| Canon Powershot A620 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom | ||
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by Canon  20 shooting modes including My Color settings for customization while shooting DIG!C II Image Processor for faster processing, vibrant colors, and excellent image quality Shoot high-quality movies at up to 60 frames per second 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD display; 4x optical zoom 7-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints |
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| From the Manufacturer With 7.1 megapixels, the A620 incorporates a host of high-end features normally reserved for G-series PowerShots. The DIGIC II processor drives a fast, responsive performance, and--in combination with the camera's 4x optical zoom lenses--delivers superior image quality. A wide range of manual, automatic, and special scene modes offer flexibility, creative control, and simplicity when required. The camera also features a 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD, My Colors, and a macro mode that allows photographers to get as close as 1 centimeter. VGA movies at 30 frames per second can be created. A complete range of optional accessories, including wide and tele-converters and waterproof case, extends shooting flexibility. (Accessories not included--must be purchased separately.) A comprehensive software suite is provided as standard. The A620 is equipped with a Print/Share button, PictBridge printing, as well as ID Photo Print and Movie Print. USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connections provide for high-speed transfer of image data. Improved resolution, zoom, and image quality The precision Canon zoom lens in this new camera follows the design and construction of G-series lenses, with eight elements in seven groups, and incorporating two aspherical elements. The upgrade to a 4x optical zoom provides a 35-140mm focal length (35mm equivalent). With a maximum aperture range of f2.8 (W) to f4.1 (T), the lens is impressively bright at the telephoto end. In addition, focusing performance in low light has improved by up to 2 stops, resulting in greater freedom when shooting in dim conditions. The lenses' spectral characteristics have been optimized specifically for the configuration of the lens and sensor, providing accurate colors and significantly reducing the chromatic aberrations (such as purple fringing) often found with lower quality lenses. Advanced processing and focusing The new PowerShot still features Canon's 9-point AiAF for fast, accurate focusing even when subjects are not centerd. FlexiZone AF/AE allows free scrolling anywhere within the frame's auto focus area to select the desired subject, for which exposure is weighted accordingly. Manual focus selection is also available. Increased versatility The A620 incorporates a total of 20 shooting modes, including full Manual mode, a Custom mode for allocating preferred shooting settings, and a shutter speed priority mode, with shutter speeds ranging from 15 seconds to 1/2500 second. Eight scene modes--such as Night Snapshot, Snow, and Underwater--maximize results in a variety of shooting situations. The Stitch Assist mode facilitates shooting pictures for panoramas, which can be joined together easily with the supplied PhotoStitch software. My Colors--located on the mode dial--allows the expansion of creativity in digital photography. Special effects, such as Color Swap or Custom Color, which allows users to select their preferred color balance for any given shot, can be performed in-camera and viewed on the LCD while shooting stills and movies. These effects could previously only be achieved using PC software after shooting. High-quality movies are selectable from VGA (30/15 frames per second), QVGA (30/15 frames per second), Fast Frame Rate (for slow motion replays in camera), and Compact Mode (for clips that are ideal for e-mailing). Advanced printing When connected to the latest range of PictBridge compatible PIXMA printers, image enhancement is possible with functions such as Noise Reduction and Vivid Photo, as well as the new Face Brightener feature. Also new is Captured Info print, which prints shooting data such as shutter speed, aperture and shooting mode within the photo border. Printing images without having to connect to a PC is kept simple with the Print/Share button, which also acts as an easy upload button for Windows XP and Mac OS X. Comprehensive software Purchasers of the cameras are eligible for membership of Canon iMAGE Gateway , which offers 100 MB of online space for uploading and sharing images, and supports My Camera, which allows users to further customise their camera settings. Supported operating systems are Windows 98 (SE), Me, 2000 (SP4), XP (SP1/2) and Mac OS X v10.2-v10.3. The cameras support PTP for driverless transfer to supported Windows XP or Mac OS X. What's in the box Excellent intial results
My camera is the A620, but the A610, except for lower pixel CCD, is the same. The first priority for a snapshot camera is SPEED. This one has it in spades. Very fast shot-to-shot and negligible shutter lag. The first priority for a hobbyist camera is manual control. The A6x0 has Auto, program and many preset scene modes. It also has shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual mode. Computer imaging enthusiasts will be disappointed that the A6x0 cameras do not provide RAW picture format, but it does produce excellent detail in Fine JPEG mode, and I think many in even that group would be satisfied. The lens is excellent for such a small camera. It is fast at f4.1 on the telephoto end of the zoom, very important for family photographs outdoors (fewer blurred photos of children or pets at play). Really good ISO400 results for even more speed. Color and white balance is excellent, right out of the camera. Photos are vivid and life-like. The flash is small, so if you use that a great deal I recommend something like the Sony slave flash which attaches to the tripod fitting on the camera. The zoom works fast. The controls are well laid out, and the camera is easy to handle (my hands are fairly long, I'm 6-2). The menus are easy to use and quick to find. I have not needed to open the manuals, so I can't comment on those. The LCD is bright, and preview mode is fast (the swiveling LCD is fantastic). The optical viewfinder is adequate and bright enough (about 80% coverage, I think). The camera fits in my shirt pocket, but with quite a bulge. Buy a larger SD card because the 32mb card with the camera only holds 9 photos at best quality. AA batteries are convenient. Get a good set of rechargeable batteries with a set of cheap alkaline for backup, and you are ready to go (good battery life here). I have not used movie mode and I might never do so, though I hear it is very good; there is a printer output that I do not use; the camera comes with software that I do not use, so I cannot comment on those three things. The door for cable connections is flimsy. I opened it once and had trouble closing it. Had to force the top clip to engage. Buy a card reader ($10 or $20) and forget about the cables. Overall, great camera and great photos. a lot better than SD500
A620 I think this is the best digicam I ever had I also have SD500, the good thing is small, but I am disappointed of it without flash, the pics blurred; A620 does not have such problem and A620 has flip screen, that you filp it in when not in use for protection as a successor of A95, it employs SD/MMC card, that I just use my SD card in inventory, and all my devices have native SD support (my Dell Axim, Inspiron 6000d), then I don't have to buy additional card reader however, this cam eats a lot of memory in video mode, even in 1/4 VGA mode, buy at least 1GB SD card is recommended, 2GB or higher is more ideal (you can use 4GB, 8GB if it's available, because the camera supports FAT32 file system, like SD500) if you don't mind the size, A620 is a better choice over SD500/550 Excellent
I've had this camera for a couple of days now and it is great. It is very fast and takes sharp pictures. The only thing that I'm concerned about is the high level of audio noise when capturing video. I'm not sure if this is normal or whether I've got a faulty camera. Otherwise, it is a great successor to my old trusty Kodak. Excellent Camera, A Great Value!
I bought this camera to replace my digital Olympus C-4000. So far I have not been disappointed. The camera has a lot of features for the price, with aperture priority, shutter priority, and a full manual mode, it gives you more control than most point and shoot models. It also has a 4x optical zoom based on the lens in the Powershot G6, and the macro mode can focus down to 0.4 inches. It is great that the camera runs on AA batteries, and has excellent battery life. Photo quality has been terrific, with sharp, colorful pictures. The only drawbacks are a noisy zoom, some hard to push buttons, and more red-eye than I had with my Olympus. The camera is not ultra light and compact but does have a nice grip and solid construction. Best Camera I've ever owned...
This makes my 7th Digital camera in as many years. I've only had the camera for 3 days. Most of the other excellent reviews here have hit on the main bragging points so I won't bother repeating them. I would like to point out a few things I LOVE about his camera. It's fast. You hit the power button and BOOM. there's a beep, the lense pops out and it's read to take a picture within 2 or 3 seconds. ONe thing I hated about my Kodak Easy Share was that by the time I pulled out my camera and powered it oup to capture a great shot the moment was gone. This camera also seems to store pictures faster so you're ready for the next shot. Video quality is pretty amazing. I compared it to my full fledged Sony DigiCam and I'm impressed. You can't go wrong with this camera. Great digital camera
This is my third Canon digital and it is the best. Video is excellent and photo quality is great. The access door on the download cable is poor quality. I had trouble with the lens cover malfunctioning after 30 days and had to send it in for warranty. I LOVE my A620!
This is a fabulous camera! The first thing I noticed about it was how fast it was compared to my old 3.2 mp Sony. The second thing I noticed after I snapped a few shots was how crisp, clear and beautiful the picture were. The colors are amazing, the macro is great and the zoom is impressive. I love how the LCD screen swivels out, it comes in handy. I'm a beginning photographer so the first few weeks I had the camera I mostly used the automatic settings while I read up on shutter speed and aperture etc. Now I'm starting to use the manual settings and make adjustments myself. It's a good camera to grow with. I did get a bigger memory card - the 32 MB card it comes with is pretty useless. I also bought rechargeable batteries and always carry spares in my camera bag. I highly recommend the Canon Powershot A620 - I absolutely love mine! * see my photos above under "customer images" So far so good
This is my very first digital camera and I've only had it for about 1 month. Things I like about it so far: It seems to be VERY fast. It takes really good quality pictures. Macro function works very well. It's fairly comfortable to hold. All things considered, it's RELATIVELY user-friendly. The negatives are: It's somewhat heavy for a small camera. Parts of it seem very "flimsey" such as the door that covers the lens when not in use. The "red eye reduction" function really doesn't work very well from the results I've seen so far (athough perhaps there is a way to make it function better and I haven't figured it out yet). Love This Camera!
