Canon PowerShot A710 IS Concise Review

December 2006 | By Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Canon A710 IS

Even in the 'blink and you'll miss it' world of compact digital cameras the budget-priced 6x zoom lensed Canon PowerShot A700 was a short-lived model; announced late February and replaced in August by the camera on test here, the PowerShot A710 IS. Aside from a design facelift and a few feature tweaks the biggest - and most welcome - change is that the new model adds optical image stabilization, something we bemoaned the lack of on the A700. There's also an extra million pixels ( up from 6 to 7MP) and the usual A series mix of manual and automatic features. So let's find out if the A710 IS a worthy successor to the popular A700, starting, as ever, with the headline features.

7.1 Megapixels
6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer (35-210mm equiv.)
DIGIC II, iSAPS, 9-Point AiAF, FlexiZone AF/AE
Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
2.5” LCD with wide viewing angle and real-image optical viewfinder
20 shooting modes

Powershot A700 vs A710: What's changed?

The A710 is more than a mere styling re-vamp (although it is a much better looking camera); it's actually a pretty significant upgrade, with the addition of an optical image stabilization system top of the list (this is the first 'A' series model to get IS). The only downside is the slight reduction in battery life (still an impressive 360 shots or so from a decent pair of AA NiMH batteries).

Higher Resolution (7MP vs 6MP)
Image Stabilization
New 'Safety Zoom' (advanced digital zoom function)
60fps (QVGA) movie mode
MyColors effects in playback mode
Playback overexposure warning
3:2 overlay on live view
Marginally lower battery life
SDHC card support
Underwater scene mode (for use with new optional 40m underwater case)
Slightly reduced continuous shooting speed (1.7fps vs 2.0fps)
10g (0.36oz) heavier

PowerShot A710 IS specifications

Street price	• US: $316 • UK: £280
Body Material	Plastic and metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5 " Type CCD • 7.1 million effective pixels
Image processor	DIGIC II with iSAPS technology
Image sizes	• 3072 x 2304 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 • 3072 x 1728
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 15/30fps. Up to 1GB or 1 hour • 320 x 240 @ 15/30/60fps. Up to 1GB or 1 hour (15/30fps). Up to 1 min (60fps) • 160 x 120 @ 15fps. Up to 3 min • AVI Motion JPEG
Lens	• 6x optical zoom • 35 - 210mm equiv. • F2.8 - F4.8
Optical Stabilization	Yes (shift-type)
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 • Special Scene • Single • Continuous
Shutter speeds	• 15 - 1/2000 sec
Apertures	F2.8 - 8 (Wide) F4.8 - 8 (Tele)
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
Sensitivity	• Auto • High ISO Auto • ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Underwater • Custom
Image parameters	My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Positive Film, Vivid Blue, Vivid Red, Vivid Green, Custom Color)
Continuous	Continuous (1.7 fps) until card is full
Flash	• Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, SLow Sync, Red-eye reduction • Flash compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments • Second curtain • Range: 55cm - 3.5m (wide) / 2.5m (tele)
Storage	• SD, SDHC, MMC compatible • 16 MB card supplied
Viewfinder	Real-image zoom, optical viewfinder
LCD monitor	• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 115,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out
Power	• 2 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (alkaline supplied) • Optional AC adapter
In the box*	• Canon PowerShot A710 IS • 2 x AA Alkaline batteries • 16MB card • Wrist strap • AV cable • Interface cable • Software CD-ROM
Other features	• Up to 60 sec sound memo per image • Histogram • 2,10 sec or custom 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) • Optional Waterproof case WP-DC6
Weight (inc batts)	210 g approx
Dimensions	97.5 x 66.5 x 41.2 mm

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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This article is Copyright 2006 Simon Joinson / dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey