Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Manufacturer: Canon Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours List Price:$199.99 Our Price:$177.99 Features: 8-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.5-inch wide-viewing-angle LCD display Face Detection technology and in-camera red-eye fix 19 shooting modes, including 7 special scene modes; Print/Share button Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (2 alkaline batteries included); stores images on SD memory cards (16MB memory card included) Description:

Reviews:

Excellent Camera with One Irritation
The camera of the Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital with the optical image 6x has stabilized the excellent camera of the zoom but the hatch on the scompartimento of battery/SD is balky when it tries to close it. Obviously, they must make attention because to break off the hatch useless camera means one. I could be planned more best, poichè was still on the models more in advance payment, I estimate it highly.


Great photos, very good videos
I've used this camera for a few months and find the resulting photos to be of excellent quality. The default quality setting means huge sizes, so I dropped it down a notch. Still can make very fine 4x6 and 8x10 prints. I've also shot a number of videos and was surprised at how good the quality is, compared to my previous digital camera. The controls are pretty easy to use, and the large display on the back makes framing a shot easy too. I have one complaint: Even with fresh batteries the next-shot delay when using flash is quite long. If you can deal with that shortcoming, this is a fine digital camera for the price. Oh, do buy a memory card--the 16MB one included will fill up in no time. I got a Kingston 2GB SD card and it works just great.


Great Camera
There is abundance of the technical reviews allready on this camera and they have convinced it that to buy it it and they have not been disapointed. Therefore I will not write one long review, but the just touch on some points. A reason that large I have bought it is the optical seeker of sight that disapearing on the greater part of it blots of it photographic in this range of price and I would not possess a camera without one Is one large camera of the shooting and the point with the good manual options also a lot. You can quickly use them like a point and shooting, but you will have to spend a sure time with the manual owners to be useful for the manual characteristics. Some critics think to us that he is too much large, but do not have difficulty to transport it in my shirt or pocket of the pants. With the batteries rechargable and a card 2G, I do not have problem with the time of recovery. I have seen a review recent that he has said that you could only cancel an image to the time, this you are not to align, you can cancel one to the time or you can cancel all entering in the menu.


Updated Cannon A700
The camera is a modernization to my previous A710. The image stability works as made publicity to and resolves a problem that I have had with the previous model. My moglie has tremito of base and the characteristic allows that it takes the zumati blows without a sfuocatura suggestion


Great point-and-shoot
If wished point-and-shoots and to desires a po' more than advanced configurations, this is your camera! I have confronted to blots some photographic of my friends of the same category and the images really better (are confronted to a SONY w-55 and a HP r937). When in the way car the images of light of the day are pleasant, but if you do not have a strong sun, I suggest them in order to record the equilibrium manually white man in order to avoid the tones of the blueish. The wide variety of ways of iso (that they vary from 80 to 1600) is nearly useless, R-come.sopra ISO400 that the noise becomes unacceptable. Rather than this, I suggest the ways of priority of time of aperture/shutter in order obtaining one good image with the states of the low light. Naturally it turns out to you will be enough different from the dSLRs, but the images remain good graceful for point-and-talk nonsense. The wide selection of the ways of the drive (the second multiples of the blows, of 1~10, 15, 20 or 30 ago to delay united with the blows 1~10) and the options predefined equilibrium white man are characteristic pleasant. The survey of the face works very well also and the aid of the point is more (but you it will have to ago fuse the images on a calculating, using... the HP supplied software r937 and Kodak fz812 automatically this on the camera. Task that this is not a great problem, poichè probably you will take hardly some images panoramic). The commandos of zoom are large and he objects it to you 6x are sufficient to the normal images in which wished to evidence the main objects. The film way is good (but if this is a lot important you, studii the possibility to observe canon the S5 with the sound stereo).. The duration of battery is impressive... if bought 4 aa rechargeable so as to you will not have problems with this... I suggest buy duracell 2650mAh the one. I have taken nearly 2000 mila images in 1 month and a lot task is satisfied poichè has not recharged the batteries mólto (that has only recharged them 5 times). For: - the good manual commandos for point-and-talk nonsense; - zoom and commandos of zoom large; - good relationship between the format of sensor and pocket-size (1/2,5") (for me this was a lot important when it decides between S5 and A720) - commandos of playback and the video de Nizza. you can jump 1, 10, 100 photos, the jump to the next date, or the just jump to the video following... - you can change many configurations while shot, this you are pleasant when been trying to obtain the better exposure with the secondary recordings - good against of options of the fire: - you can cancel hardly a photo to time or all in a touch (sonys allow that you select 3, 4, 5... how many images the wished ones and cancelled with a release - without 3, 4, 5 confirmations) - to times you must record the equilibrium manually white man when in the way car in order to avoid the images of the blueish - the returns of instantaneous the much time to recharge (second 4~6) them ringraziano and spiacente for my English!


Great P&S camera in a good sized package
For one P


A720 vs A570 vs SX100
After at great length to have confronted the reviews, the photos of the champion, the characteristics, the costs and the comparison the A720 has parallel successful. It thinks very sturdier than the A570, it has a mp the 8 sensor of and the zoom optical 6X. It hardly thinks solid when your estate it. While I have appreciate the look and the tact of the SX100 the photos of the champion on dpreview and on flickr he was not impressive and nobody was the reviews. As far as the instantaneous one ago to delay for my camera that was only 2-3 second. People who the opinion it takes 10 second ones is exaggerating less that they have really low batteries. The photos that I have taken up to now are impressive! I have taken of the numerous inside and the external blows and the chiarezza/colori are perfect from the edge to the edge. Possessing 4 it blots some photographic previous of the shooting and of the point this is by far the better thing.


nice little camera
Nice little camera. Takes nice pictures. The refresh time after taking a picture can be slow. It burns through batteries pretty quick. It can take a second or two to take the picture after pressing the shutter button. With that, the moment can be lost when it actually shoots.
I shoot with a Canon Digital SLR and got tiered of lugging large camera around for family gatherings or just to take a few shots. This camera definitley does the job. Small size, fits right in a coat pocket or pants pockets easily, its very light.


Great photos, easy to use
I have bought this camera in forecast of a travel in Rica Coast. That is my first camera digita them and has wished qualche.cosa of similar to my old point and shoots 35 millimeters. Extremely they are satisfied with the quality of the images. The colors and the clarity are impressive. The software that comes with the camera has allowed me to zumare in the images in order to obtain some narcotic Association of Bologna of the birds and other animals. Once that you obtained used to the camera I have found it easy to use.


Great Camera
That is my second camera of series of the Canon To. The camera is simple to work, has a zoom large 6X and takes the images. Only negative is the flash relatively slow recycle a period of 4.5 second ones. The great exposure of the LCD is large also to the luminous solar light. Canon has been more suppier a much good ones to take care itself for of the questions or the problems. Many easy and fasts in order to speak to a human being.


Great camera!
I have bought for po' a this posterior part of the camera and a lot is impressed with the quality. Mine and only claim would be the voluminosa amount of documentation that comes with it. Still I am using the way car because I have not obtained through the pages and the pages of the Info. The handbook is 208 long pages, the English part of the direct guide of the customer of the press is 77 pages and the English part of the guide of the software is 88 pages. Too many information! I do not know if I will never learn like using this camera. A fast guide of beginning would be pleasant. Tidbit small that you would have to formattare the card of memory comes to page 56 of the handbook. It would have to be to the front part of the handbook in which it says to you like installing the card! That is defective. I usually complain myself of the roba of technology that does not have Info ENOUGH. Not this time!


Price is right
I think the camera is worth it for under 200 dollars. This my first canera and find light an issue with it. But it will give you clear photo's. I did some research with consumer reports and other on line sources. This was the camera for the money. I have been happy so far.


Great Camera
I have this camera in order nearly 2 months.It are mine third camera to just and the better thing. The images are large worked the regulation of night of perfect.The in a party that restuarant of the low light recently.It is little lle larger of mine others blots some photographic but calm to adapt in a covering pocket.The only one negative what approximately this camera is the flash following of the blow makes to delay, I recomend it highly. All the regulation is much easy one to use.


Excellent choice of camera
I have had need of good point and the camera and this of the shooting really measure the invoice. It really takes the images good and a lot is satisfied with this camera.


Great camera, but little memory on the card
I really enjoy the camera. Task that is large and I love the zoom. The purchase that originates I appreciate them, except the memory card. The memory card the camera has come with only judged three images and then it was full. I have not realized this when I have bought the camera so as to I have had to exit and to buy one new card of memory.


Canon A720
That is one large camera. I have taken only up to now some images but that creed that me the characteristics of the camera pits good worthy the selling price!!


Awesome, easy to use camera, Wonderful quality pictures!
I ordered this camera after doing quite a bit of research online.
The reviews were "right on". They said this camera was easy to use, dependable, easy to learn (which I needed as I purchased it for an upcoming vacation and only had a couple of days to tinker with it before departing) and takes WONDERFUL quality photos.
I never did get a chance to "tinker" with it before we left, I took it out of it's box, glanced at the instructions, packed it in the carry on bag, and away we went!
When we reached our destination, I was a bit worried as I had chosen not to bring the instructions, it was not an issue. It was so user friendly I was taking beautiful pictures with-in minutes! I am sure I have lots to learn about it yet, and only took advantage of a few of it's many features, but the pictures I got were breath taking!
I took one of the couple that went with us and had it made into an 8 x 10 for them, and framed it as it turned out so nice. A visiter to our home asked why I had a picture of "those people" before I gave it to the couple. I told the visiter about taking the picture and making it for our friends. They were astounded to say the least! They thought it was a professional portrait =) I did good LOL
I am VERY pleased with the camera, it does not "eat" batteries like so many low quality cameras do, it takes awesome photos, easy to use, looks nice, I cannot say enough how happy I am with it!
If it got ruined today, I would order another exactly like it tomorrow.


Great Camera
I have had need of a modernization from my camera digita them of the megapixel of the 3... and can add one review of 200 words in...... an impressive lottery of the recordings available to the suite your needs... that moreover purched one memory card 2gb in order to hold many images...


Digital Camera
I ordered the Canon Powershot 8MP Digital Camera with 6x zoom. The camera has been great, it is easy to use on automatic, the zoom is awesome, and the clarity of the photos are the best. I have downloaded and emailed several pictures and they transmit very nice. I am very pleased with the size, ease of use, and overall camera.


Great deal.
Great camera, at a great price. I could not go to the store and get anything close to the quality, for the price.


It makes a novice feel like a professional!!!!!!
I first had access to this camera from my dad. I borrowed his to take pics of my daughter at her kindergarten graduation. I was amazed!!! The coolest feature is that you can adjust your pictures using the software provided if a picture is too dark or too bright.

I purchased my own just after Christmas and I've been trying out all the features. I was amazed at the different shooting options available!!!! There're options for portrait, kids and pets, aquarium, fireworks, foliage, landscape.... the list goes on and on. There's also the image stabilization feature which is important if you're taking pics of kids and pets. The video feature is also great!!!

The camera's really easy to use and the instructions are pretty clear. You may want to purchase a larger memory card than the one provided; I purchased a 2gb with mine.

For average person who just wants to take good pictures this is a great camera. In fact, anyone who's purchasing a camera for the first time should invest in this one.


Just OK
This camera takes great the external images or to the inside with the wide lighting system. The stopper and the speeds of rinfrescamento are express and the blows are croccanti. the situations of the Low-light, other part, ago demand a stopper to delay of until two second ones and the rinfrescamento speed is only normal delays. Moreover it has not realized the how much large unit is - not really the graded pocket, but my defect for the search more better. The consumer marks it highly it rated even if with the warning of the low light, but I would think two times if you had the choice.