After many weeks of looking for a great digital camera, I finally found the perfect one! This is an awesome camera with many great features. It zooms up to 16x - With a very clear picture. The pictures are as clear as those $1.000.00 cameras. (I know because some of my family members have one) Anyway, if you are looking for a great digital camera, this is definitely the one to buy! Also, I did not know this when I bought it, but after reading the manual I found out that you can change/add lenses to the camera! It comes with a memory card that holds only about 5 pictures, so you need to buy an extra memory card when you make your purchase. Audio/Video Capabilities of Canon 620
Haven't bought camera yet, but have decided to do so - primarily to copy my analog slides onto digital. HOWEVER, can someone set me straight about audio/video capabilities of the A620? One reviewer says it yields 60 seconds at 30 fps. Period! Another says, "With an adequate memory, you can take unlimited video." For the few who use audio/video on the A620, please clarify these conflicting assertions. ([...]) Great Compact Camera
I own a Canon Digital Rebel XT, But I always don't want to carry that around everywhere I go. So I decided to buy the Canon A620. After using the Digital Rebel, I new I would be pleased with the other lines of Canon Cameras. This Camera is 7 Mega Pixels and Fits in your Pocket. The Flip out Screen is Great, and you can close it up so it doesn't get scratched when not in use. For Pro Photographers who want a pocket cam, this is the one. I will not look at another camera for a long while, besides my Digital Rebel XT. Canon hit the nose
Well..I dont own this camera but i do sell it so i have seen pictures and know how to use very well. the Canon A620 is an awsome camera it has a 4x optical zoom(38-130mm) wich is more than most cameras for size but... it has an adapter that lets you put a tele-converter or wide angle converter right over the attached lens very cool. the flip out monitor is nice so it doesnt get scratched when not being used. at 7MP its gonna take awsome pictures and realisticly get a great 10x15 any bigger and you will see pixelation not much though. i have made sample prints for the store that i work at. I also worked at a professional photo lab for a year and a half and have seen tens of thousands of pictures and this camera is nearly at the top of my list. it makes a great back up camera for the pros and its great for the beginner as well as far as video with sound it depends on the size of the SD card put in, I reccomend the 1GB which will get 15 min of decent playback on a 512MB you will get 7-8min of solid video w/ no pics. this camera is very quick compared to its competitors over all its a great camera to have!! Good Luck! B.Pollock My dream digital camera!
I feel I'm a pretty good photographer. I started out in 2000 with a 3 mp HP digital. And a few 35 mm including a Canon SLR. So this is my second digital camera. After reading all the reviews I thought I'd give this a try. Its been the best camera I've ever owned. After 4 days of use the batteries are still strong. Easy to learn the features right out of the box. Really happy with the size. Didn't particularly like the tiny cameras they are coming out with, hard to hold on to. And the large 35 mm SLR with all the lenses are too bulky for me. I thought that was the only way to get professional looking photos, but I was pleasantly surprised that this little camera does all the things the larger more expensive cameras can do. Another plus is its fast. Powering up, taking the photos, and loading on my computer. I love the speed. I was able to keep up with my kids cute poses while at the park. I was amazed. What more can I say. The pop out viewfinder is awesome. I can take pictures of the family (me included) and see where we fit. Hold the camera below waist level or up high and still get a great shot. Its just perfect and I could go on and on. You get the picture! Fast and flexible
I received an A620 as a Christmas present. Compared to the Olympus C-4000Z which I've used previously, the most striking difference is that the A620 is so fast and easy to control. It takes only a few clicks of the arrow buttons on the back of the camera to set up everything from custom white balance to shutter delay. I haven't yet found controls for saturation and sharpness, but I don't think I'll need them. The movie mode is very nice, at 640x480 and 30fps. The results look just as sharp as those from my Sony Digital-8 camcorder, though of course the A620 won't let you use the optical zoom while recording. The audio does seem to pick up a hum from the camera itself. The camera's sensor resolution is about 7MP, and the optics must be good: 5x7" prints (from a Canon i960) show excellent detail. I haven't yet tried printing at 8x10. I've yearned for a digital camera which would produce the levels of shadow detail one sees in an Ansel Adams print -- the kind of detail that draws the viewer in ever closer until his or her nose is almost on the paper. I'm just getting started with the A620, but for small prints and low ISO settings it looks like it could do the trick! The A620 uses AA batteries. Pick up a set of NiMH batteries and a recharger (the camera comes with 4 Panasonic alkaline batteries) and you'll be all set. I'm not sure how quickly the batteries drain. So far I've gotten nearly 100 photos and a couple of minutes of video from a set of 2000 mAh Radio Shack NiMH batteries, charged once. The camera comes with a 32MB SD card. You can't get very many high-resolution photos on such a tiny card. (And I think you could fill it with less than 30 seconds of video.) I bought a 512MB SD card, which should have room for about 150 photos. I'm not sure how much Motion-JPEG video it will hold. The included USB cable works without a hitch. The A620 supports USB 2.0, so it transfers photos and movies quickly. However, the plastic door which covers the camera's USB port is flimsy, and it interferes with the camera's wrist strap. A separate USB 2.0 SD card reader would probably be more durable. A lens adapter and accessory telephoto and wide-angle lenses are available for the A620. I've ordered the lens adapter and a 58 mm rubber lens hood, which I hope will let me take glare-free photos through the side window of my airplane. The adapter is threaded, so it should also accept polarizing filters. The A620 will fit in a coat or vest pocket. It will even fit in a shirt pocket, but it'll cause a significant bulge -- and a sag: it's pretty heavy :) If you want a pocket camera you might want to consider another model/brand. This was a gift, but I think it's amazing that you can get so much camera for less than $400. Cons: small included SD card, flimsy USB adapter cover, some audio hum in movies, may be too large for some tastes. Pros: fast, easy to control, sharp focus, great detail, good movie quality, AA batteries, lens accessories, great price. In Response to "Am I Doing Something Wrong?"
Haven't actually purchased this camera, but was thinking about it... most reviews pretty impressive, as are the camera's features. From the research I have done, I hear there is a "kids & dogs" mode that is supposed to take fast pictures. Try that. Disappointed
Perhaps the camera has a broken shutter, but the pictures are blurred. I shot about 70 photos, called Canon twice and am still unhappy with the camera. Most of the pictures look as if the exposure is set wrong and that hand shake was a problem. I have taken pictures professionally and am disappointed. I did a lot of research before purchasing the camera and I liked the features. However, the pics look like they could have been done with a cell phone. The camera definately wasn't worth the money. We are very disappointed and the camera is going back to the store. Excellent Camera For The Price!
I owned a Canon G2, 4 megapixel camera for a couple years prior to looking for a replacement. I looked at other brands, but ask any camera aficionado, and they will tell you, "Canon is the best brand." I compared many cameras, and almost bought the PowerShot S70, but am glad I did not for the following reasons: + I like the feel of a more professional camera like the A620 + You don't have to use rechargable batteries!! I didn't realize how inconvenient rechargables are until you have the choice; this camera is one of the few I have seen that takes regular AA batteries! If ever you run low on power, every corner store in the world has AA's! (No more running to the re-charger). + Fast processor: The DigicII chip it comes with is amazing! Coming from the G2, it feels almost as fast as a camera worth 5x more! (Extremely fast start-up times too). + Awesome picture quality: I can't believe I waited this long to buy an upgrade; most of my G2's pictures were blurry... NOW maybe 1 in 100 pictures are a bit off-focus, but not even that bad. Just great looking, true-color & sharp resolution pictures. + Price! For all the features, I was prepared to spend at least twice as much. + Lightweight, small (but not too small), and compact + great battery-life. The lens retracts nicely too; so no lens cap needed like the old G2. Some cons?: - Wish the grip was rubberized like some more professional cameras, but it's still ergonomic so it's not that bad. - Flash is good, but not "great." It is fine for 95% of the shots, but on longer dark rooms, the shot still comes out a bit dark. I didn't try tweeking the +/- settings, so it is possible that could be overcome. - No "Bulb" setting. I liked my "B" setting on my old 35mm camera and kind of miss that feature. The longest shutter time offered on this camera is "15-seconds," which for most will be fine. I can't think of any other "cons"... This is just a great little camera, and one I expect will last me at least another 2 years. The next camera I plan on buying to compliment this one will be the Canon Digital EOS for real professional situations, like portraits and landcapes that I like to frame... but for everything else, this camera has it all. Jack of all trades, Master of all.
