Canon PowerShot A700 Review
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 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480, 15 or 30 fps, up to 1GB |
| Lens | • 6x optical zoom |
| 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 |
| Shutter speeds | • 15 - 1/2000 sec |
| 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 |
| Other features | • Up to 60 sec sound per image |
| 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).
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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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