Superb camera!
That is one camera narcotic for the price. The excellent optical, the fast time from the pressure of the release of the stopper to the taken image and leave in on time. It takes the great images without the flash within with the normal lighting system of the room, in fact, images it is generally better without the flash. Control of excellent stabilities and acknowledgment of the face. I appreciate the sense that the camera changes the images from the landscape to ritratto when they are rivedende in the camera and the camera is ruotata. Canon moreover has maintained to the graceful operation the many same of mine 3 Powershot years, therefore was here nearly learning curve. They have only brought the light improvements to that it has occorr only 1 minute in order to obtain used. The only claim that I have at all is that the flash it is in some slow way, the critics has specified us. My uniform loves of the film of the daughter fussy of the camera this camera!


great camera, great price, compact
it has bought this camera in order to take the pics everywhere!! the measures in my ag, the best price the easy one than use of the hand (with the taken one of the canon from the side) outside here on amazon () naturally not sure like still working the stabilization of image, a sure one pics blurry, but I am relati to you sure because the havent he has read to the handbook however IN A GENERALIZED MANNER -- the lotteries Of the EXPLOSION FOR the BUCK!! PRODUCT OF THE CANON OF LOVE!!


Not what it should be
This camera is horrible R-with regard to the red eye. The red regulation of the eye is on but every image has it. Canon does not have council except is happens for the small children. Every adult has it also. Moreover the returns of the instantaneous one in order always to load itself. Except those two articles the quality is good.


A Great Point And Shoot With Nice Manual Controls
They are a photographer of the seed-professional. My main camera is a Nikon D70 with a sure number of objects you of Nikon. I have bought this in order to take with me when I do not think like pulling the D70 around. (the A720 is more clearly even of my objective of Nikon more clearly.) I have searched it blots some to them photographic compact for many months and has read the dozens of the reviews before deciding on this. They are extremely happy with the relative performances and the quality of the images. FOR: * Much compact one, ergonomic light and. Great disposition of the grip handles and the keys. Menu cleverly plans to you. If you have de experience of blots some photographic digita them, this will be necessary approximately 10 minuteren in order to learn like using. * To measure, excellent contrast and color of exposure. To measure of exposure is far away advanced to that one of mine $[...] Nikon D70. The colors are beautiful, particularly in the clear way. The contrast is advanced heel. The culminating points do not burn and the shadows are shadows to align, not half of-tones. * Large manual commandos: opening, stopper, iso, compensation of exposure, instantaneous compensation, saturation, contrast, zone of the fire, even manual fire. In using the manual fire, the LCD magnifies the section of the blow that been putting to fire over, allowing them more easy obtains to the fire the just right. Great characteristic. * Optical Zoom de Nizza (6x) to 210mm. * Great f/2.8 R-all'.apertura of 35mm (f/4.8 to 210mm) allows that offusciate pleasantly it ambles you to it of origin and takes the blows with small depth of the field. That is large for ritratti and the artistic blows. * The ability to put to fire close how much the 39 moves slowly. Good camera for the blows to macroinstruction. * High quality, cutting LCD that is usable also to the luminous solar light and when they observe to angle (part of the reason that I have bought this camera was because it has offered an optical seeker of sight. The LCD is therefore good on this camera however, what I have not used the sight seeker at all.) * Duration of excellent battery when for means of the batteries rechargeable of aa. (I have not tried the aa normal.) AGAINST the problems with this camera typical ones connected with virtually every compact camera are those... * light Color that guarnisce when they talk nonsense the objects it illuminates to you. * Cutting like SLR with a quality objective (naturally). * Noisy over iso the 100 and in great unusable part over iso the 400. If you must take to quality the blows held in hand to the low light, no compact camera is going to cut it. Digital SLR obtains one them and a fast objective (made sad: the sensor on this camera is only the larger hats -- 75mm diagonally, or larger 8% -- than the sensor on mine 7 years Nikon CoolPix, but, Canon, like the greater part of the digital creators them of the camera, farcito 4 altretanti times pixel on this sensor much small. new 400% pixel on a sensor that is larger only 8%. That one means pixel the more noisier small meaningfully and. Because of this, mine 7 years Nikon CoolPix are less noisy to iso the 100 -- the only one iso that it has -- than this Canon to iso 80 or 100. Much sad one effectively. This sensor that overloaded however hour is true for every compact camera, so as to you must tolerate them hardly. Highest megapixels they allow that you print the greatest press and you prune more, but you conclude yourselves in on with more noise pure, also to the iso low like 80 or 100.) * It is pleasant if it went more widely than 35mm for the blows of wide-angle landscape.


Great Camera
Great camera for the price. I purchased it as a gift for my wife and she loves it. She is not very tech savvy but was shooting pictures within a few minutes of opening it. She loves it and it takes awesome pictures. I like the fact that it has a viewfinder that is absent in a lot of new cameras. This is nice in bright light when you can't see the picture on the lcd screen.


Excellent camera
The pruchase of this camera through Amazon was terrific, easy, fast and received camera exactly when promised. The camera is easy to use and the pictures are great. The flash carries great, the night time and fireworks setting is wonderful, catches children playing without blur and is everything I wanted in a camera. Will probably purchase another from Amazon for my daughter. Great price.


Not good indoors or if your used to using a viewfinder
I bought this camera because it offers a view finder. What I didn't know was the viewfinder doesn't not display what the camera is focusing on. It is a guess where the camera is going to focus, the only way to know is through the LCD screen. I prefer saving the batteries and using the view finder. The LCD screen is a must though. The view finder seems to only be there for long distance outdoor shots.
I was only able to take 8-10 indoor/flash shots with good high quality rechargeable batteries before they needed to be replaced. I found myself carrying around 6-8 batteries in my pocket. The camera takes a long time to recharge the flash. I found my old Kodak camera came up with better shots, just because I was able to take more shots.



Uploading to computer is too complex
I have a camera in full load of the photos that I cannot obtain to my calculating because of the complexity of the instructions of the software of the Canon. Moreover the greater part of the images taken to the inside with the flash is too much dark. The greater part of the taken photos the external part is cutting. The cost of this camera must be lowered to that one of a price of the camera of the principianti.


Vacation camera
Bought this camera for one specific reason, vacations! My DSLR is just to big for every purpose. I wanted something to carry in my pocket so I could be "hands free". But, I didn't want to have to compromise picture quality. I purchase several other 8 mega pix cameras and took them back because the pix wasn't good. Yup, tried to save a few bucks by getting a camera for less money and it taught me a lesson. This Canon has great reviews and will get a workout right off the bat in Huatulco....


Canon a700
I purchased a canon a700 2 years ago and have not regretted it.
The operation is identical as far as I can determine to the a720,its successor. The current model,a720,has more pixels than the a700 and it also has image stabilization.
I purchased the a720 base on my experiences for my daughter and recommended it to my brother who is a professional photographer.

Before I took a trip to Italy I purchased the canon batteries and recharger. I used the camera for 10 days without recharging the batteries.
The photos were superb. My only complaint is that on very sunny days I had to use the viewer since the screen was washed out.

I tried the various modes including movie. All worked well but for the most part I selected the auto mode. This satisfactory for virtually any situation.




Canon 720 is
So far seems to work well and is a handy size to carry. I'm not sure how much good the image stabalization does as seems to have no obvious effect when viewing through the lcd monitor even on max telephoto. The flash recovering time is excessive if one does much in the way of indoor flash activities. It is about 5-6 seconds. Personally I don't care but if one takes a lot of flash this camera is not a good choice. Except for the puzzle on the stabalization I am satisfied with the camera.


A camera you can trust
Amazing camera! You can really trust it! Sometimes it looks blurry or you are in movement and you think your picture is going to be bad, but it captures great pics anytime.
The functions are great and the macro function works really well!


New Canon Digital Camera
They are a old and this is my first camera digita them. The instruction booklet is easy to follow and the images that I have taken are absolutely wonderful in the clarity, etc. I have transferred the photos from the system centers them towards the satellites "on my images" on my calculating with Windows.xp. The purchase of the this camera via Amazon was buyable the most pleasant sense and than to obtain one digital camera them.


A sleeper of a good deal
I have worked like photographer professional for 9 years. I have left that profession 10 years ago and have entered in ARE administration. My eyes cannot put to fire the sense hardly that they have used to. This camera has all the versatilità of my Leica m-3 (all the handbook) but I can use an entire collection of focalization procedures as also it makes up of exposure. The processor of image and the stabilizer of image are enough good. The color is natural. The technology is fantastic. I wish hardly that the covers have been made of metal and more object were available. Have.got 3 kidskin in university, so as to our estimate is tightened. To this price the only better transaction will be the relative successor of the gun.


Toy Camera
Slow camera. It is necessary a moment to the image of the warehouse in the memory. Not one camera of the grill!


Nice Point and Shoot Camera
I've taken somewhere near 1000 pictures now with this camera, and all-in-all I'm very impressed. This is a very good camera for its price. It takes large (3Mb) pictures that are fairly sharp and generally very nice. As an amateur (with just a little knowledge) I'm quite happy with my purchase.

Pros:
-Image stabilization works very well
-Lots of auto and manual modes
-Face tracking feature works great
-640X480@30FPS movies
-Optical zoom is sufficient for most situations
-Optical viewfinder is very nice to have when you can't see the LCD in direct sunlight
-When you are reviewing your shots, you can "zoom out" and look at 9 thumbnails at a time, then page through your photos and find a certain shot very quickly.

Cons:
-User programmable button is very limited (there are only about 6 things you can choose the button to do, and only one or possibly two of them are useful to me)
-Depending on how artistic you are trying to be with your composition, the face tracking can be a pain (i.e. trying to focus on an object in the background, the camera keeps picking something in the foreground for focus). You can disable it, but it involves about 5 steps.

My only real gripe is that I wish I could put the focus mode on the programmable button so that I could switch between face-detect and center focusing(both points above).

You get what you pay for with this camera. There are a lot more options (full manual shutter, aperture, white balance, iso, and focus controls) than with some of the cheaper models, but this camera definitely shoots at lower quality than a digital SLR.


great camera
i had my old canon powershot 590, but this is great have more optical zoom and is lighter than the last one.


Good Value
After much shopping I settled on the Canon PowerShot A720 IS. I am very pleased with the performance of the camera. It is a great value for the low cost.


Nice, Bold but a bit bulky
Canon is known for lot of firsts in media, but with all these technological advancements, the bulkier model doesn't fit into this era...There is nothing special about this which would make this heavy. And battery power is not at its best...Overall I would rate 3.25, the bulkiness and responsiveness costed it a star probably...