This is truly the master of all trades. 7.1 megapixels is really as good as it gets by todays standards. The only other camera that beats this one is the Canon S2 IS with its 12x zoom, but even that camera doesn't have 7.1 megapixels, and is quite bulky (trust me). Canon really locked it down with the swivel LCD, which was a life saver while taking photos at a concert. I used a 2GB Ultra II SD card with it for hi-res photos and movies, and the camera worked wonders. I have one or two very minor gripes with this camera.. but you'll realize that this was the only way the camera was sub $400. - The red-eye is an issue - Wish it had optical instead of digital zoom in movie mode - I wish Canon would switch to Mpeg4 instead of AVI for movie mode (Better Compression) I think its safe to declare that Canon is the digital camera king. The best camera for the non-professional, period!
I first started using this camera at my workplace, a powerplant in California. We bought it to take general pictures of things like pumps and pipes. We found that we could stand several feet from a pump and take a picture of the entire pump, but we could then review the photo on a computer and blow up the picture and read the data on the name plate. It's that clear and detailed. We use 24" flat panels to work on and we were able to blow up any photo so that about 1/6 of the picture took up the entire screen before we saw any graininess or pixels. Its so easy to use but you can still set up any type of photo you want by fixing the shutter speed or the aperture for dramatic effects as well as a stellar macro capability, right out of the box!!! It comes with a great general photography lens but conversion lenses are easy to buy, attach and use. It is such a good camera, the admin assistant bought one, the plant manager bought one and so did I. I love it! Great camera
In choosing a new digital camera I was looking for the following features: both automatic and manual settings, optical zoom, more than 5MP, optional lenses, AA batteries, and under $500. I found this all in the A620. I like simplicity and have not yet explored the advanced settings with manual controls, but I have taken advantage of the macro, beach, night and portrait settings a great deal, all with great results. The flip-out monitor is quite handy and the optical zoom visualized through the viewfinder for battery conservation. I have the optional macro lens attachment for close ups of foliage and animals and find it to be useful, but for the average user the regular macro setting is adequate. The only things I would change would be to make the dc/av door hard instead of flimsy plastic, and to include a better lens cover of some sort. When the lens is closed, two thin plastic "doors" fit together to cover the lens. Unfortunately I dropped the camera and the pieces did not go back together properly at first. Fortunately I was able to manipulate them back into place to fix it. I would advise an upgrade to a larger card as the included disk will not hold much at the higher settings - and purchasing a 7 mp camera indicates you would want to use them. I invested in a 1GB card, and it was well worth the money. I like the convenience of AA batteries as they are easy to obtain in a pinch. I bought 2500 mAH rechargeables and they lasted my entire vacation while taking over 350 photos and still have plenty of juice left. I love this camera and highly recommend it. Awesome features... very unique.
I love this camera!!!! The most unique feature is the swivel out LCD screen. It allows you to get different vantage points. For instance, recently I went to a presidential campaign party and was able to take pictures of the candidates above everyone's head by simply holding the camera up high and tilting the swivel display downward so I could see what was going on. I also LOVE the panorama mode. The easiest that I've worked with on any camera and the photostitch software to piece the photos together is almost seamless! Plus, with a really large storage card (like the 1gb I have) you can take what seems like hours of video. Disappointed
The camera is great - no complaints there, but the purchase included a promotion of a free 512 memory card WHICH I did not receive. Too bad for the false advertising. Superb Camera
This is a superb little camera. Excellent pictures, great feature set, fast performance - couldn't ask for more. I bought the camera to replace an "antique" digital camera that simply could not keep up with the grandkids - and caused me to go back to film - until I bought the A620. This Canon is fast to start up, almost no noticable shutter lag, and takes perfectly exposed pictures. The auto focus is fast - even in low light. Macro and "My Colors" are great features. Also,I can customize exposures, focus points, etc., about any way I choose. Excellent value for the money. I'd definately recommend this camera. Did I mention - Great Pictures?! Fast startup, excellent macro, many features, Fairly big camera
There are two things I don't like about this camera one is the size and the other is the high background noise during video mode (Anyone else also experienced this?). But with the features, I can live with it. Since there are so many reviews already, I'll just point out a few things that are different as compared to other cameras in the similar price range. 1. 1.3 sec start-up time, 1.9fps Continuous burst capture of Large/Fine images - FAST 2. Rotating LCD - make portrait shot easy and LCD is better protected 3. 4x optical zoom- as compared to 3x in almost every other camera 4. Macro mode can be as close as 1cm! 5. Fastest autofocus I have seem. 6. 640x480 video at 30fps- if only the noise can be reduced Not to mention the excellent picture quality and all the facy mode and manual controls- this is a great camera, if you don't mind the size. Best Camera
Ever since i bought this camera the features and amazing clear pictures continue to amaze me. It does everything one would want a camera to do and then some. Couldn't be happier
When I was shopping for a New Digital Camera, I initially wanted to purchase one of the new SLR Digitals. Having used a Nikon FG camera for 25 years and an Olympus Camedia C-700 Ultra Zoom for 6 years, this Canon was not even on my wish list. When I went and handled the cameras at Fry's and Best Buy, the Digital SLR's were just too bulky. So I was looking at the new releases and the Canon A620 looked too good to be true. I came home and researched it further, comparing it to Nikon and Olympus, which I had been very happy with. The features on it and the ease of use, as well as the manual options which compared to SLR's sold me. This camera can be as simple or as complicated as anyone can desire. The picture quality is excellent!!! I used it on a 2 week cruise and got some awesome detail shots. All in all, I am quite pleased with this camera. It is worth considering in a decision between point and shoot vs SLR Great Picture, but slow, slow, slow Shutter speed
This is an all around great camera. You really notice quality difference of 7megpixels. But if your shooting the baby, or anything else that moves - this camera will make you crazy, just like every other digital camera I've-you've owned. The shutter delay, and recover time(time till you can shoot again) while somewhat better than earlier cameras is still maddening and frustrating. John B Fuzzy Focus
Upgrading from an old 4 MegaPixel Canon A80 to a 7 MP Canon A620 I didn't expect to lose sharp details in my photos. However I often did. In paired test shot after paired test shot the A620 would slightly miss focus. Viewed blown up on a computer screen images taken by the A620 were noticeably fuzzier than those same scenes shot with the old A80. In some simple scenes the A620 did sharply focus. Then it produced excellent images. However in the normal sorts of pictures I take of family and scenes the A620 often chose to focus someplace that made everything I cared about be slightly out of focus. The A620 takes a picture noticeably quicker than the A80. The delay from button press to finished. This is good. However I wonder if the design goal of reducing the shutter release delay removed the time it used to take to focus as competently as the old A80. Wonderful Camera
This camera was easy to use straight out of the box. It takes great pictures, even of my fast running kids. You will want to buy a bigger memory card if you don't plan to download constantly, but that's the only thing we have had to add. This is our first digital camera and we looked for months to decide. I have no regrets about buying this one. Good, but not great
I've been an serious amateur (if that isn't an oxymornon) photographer since 1955. Four years ago, I went digital with an Olympus 3.2 megapixel Camedia. Love that camera, but started having problems (over-exposure in all modes, and contrast off especially in macro. After six months of study, I decided on the A620, and am moderately happy with my decision. I should explain that, no matter how much investigating you do, you'll never know if you made the right decision. When I bought the Olympus, the choices were limited to perhaps four 3+ megapixel cameras. Now, with a hundred choices, your chances of getting the ideal camera are slim IF you know digital cameras at all. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. A620 pros: Easy to use. Menus are well laid out, though the primary button on the back of the camera could have "easier" more readable buttons. But once you get used to them, they're fine. Love the various special effects that you can add to your pictures. And even the movie mode will give a decent movie if you have a 1 gig card. The LCD is fantastic, and revolved 180 degrees. Not that I expected to take a self-portrait, but I actually have used the easy-to-see (in most any light) LCD for all kinds of shots. The viewfinder (a must for those of you who are looking at any digital camera) is good, and off by only a degree or two. Pictures are sharp and the lens is as good as Olympus Zuiko, and that's going some. Before I forget, I'd give Canon an A+ on its software. It is downright simple and though I might have to use Thumbs+ or Photoshop for minor tweaking, this software is a snap on layouts and printing. Many who have written about Canon's software call it "weak" or "for beginners only." Well, I'm no beginner, and it's a pleasure to get a composite print or contact sheet set up and printed in 5 minutes. Portraits and landscapes are excellent. Closeups...see below. It's fast. It has the feel of a 35mm camera. It has some weight and it's comfortable. The zoom is very good. Cons: Can't turn off flash in Auto mode. The macro is trickier than the Olympus and doesn't always produce good results. One trick is that you press the shutter button half-way before taking the picture, and you'll get better focus. Half of my pictures are macros, and I've been somewhat disappointed. I think that going to the manual mode is the solution, and that may put off most who go the digital route for more than just point and shoot. The warning light for using a tripod seemingly comes on 80% of the time. Admittedly, we've had rain in California since I bought the camera, but I have no trouble keeping the camera steady and, in low light suituations, letting the flash do the rest. I'd recommend the camera, but if you're looking for one that you can just tuck in your shirt pocket, this isn't for you. good first camera
the cannon a620 is my first camera. I took it with me to seattle and got some great shots of the city. It's a little slow taking action shots. The picture quality is great,it's easy to use. I am happy with it. The A6*0 is great until...
