Canon PowerShot A700 Review

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
Gear in this story
Gear in this story
Recommended
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2006
|
Feb 21, 2006
|
Apr 6, 2009
|
Mar 27, 2009
|
After weeks with a production Sony a7R V, Chris and Jordan present their final conclusions.
The Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport is a very versatile super telephoto lens, and we've got some impressions.
Panasonic has announced the Lumix DC-S5 II and DC-S5 IIX, a pair of 24MP full-frame mirrorless cameras with phase-detection autofocus. We've taken a close look at the S5 II and discuss what the more video-focused S5 IIX will bring.
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II is the first Lumix camera with phase detect autofocus, and we were able to test it in Tokyo, Japan!
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We've tested its image quality and video performance.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.
Comments