Exactly what I expected...
We are not for or photographers amateurs, as soon as it wishes one to you good general camera digita them for the vacations, similar graduazioni and. It has not never possessed a camera digita them before that therefore you made the search lotteries on that what blots some to them photographic digita has offered them. We have realized that that what was important we it is exactly that what this camera has offered. Zoom better mean, a viewfinder, operations on the batteries of aa, photo of good quality, stabilization of image (really works!), and enough small for the ag or the pocket. With all the other characteristics that come with it with the facility of just point and the shooting, give the option to us of general use or fotographia more serious. After using over the festivities, we are a lot pleased with our purchase and we would suggest it to the friends.


cannon power shot A720
They are a lot pleased with my new camera of the gun. It is compact and easy to handle. The images that I have taken to Been born them all have come towards the great outside. More eyes than red color or sfocati objects


CAMERA
SO FAR I REALLY LIKE THE CAMERA. I REALLY ONLY USED AT CHRISTMAS TIME. I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU CAN DO VIDEO'S ON IT. THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
I WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW I LIKE IT WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS UP AND I AM OUTSIDE MORE. RIGHT NOW I THINK IT IS A REALLY NICE CAMERA AND IT WILL WORK FOR WHAT I NEED IT TO.
THANK YOU SYLVIA


slow flash recharge
zoom large, easy to learn the characteristics, pleasant the large screen of the LCD, the multiple functions and the ways of the shooting for the needs the greater part of people, manual option unfortunately the flash is necessary real time a lot to recharge between the blows; while the flash it is recharging the screen goes space in.bianco that it recharges it instantaneous is slow also with the batteries brandnew


excellent performer
Canon's have been good to me. This new model is no exception. Aside from the copious amounts of plastic covering the internals, the 720 is nicely put together. I'm very impressed at the quality of pix up to ISO 400. The ability to shoot RAW and the inclusion of an optical viewfinder in a camera costing $200 is fabulous. Excellent.


Bought it as a present.
Bought this camera for my grand-daughter for Christmas. She absolutely loves it. Takes it wherever she goes. Finds out new things about it everyday. So I can most highly recommend it.


Canon Powershot A720IS
I bought this as a gift and she loves it. Works like a charm, great functionality from a name you trust. at time of purchase also picked up a sandisk 2gb.


Good camera
It has bought this like gift. The adressee loves, as an example it takes it the pics large. Only the problem is a light delay with the taken one of the successive images, so as to you can lack a special blow "action". Totally extremely pleased.


Better cameras cost a LOT more
Yes, I bought this on recommendation from a couple of magazine articles and a friend's advice too. And I'm glad I did. It contains features that far more expensive cameras have and the quality of the prints is perfect! This was a gift for my wife. It needed to be small, reliable, efficient on battery use, simple to use and produce great snapshots. It does all of these things well. I believe that right now you can't buy a better camera for this price.


Great affordable camera
We are a lot pleased with the camera. He is simple to obtain begun but it has additional characteristics that a lot we hope some day to understand like using.


The perfect camera for serious amateurs
This is a superb camera for people who want great shots of their kids, travels, etc., but don't want to deal with the size and expense of an SLR. The antishake and face recognition features work great, resulting in very few blurry or out-of-focus shots. The 6:1 zoom, combined with the antishake feature, lets you get great shots at distance, and the high resolution enabled me to get a decent cropped image of a distant toucan in the Amazon rainforest! (OK, it wasn't *that* distant; I was standing in the Amazon when I shot it, not in Seattle :) ).

My only complaint is that, because the camera uses just 2 AA batteries, battery life isn't great and time between flash pictures is long. You'll want top-quality (2900 mAh as of this writing) rechargeable batteries.


canon powershot A720IS 8MP
I'm still in the process of learning how to use this camera, but the first thing I noticed in the first few pictures I took was the lack of quality - there was some graininess and artifacts in them when viewed at actual size, especially in the dark areas of my photos. With this camera, I believe the trick to taking great pictures is to photograph bright, colorful subjects, such as a crowd of people, etc. I'm glad this wasn't more expensive, because then I'd feel kinda cheated. Overall, I give this camera an Average rating.


Nice point and shoot
Great little point and shoot for the money.

Good points: Ease of use, good pic quality

Bad points: not so easy access to sd card

I'll be glad when the write speed for digital cameras gets a little faster. I bought a super high speed card and that seemed to help a little.




Great Little Camera and a Very Nice Price
This is my second digital camera and I couldn't be more pleased. I love that it uses AA batteries, has a large viewing screen and it easy to use and to change settings. It is lightweight and very comfortable to hold. Although I am still learning to use all the features, I am very pleased with the photos I have already taken and happy that I selected this particular camera.


A great camera for the money
After doing a lot of research for a new digital camera, I found the A720.
It had everything I was looking for and more:
-A viewfinder (for those bright days and when trying to conserve the batteries by turning off the LCD, easily I might add)
-6x Optical zoom, with the option of turning off digital zoom
-Image stabilization
-Capability of using an SDHC card for faster picture taking and high storage capacity
-The ability to change the volumes of all the sounds of the camera. I can still have the sound on to hear video playback, but can turn down and off the sounds for start-up, button pressing, shutter click, etc.
-Fully retractable lens, without a need for a lens cap
-Quick startup time
-Capability of adding another lens to it if I so choose, though it seems most add-on lenses will block the flash
-Very small size, smaller than I thought it would be after seeing all the pictures. Easily fits in a pocket, and the quick startup time allows me to get the picture I want without having to keep the camera in my hands at all times
-Remembers my LCD settings after shutdown
-Very decent video quality
-Large LCD screen

I have noticed that some of my indoor pictures seem a little bright, I haven't fully read through the manual to see if that can be changed. Overall though it isn't really noticeable, and I got rave reviews from those I shared my holiday pictures with. Many people asked what camera I had, and even had someone go out and buy the same one after playing with mine.

A quality camera with a ton of features for a relatively low price. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great pocket sized camera!


Disappointed
After the positive reviews a lot of the reading online, I have decided to order this camera from Amazon like rimontaggio of my previous, a Canon much old G3. Following is my observations and observations: 1. The package has arrived to the inside of one week under the delivery to the ground of the superSaver, but of it exposure no sign of the packing of the supplier. The box it can easy be opened without openning the typical plastic coverings or to break off seals of the supplier. The wonder just like the guarantees of the Amazon, this camera I camera has received is one brandnew, or as soon as given back. 2. The acoustic levels of the camera are visibly maximum only for the blows of the inside also to the low regulation of iso. I have tried the different regulation on the JPEG, the ndemnity, a lot fine and you form to you different. The noise remains visible without R-with regard to the regulations of iso, even visible for the external blows in the zones of dark/shaddy under the low regulations of iso. 3. The car-focus is not much exact one. Therefore, to 8MP the clarity and the sharpness are right more or less as my 4MP G3. Since the stabilization of image is ignited, not incolperei of the reduction of clarity/sharpness to the unstable hands. 4. There is along ago delaying to even store the image after that everyone has talked nonsense 3-4 second, if the flash it is used, you make to delay is still longer, using the cards to high shunting line speed standard, 133X. That makes to delay is the much longest one of my G3. 5. The battery has come with the last one of the package only for approximately 40 second blows and two 15 clip of video and then it has set offed to perceive to me of the battery low. 6. The software of the Canon has come with the camera is compatable to G3 but it is in some way scomodo and it demands a process a lot different of transfer from the system centers them towards the satellites from that one of Canon G3. Definitley, one will have to learn to adapt itself to the new process. They said, this camera are only enough good for fotographia much accidental one, in particular, if your main observation is printed publication dispositions that are inferior or equal to 8X11. You could also need the serious reduction of noise that post-processing in order to correct the granular images. Data this experience, task that is going to maintain my G3 until that it does not find one better camera. The camera of the Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital with the optical image 6x has stabilized the zoom


NO NO NO!!! Piece of junk!!!
Spiacente, but enough frank I do not see that what all the fuss is approximately. This thing sucks, period. It can take a photo just, but only after that you have waited for a time UNGODLY for it to even put to fire and THEN, it enough often obtains the twisted one of the fire! I am not watching a damaged unit one, like this it and the same thing were the first thought of what Scambiato. I cannot believe that this is idea of the Canon "of quality". It is not that you obtain an occasional one sfuocato talked nonsense within between many others that are right. You would have TO PLAN to obtain 90% of the blows that are taken the point and shoot SFUOCATO. Then, when wished to try to take other, plans on taken of the camera the 7 second bonds or so as to before that returns to life and them lasci. (pause between the photos is INCREDIBLY slow). I have possessed the many a camera digita them - SONY, Casio, Canon, JVC... I must estimate absolutely this without the defective doubt.


Have been pleased
I have used only this camera some times from when I have opened it to Been born them but I have possessed it the version more begins them for much year and have been a lot pleased with the quality and the flexibility of the image. Up to now this model seems to have all the same quality of the image and flexibility but to higher resulution and one zoom more powerful. It satisfies my demanding requirements on the characteristics, feeding, quality and price. My old (A520 model) has been fallen, breaked, used in cascade and haze of the ocean, used in the polverose and sabbiose circumstances, used on goes travels to you backpacking, used to the high heights in the circumstances under zero and the thing hardly would not die. They are concluded on giving it my daughter to me in order to justify to obtain the newest version of the same model with the highest resulution and zoom more powerful. I love for means of the batteries of aa. They are many more convenient of the expensive options rechargeble propreitary and. Where I have obtained they have taken in order to recharge my batteries.


Awesome camera.. takes beautiful pictures
I have done a lot of research before purchasing this product. So I had really high expectations to start with and the camera did not disappoint. It comes with a lot of options, modes and features like Image stabilization and face detection. If you are looking for a point and click camera, this is great and you are looking for a little optimization, its all there too. It is a good mid range camera. The pictures are all very sharp and clear. Would recommend to anyone looking for a decent mid range camera for a cheap price. If you want a really good camera, SLR is the way to go.


not a camera buff
I do not take to the images a lot but this camera is easy to use and even if I have not used it a lot completely I am satisfied with the product.


Great Product
I have bought this camera as gift affinchè my son takes to Paris on its honeymoon. They have taken to the hundreds of the blows in all the circumstances. Every it was before better than that one. The time of day, time of night, to the inside and outside was all large. The I.S. has worked fantastic good. The blows of the zoom were large. Recomend the this product highly.


Terrific product
This camera is enough small to put in one pocket and enough simple to render to great images without fuss any. It confronts favorable to other, higher it blots some photographic that of the extremity I have possessed in the course of last years, that they were much larger and more complicates to you. While he is little too much a cumbersome one for a pocket when in the case of the Canon I have bought exclusively, it slips easy within without the case. The only ones downsides are: 1) the viewfinder optical it does not reflect the real blow adequately and it gives a opinion that is the much smallest one than the real image, that it means the screen must still be used for the sufficient incorniciatura of a blow (than naturally average that the taken blows using the viewfinder will have need of after the fact that it publishes) and 2) the screen is enough dark to the night, impossible to use to frame the blows and therefore one must count on the viewfinder optical. These limitations were disappointments, but the general quality of the images and the facility of use, joined with the format, render this a product of 5 stars that although.


Lens Error: Restart Camera
If google "E18" and Canon, you will find that many of theirs blot some photographic they have errors of the objective that render the roba of refusal of the camera. However on the A570IS, it is called, "error of the objective: Error of the camera of riavviamento ". My camera was skillful enough noisy from the box it, but never not possessing a Canon, or a digitalis them with a zoom, I have thought that perhaps the releases were normal. They are not. After the game with the function of the zoom of the tip, it has begun to make cigolio horrible a every time that opening themselves or closing themselves. This camera moreover has had other defect. My pointer of the light of the battery would ignite itself also after to put in loaded batteries of recent. I become account from the reviews that I have obtained defective a camera, but trying more extensively on the fotoricettore, sound as to obtain a defective Canon it is mólto easier of winning the lottery. The buy with the attention and if the objective seems noisier to you that it, or if you even obtain a dysfunction with the objective on the first days of operation, it sends back or it exchanges while you still latta. I wish that I would have trusted myself my intestine, because hour they are overseas and to give back the camera is going to be much more job.