I was completely satisified with the performance and abilities of my Canon PowerShot A620 from the day I opened the box. Unlike some users, I had no trouble downloading pics from the camera using Canon's "Camera Window" software (for Windows and Macs). But I have a Mac - perhaps there's some problem with the for-Windows version. After 4 months, I purchased a "virtual twin" A610 (6 megapixel instead of 7.1) for my daughter - her first digital camera. We've both been very pleased at the quality of pictures and the ease of getting good photographic results. I took very good care of my camera, I loved it so much! Cons: excellent battery life with NiMha rechargeables, 3072 x 2304 image size produces excellent poster sized prints (and down to wallet size). Amazing macro focus - can produce pictures of honey bees which appear to be the size of chickens. Drawbacks were minor: only 4x zoom and the flash is a bit small (but causes little red eye and that easily corrected). And - all digital point & shoot cameras seem too vulnerable to rain, a common condition in most climates. Putting them in an expensive waterproof case reduces portability and hampers picture taking and functions like the microphone. (Otherwise - videos have almost startling sound quality from the tiny, built-in design mic.) Until, that is, my A620 suddenly gave out a loud scream and displayed "E18" on the LCD viewscreen. The lens barrel had jammed when I turned the camera on; this caused the drive motor to strip the gears which extend and retract the lens barrel. This happened after 3,000 pics, a few dozen (very good) video clips and 7 months and 7 days of frequent (trouble free) use. I had "thought" I'd heard some tell-tale gear noises before the breakdown, but the sound difference was slight and I thought I might be imagining it. Investigation on the web revealed this problem (known as the E18 error) has been around long enough that a class action suit has been filed against Canon because of it. Right now, I've sent in my camera to Canon and I'm waiting to hear from them. They have a very good "support" web page and responded within a few hours via email, giving detailed instructions for returning the camera and what to expect in terms of waiting period, etc. Would I buy another Canon PowerShot? Yes - within hours of the breakdown, I had researched their PowerShot S3-1S, 6 megapixel and picked one up locally. The S3 is a definite upgrade from the A620: 12 x zoom, great "image stabilizer" and much sturdier construction (along with another 8 oz weight). I plan to continue using the A620 once its repaired because its handy to carry around (I use a belt-mounted carrying case). But though I believe the A6*0 series is a lemon, Canon produces many fine models besides those. I'm just sorry I bought my daughter the "little brother" (A610) because now we know it is likely to breakdown too. Great!!
I spent consideable time researching the Canon A620 amoung many others. The A620 was my top pick in its class. Huge number of features for the advanced Hobbyist but also ready for the novice to point and shoot on auto settings or do video that far surpasses the quality of my 2-3 year old VHS-C camcorder. I Love it. Excellent all around. For full reviews I suggest you google "Canon A620 review". My only complaint is the I/O port cover is flimsy in comparison to how solid and well built the rest of the camera is. Don't forget to get high speed memory for it. I'm using Corsair 2GB 133x SD and getting excellent speed and beautiful photos and video. Great Camera
My husband gave me this camera recently for my birthday. I am not someone that takes many pictures. We already owned a Sony camcorder that takes digital stills, so I didn't think that I would use this camera like I do. But this camera takes phenomenal pictures. There are many settings that do functions that I didn't know existed. For example, there is a kids/pet function that allows you to take a quick picture since children and animals don't sit still long. And if they do move, the motion blur is reduced. The only con to this product is that the batteries that are included are not rechargeable and do not last very long. It also does not include any case. Other than that-I have no complaints. Good Choice
Pros: Battery life is good. Four NiMH battery lasts for 400+ snaps. Video clarity is excellent if you view it in TV. Processing speed is good. It takes less than second for next preview to appear in LCD. Cons: Only 1600x1200 postcard size snaps can date-stamped. Great Camera For Closeups
I bought this camera to take photos of items I sell on EBay. With 7.1 megapixels my shots, even with extreme blowups, come out sharp. I do a lot of closeups, so I need sharpness. This camera delivers. Since it uses AA batteries I don't need to charge it. It's easy to use too, so you get a lot for your money. I don't know anything about cameras
If you don't know a thing about cameras, I'm writing this for you. This is the best digital camera I've ever owned. It takes great pictures and it's fun to experiment with all the features and settings. You can get a lot of creative shots with this camera. Be sure to buy rechargeable batteries and keep extras with you because last night I tried to use the camera and it said the batteries were low and I couldn't take any pictures, but it didn't warn me in advance and I just used it two days prior! Although this camera is bigger than others, I found it easier to hold and steady. I didn't care for the software, but it's not important to me. I just take the SD card out of the camera and plug it directly into my computer to transfer photos and you can use free photo organizing programs from the internet to organize your pics. Canon A620
This camera takes great quality photos. However, it doesn't offer a RAW format; this camera takes .JPG only photographs. Also, I've noticed that the camera has a little trouble focusing when using autofocus. For example, sometimes there's a person in front of me, and the shot should be trivial. But after I take the picture, I see that everything's blurry. Other times, if there's a branch in front of me that's just barely in the picture, the camera will focus on it, and it's a hassle to get the camera to not focus on it. The movie mode is OK. It's not super quality. Blown up, there's a bunch of artifacts, but it's good enough for the web. The interface is similar to the other cameras in the PowerShot series. I think it's very intuitive. This camera takes excellent photographs. It's a great choice for those who don't want to drop substantial amounts of cash for a digital SLR. If mine broke, I'd buy another. Great camera
I opened the box about an hour ago, and have been snapping flashes in people's eyes since. This is a superb camera, from my point of view. I haven't had many digital cameras, but have used my fair share of them at graduations, parties, and other family events. This is by far my favorite of all the cameras I have used. I love the quality of images, and feel of the camera. Though it is a little more bulky than I barganed for, it isn't a, "Go put on a backpack to lug this thing around with." The zoom is great, and so are the modes. I love macro, it's wonderful to use. Movie capturing is good, although the speaker is nothing to write home about. Hard to hear from the camera, but on a computer, it's clear. The only complaint I have is that the door to all the ports is very flimsy, so be careful when importing pictures. I would suggest purchasing a larger memory card, because the one you get holds 15 pictures on fine quality (medium) All in all, this is an excellent camera, and I would recomend it to anyone. Great portable digital camera
I already have the semi-Professional level Canon EOS 20 D of which I love very much but its weight and bulkiness did not encourage me to take candid shots wherever I go. So I researched a small portable digital camera that I could take with me. I was tossing between this A620 and the SD500 Elph. I chose the A620 based on features and the rave review that an online camera review did (dpreview dot com). I ordered it online and once I received it, I was surprised at its size (it would certainly help to see it in physical stores!) and it was not a shirt pocket camera that I was picturing. It could fit in my jacket pockets but I think it will rip my shirt pocket trying to stuff that thing in. I decided to keep it because it did take great pictures. That is the main function of a camera, right? Take good pictures!!! After getting a small camera case, the portability was not too bad after all. It is definitely much lighter than the Canon EOS 20D (and thousand dollar less to boot). But there is no question that I had been spoiled by Canon EOS 20D. The focusing was slower, and it took me longer to take shots. But definitely much faster than my Minolta Dimage 7 (5 megapixel) that I paid one thousand dollars at the local Sam's Club several years back. I found that the positive for this camera is that it takes great pictures with AUTO. I found that when I used the zoom lens inside a building with medium light, I did get some blurry shots but the Camera warned with the shake symbol. It is nice that the camera warns you. That tells me that instead of zoom, I should physcally come closer to the subject and then take pictures. I found that it is possible to turn off the flash (by changing the setting from AUTO to something else like LANDSCAPE). But invariably you will get blurry pictures in a medium light enviroment unless you take it with a tripod. The other thing that attracted me to this camera vs the other ones was that it used AA batteries. I mean, you can get AA batteries anywhere in the world! And with the ubiquitous rechargeable batteries, you are set! I have noticed that with my 2500 mAh rechargeable batteries I was able to take quite a few pictures, show off the results to folks on the flippable LCD screen and it was couple months before the battery was totally out. Which was NOT BAD at all! The fact that this camera uses SD chip is also a great feature. SD chip has come down in price trememdously in the past few days. I just got a 4 gig SD chip with 150 X speed for less than one hundred bucks with shipping and tax!!! One could get about 1000 pictures at the highest resolution!!! Ironically, SD chips are now cheaper than Compact Flash for slightly faster speed. I don't know how can they fit 4 gig in that small space... The video option is a Bonus extra for me and I thought it took surprisingly good video considering the size and the lens of the camera. In a dark room, it does not come out well. It needs bright light enviroment. So for a small camera that you can take videos...that is not too bad. Of course it will not be professional looking and all that...for that I have the Canon XL1S. But for special candid moments or unexpected situations, it is great to be able to get a video of something that is viewable on computer or TV. I do like this camera! Great camera, great value!
