The PowerShot A720 IS is a minor update to the A710 IS and is the latest in Canon's popular 'A-series' of cameras offering a strong feature set and good degree of user control at a competitive price. It isn't the smallest or most powerful camera in the World, (or even in the Canon range), but it does a little bit of everything and gives a good degree of control over what the camera is doing, if you want it. This focus on making small cameras that do their job well has seen Canon dominate this sector of the market for some time so it will be interesting to see if the A720 IS does anything to upset this situation. The specification highlights are:
- 8.0 Megapixels and 6x zoom
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- DIGIC III processor with Face Detection AF/AE
- ISO 1600
- 17 shooting modes including VGA movies (30 fps) with sound
- Optional accessories available, including Underwater Case
Key differences compared to A 710 IS
As mentioned above the A720 IS is an incredibly subtle revision of the A710 IS. The full extent of those changes reads something like:
- More pixels (8.0 vs 7.1 million)
- Face detection AE/AF
- ISO range extends to 1600
PowerShot A720 IS specifications
Street price | • $210 |
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Body Material | Plastic |
Sensor | • 1/2.5 " Type CCD |
Image sizes | • 3264 x 2448 |
Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 30fps |
File formats | • JPEG Exif 2.2 • DCF • DPOF 1.1 • AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural |
Lens | • 5.8-34.8mm (35-210mm equiv) |
Image stabilization | Yes (lens shift-type) |
Conversion lenses | None |
Digital zoom | up to 4x |
Focus | TTL |
AF area modes | • AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point) • 1-point AF (fixed center/FlexiZone) |
AF assist lamp | Yes |
Focus distance | Closest 1cm |
Metering | • Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame) • Center-weighted average • Spot |
ISO sensitivity | • Auto |
Exposure compensation | • +/- 2EV • in 1/3 stop increments |
Shutter speed | 15-1/2000 sec (With noise reduction for exposures over 1.3 seconds) |
Aperture | F2.8-4.8 |
Modes | • Auto • Manual • Stitch Assist • Movie • Special Scene |
Scene modes | • Portrait |
White balance | • Auto |
Self timer | • 2 or 10secs • Custom |
Continuous shooting | approx 1.3fps until card is full |
Image parameters | My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color) |
Flash | • Auto |
Viewfinder | "Real-image" zoom viewfinder |
LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 115,000 pixels |
Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out |
Print compliance | • PictBridge • Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only) |
Storage | • SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 32 MB card supplied |
Power | • AA batteries • Optional AC adapter kit ACK800 |
Other features | • Optional High Power Flash HF-DC1 |
Weight (No batt) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
Dimensions | 97.3 x 67.0 x 41.9 mm (3.83 x 2.64 x 1.65 inch) |
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