Great product!
That is the second camera digita them that we have and this is better and by far great images mólto than quality also to the night. The only thing that we see it is the sense to transfer the images from the system centers them towards the satellites when you have installed in your different software of the calculating for the devices you of exploration and it blots some to them photographic digita them additional. Therefore, you must follow a treaty in order to use the software of the Canon. Beyond to this it is a suggested large product and higly.


Canon PowerShot A720IS
This camera far exceeded my expectations. The response time is extremely quick, it's very easy to use and the pictures are excellent. I chose this camera because it has the view finder in addition to a large viewing screen. I was hesitant about giving up screen resolution, but this screen was superb. It can even be viewed in bright sunlight. I highly recommend this camera for both cost and quality!


camera, canon
I do not have claim in the cares to the product. It was all that you previewed. The entire process was satisfactory convenient and.


Excellent product and service
The narcotic transport time!!..I has selected the excellent method of transport of the thrifty person and has obtained the product transported to my house in five days of transactions!!! It would have been better if all the articles included in the package are given clearly.


Good Pictures
The camera is small, clear, easy to use and good images of the returns. Mine only reservation is that it does not seem to put to fire much neighbor in the way to macroinstruction, even if cannot make to install correctly it when I have tried this.


Excellent camera, great price/performance
Once I have bought a Canon G2. My life was good. Then they are attracted in order to buy one camera of Samsung. My life was not good. I have sent back to Canon. Hour creed that only the traditional creators of the camera can trust themselves in order planning great the optical systems to a good price. I would suggest to someone cautious being of the electronic companies that enter in blot some photographic. This camera takes the images large and is easy to use. For the greater part of the customers, comprised me, that he is all I I have need of.


Cannon Power Shot
Recommend this camera as a great value. Today when you buy technology it is expired 6 months latter so why spend tons of money on what will eventually become obsolete. This camera takes great pictues, has plenty of zoom, and reshoots quickly. Only con is use rechargable batteries since it eats AA's.


Great Affordable Camera
I love this camera! Camera digita them with good quality of image has many characteristics for one buyable. The quality of the image is exceptional! The only thing that I have found up to now that he is not large is the time is necessary to the dealt images when cracked the images. It can render it difficult to obtain the action blows.


Great camera for the price
I had a difficult time deciding which of the many digital cameras out there to order, read tons of reviews on many websites and still had no clear idea which camera would be best to order. The A720IS seemed the best for the money so I finally just ordered it. It is a great camera which takes great pictures. I have not ventured beyond the point and shoot mode but with the quality of the pictures I've taken there really hasn't been a need to try the other functions. I had the camera shipped to my office so of course I had to a least check it out at lunch time. I didn't do much checking of the instructions other than the quick start guide and quickly took a couple of pictures. One of my co-workers looked at the shoots I took and immediately said "Oh, you've done all the research - tell me what to order so I can order one too". He did order his own which he took to a concert at which he was seated 16 rows back from the stage. The pictures taken at the concert were amazing even though he too has only used the automatic mode thus far. We have both heard many times "your camera takes pictures like that and it was less than $200".
The only complaint and it really hasn't been an issue is that it does not recycle quickly especially when using the flash. So if you take a lot of action shots this may not be the camera for you.


Canon A720IS digital camera
I was a professional photographer for over 25 years using many different film camera formats. I no longer work as a photographer, but still like taking pictures. Especially on holiday or when flying my paraglider. About 4 years ago I bought my first digital camera. It was the Canon A70. I bought it because it did everything including most importantly shooting in manual mode and being able to have good control over the flash output. I also liked the shape of the camera as it had a good grip making it easy to shoot one handed. That was especially important to me when taking photos while flying.

Over the last couple years I was starting to think that I wanted a more far reaching lens and higher resolution. I didn't want to go over 10mp though as cameras of that or higher resolution caused colour fringeing. I looked at many cameras. But none except the Canon had all my requirements. I thought 8mp was perfect. Also the 6x optical zoom was exactly what I wanted along with full manual control. Also the movie mode is great. In essence I wanted a camera just like the A70 but better!

Having used the A70, the A720 was very easy to get to grips with. And with the auto mode anyone could start shooting pretty quickly. With a little time spent with the camera and reading the manual you will soon be using the camera intuitively.

I think the lens is very good and that's the most important part of any camera. But I find most of the shots will benefit from a very minor tweek in PhotoShop curves. This will allow a greater degree of contrast and colour saturation. I also like to sharpen them up just slightly with the unsharp mask. I try to set the camera up to do as little of the latter as possible as I like to have that control.

The movie mode is really fun. When I go out shooting I like to take a combination of stills and clips. Then instead of making prints to put in a box under the bed; I like to make little movies of say my flying holiday in the Alps by combining the stills and clips, adding music, fades and titles all done in imovie on my Mac. I then burn them to CD and mail them to family and friends. Much more impressive than a few prints I think. The fact that the A720 can shoot at 30fps over the 15fps of the A70 is a great bonus. I can see I'll need to get a DVD burner soon.

The other nice thing about this camera over the A70 is that it is a little lighter due mostly to the fact that it requires 2 batteries instead of four. I'd recommend the 2gb SD memory cards. I bought two of them. I think this will allow two weeks of holiday shooting stills and clips. For the A70 I had two 256mb cards and I generally used one per week. The A720's higher resolution I think will require the 2gb cards.

Hats off to Canon for supplying a very picky shopper with a small, light and highly specced digital camera.


Great compact camera for the price
I have bought this camera because I have wished one more small camera that could measure in my pocket. It eliminates the great images to the inside and the only one downside is that the flash it is necessary approximately 2-3 second to recharges between the images. I have known approximately this before the purchase and finchè you preview while you take the photos to it, it you are not really an edition. It seizes a 1 or a card from 2 GB and lle sure batteries and you rechargeable will have one put to pleasant point.


Fantastic pictures with plenty of features...
I have bought this for my moglie for Been born them. It knows that nothing approximately fotographia and I it has wished to obtain them an easy one to use the camera, but with manual regulations so as to it can learn more little and to be able enough to take the control of the blow. This camera is the perfect mixture "of the automobile" and "the handbook." The images that the day of Been born them has occorr are exceptional. As soon as it has it turned towards the automobile and has left the camera to make the rest. It is enough small to take with you and also has one zoom optical decent. The images are more pleasant than that what I take with my Nikon CoolPix4600 and the time of recharges is therefore the much fastest one with this Canon. With my Nikon you must attend a eternity in order to take your image following. This camera moreover has been estimated to right. I crack in a shunting line card standard of the 2 gig and you they are wait for in order to go!


Great Camera
Wanted a higher resolution camera to replace our last digital. So far this one is simple to use, takes great photos and is a great value for the price. Can't go wrong with this camera!


Great camera!
It's a great camera. I had an A550 but this is even nicer. Image the stabilization, bigger screen, higher res. This is a good buy. Canon makes quality stuff. Get the 2GB memory card and you can take over 500 pics at the highest resolution.


Superb camera
They are much happy one with the camera. The quality of the image is large with the lotteries of the options and the characteristics. Completely I suggest to anyone. The video quality is moreover good, not large but good.


My best camera EVER !!!
I have searched mólto before deciding for this camera. I have obtained it with end III of sandisk 2gb and the case from Canon. That is my first camera of the Canon (possesses coolpix 2100, one excellent camera also of Nikon) and this camera excedeed my higher expectations. I have known that I was goin in order to obtain the images of good quality, but that what I have obtained it is the near-SLR quality. The images are fantastic. Cutting colors, illuminate to you, large, low noise well. Also with iso the 800, the noise is tolerable. Tooke a sure one pics to monastery of Benedictian a last week to the regulations of varius and the result was narcotic. The inner one is extremely dark, so as to good test was one. The panoramic way oscillates, the video is aussum, pics of night is large. It is the systems like a fascination. I could obtain the pics decent to 1 second time of exposure. In a week I have obtained used to the menu and hour is nearly intuitiva. If anyone is in doubt, it does not hesitate, this is one excellent camera. It is not much small, but the quality of the pics compensates by far.


Best Camera for point and shoot
This camera must be the better thing for the $250 than under catagory. It makes all of that you have had need never less that you are a professional. Supplements great, easy to understand and to work. Not there is no necessity to watch others, Canon 720 all that you never have need.


Great Product! Canon Power Shot A720IS
The camera of blow A720IS of feeding of the Canon is one large camera. We have been astonished to the color, to the sharpness, alla.vista of night and to all the other characteristics on this camera. The images have been phenomenal and people have noticed the clarity of the pure images. reccomend this camera to the camera of anyone.Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital with the zoom stabilized optical image 6x


Good camera for those who want manual control
That is a good camera for the photographers that they wish more control of the regulations of the camera. Small digital camera is becoming more and more difficult to find one moderately estimated them with manual control. The greater new part blots some photographic does not completely allow the independent control of the opening, the fire, the time etc of exposure. This camera allows that you record the regulations independently therefore as works over the complete automatic control. Moreover it has a greater time of exposure until 15 second ones that the greater part of the competitors. It has constant acknowledgment of the face and the blow. The quality of the image seems good, little better of mine others blots some photographic digita them. A claim is that the time of recovery seems slow, several second ones, so as to it would be easy to lack the blows action. Honestly however, since the camera is new to me I has completely not explored as the several regulations influence the time of recovery. An additional comment is that the batteries of quickly drain the camera therefore a loader and the batteries rechargable of reciprocation good idea is one.


Canon A720
This is my first digital camera and I love it. Having never owned a digital camera before I wanted to make sure I could get something easy enough to use. But, sometimes I like to play with pics and learn new stuff. This camera allows me to do both. I havent figured out all the bells and whistles to this comfortable feeling camera but I can use it to take all the basic stuff. The lack of knowledge isnt due to difficulty of product but my lack of time. The quality of photo that pulls up on my computer is very good. However, I cant verify as of yet the quaility of printed photos as I havent had any printed yet. I expect that they will be very good.


Just perfect!!!
I have bought this camera after that a much time (approximately the comparisons and the reviews of the reading of the month)of is from the owners who give the places specialize to you, hour that I have used it I know that I have made one great choice. I love the fotographia but I have not never had a camera that could help it to be to an amateur well, hour the Can. that this camera not only supplies to the great blows the ways prestabiliti (approximately 10) but moreover you can aproach to fotographia amateur who excludes the camera in the way of manual feeding, where you you can control the exposure (speed of the stopper and opening, iso), in the equilibrium white man, the fire, zoom the etc you are narcotic, duration of battery moreover (with Ni-MH). it takes the good blows in the terms of the low light without flash (thats large in churches and a sure way of manual feeding of the museums)in against I have read were not a great transaction to me except perhaps the delay between the blows (approximately 5 sec) with the flash, but if the turns outside of that one you are not a problem that has taken arround to 500 blows and the flash nly be necessary a lot in little (20) it is not that cumbersome, to adapt in your pocket the video quality it is not superb, but been buying a video camera the quality of relationship prices is not the better thing can to obtain. if the images taken care of with a point and a camera wished, but moreover wished a camera amateur, this are that one for you, go for it, worthy the buck of prices from the buck


Camera
Small, easy to use. Directions were very well written. I especially like the larger preview screen.


Sweet Camera
First I like the big Lcd, the steady shot, the fast response and easy hookup to the Pc for transfer. For a small camera it is very easy to hold. The 8MP makes for some nice large printed pictures without being distorted.