I have a Nikon D70 but wanted a walking around camera too. The A620 is a fantastic deal. There is a whole lot of camera in there and I've taken some fine shots easily. I bought the A95 a year ago but the shutter lag drove me crazy so I returned it. The A620 has much improved responsiveness due to the new DIGIC II processor. You press the ON button, compose your shot, and click the shutter within a couple seconds. Get the A620 if you want a lightweight, fast, flexible camera, that uses conventional batteries, and has most of the features camera enthusiasts want for a great price, currently less than $300. The only thing more I would like is RAW output. This is a GREAT digital camera
I've had Olympus and Fuji lower pixel cameras but the A620 at 7 megapixels is absolutely great. As an amateur professional with lots of heavy Nikon SLR bodies, lenses and equipment, this Canon is now my choice of cameras 80% of the time. Its color and whiteness balance are beautiful right out of the box. The controls are extremely easy to use for experienced photographers though the manual is needed if you are new to this technology. Be patient with the manual-it's not the best one but if you take your time it all comes together. I found most pictures shot MUCH better with slight tweaking of the aperature and ISO rather than the flash which tends to make the pictures way too contrasty for my liking. Contrary to other writeups Ive seen, the flash can be shut off. The camera is extremely comfortable and lightweight though this is not a mini camera for those looking for that kind of body. The zoom is great but too short on focal length (only 114mm). The camera shoots and writes to memory quickly and I purchased a fast 1gb card-something you will defintely need for a trip. The cover for the USB and other electrical hookups is an absolute piece of garbage. How Canon puts that on an otherwise excellent piece of equipment is beyond anyones imagination. The other great feature I specifically looked for is a bright LCD that is movable so you can shoot very low or very high angles. Not only does it swivel but when finished shooting, the screen can be turned INTO the camera, protecting it from those nasty scratches you get when carrying it around. All in all- for the price-pick one up at Amazon-it was cheaper than anyone else, including my beloved B&H Photo. Excellent everyday camera
Likes - Bright swivel screen. Has viewfinder. Uses AA batteries. Easy to use. Fast on and next picture time. Full range of modes including manual. 4X zoom rather than more usual 3X. Available bayonet lens accessories (filters wideange etc.) - I have Lensmate adapter and polarizing filter. Silent mode. Good battery life. Takes great pictures. Takes good video with acceptable audio. Dislikes - Mostly minor issues. A bit heavy. Requires 4 batteries - why it's heavy. AV door is placed under thumb so comes open in use. AV and memory doors are flimsy. Too easy to accidentally change modes taking in and out of camera bag. Cannot force flash on in AUTO mode - have to switch to Program, logical but annoying. No secondary display for mode, battery, picture count - have to open screen. Built in flash does not work well with lens accessories and there is no external flash synch. No remote. Overall I'm very happy with it and recommend it if you are looking for this class of camera. The main reason I bought this particular model is the swivel screen and its ability to use accessories. If the swivel screen is not important to you - I find it essential and now hardly use the viewfinder - the Canon A700 might be a better choice - 6X zoom, larger screen and only 2 AA batteries. I recommend you buy a 1G fast SD card (eg. Sandisk ultra II) - maybe larger if you plan to take much video. I bought a 512M card to start and found I filled it up too fast. The 16M card that comes with it is only good for demos or as an emergency spare. I hope this helps old and new users.
Before I bought my camera, I downloaded the manual from the Canon web site. The 7.1-mega pixels allow me to take pictures of pages from books and magazines at the local library. It also allow me to zoom and crop pictures at the local drug store. The flip able LCD screen is useful to take pictures at odd angles. I needed to take pictures of my water pump in the engine compartment of my car. The focusing square stays in the middle when the camera is in "P" mode. When I'm taking a picture of an hard to focus scene, I "auto focus" the camera by pressing the shutter half way. Keeping the shutter half way, I frame the picture. I take the picture by pressing the shutter fully. My start-up picture has my name in it. Every time you turn the camera on, it will flash my name. The movie mode allows me to show my boss..... my stuff works. I don't like the naming convention Canon uses to store its files. Canon A-620 with WP-DC90 housing Highly Recommended for Underwater use
I purchased my A-620 specifically for use underwater in a Canon WP-DC90 housing. I needed an u/w camera system with both still and video capability that met my $750 budget, and the A-620 with housing was actually $100 less than that, including a 2 gig SD card for $135. As of June 2006, the camera's street price has dropped more than $100 from it's introduction, making it a real bargain if you like it's features. For full techno review, see the reviews in DPREVIEW or DCRESOURCE, but here's my two cents worth: What I like about the A-620: 1. Uses good ol' "AA" NIMH batteries. I hate proprietary power packs that you can usually only buy mail order or from camera stores at three or four times the cost of a set of AA's. 2. Fully point-and-shoot if I just want snapshots or my wife is using the camera (she is a techno-phobe who fears complexity in any gadget). But when I need to be more specific about settings, or the lighting is poor, the camera has full manual exposure and manual focus controls. In normal daylight conditions, Program mode takes very nice pictures. For conditions where I need a lot of depth-of-field, I can use Aperture priority at f7.1 or f8. 3. VGA movie mode. Excellent video quality for this camera's price point. The audio quality isn't great - get a real camcorder if you want good sound - but for underwater use audio was irrevelant since I added my own separate music track in post-production. The finished video DVD from my Cozumel dive trip was incredibly good; I would have had to spend many thousands of dollars on professional gear to get any substantial increase in quality of the video image. 4. Available waterproof housing for under $175, good to 130' for recreational scuba diving. 5. Build quality very good (except for the I/O compartment door), camera's control dial and buttons have a nice feel to them. 6. Reliable image quality. Camera rarely makes auto focus or exposure errors in the automatic modes. What I don't like about the A-620: Actually, there is little to complain about. For this camera's very low retail price, it has tremendous capabilities, especially when U/W capability is your primary concern. It would have been near perfect if it had the following features: RAW image output, 28 mm wide angle instead of 35mm. My main gripes: The lens zoom has only 9 discrete steps; I wish there were more steps or better yet a stepless zoom. The lens can not be zoomed while shooting video. According to Canon, the reason for locking the zoom in video mode is to not have the zoom motor's noise on the audio track. For underwater video, this would not be a problem since there is no ambient sound to be recorded anyway (the camera is in a sealed housing). IMO, the video zoom lockout should be something that the user can enable or disable as a menu choice. Summary: Outstanding value for a compact, the A-620 offers a really nice suite of features, very good image quality, and with the addition of the WP-DC90 housing for $160US, it is one of the BEST (maybe THE best) underwater camera systems available for ameteur use. Keep in mind that even a teaspoonfull of salt water leaking through a microscopic defect in a housing seal will usually destroy a digital camera. With the A-620, you lose a $225 camera. With a DSLR, say a Canon D-20, you lose a camera body and lens worth maybe $1800. And as any scuba diver will tell you, there are two types of underwater photographers: those who have already lost a camera to a housing leak, and those who are waiting for their turn to lose one. I highly recommend the A-620 and WP-DC90 housing. Even for use on dry land, the A-620 is a really nice small camera that fits in a jacket pocket. Most photographers that have advanced past the novice level may find the 4x zoom range too limiting, in which case the super-zoom cameras may be more appealing (many brands and models available). For regular use, I will probably replace my aging Minolta 7I with a Fuji S-9000, which is similar in many ways - it uses Compact Flash cards, AA batteries, and has a manual zoom ring. I will then reserve the A-620 for u/w use on dive trips. NOTE: The WP-DC90 housing is specifically fitted for the A-620 and does not fit any other camera. Problems 1. Very occasional auto-focus errors even in full daylight, but only perhaps 1 in 200 shots (0.5%). By contrast, my Minolta DImage 7I produces auto focus errors on about 15% of shots. 2. The cover for the I/O ports is a soft plastic and doesn't firmly snap into place, it is frequently flopping loose and I suppose it will eventually break off completely. 3. The power button is too exposed and it is too easy for it to get pressed by other objects in a camera bag. This could cause damage to the lens or the motor drive that extends it if the camera is tightly fitted in the bag and the lens can not freely extend. This problem can be avoided by storing the camera with the play/record switch in "play" position, or of course by removing the batteries (not very convienient). 4. Camera flash has pretty good power output for a compact, but produces lots of red-eye in photos of people or family pets (esprcially cats). The in-camera red-eye reduction feature doesn't seem to help much. I guess red-eye can be removed by most PP utilities. I consider these problems to be MINOR and they should not be construed as a reason to avoid this camera. At it's current street price of $225, it is an outstanding value (I paid $350 in October 2005). I have shot about 2500 stills and four hours of video clips and have been completely satisfied. Great even for a newcomer
I had never used a digital camera before purchasing the A620. I wanted a camera that was easy enough for a first-timer, but that wouldn't set limits on quality and creativity once I gained experience. After two months, I am completely satisfied with my choice. After only a few practice shots, I took the A620 on a vacation overseas. The results included some spectacular photos and very few misfires. The Auto setting takes excellent pictures in a variety of settings and lighting conditions. Even with flash the camera was always ready for the next shot before I was. With the Canon rechargeable batteries I got several days of full-time use before recharging. I take most photos with just the viewfinder, but for awkward and creative angles the swivel LCD screen is a great tool. Viewing the screen in full sunlight is about the only difficulty I had with the camera. The quality of the pictures is impressive and, with 7.1 megapixels, you can do a lot of cropping and still have a high-resolution image. You'll need a much larger memory card, though, than the 32Mb joke that comes with the unit. I bought a 1Gb SD card, which holds about 300 photos at maximum size and quality. The A620 is loaded with special features and shooting modes which are fun and easy to try even if you don't use them regularly. While this model may be targeted at the hobbyist, the price is reasonable enough to make it a good choice for the beginner or casual photographer who doesn't want to put any limits on what he can do. Good Features, Easy to Use
This camera has a good amount of features but is also easy to use. This is especially important to someone like me who knows virtually nothing about photography. I used it on vacation and the quality of the pictures was still excellent even when blowing up them up to 11 X 14. The camera seems to be about the same weight as my old small point-and-shoot and it fits nicely into a small camera bag. The reference book is also easy to understand. I will be using this camera happily for many years. all true but flash hotspots a problem
I agree with what others here are saying, but feel as if I may have to return my camera because the hotspot caused by a flash that cannot "throttle" down on its own, is bothersome. Very bothersome. I may put a piece of frosted tape or plastic in front of the lens to help, but I certainly should not have to do this. Lens problems
Loved the camera but both the originally ordered one, and then its replacement, had lens problems. The original had a nick/scratch INSIDE the lens. The replacement did not. The replacement DID have a very distinctly visible band of cemented glue ALL the way around the INSIDE of the zoom lens. The original did not. Called Canon and their CSR apparently took a look at an A620 they have in their center and said he saw the same thing and that it shouldn't be a problem. Whatever. I expect a purchased-new product's construction to be perfect. At least give me the illusion of quality control and standards. Shame Amazon won't replace it again. Maybe the third one would have been the charm. *****UPDATE***** Amazon did send third replacement. But this one had noticeable vibration and noise when focusing and the "shake" warning came on with EVERY shot even when I sat it on a table to test it. Kept the one with the ring. Does almost everything well - making it the best choice.
