen (16:9) stills recording
- 30fps VGA movie recording
- 1cm macro mode
- Full photographic control
- 2.5″ LCD with Night Display and Grid Line Display
- Optional tele, wide and close up convertors
Canon has found a formula for camera operation and control that works well, and the A700 will be very familiar to anyone who’s used a Canon compact in the last few years. The control layout is almost identical to the other models a the top of the A series range. As mentioned earlier I was disappointed to see that the ISO button (seen on the latest Ixus / Elph models) still hasn’t made its way onto the A700. As first seen on the A610 and A620, there is a dedicated AE compensation button (which also switches between apertures and shutter speeds in manual mode).
Despite being a ‘budget’ model the A700 – like the other top end A series cameras before it – has a real wealth of photographic features, and though most advanced options are only accessible via menus (rather than via external controls), the interface is well designed and fast to use.
Read complete review from dpreview which is fairly new, done in April 2006. Just click the ‘Next’ button. (I almost missed that and wonder where the review of the camera was!)
One of digitalphoto’s reader, tjy was contemplating between an Olympus and Canon. He finally decided on Canon Powershot A700. Out of curiousity, I decided to check out the model and found that it feels the same as my ancient Canon Powershot A10 which was only 1.3MP. My first digital camera bought four years ago. Still in working condition, you know. Despite being dropped several times.
You can view another Canon user’s photo at Flickr. Do check out calvaryzone’s photo here. And I hope tjy is having fun experimenting with his new toy.
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ShaolinTiger
May 22, 2006 at 1:24 pm
I love the A series, prosumer cameras, solid with good manual features.
Focus is good, but a bit slow.
Lens is high quality tho, and pictures are very good with the new DIGIC2 processer.
boo_licious
May 23, 2006 at 4:35 am
Maybe u can recommend a camera for Foodcrazee? Think he is looking at a camera to replace his existing one.
cal@ss
May 24, 2006 at 12:20 am
wah, thanks auntie lilian for the link to my flickr page. keep those informative photography articles coming.
tjy
May 24, 2006 at 2:20 pm
tjy reporting! hehe… have been quite busy with work recently, didn’t check ur blog for few weeks.
have been very happy with the camera, no regret! played around with the settings and photo editing using picasa.
the panasonic alkaline batteries that comes with the camera lasts around 150 photos + video clips. haven’t tested the camera with rechargable ones yet though, as the alkaline one still have some juice.
took some photo using the auto-stitching mode, and i’m liking it. this weekend my gf will be flying back from sabah, and will take more photos with different settings.
my composition skill sucks, still stealing some lunch time to search for photography tips online. any recommendations on good books or magazine?