A terrific camera that deserves a better screen
I have bought this camera for a friend for Been born them. It was usandogli a model of base of the shooting and the point, but seemed to enjoy the fotographia and I have thought that the manual commandos on this camera were a good tool for she to learn. The quality of the photo is formidable in the greater part of the all state of lighting system and the objective is cutting from the angle to the angle, something that cannot be said for the greater part more small blots some photographic. I appreciate as the camera visualizes the speed that of iso it will use when in the way CAR of iso. No problems with quality of the photo, but... The camera deserves one better screen. Yes, the format is pleasant to 2.5", but the resolution to 115.000 pixel is not enough nearly for this format of screen. When zumate and you see again your photos in the playback is difficult to say to if they are in the fire. The camera works on two double batteries of aa. I have possessed blots them of it photographic who work on the double quantity aas and some that worked on the batteries of the ione of lithium. Both types of energy sources have theirs for and against. The camera has good duration of battery with with of the batteries rechargeable of NiHM, but it is necessary a moment for the flash to recharges. General and large Pics and a good value for the moneies with the lotteries of the characteristics comprised one stabilizing of image.


Loving it but still irritated by it
I love this camera for quality of the image and facility of use. However, I have tried the numerous periods (and yes, I have read the senses) to regulate the date/time and it does not work. Therefore, every time that I ignite the camera, pushes it to regulating the date/time. I make while it says in the handbook but ' it has not never regulated it and must continue to always repeat it! That a lot is frustrating it and even it has lead to wish to give back the camera. Moreover, the exposure way the used duration of battery when, is nearly zipper -- hard perhaps 30 minuteren - therefore, you it is forced to observe less through the sight-seeker that you wish to continue to replace the batteries of aa every other hour! ARGH!!! Except those two disturb of minor/major, love the camera!


I love this camera
Up to now I love this camera! It takes the images large. It has many wonderful characteristics that I have not learned like still using. It takes the black images and of white man or sepia. I think that I have obtained a great transaction for my moneies.


Great camera
That is mine third camera digita them, as soon as it obtains more best all the time. The Canon A720 takes the images large, the zoom pleasant 6x, the bonds Association of Bologna, etc... poichè others has specified, flash refreshes is slow but I love it


As others have said, excellent camera but slow flash
It loves the camera. The instantaneous one ago to delay is the only thing that I do not appreciate. I am going to try some batteries of the photo aa in order to see if those aids.


Canon PowerShot A720IS replaced with no hassle
In Nov., I ordered a 720IS to replace a well-used 710IS to gain the new Digic III feature. The 720IS is nearly identical to the 710IS, but the 720IS lacks one useful feature: You can't edit videos in the camera to save memory. The internal date-setting feature in the 720IS did not work on set-up, and a new battery didn't help. I called Amazon's technical help line and was lucky to talk with someone who agreed that I had tried everything to make it work. I had ordered the camera to take on a trip to Thailand at the end of the month and didn't have time to return the flawed one and wait for a replacement. The Tech. person said he'd order a replacement right away, and it came in two days. I enjoyed using the new camera in Thailand, and it functioned flawlessly. I am very grateful to Amazon's technical staff for providing excellent service. I've ordered books, CDs, and camera equipment from Amazon for ten years. You guys are great. Thank you!


Good Shot
In a generalized manner they are a lot pleased with this camera - it takes pleasant the blows free - especially towards the outside the hatches. I have riposto the handbook badly (that I must read) but the greater part that I have resolved. Mine gripe it only is that to the inside I do not appreciate it. You leave, lunches, etc... with the flash I obtain the red eye a lot and without they are enough blurry... so as to this will be simply mine outside camera of the hatch - until that it cannot resolve if it is error pilot or hardly something that one this not good camera to! I appreciate the external blows and the assistant of the stich. It is taken some spectacular blows around to the Scozia and to loch the general Lomond therefore, like I say, are happy.


Lots of functions, but limited by battery
I received this camera for Xmas and have been using it for about one week. As much I have loved using my SD500 for the past few years, I wanted more manual controls. The A720 was the best fit for the options I wanted (manual settings, price, weight, form, quality). It's a good compromise as it's still fairly small and offers many functions.

Pros:
- great manual options
- adjustable flash settings
- preset function buttons so there's less sifting through menus
- awesome price for the technology

Cons:
I did some research prior to buying the camera and knew that there may be some issues with the flash lag but had no idea how noticeably annoying the wait would be. I am using NiMH 2000mah rechargeables in this camera and the power is just not enough. It's very frustrating when you're taking group photos and have to wait a good couple seconds before you can take the next photo.

In video mode, once you start recording, you cannot use the zoom. With my old camera, I could do this. It's difficult when filming moving objects such as animals and children because the distance can change quickly.

As with other cameras, I think there are times the automatic settings overexpose with natural light and wash out contrast on light-colored objects.

As times goes, I'll update if I learn anything new about the camera. Frankly, if you have the money and are willing to carry around two cameras, I suggest buying a subcompact such as an Elph model and a DSLR. That way you have the choice of convenience and quality.


Canon PowerShot A720IS
I LOVE this camera!!! I have really had need of a camera with stabilization of image and after having this camera in order only approximately a month, I cannot honestly say that it is one of the purchases that better it has never made. My photos are turning more best that never and I love the characteristics available on this model. It is easy to use and to understand. I could not be happier!! Kim M. Taylor, RVT


Best Camera I have ever owned
My wife took the most awesome photos of my daughter, right out of the box, did read the manual. The color is very vivid and accurate. My mom loved the quality so much that she dumped her crappy Nikon Coolpix and bought this one too.


Quality Camera from Canon
Pros:

-Great image quality
-Fast non-flash performance
-Manual controls
-Face recognition
-Good macro closeups
-Powerful zoom
-1600 ISO function


Cons:

-Slow flash performance
-Not a subcompact
-Not great for low-lighting shots.

Sidenote:
-AA Battery powered
-Inexpensive camera (~190 USD)

I bought this Canon A720 (new product from September) right after Thanksgiving and put it to use immediately. The finishes are superb. The PowerShot A720IS produces quality pictures under good lighting. Canon's lenses have always been strong and this one is no different. The 6x optical zoom with the face recognition means that you can zoom in and take a nice shot of someone's face from far away. It's pretty cool.

The 2.5 inch screen is BIG which is great for looking at your pictures.

Full manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority makes this camera fun to play around with.

The macro function is also great for taking closeups, the quality image is fantastic.


Great camera at reasonable price
That is an other large camera from the series of the powershot of canon. It offers good 6x to the zoom optical, has 2.5"lcd, it works on the batteries of aa and compact the graceful one


Great deal...
I got this camera about a month ago. This is one is terrific. I bought this to replace my old Nikon coolpix 995 which I have already 6 years.

Here I list good part of this product.
1. Good price.
2. Smart face detection feature.
3. A free 2GB SD card with purchase -- this saves me $15.
4. Digital III chip handles picture/video very quick.
5. more than 20 different languages included in Camera, especially Asian languages ( Chinese, Japanese and Korean)

6. I don't have to buy extra Li batteries. Two AA batteries are very convenient.
7. Pretty light, just simply put into any of my pocket to carry on.
8. 6X optical is fascinating for me, though 12x would be better, but price is about 50% more than this one.

9. AF and AE lock are unique features for Canon's Camera.

DSLR is expensive and may not be so useful for everyone.
Basic digital cameras have many limitations though are cheap.
I think the price of Canon A720IS is between DSLR and other basic digital cameras. And its function is closer to DSLR.




Great Camera
The actualy it possesses the A710 Is which it is basically the same camera with a integrated circuit from 7.1 megohms. I have bought then this camera approximately six months ago for $235,00, good price. I have bought affinchè my moglie cracks the images that durring our last two vacations, Alaska and Europe. Ussally use still my S.L.R. old Never. I am going digita them. I drain myself as soon as loaded approximately 2000 images that my moglie has taken without thought at all to that what was making (point and shooting) and the result was unbelievable. Also the defective images have become acceptable after the publication. The only defective point was the recylcle slow of the flash. Today $50,00 more than less and a megohm more it is a brainer than not. It buys it.


New digital user
The delivery, the price and the putting in work the camera and the software were much easy. The ability to take it and to take the images without hassle a lot was excellent. The blowup device is much bond. The pics of page it takes one sure practice after that using one SLR for 30 years; but not difficult. The transfer of the pics in the calculating was one cracks and the characteristic car to improve the tones of the skin works flawlessly. We choose this because of greater memory and of the blowup device because while the amateurs we travel mólto (motorcycle) and take the pics in motion.


Canon 720IS--So far so good
I was trying one camera "of the mom" in order to replace it not-cut HP 7YO. Before that it buys, I have made the search main and my protection of prices was $200. I have limited down to SONY DSC80 and this Canon. I have obtained both for the comparison to a warehouse with generous politics of return (FYI the good buys expenses a tax for the open returns of the box it and SONY puts the tape of the alter-test of the SONY on the boxes them). Beyond to the sales and the special transactions, Amazon has had the better price on the greater part of blots some photographic that I have watched. I have wished like to the SONY, it was smaller, a lot cute and has come in the color rose. The Canon was the silver bore of boxy. However when I have taken the comparison images (regulations car on both blot some to them photographic), not were comparison. The quality of image was the much better one sooo in the Canon, at least with my abilities and HP limits to you computer/printer. It seems slow between the blows, but me memory of how much fastly the SONY was not. The old camera of the HP is mine only point of reference and this Canon is calm sense more fastly than that one. With my son 5YO, dog and cat, seem that they are or still/posed and you have abundance of time for a second probability, or are in the movement and the faster camera in the world will not obtain a second probability to you. The speed was not one maximum priority for me, I has known to my range of price, some things would be committed. I appreciate to have a viewfinder, but I do not trust myself with that anchor. Turning outside of the exposure it has been able to accelerate the blows? I appreciate that it uses a normal shunting line card standard and batteries of aa introduces their advantages. They are taken care for the duration of battery because the old camera has eaten the batteries of aa -- the reason that main ditching it. Up to now, the duration of battery on the Canon has not been an edition at all, plus new blots some photographic must be better approximately this. Surprise de Nizza # 1: I was not thinking to preoccuparsi for the zoom, but they are happy hour that I have the 6X optical. The use much more than the thought I and seems good. Surprise de Nizza # 2: It has not thought to never use the video regulation, but "kidskin of the metraggio in program of Been born them" is much bond for some minuteren. The quality was one surprised much pleasant one. Negative what -- I do not know if this were different on any camera in this code category. The distant calm blows of my code category of the son' t in have badly illuminated the gym with the flash, zoom and the reduction of the red-eye has provoked to the cataract-observing points of white man disowned on many but not all the eyes of kidskin. Perhaps I will try to turn outside of the red reduction of the eye the next time, that one I have made it. The red eye is easy to eliminate with the software of the photo, but these points white men are a pain. I have opened the photos in a program of the varnish and have zumato within to the pixel-level in order eliminating they (without the idea that what I am making -- returns in order always) and the images hour are acceptable. ** the video metraggio of the same event on this camera seems the just ndemnity, so as to they are happy I I have had it! In a generalized manner, they are happy I I have bought this camera and I would suggest it. It seems like the greater part of the explosion that you can obtain for yours $200. Up to now, I have not disorderd with is some of the regulations (and there is abundance in order to maintain occupied it), hardly the way car.