This is an outstanding small camera. It is difficult to call it a "point and shoot" considering the number of advanced options. It has most of the core features offered on even upscale 35mm cameras just a decade or so ago, updated for digital. Regardless, those seeking family shapshots will find it very easy to use (the "basic" users guide covers everything), while the more advanced features (covered in the "advanced" users guide) will appeal to more serious photographers. In addition to the standard shooting modes (full auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual, and so on), one will find complete control of white balance, numerious pre-programmed color modes along with full color adjustment, the ability to use auxiliary lenses and filters, and more. Picture quality is impressive for such a small camera - better than any 35mm point & shoot camera ever used. Images are sharp, with colors vivid and accurate. Focus and exposure metering are spot on (even more so with spot metering and selectable metering zones available). Lens aberrations (barrel distortion and edge blurriness) are virtually undetectable in "real-world" photos. Purple fringing, a problem with some digital CCD sensors, is not a major issue here. The flash is perhaps the weakest point of this camera. Not horrible, but obviously could be better. Like most compact cameras, red-eye with flash pictures can be a problem. There is a red-eye reducing flash mode and the camera has a built-in filter to address this, but neither fully eliminated the problem with all subjects. An external slave flash, such as the Canon HF-DC1 or more fully featured Metz 28 CS-2, may offer some relief in this regard. But, even if one eliminates the red-eye problem, the flash is still too weak, located too close to the lense, and not automated enough - too often resulting in over-exposures, vignetting with close subjects (even more so with the conversion lenses), and not enough light for distant subjects. One is almost forced into existing light photography with this camera, but the results are certainly worth it. The Canon .45x wide angle (WC-DC58N) and 1.7x telephoto (TC-DC58N) conversion lenses are a blast to use. As explained in the "advanced" users guide, these require a special lense adapter (sold separately) attached using the bayanet mount hidden under the large metal ring at the base of the primary lense. The ring is removed by pressing silver button on camera body to the bottom right of the lense. These two increase coverage from 24mm wide angle to about 245mm telephoto. However, vignetting prevents the use of the entire zoom range. With the telephoto, for example, vignetting starts just below 80-90mm, limiting use to above that - offering a zoom range with the conversion lens of roughly 180-245mm. The lense adapter also accepts standard 58mm filters, but many (light correction, color effects, and so on) can be simulated in the camera. I did extensive research (magazine and user reviews, as well as several trips to the camera store) before deciding on this particular camera. In that process, I was able to narrow the list of possibles down to six - this camera, the FinePix E900 (weak low light focusing), the PowerShot S80 (strange lens adapter and too easy to accidently turn on), the Cybershot DSC-V3 (discontinued in this market, but still available if one hunts), the Olympus SP-350 (somewhat sluggish performance), and the Pentax Optio 750z (weak viewfinder, weak focusing, and somewhat sluggish performance). None of these other cameras performed especially poorly, which is why they made it into the final selection list. So, even with the minor issues noted, any of them would be a good choice. However, this camera, the PowerShot A620, just seemed to do almost everything well - ultimately making it the best choice in this camera category. Note: Several reviewers here have expressed doubts about the soft plastic door over the USB and A/V connectors. When I mentioned this to a repair tech at a local camera shop, he allowed me to try pulling the door off a store damaged camera (dropped flat on it's face on the hard tile covered cement floor). While I'm sure the door will come off if pulled hard enough, it is a lot tougher than it appears. Great Camera- does everything you would want
I have had a number of digital cameras over the years, and this is the best so far. It is quick to turn on and be ready for a picture (quite telling in some cameras). It takes the pictures quickly and prepares for the next one (the card doesn't seem to make a difference for me- I have a 512M SD- nothing special). I will also say it has a weight and substance to it that makes it seem "real" rather than plastic as some cameras feel. I know some people like a light camera, and this isn't it. This is for photographers who want a good camera- not something you shove in your pocket. Good work Canon! superb deal
This camera is definitely a great buy for someone who wants a quick action camera with remarkable picture results.....For a 7mp I think the price was great.......just bought my camera last week and it is just as I thought it was....it is a bit bulky but then very comfy to hold when taking shots.......I also bought a 1gb San disk card which can take upto 515 pics on highest resolution.......which is good..........movie quality good too so far so good i am satisfied Shutter Stuck Open
Probably a good camera. The one I rec'd shutter was defective. Returned it and bought the Canon A540 - very pleased so far with this camera for less $[...]. Great Camera
I love this camera! It is so easy to use, takes great pictures, and makes downloading pics to my computer a snap. I do recommend a larger memory card because the card that comes with the camera won't hold many pictures. Once you start snapping, you'll want lots of memory for lots of pictures. I can't say enough about the colors and clarity of the pictures. The camera is weighty enough that I don't worry about dropping it. The smaller, lighweight cameras make me feel like I'd be apt to drop or break, but there's a substance and heft to this camera that I like. I'm sure there are superior cameras on the market, but for the money, this one can't be beat! Saurabh Gupta
Camera has good amount of features. It very easy to use. This is especially important to me who knows virtually nothing about photography. I used it on vacation and the quality of the pictures was still excellent even when blowing up them up to 11 X 14. The camera seems to be about the same weight as my old small point-and-shoot and it fits nicely into a small camera bag. The reference book is also easy to understand. I will be using this camera happily for many years. Excellent product!!
I'm impressed with the quality of the image that this camera can give. It's excellent. I compared it with the photos of other cameras, images taked in the same place, in the same hour and the difference is notable. Then I printed some of the photos and the bright of the colors and the sharpness of the image is amazing. I really recommend it. A lot of flash, little sizzle
I bought this camera after seeing the rave reviews for it on Amazon. I figured a Canon camera, with 7.1MP and 4x optical zoom under $250- how could I go wrong. When the camera came I was disappointed with the small size of the screen- only 2" versus most of the competitors that are 2.5" and yes it does make a big difference in how the picture looks. Big deal the lens swivels around, and after a day or so you will get tired of that. It does nothing to actually help the camera. And also if you look at the lens from the side it is hazy and lacks color, which is a sign of a cheap screen. Also notice this camera takes four large batteries whereas most of the competition takes only two. These extra batteries make it almost impossible to fit this camera in your pocket and weigh the camera down. Most importantly I was disappointed with the optics of the camera. 4x zoom should come in clearer than what this camera delivers. Objects only 30 feet away will come in faintly and will lack crispness. One should not have to buy overpriced, proprietary lenses to take a good picture. A better bet would be the Fuji Finepix with 9MP which is more portable and has much better resolution. I love it
Sometimes I want to kiss my camera and have its babies. I needed a replacement for my Sony digital camera, which I used only to take pictures of friends and simple things like that. I wanted another one to use for the same reasons, and this one had great reviews and all so I chose it. HOWEVER, once my camera arrived and I started playing with it, my interest in photography grew immensely. This camera's practically unlimited user power and incredibly sharp images blew me away. No longer did I want to take pictures of people, but of beautiful landscapes and interesting macros. This camera got me into photography. I now find myself wanting a digital SLR. Anyway, this camera has impressed me more than I expected; and I had pretty high expectations. It was probably the best 200 dollars I ever spent. I'm really not exaggerating, I absolutely am in love with this camera. Do yourself a favor and purchase this if you're on a hunt for a digital camera--stop reading the reviews (and don't forget to purchase a bigger memory card). Canon A620
Bought this right before our vacation from Adorama Camera, delivery was prompt and complete. All of the reviews we read on this product are pretty much on target; positives - takes a great pic - love the rotating LCD - easy to use...put it in auto and aim and shoot negatives - the download cable interface cover is totally cheap and is bound to fall apart after a handfull of uses...get a SD reader and move images direct from the card (don't mess with the cables) - LCD is very hard to see in direct sunlight - every time you cycle power, it goes back to default settings (e.g. when the flash is disabled, power cycling returns it to enabled...but I'm sure there's a way to change the default settings) tradeoffs - it's physically a bit larger than some other cameras, but the CCD resolution is worth the extra size (7Mp) Not Great, Just Good.
