Canon PowerShot A700 Review

April 2006 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot A700

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 PowerShot A700 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $316 • UK: £280
Body Material	Plastic and metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5" Type CCD • 6.0 million effective pixels
Image processor	DIGIC II with iSAPS technology
Image sizes	• 2816 x 2112 • 2816 x 1584 • 2272 x 1704 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480, 15 or 30 fps, up to 1GB • 320 x 240, 15 or 30 fps, up to 1GB • 320 x 240, 60 fps, up to 1 min • 160 x 120, 15 fps, up to 3 min • Motion JPEG AVI (with WAVE audio)
Lens	• 6x optical zoom • 35 - 210mm equiv. • F2.8 - F4.8
Focus	• TTL autofocus • AF illuminator • 9-point AiAF or 1 point AF (any position or fixed center) • 1cm macro mode
Metering	• Evaluative • Center-weighted average • Spot (center or linked to focusing frame)
Shooting mode	• Auto • Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture priority AE • Manual • Portrait • Landscape • Night Scene • Stitch Assist • Movie • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Fireworks • Indoor • Kids & Pets • Night Snapshot • Color accent • Color swap
Shutter speeds	• 15 - 1/2000 sec • Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec in Manual and Shutter Priority AE modes
Apertures	F2.8 - 4.8
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
Sensitivity	• Auto • High ISO Auto • ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800
White Balance	• Auto • TTL • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Image parameters	My Colors mode (Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Lighter/Darker skin tone, Positive film, Custom color)
Continuous	Continuous (2 fps) until card is full
Flash	• Built-in • Modes: Auto, On, Off • Slow Sync • Red-Eye reduction • Range (wide): 0.55- 3.5 m • Range (tele): 0.55 - 2.5 m • 2nd-curtain synch
Storage	• SD / MMC compatible • 16MB supplied
Viewfinder	Real-image zoom
LCD monitor	• 2.5" Low temperature P-Si TFT, 115,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • A/V out
Power	• 2 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (alkaline supplied) • Optional AC adapter
In the box*	• Canon PowerShot A700 • 2 x AA Alkaline batteries • 16MB card • Wrist strap • AV cable • Interface cable • CD-ROM
Other features	• Up to 60 sec sound per image • Histogram • 2 or 10 sec self timer • Optional Tele-converter 1.75x lens (TC-DC58N) • Optional Wide-converter 0.7x lens (WC-DC58N) • Optional Close-Up Lens 250D (58mm • Optional High Power Flash (HF-DC1)
Weight (inc batts)	200 g approx
Dimensions	94.5 x 66.5 x 43.4 mm

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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