Not "Canon Quality"
Against: It takes a eternity (around 8 second ones) in order to transfer an image in the shunting line card standard after the taken one of the image. The images taken with whichever amount of zoom have had "fisheyes" in they (are when they see again the images on the camera that once transferred on the PC). For: No worthy one to point out. We have given back the same day that we have received it.


Great pictures...when you can get them
I have had a older Canon that has worked large until to a day that the exposure has gone black and that it could not take the images. I have had therefore great experience of the gun so as to I have decided to watch just Canon. I have wished one that I could use the batteries rechargeable of aa so that why we have chosen this after much search. This camera takes the images large BUT the time of recycling is loooong of soooo that I lack outside on the great occasions of the photo. I have not never previewed the moment of recycling of being longer of my old camera because it has more new technology. They are not sure I I would buy this camera that I still know that one.


Canon Quality with a few hiccups
We bought this to take to Disney World in Fla. for Christmas 2007. We would be used it in conjunction with our Canon Digital Rebel and various lenses. The Powershot A720 is very good camera overall. It is small enough to be useful at places, like Disney, where carrying large camera bags can be a hindrance. Using the "normal" picture taking setting, it takes quality pictures. The biggest flaw I can find with this camera is the time it takes for the flash to recycle and be ready for the next picture. It certainly wasn't in minutes, but 10 secs would seem to be a good estimate. In the other "creative" zones for picture taking, we found the "aquarium" setting to be outstanding. It takes really good pictures in dark envirnoments without a flash. Our pics from WDW at the Finding Nemo exhibit as well as the one from the Coral Reef restaurant were amazing. We also took a ton of video and those came out quite nicely as well.

The camera is easily worth the investment IMO. I'd suggest (strongly) that you buy an upgraded memory card as the 16mb included card is virtually worthless unless you set the picture taking to the lowest settings. Battery life, especially with the LCD screen being used plus the flash, is average. We used 3 sets of Duracell Ultra Digital AA batteries in a week. Rechargeable batteries would be the way to go in hindsight.




Value for Money
Absolutely value for money product, if looking for an easy to use, amazing output, reliable camera, this satisfies all of it. Very god picture quality. I bought it mainly for the optical zoom and the simplicity. In all, i am happy with the performance.

One star less, just because when you get so much you start expecting more out of the camera, but have to be satisfied with so much only, since it is not an SLR :)


Great little camera
They are photographer an amateur avid of the nature that has passed from a SLR to a DSLR three years ago and I loved it. I have thought that one small camera digita them that I could always have with me was a great idea, so as to I have bought one and then the other best one. Even if both blot some photographic have taken to the good photos the control lack to them over DOF and exposure really has hindered it... enters in the A720. Various of the greater part of it blots some photographic with with of the characteristic of A720s, the A720 is not similar to miniums SLR, it is similar more to a version heftier and reinforced of the greater part of the point and to it blots some photographic of the shooting but - it measures in the same generic bag that I have used with my P more begins them


Has some weaknesses
All in all a good graceful camera with the pleasant characteristics, however are lle braces of the things that really the importunano. One is the sensibility to whichever field that has artificial lighting system to it. I was shooting to my family (not with one gun: -) in our room of the family. We have walls covered white women with the high plants they. I was taking the blows reasonably close in on with my object that fills up approximately 50% of the chassis, flash over and the put lighting system of the ceiling, that it illuminates the walls white women, was svasandosi the terrible wall (also through all the plants) on every blow. Even if the flash the object has illuminated a lot pleasantly, the previous ones has seemed terrible. Therefore the camera is too much sensitive far away to all the bounced light, except that the flash is detached. Then commutato to the way of manual feeding of the camera, with the priority of the opening and have continued to release itself down until that you could not deny the chiarore of the low priority but then my object has begun to obtain too much dark, even if was abundance of light acclimatizes them in order to illuminate the scene. Moreover famous that when I try to talk nonsense "the calm product" with the lighting system of the study (diffusing of the softbox on the bases elevates to you) that it is much difficult one to control to svasarsi of the image (exposure of the surplus where the light source reflects outside of the object). It is too much defective that blots them of it photographic digita them cannot come close to the transport "that what you see you are that what you obtain". At least with the film, it transports the a lot enough that what your eye can find through the sight seeker. But with digita them, the object can seem the just ndemnity to the eye knot, but the camera sees it different and when you take the blow, the sources of light of all the kinds "burn" the object with sovresposizione on superficial the important ones of the topic, lavantesi towards the outside the color saturation. That usually does not happen when you are nel instantaneous way but it is the much most difficult one to generate "the blows of humor" with digita them. And when you are in the instantaneous way, you cannot eliminate a lot distracting the hard shadows generated on the superficial ones behind your object, with the flash over. The other thing that is boring, is that even if the camera has stabilization of image, a lot has been been strange to see many blows that they have dimmed, when the object has moved their head. I know that the speed of the stopper is a critical element here but I have still not calculated outside why many of my blows are gettandi via like consequence of trying to the shooting without the flash in sink have illuminated the rooms. An other word of council. It does not use the normal batteries of aa. I have made the taken error of of the four batteries of reciprocation of aa with me when I have guided kidskin around in order to see and the lights of Born them of the photography. They are shaken in order to see that after only one manciata of blows, the camera has demanded the fresh batteries and are burnt me with mine the first more 2 4 parts than recambio after only approximately 10-15 photo. It is sure to buy the rechargeables with an appraisal of 2100 mAH or more high in fashion from being able to always talk nonsense them mólto without disappointment and to have you to you supports with that they can handle the high I drain of the camera. I cannot imagine to buy a camera that has batteries that are not aa because that one would obtain to be a problem much expensive one. It is pleasant that the uses aa of the Canon but are sure that you spend the moneies on the aa rechargeable with the high appraisal of mAH, that is essentially the amount of spremuta the battery will store before for use that must recharge. Wished to be close R-at or better to 2000. It will say by piece on the confection for the sale that what the appraisal is. If it is not on the external part of the package, the test in order to see if you can see them from the side of the battery in if (is printed publication usually here).


Excellent, but not better than A710IS
They are photographer a a lot with experience that ago the blows from table a lot and ritratti of the product my study for my graphical planning, MORE the personal plans artsy a lot of the photo. I have used many blots some photographic different, particularly in the range of the prosumer. I have obtained a A710IS several months ago like my small, luminosity, prend-everywhere-every day, pocket-or-pack the camera. It is an excellent camera for my needs, easier to hold with calm that a Shunting line standard-series of the Canon (I have used SD-630 of my daughter) and the stabilization of image is wonderful to the low light (I handle of latta 1/10 of speed of the stopper of sec) and the zoom 6x it is convenient. Recently I was acquiring for digicam not-too much-expensive for the son an university-andante and decided "I would modernize" to a A720IS and dò the my A710IS. For for a po' I have had both blots some to them photographic here. There is a reason that the msrp on the 720 is less $$>and hung 1/2 ounce more than less -- the 720 are made in China and think more plastic and less solid. The 710 are made in Japan, have a sturdier body, improve to adapt and rifiniscono. In fact, my taken panel of the 720 wiggled little and has squeaked until that it will not add tad a much small of the glue of the gorilla in a strategic point. The performances are much good ones, essentially the same ones for both blot some to them photographic. Easy to use, fantastic photos of the returns, menu of the photographic in-machine easy to use (I appreciate logic of the software of the Canon). The flash it recycle the time can more fastly be a tad on 720, but the still enough slow one. It goes for 400-700 blows on a connection of the batteries of aa. (use Lithiums or, still improves, the hybrids rechargeable of NiMH. It oscillates!) Highly I suggest this camera, the more-solid 710 or the 720 of less-expensive. The format and the performances are essentially the same one. 7.1mp against 8mp... no great transaction. Digix II against III... no great transaction (II could even be better and there are recordings available to allow that you talk nonsense CRUDE and you add other characteristics) obtains the shunting line card standard 2GB or 4GB, one small case for the camera and everywhere takes it with you so as to you will not never lack an other moment "the kod*k".


So much fun, this cmera is!
Approval, I do not have idea that what I am making with photograhy digita them. They are new. Saying that one, I am amusing myself with this camera. It is compact and divertimento. I appreciate the film characteristic. I have enjoyed to take the clip short of my kidskin that is a kidskin. I appreciate "the creative characteristics" also. I do not have idea that what really they make BUT I am waiting for with eagerness to learn and to play.


Very Satisfied With Camera
I have bought this camera 1 month makes and I love it. I really enjoy the zoom 6x, that it is definitively a modernization from the zoom 3x on my last camera. It really takes the images clear and it is easy to use! They are extremely satisifed with this purchase!


Powerful but dummy-resistent
Works great as a point and shoot, but has all the power features of an entry level SLR. Still getting used to it, but so far love the camera for general purposes. Selected this after researching many photog websites and seeing all the positive ratings on good quality of image, etc.


Excellent camera for the price
This camera is usanda from one of the caporeparti in my company. It is perfect for the documentation the job, the incidents, the states of job, etc. The zoom optical 6X he is ideal for our atmosphere of the job. The camera is simple to work for the men who are not savy with blot some to them photographic digita them. Highly suggested.


Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP
This is a great camera. I still havent had time to read the manual to utilize all the features, but so far so good. I am extremely happy!!


Happy
I bought the A720 to replace our A520 which we lost. I am very happy with the quality of photos and the speed of being able to take repeat shots compared to the A520. We just returned from Kauai and the trip is well-recorded with quality photos.


Wow!
Our son bought one of these and we were so impressed with the pictures that we bought the same one. I'm not a professional photographer but the options and features are fantastic for home use. It'll take awhile to get to know them all as well as our son has, but it puts our old film cameras to shame. It helps to have a laptop if you're going to travel and shoot pictures. Get some rechargeable batteries and charger and you're all set to go.


Excellent Choice I made!
I had a terrible experience with Sony MP8 digital last September due to lens problem as I mentioned before.(Now I gave it to a friend's kid as a toy).
Then some professional photographer recommended this one. I used it for my last trip with my children and grandkids to Orlando in this past Thanksgiving. Wonderful, wonderful. I found more wonderful feathers than I expected for $215.00 I paid for.
Image stablizer, 6x (v.s. 3x as in the majority),movie play, night scene,
firework,...etc. It is so easy for a grandma to us, and the result is excellent.


Good Camera
It is easy to use and takes good pictures. The only complaint I would have is the delay in how long the camera takes to get ready to take another picture. That may be a function of all digital cameras though (as this is my first digital camera)


Has been OK
We've had the camera for about a month; we're novice camera users but here are our thoughts so far:

pros: very easy to use right out of the box (auto option is pretty much point and shoot), is lightweight, has a nicely sized viewing screen with good clarity
con: the timeframe between pictures is quite slow

Overall it's a nice camera for the money, but if I were to do it over I'd choose one that transitioned quicker between pictures.


Great Pictures, Good zoom
I was looking for a compact and good quality digital camera after a curious kid literally opened up my previous digital. A720IS, so far, looks to be a perfect replacement. Not quite entry level, but still very easy to use, lots of features and great results (pictures even in very low light came out very nice). IMO, Canon has definitely improved over their previous PowerShot models.



I really like it
I am not a camera savvy kind of person. But I really like this one since it is very easy to use and take beautiful pictures. The only thing I don't like is that it is a bit bulky (Compare with other cameras of course) ... Other than that, I truly like it


Great Camera
Are old digital Canon was dropped and unworkable. We purchased the a720is and couldn't beleave how this camera has advanced in a few years. The big screen is much nicer to review the pictures. This camera takes AA batteries is so convienent. The dial turns so much easier than the old camera. Many picture taking modes with a turn of the dial. The buttons are simple and easy to use. And the quality of the pictures is great.