I've been an serious amateur (if that isn't an oxymornon) photographer since 1955. Four years ago, I went digital with an Olympus 3.2 megapixel Camedia. Love that camera, but started having problems (over-exposure in all modes, and contrast off especially in macro. After six months of study, I decided on the A620, and am moderately happy with my decision. I should explain that, no matter how much investigating you do, you'll never know if you made the right decision. When I bought the Olympus, the choices were limited to perhaps four 3+ megapixel cameras. Now, with a hundred choices, your chances of getting the ideal camera are slim IF you know digital cameras at all. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. A620 pros: Easy to use. Menus are well laid out, though the primary button on the back of the camera could have "easier" more readable buttons. But once you get used to them, they're fine. Love the various special effects that you can add to your pictures. And even the movie mode will give a decent movie if you have a 1 gig card. The LCD is fantastic, and revolved 180 degrees. Not that I expected to take a self-portrait, but I actually have used the easy-to-see (in most any light) LCD for all kinds of shots. The viewfinder (a must for those of you who are looking at any digital camera) is good, and off by only a degree or two. Pictures are sharp and the lens is as good as Olympus Zuiko, and that's going some. Before I forget, I'd give Canon an A+ on its software. It is downright simple and though I might have to use Thumbs+ or Photoshop for minor tweaking, this software is a snap on layouts and printing. Many who have written about Canon's software call it "weak" or "for beginners only." Well, I'm no beginner, and it's a pleasure to get a composite print or contact sheet set up and printed in 5 minutes. Portraits and landscapes are excellent. Closeups...see below. It's fast. It has the feel of a 35mm camera. It has some weight and it's comfortable. The zoom is very good. Cons: Can't turn off flash in Auto mode. The macro is trickier than the Olympus and doesn't always produce good results. One trick is that you press the shutter button half-way before taking the picture, and you'll get better focus. Half of my pictures are macros, and I've been somewhat disappointed. I think that going to the manual mode is the solution, and that may put off most who go the digital route for more than just point and shoot. The warning light for using a tripod seemingly comes on 80% of the time. Admittedly, we've had rain in California since I bought the camera, but I have no trouble keeping the camera steady and, in low light suituations, letting the flash do the rest. I'd recommend the camera, but if you're looking for one that you can just tuck in your shirt pocket, this isn't for you. Just what I wanted
This was delivered quickly, and very securely. I had moved from an A60 to this - it is fantastic. Outstanding camera and don't forget extra memory
Canon has never let me down (after owning three already). I love this camera. So simple to use. Take it out of the box and start shooting. I had to adjust the pixelation as I used out of the box (no extra memory) and because of the outstanding quality from higher pixelation I ran out of memory. That's my only suggestion. Otherwise sit back, smile really big, and say "Cheese". Very Pleased
This is a great little camera. I may be easy to please (coming off a 1.3 pixel Vivitar) but this camera is fast and takes superb pictures. And the batteries have yet to go dead. I did a lot of research before chosing this camera and, in my opinion, it really paid off. no doubt,just buy it
5 star pictures 5 star video 5 star battery life 5 star wait time (before you take a new picture) it's more then 2 months i have been using this camera,and it is perfect..if i have the chance to go back to the time i bought this camera , i would buy the same Easy to learn and fun to use
I purchased this camera to take pictures of my little 2 year old. I was very happy to find that it was very simple to use. It has many functions for the more advanced person (I will probably not use them). But straight out of the package, I was taking pictures almost immediately. My only complaint is the door on the camera that houses the USB connection does not always shut very well unless you really work it to shut. All in all, I enjoy the quality of the pictures that I have taken thus far. Fantastic Camera!
This camera has delivered everything promised and more! Relatively simple to use and produces great shots. I researched several cameras and decided on this one. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made! Great value and great price -- hard to beat! Canon A620
Takes great pictures, if any negative it's that there are so many options you don't know what all to use. Hard to Beat at this Price Point
This is a great camera for the casual point-and-shooters ... but it has room to grow for those who increase in skill. It has enough manual control that the more experienced photographers will be satisfied, especially since you can't fit a D-SLR in your pocket ;-) Despite it's size, this camera has lots of good stuff, such as 7.1MP, shutter and aperture control, 4x zoom, flash intensity adjustments ... but one of my favorite features of this camera is the vari-angle LCD. This allows me to compose the shot with the camera above my head or below my waist. Plus, when I flip the screen towards my favorite subjects (my 2 toddlers), it makes them smile or laugh because they love seeing themselves in the LCD. This makes it a lot easier for me to capture their happy faces. So parents, I suggest looking for this feature in any camera you are considering. Money's worth
I have wanted a digital camera for a long time, but haven't bought one due to knowledge and cost. I did some research on line and this camera kept coming up as the camera of choice. I found the cheapest price on Amazon.com. I paid a few dollars extra for shipping because I wanted it right away. The camera has paid for itself already. I have taken hundreds of pictures of my kids, etc.. Very easy to download to computer (even without software). Can switch pics easily to a format that's fast to send email. The video function is very easy to use and takes great videos. With a 1gb card, I can take almost 512 pics on one card without having to download any. I haven't bought rechargeable batteries yet, but that will be my next purchase. The AA have lasted for quite some times considering how much I use the camera. Worse case scenerio, I run to any store and buy some more for a few bucks. Highly recommended!!! Perfect Services
The item was delivered on time and I was very satisfied with the seller. Good Camera
It's good and picture quality also good. I saw two problems one this camera needs 4 batteries and size is big. Photo Junkie
It is my first digital camera and I have now used it for four months. My assessment of it is that : Advantages: 1. It has a great resolution, great colours and an absolutely fabulous print quality. 2. 7 megapixel allows substantial cropping of images. 3. Great battery life. 4. Flip LCD is fun to play with. Disadvantages 1. The flash sometimes gives bright spots. 2. Small Screen; While most of it's competitors give a 2.5" screen this one only has a 2" screen. 3. Heavy; It uses four AA batteries which makes it heavy. This is not a carry in my pocket camera. All in all, it is camera meant for ameteur photography enthusiasts. I will recommend Cannon A700 above this camera for the following reasons: 1. Bigger screen 2. Uses two AA batteries which make it lighter and easier to use. 3. The biggest advantage is that is has a 6x optical zoom which is a big plus as compared to a 7 megapix. At the time I bought my camera A700 was unavailable so I went with A620 which is a very decent and does its job pretty well. GREAT CAMERA
I am not Camera savey but I really am pleased with this camera. I bought the 1G memory card also with it. There is sooo much to learn & do with this product. The easy options/pictures on the camera make it easier for me to learn what it can do.I found the other reviews on this site really helped me make my decision. The video option is the coolest.I am VERY happy with my purchase.......... Pleasantly Surprised
Having used two other digital cameras for the past 4 years, I was forced to buy a new one when the last one stopped working properly. I spent hours looking at options and features and comparing prices. I could not be happier with the Canon Powershot A620. After reading some of the reviews that talk about the large size of the camera, and the flimsy door that covers the data port, I was not getting my hopes built up too far until the camera arrived. This camera is smaller than my last one, and fits very nicely in your hands and is comfortable and easy to handle. As for the flimsy door, get over it. It serves its purpose and as long as you don't treat it like it's made of steel, it will probably be fine. Now, all that out of the way, here's what I really think. For less than $300, I bought the camera and a 1G SD Memory Card. In a resolution much higher than is necessary for 4.5x6" snap shots, I can take more than 500 photos on the card. I played with the camera for more than a week before the AA batteries started going dead. Now, we've been more than two weeks on the rechargeable batteries, without being recharged. We have stored close to 250 photos, and probably taken twice that while learning what all the camera can do. It does have some nice, fancy features, but it's also easy to use for someone who wants to just point and shoot. However, the camera does have its way of telling you where it is focusing or if it is in danger of being blurred by shaky hands. If you watch for this, you can readjust before taking a picture. One thing that I am the most pleased with is the speed of turning on the camera and shooting the first picture, and any subsequent pictures after that. FAST!!! (For a digital camera) I would say it's less than 2 seconds from the time you turn the camera on, until it has flashed the 1st picture if you can move your fingers that fast. There is a way to turn the review off so it's instantly ready for the next picture. It is taking me a little time to get used to what the camera prioritizes for aperture and shutter speed, but I am not disappointed with the camera at all. Another thing I really like is the swivel ability of the LCD screen. I hope this helps someone else make the decision easier than I did. Dot's review
I am a novice when it comes to cameras. This is only my second digital camera and I am very pleased with it . It has deliverd great photos. It is user friendly, so far, as I have not read the entire book. Would recommend it to all.! Canon Powershot A620 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom-User review
The camera provides excellent feature,great image quality, and reasonable price. I bought the camera one month ago. The ease-of-use and fast operation make it a very competent midsized camera for beginners. I have not explored all its functions at different photographic situations,but till now everything is ok and I have nothing to complain about it. Based on those excellent features, I think it is a very successful digital camera. Great Camera
This is a terrific camera for a modest price, easy to use even for a beginner like myself. I was "forced" into digital photography when it became more difficult to get film and film cameras. This camera has made me wonder what took me so long! My only complaint is the paltry memory that comes with the camera, but I bought a 1G memory chip for about $40, so no problems there. I would recommend this camera to anybody. Digital Camera
This camera takes really good pictures and has several features. There are so many setting that make it easy to take shots. I only wish it was a little smaller. I really like the pop out screen and it also will shut itself down when you haven't used it a long time to save battery power. Still finding new things that it does. I would recommend this camera. sbp
This is a good camera. It has red eye correction. Portrait and landscape modes are there which are good for photography. It is a bit bulky camera since it requires 4 AA batteries. Easy software installations. Easy to save the photos on computer. GREAT CAMERA !