Good General All Purpose Camera
I purchased the Canon A720is for my wife's parents. It met all the criteria... Easy to use, good zoom, price.
The zoom is one of the more powerful of the cameras in it's class. The Stablizer is a great feature. It uses AA as well as rechargeable batteries. The camera/playback switch is a nice feature. It's easy/straightforward, you don't have to spin the mode selector... then spin it back to wherever it may have been. Shutter lag also seems to be better than many in it's class. It's only been a few weeks. No pictures have been downloaded yet, but they were using it within minutes of opening the box. Had to, of course buy a larger SD card, the 16MB card that comes with the camera is all but useless. Don't know why they don't just put a 1GB card in the camera. Would recommend.


Good Value
Overall this is a good camera, both for beginners and advanced amateurs. The pictures are great and can be made both in total automatic mode and various manual modes. The only drawback I have is that it has a very slow flash recycle time and sometimes you get ghost circles indoors with flash. It seems to be sturdy and I expect to keep it for a long time. The 6x lens is wonderful and the movies are clear. Make sure you get a 1 gig memory card.


great camera - highly recommended
Great camera. I was looking for a camera that is not too big, have good optical zoom and allows manual set up. Canon A720IS has it all. Love it.


You can't go wrong with a Canon
This is my second canon digital camera. You can't go wrong with a Canon- great lens great design and great features. I got this camera since I wanted a camera with a little better zoom than the normal 3X. This is 6 times and the only thing I wish this camera had was still a little better zoom at the same size. I love that it takes regular batteries - I use the rechargables. It also uses a the most common media which is an SD card. It has manual controls that I use a lot and the pictures are crisp and clear thanks to the great canon lens. The screen is large enough and clear. In addition its light weight and easy to handle. The second only thing I would change about this if it was slightly smaller. Overall it's a fantastic camera and easy to use would not buy anything other than a canon camera.


Maybe as good as my Nikon Coolpics 5700?
Large camera... scentro trades them, easy to use. The images of the inside to granular times, but it is probably right me that I do not regulate something to right. Graceful a lot jumped via from a lot the photos taken to the open. Trying to decide if or not to eliminate my Nikon Coolpics 5700 -- love of the my Nikon... never does not have granular images and to 5mp, it takes hardly like good images like 8mp the Canon. Task that maintains both.


Versatile Camera
Great for taking pictures in multiple lighting conditions, and also for troublesome shots like pets / kids (that setting is great). Only minor complaint is that the default flash card is so small that we could barely test it out of the box. Definitely recommend a 1GB+ card to go with this purchase.


my number 2 camera
I love this camera. I have a canon 30D with 6 also objects and use to you this camera in order to take the images in which pulling the gear it is not an attractive option. Franc in the good circumstances the images are just as good. Where until the challenge I it does not use the other camera. One of the reasons for which I have chosen this over the G9 is that it works on the batteries of aa. I do not wish at a distance to lack the images in a sure position because I have not carried the right adapter.


A very good camera
I have bought this brace of the camera the days ago because of the reviews that it has on the other place and can say it were' NT to you that lieing. Screw of the Canon A720is until the relative name. I have taken the blows in a room of black of the step and the suprise of to the quality, with red reduction of the eye, the recordings of the stopper, the complete manual control of every thing, this it is a buy large. Moreover it has DOF that large if is wished to be created to you. Actualy I have killed the batteries the first day that I have obtained it so as to it invests in some rechargables. There is video playback to 30fps to good quality and one regulation for every moment in you life. For: good relative camera really darn and suprisingly the small one against: you do not have so as to it goes obtain it.


Great value, powerful camera
I've had the Canon PowerShot A720 IS for about a month now and took a few hundred pictures in various conditions. So I feel ready to write a detailed review of this (great) camera. I'm an engineer by profession and am starting out in amateur photography. I wanted something with enough manual controls so that I can apply what I've learned in photography theory. But I wasn't willing to spend too much on a full dSLR + lenses (yet). Plus I like the portability of a compact camera. I've read a lot of published online reviews on this camera & a few others in its class at the time of purchase. Here are some of my thoughts on each area of this camera that other reviewers may not have covered.

Size & Looks:
Not as small as the ultra-compacts, but it's very hard to find one smaller with all the manual controls that Canon A series P&S cameras offer. Having aperture and shutter priority modes and a wide enough ISO range (80-1600) is a must for more creative shooting. If all you shoot is in auto mode (& occasional scene mode), then there are other cameras that are sleeker & smaller (such as the SD series). I personally prefer a darker color, silver on an obviously plastic body is a pet peeve of mine in all electronics these days. Just a matter of personal taste. I wished the camera was slightly lighter & smaller. The main weight should just be a high quality glass lens, everything else can be electronics & plastic. A lot of pros like the Canon G series because of the solid metal frames. But that's mainly because in the dSLR world, everything weighs a lot more. In a portable camera I want portability. Unlike shrinking cellphones & MP3 players these days, the big lens (& preferably bigger sensor size) should be the limiting factor for cameras. I want lenses big enough to let in enough light at the largest zoom and also not suffer from barrel distortion & other abnormalities. Another reason why I didn't go with ultra-compacts that have prizm-folding optics.

8 Megapixels:
This is on the low end for currently introduced new cameras. But it's more than I (or most people) need. 8MP is enough for all but poster-sized enlargements. Higher megapixels have problems such as denser sensors that have more noise and less dynamic range, and requiring more memory/disk space for storage. More camera buyers should be informed that high megapixels does not mean better image quality, and actually introduces new problems.

Zoom:
This camera has 6x Optical zoom. I was tempted to get the new SX100 with 10x optical zoom. But I would have to sacrifice the A720's optical viewfinder and slightly smaller size. Also from an earlier Kodak Z712 (12x optical zoom) I owned and sold, the higher zoom was not as appealing as it seemed at first due to a number of reasons such as hand shake (even with IS), slightly less optical sharpness at all zoom levels, and the added bulk. 6x optical zoom is good enough for 90% of the shooting I do without sacrificing size and image quality.

Optical Image Stabilization:
A very important feature in cameras these days, especially with a small lens that could always use more light. I can take hand-held pictures about 2-3 stops slower than without, which means the shutter speed can go as low as 1/10 sec in wide angle without blurring the pictures (while keeping ISO low for less noise). IS is even more important when zoomed in at 6x in all but the sunniest outdoor conditiions, again this is limited by the small optical lens. The more zoomed in, the smaller the aperture, and less light hitting the sensor, so the camera needs a slower shutter speed to expose the picture properly (which means steady hands or tripod), this is compounded by the higher sensitivity to hand shake when zoomed in.

Optical Viewfinder:
Optical viewfinders are rare among cameras in this class from other brands. Kudos to Canon for including it. The benefits of a viewfinder include being able frame & shoot in sunny conditions that would wash out the LCD display. Also once I have the settings set, I can just turn off the LCD & shoot through the viewfinder for framing to conserve battery power (up to 4x as many pictures taken per set of batteries, 900+ on NiMH) The viewfinder is about 80% of the full image frame, so there's enough buffer for framing error so you can crop digitally later on a computer. The viewfinder is slightly offset from the sensor so it's less reliable for close shooting and definitely not recommended for macro shooting. The A720 IS doesn't have a swivel LCD display, but I prefer it since it only adds cost & bulk to a camera. LCDs today have enough wide angle viewing so they're still usable if I want to shoot from way above or below eye level.

AA Batteries:
This was a very important factor in my decision when shopping for a digital camera. I preferred standard batteries because I can find them when I'm traveling at any convenient store. The A720 also takes rechargeable NiMH AA cells for everyday use (more environmental, and also more capacity than AA alkalines). The CIPA rating for battery use is about 140 pictures on alkalines and 400 with NiMH. You may get more if you don't use flash & zoom every other shot. I seem to get a lot more shots since I shoot using just the optical viewfinder often, and not much flash. Some cameras (such as my former Kodak Z712 IS) may imply on paper that it can use AA alkaline & NiMH batteries, but they weren't really designed to conserve power. Faster performance usually means having motors and electronics that run at higher power, thus depleting batteries quicker. The A720 actually can use AA alkalines efficiently.

Macro:
The A720 is way ahead of the competition in that you can focus on objects as close as 1cm (that's less than half an inch in front of the lens!). Also one of the few benefits of having a smaller CCD sensor is that you get more Depth of View (DOF) for macro subjects compared to dSLRs.)

Fine tuning:
Custom white balance for odd indoor lighting conditions. In-camera adjustment to contrast, sharpness, and noise reduction. I prefer to keep these settings at a minimum so that the original image is captured with the most detail (in-camera contrast & sharpness boosting actually destroys detail). If need to, I can always adjust the image on a computer afterwards, but the more detail I can capture in the beginning, the more I have to work with in post-processing.


Some of the issues with this camera that I didn't like are:

Small sensor & noise:
This is probably the biggest shortcoming that I see in the Canon A720 IS. But the only other viable option is to go the dSLR route and that means spending at least 3x as much (not including additional lenses and associated equipment.) The CCD sensor is only 1/2.5 inch diagonal, this is a very small area for 8 Megapixels. Basically at this point in digital sensor technology, cramming more megapixels into a small area results in less dynamic range (difference between lightest and darkest colors), and noise at anything higher than ISO 200 (which is needed for low-light shooting). I would've preferred a 1/1.8 inch sensor or larger. I get around it by shooting ISO 1600 when I absolutely need to (very dim scenes where flash washes out the background, or the subjects are beyond the reach of flash) and using computer software to reduce the noise afterwards. The results are usable for small prints. Also noteworthy is Canon uses little on-camera noise reduction compared to other manufacturers (a user-selectable setting would be nicer). Which is good, because noise-reduction is a fine delicate process that must balance reducing noise at the expense of reducing clarity too. A process that I would much prefer to do on a full computer with more processing power & updated software than the one included in a camera that has less processing power and is not easily updated.

Flash recycle times:
Some other people have complained about how long it takes for the flash to recycle after use (it's about 4-6 secs). The main problem I see here is that the LCD goes blank during this time, and I would've preferred that the the LCD be in review mode or something useful so it doesn't SEEM as long. From a technical point of view, I can see how this could be due to using alkaline batteries that provide low power, and to charge the flash safely without depleting the battery too fast with high current. Think of sipping water through a small straw versus a fat pipe. My previous Kodak Z712 had fast recharge time, but it ate batteries like crazy. So I prefer Canon's approach, with some slight tweaking.

Actually a better workaround to this is to use off-camera flash. On camera flash is bad because it dulls & flattens pictures, produces red-eye, and makes the background too dim. I ordered a cheap wireless optically triggered slave flash (around $20). (Canon makes a more expensive one that's more compatible in auto modes). Basically it's a wireless flash that fires when another camera flashes in the vicinity. One caveat is that most slave flashes (unless specifically stated) will trigger with digital camera's auto exposure & red-eye pre-flashes. These flashes confuse the slave flashes to fire prematurely. The A720's manual mode comes to the rescue again. In manual mode, I can turn down the on-camera flash and the pre-flash off, relying on one or more off-camera flashes to light the subject and give depth to my pictures. So for me the on-camera flash gets very little use.

Histogram not live:
The histogram (and flashing blown highlights) is a very important feature for setting the proper exposure manually in the digital world. It allows consistent picture to picture exposure. Otherwise the exposure is set automatically depending on whether the camera scene has a bright spot or not (e.g. noticeable when you shoot with the sky in one frame and another without.) The A720 displays a histogram in review mode and when holding the shutter button in single-shot mode. But a live histogram would've been better so that I can adjust aperture/shutter/ISO and see how it affects the scene. Apparently a live histogram is possible with the CHDK firmware mod on older DIGIC II based cameras (A720 uses DIGIC III, so no mod is available currently).

Other minor gripes:

Video (up to 640x480 30fps) does not use the modern MPEG4 compression algorithm, so only allows up to 60 mins worth of video with 4GB of memory. Also the optical zoom is disabled when shooting video (supposedly to prevent the motor noise being picked up). I would've preferred the camera allowing this and I can either process it out of the video later with software rather than having to stop recording, zoom to a new angle, and then resume recording. I haven't recorded a lot of video, but one option would be to set the optical zoom to a close enough distance, and then while recording, use the digital zoom for better composition. But zooming in digitally seems to just blow up the pixels instead of increasing resolution. If video performance is important, then I would look elsewhere, or get a dedicated video camera that has a lot more zoom & recording time. What is nice is the continuous image stabilization of the A720 while recording video, it makes everything look like it was shot professionally on a hollywood movie camera cart.

No adjustment for LCD brightness. Even though I shoot with optical viewfinder mostly, sometimes I have to use the LCD and would prefer to set the brightness to low or high depending on need for battery conservation or in bright environments.

Some minor color fringing at the corners in contrasty scenes when zoomed in maximum. Not much worse than other digital cameras though.

As you can see, I'm starting to get very picky about the camera. Overall it takes great pictures and at a great price. I did a lot of research and the longer I use the camera, the more I'm pleased with how much I got for the money. It's more of a camera for those who like to play with settings so their pictures stand out. If you rely on auto modes, then another camera may serve you better (I can't speak much for it since I don't use auto often except at social events when I hand it to someone else to take a snapshot while I'm in the picture.) Relying too much on auto modes can give unpredictable results (usually the case when pictures are blurry, or too dark/bright), but I blame that on the auto mode computer, and partially the user, not the overall camera.



Lives up to expectations.
The Canon Powershot up to now has lived until my hopes. The stabilization seems to reasonably work the sink also when zumo within far away while the 6X optical it grants. It makes to delay between the blows is less than with my previous one. I am observing in ahead to the album in full load of happy the instantaneous photographies gran' baby.


Crisp...But Slow. A Very Good Cam for Amateur Fotogs
In a generalized manner, this camera supports to the high level of the Canon of quality. The blows are croccanti and clear and the stabilization of image is one characteristic large if you take to the blows a lot without flash but it does not have the more constant hands (like me). The zoom it is rad graceful, to 6X (all we know that that digita them zuma is not that what you tries, of right? it is entire approximately OPTICAL, child). Main mine gripe it is the time of delay between the photos. Hatred to say it, but is ridiculously slow. I would have to count a moment, but it is convinced for being of approximately five second ones. Us it could be a way where you can suddenly release the release via like a photographer of way -- but in a generalized manner, it is too much lethargic for my taste. It is not excessive compact, neanche. Therefore if been trying a cam of the pocket (this is not approximately the format of a package and a half of smokes) and you it is not taken care of a little a time of delay, you will obtain the blows of good quality, a zoom of fab and the lotteries of the ways to game around with. All around, I suggest this for photographers the amateurs.


Love it!
Perfection the first camera digita them. It does good all. Assured to obtain an additional shunting line card to you standard with 512MB or 1GB - I have obtained oltrepass a 1MB for approximately $15 bucks (does not buy from a store of the camera, you will pay too much). It blots some photographic do not come with a card that it holds very. Transferring to the calculating using a program, then publishing with an other, it could be a process more streamlined, but it is not defective once that you know that what to make.


Fantastic Camera
Task that this is the better camera has never possessed. I have possessed one video camera that of AIPTEK, a Nikon N-75, Canon AE-1, Canon FTQL and Rolei 35. The images that this camera takes are nearly identical to the Canon A570 have bought for my daughter. It is much hard one to take to a defective image in the way "CAR". It works well especially to the low light. It exausts the batteries, so as to it uses the batteries rechargeable. The software of the Canon fast and is directed. This camera has many characteristics that I could never not use it all. However, I think the systems "large CARS", also when much neighbor in on. Videos has produced from this camera is moreover much bond. It will be necessary a moment in order to learn like using all the characteristics. The handbook is enough dense and is necessary a moment to the collection. All in all, one large camera!


Great
I have selected the better selezionamento from the relationships of the consumer and is large! That is the first camera that digita I have possessed them and is large with that it can make.


compact A720 IS PowerShoot
This is a small, compact camera that easily takes great photos in auto mode. If you add lenses, the flash may leave a shadow. Without flash these same daytime indoor photos with a lense can be easily adjusted by accompanying software to be great photos. Without lenses, indoor photos are great with flash. I upgraded from an Olympus C2000 which I always thought took great photos. The Canon A720 IS is about 1/3 its size and blows those photos away in detail and photo quality. I also love the 6 x optical zoom. The 6 x optical zoom, mini movie mode and ability to add lenses is why I purchased this model. My Olympus C2000 was only 3 x optical and many cameras fool you with digital zoom which is lame. The stock SD 16 mb card takes 4 photos in medium so make sure to order a large quantity(up to 4gb) fast SD card, fast in case you want to take a mini movie which I have not yet tried. moderately priced, great photos . . . LOVE THIS CAMERA!



Small Wonder
Trying one compact camera that ago all? Tests this small Canon. With it it is 6X the zoom optical, 8MB the quality, the stabilizer of image, optional manual control and the formed small, this child has it all. They are not photographer therefore that what I find the greater part of making appeal are the automatic nature of the camera. But I have friends who "know blot them of it photographic" who have watched it and they have been astonished of the options available in therefore small package. Good price, product of quality, facility of use. . a great value is equal.


Canon PowerShot A720is Digital Camera
I have possessed, or I have given like gifts, I blot some to them photographic of the Canon A520 and A540 PowerShot, similar but older. When I have had need of a rimontaggio, I have decided of the A720is, to like the camera. They have been satisfied completely as far as the price, to the characteristics and the quality. It is therefore confusionaria to calculate outside if Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, Olympus, etc is better, so as to I have bought a relative, but has improved the product. Not selo rammarichi, neanche! A warning: Any bought, are sure that you obtain one window of the telemeter, for the how much large LCD. Why? Since when an luminous sun is behind you, the image in the LCD becomes washed outside and invisibile and will have need disperatamente of that window of the telemeter to calculate towards the outside as your photo will appear and that what will be cut.


Canon A720 IS comments
Recently I have bought a Canon A720 ARE camera via the Internet and given back it to the trader because the viewfinder it was extremely blurry and unusable. They have replaced the camera but the viewfinder in the new one it is not the much better one but I can living with it. Other Marches are crystal glade so as to they do not know why the cant of the Canon one supplies one quality better. For how much the camera in if, he is large. I love the characteristics and the functions.


look elsewhere for use indoors or with kids
This camera isn't a good choice for indoor pictures, or images of kids. It has only two AA batteries, so you can expect long delays after using the flash. And nearly all the preset modes have a slow shutter speed, so pictures with motion will quite likely be blurry. Manual configuration is an option, but unfortunately you can't make the shutter speed faster without taking full manual control. I also saw a HUGE amount of blurring in many of the still pictures I took, and I'm not sure if it was something endemic to this camera (e.g., IS kicking in unnecessarily and blurring things rather than smoothing them) or simple "lemon" factor in my camera, so be aware that the latter might or might not still be an issue, even if you can live with the first two items.

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[the long version]

I was so excited to get this camera with image stabilization and face recognition, because old camera would occasionally take blurry action shots, and I didn't like the recharge speed. Unfortunately, this camera simply doesn't cut it on either point, despite the rave reviews I've seen on every site and in Consumer Reports. I'm told this is because I commit the cardinal sin of using the flash regularly plus an occasional zoom.

This camera is actually worse than my 6-year-old Canon subcompact for speed. After pressing the shutter down, I wait a full second or more... enough so that I'm tempted to press the shutter and THEN say "one, two, three." And then I have to wait at least 6-8 seconds (unfortunately I'm not exaggerating; persists even with different batteries, different memory cards, and different quality settings) before I can take another shot--long enough for the cute moments to be long-since finished, so there's no way I can get a second shot of the same cute moment :(

The inability to take a "second chance" picture is an even bigger problem because about one out of 3 pictures is crazy-blurry... enough so that you can't recognize my daughter even though she's just 5-8 feet away and the only person in the picture (e.g,. taking a picture of her Halloween costume, indoors with good light coming through the window). Even a close-up of my daughter and infant son together shows her beaming at him, and his eyes streaking across a four-inch span. Granted, he -did- move, but he's only 4 months, and that's sort of expected! Apparently this is because nearly all the various mode options (including "kids and pets"--there is no "sports" mode) have a slow shutter speed. (And yes, you can configure a faster shutter speed, but only if you're willing to take full manual control, which I don't have the time to do while playing with kids.) For those pictures with no movement that were insanely blurry, I wonder if the IS was kicking in when it didn't need to (possibly combined with the bugaboo of slow shutter speed). Who knows--either way, my other cameras take great, non-blurry shots, and this one doesn't. In fairness, the the camera -did- tell me to use a tripod... but that icon never turned off, period. And as a mom of a 3-year old and a 4-month old, it's ludicrous to think I'd be carting a tripod around with me just to take pictures of my kids! Incidentally, when I tested the same model in a store, the same thing happened--the icon never turned off.

Another quirk I noticed while trying to get good pictures is that the facial recognition is, well, silly. In one picture of my daughter, it zoomed in on her neck rather than her face. In another picture of my son in a bouncy seat (which is a solid off-white), it focused over one shoulder, so as I pressed the shutter down halfway to get it to pick a new focus, it selected a spot over the other shoulder, then on his belly, and then cycled through the same choices again. Another shot of my daughter focused on the tile behind her (pale gray with white grout), and another selected the (solid, off-white) wall rather than her face. Ummm... and my children are quite photogenic with typical features, so it's not a case of them being Picasso-esque so as to confuse the camera! (Incidentally, I've since noticed other reviews of Canon cameras saying things like "about half the pictures I took at Thanksgiving were blurry," which I had previously discounted.) I partly wonder if it's a software issue, since the camera would fade into and out of focus, until settling on unfocused... but then presumably other people would have noticed the same problem as well, so who knows...

Despite all of the above, convinced that the problem was me, I tried several things:
* different memory cards (including high-speed ones)
* different megapixel settings
* different ISO settings
* different mode settings (everything except "fireworks" and "snow scene"! ... as mentioned, there is no "sports" mode, and "kids and pets" astoundingly has a slow shutter speed... as do most of the other modes)
* different batteries (including lithium and NiMH rechargables)
* turning the IS off temporarily
* turning the facial recognition off temporarily
* using the viewfinder (my preference) versus LCD screen (since it gives you more information)
* taking pictures of things other than my children (the camera DID take beautiful pictures of my dresser and the shampoo bottles in the bathroom)
* testing another 720IS at a local store, where maybe 1 in 8 pictures was blurry (not as bad as my own camera, but at that point, ANY blurring in a shot was going to make me huffy)
* mixing and matching most of the above (admittedly less so on the camera in the store than my own)

A reply to my review recommends taking a photography course, but I have a master's and husband has a PhD, an