I lost the first A620 that I purchased last year. I immediately ordered a new one to replace it. Owner of several hi-guality digital cameras, but this one is the best so far. Found picture quality with cameras that zoom more than this one to be lacking. Beware of large zooms. Would have ordered newer model with auto image stabilization, but they don't have adjustable screen... which is feature that you find yourself not being able to do without. Great picture quality and speed is super fast. Adjustable view screen makes it unbeatable for setting camera down, framing your picture and using timer to take pictures. I set it up to take 3 pictures in rapid succession with the timer...eliminates a bad photo with someone blinking or bad expression. Screen rotates to let you see what is in frame when you hold it up high to take pictures over peoples heads. Screen also folds in to protect itself while in your pocket. Great price with Amazon.com and fast shipping as always. AA rechargables is another great feature. Don't have to fool with special chargers or batteries. A little larger than some cameras but will still fit in purse or pocket nicely. Flash is better than with other smaller cameras. Put in a 1 GB memory card and you can take many many pictures on your longest vacations. You will love this camera! Nice camera
We are enjoying our new digital camera. It's easy to use (camera and software), and takes a wonderful, clear picture. Great for the price
I have had this camera only for a month but it has been great so far. Most of my experience has been with the automatic settings and the pictures have generally been great. The only problem have been with a few focusing issues but the great majority of the pictures have been excellent. I have not yet started working with the manual adjustments available with this camera so I can't comment on this aspect. Again, it has been well worth the purchase price. Great Camera Great Value
I searched and read a lot of reviews especially on cnet.com (great site). for 7megapix it was a super value. Plus a 4x optical zoom. There were a lot of higher priced smaller camers.. but they were only 5-6 mp. For me i wanted the highest mp. We bough this for my father and I ended up buying one along with my sister. Our family now owns 3 of these. I would recommend a higher sd card. 1gb will hold about 300 pics at the highest settings. Beats Nikon Coolpix S5
I like Nikon cameras because they have a good name and I've never had a problem with them. I was ready to buy a Nikon Coolpix S5 when I visited my local camera store and the salesman showed me the Canon Powershot A620. His main objection to the Nikon was there was no viewfinder. The LCD display would wash out on a sunny day. The A620 has both and the A620's LCD display is adjustable to a zillion different positions. Right then and there I was sold. The A620 is bigger and easier to hold. The hump for the batteries also adds extra finger grip for holding it. The shutter button is large and away from the other buttons. The A620 uses 4 AA batteries. At first I thought this was a negative. But the saleman said it was a positive. If the batteries are dead, in a jam its easier to buy AA batteries than special photographic batteries. He sold me a AA rapid battery recharger which includes NiMH batteries. I can also use it for my Garmin i5 PND (personal navigation device). I have read some reviews that feel a camera that uses two AA batteries is better than one that uses four. Do they realize that four batteries last twice as long as two? The A620 is a 7 Megapixel camera, the S5 was 6 Megapixels. The A620 has a 4x zoom optical lens, the S5 was 3x. I bought a one Gigabyte SD memory card for storing pictures. At 7 Megapixels per picture, it holds 320 pictures. The only problem I have is that I am not familar with Canon cameras and the instruction manual isn't very clear. I've had to figure things out through trial and error. I had no problems figuring out how to turn the flash off as this was identical to the Nikon. One of these days I'll finish reading the instruction manual. My total purchase price for the Canon A620 including the SD card, recharger, and carrying case was less than the Nikon S5 alone. Ease of use
Camera easy to use right out of the box. Very good picture quality. Excellent camera
I did a lot of research on digital cameras before I purchased this camera. I was mainly looking for a good macro setting and the option of manual settings. This camera has both. I also really like the adjustable LCD screen, I get creative with my shots and being able to angle the screen in different directions really helps. The battery life is great, I've taken nearly 500 photos on one set of batteries. There are a ton of settings so you will need to read the instructions. It also has a totally automatic setting which makes it very user friendly. I highly recommend this camera. Excellent Value for the Price
The A620 is an excellent value for the price. This is my fourth digital camera and I strongly recommend it. The camera takes outstanding photos, sports a high resolution of 7.1 MP (great for cropping and/or printing 8X10 photos), is relatively small and lightweight and provides both fully automatic and manual modes. The A620 uses 4 AA alcaline batteries. Battery life is excellent, however, I would recommend purchasing rechargable batteries as this will save you money in the long run. Also, get ready to buy another SD memory card as the 32mb one provided with the camera will only hold about 9 pictures when camera is set to the highest resolution mode. Great camera for the beginner and advanced user. Yes, you can buy a better more capable digital camera, but you will pay much more. This camera fills an important gap between basic entry level cameras and more advanced ones at a price that is fantastic. It's really good!
The camara is easy to use and I can get very clear photos. I don't like very light camaras so this one is very suitable for me. Great for the techno-phobe
Excellent choice for the teen/adult who knows a little about photography, but nothing about digital cameras. I could take photos straightaway, yet 20 minutes with the user manual was also hugely rewarding. Camera is a bit bulky (fist-sized) and like other digital cameras, can devour batteries if one uses the LCD monitor a lot. I recommend getting some Energizer rechargeable batteries. Great camera
The Powershot 620 is a great camera... Lots of range, multi-adjustable viewing screen. It has so many shooting options that I don't think I will ever outgrow this camera. If you are thinking about purchasing one, definitely get a larger memory card-- the one that comes with it only holds 15-20 pics at a reduced size. Excellent camera, especially for the price
My first digital camera....and I love it. Excellent pictures, incredible resolutions, great settings for pets and kids, foliage, portraits, etc. Software was exceptionally easy to install and use. Highly recommend this camera. I guess research really pays off...
A previously owned a Sony DSC-P73 4.1 Mp, 3X Optical Zoom. I must say it's a VERY good camera, specially for the price. Simple, small, convenient. It was my introduction to the digital camera world and I am glad I started out with that model. I learned the quirks and the language of digital cameras. What their strengths were and also their weeknesses. Since consumer electronics' value decline rapidly over time, I decided to sell my SONY off, and buy myself a new camera. I spent over 2 months CONSTANTLY researching digital camera models based on several factors. My priorities were: 1. Under 300. 2. Can record video with sound. 3. It's picture quality has good proffessional reviews. 4. More than 3X optical zoom. 5. Uses standard batteries. 6. Compact. 7. Uses SD memory. I found many partial matches, and a few complete matches. This CANON resulted winner.. and I am glad it did. The few gripes I had with my previous SONY are now gone on this CANON. Picture Quality is SUPERB 99% of the time. Colors are VERY accurate, even with flash!!! Video quality is unbelieveable! I still haven't used all the shooting modes, but every one I use is just amazes me even more. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating on this. Sure, it's not a DSLR - and I'm sure it will never replace one. But for someone like me, searching for a more-than-a-simple-point-and-shoot camera, it's excellent! My only tiny tiny gripe is that it's a bit heavy... I'd say roughly double the weight of my Sony. But not even that is enough to subtract the well earned 5 star rating. If you're looking for a camera and have somewhat the same priorities as I had at the moment of purchase, Go for it!! it's a best cost-benifit goods
although it's still a little bit weighted than I expected, but it is still a very good camera. the only thing I think cause it's heavier is that it needs 4 AA batteries. just as the other canon camera, it couldn't mark the date and time on pictures, the only function that you can mark it is while you print it out. so if you don't care about it. just go ahead and check it out. Love this camera!!
I bought this camera primarily to be used to take photos of items that I will be selling on eBay. The quality of the close ups is awesome. I feel this will help me get my eBay business off the ground. A620 review
We have a small photo business at the beach and needed a small point and shoot camera to always have at hand. The A620 is used to back up our older G5 and the new Rebel XT. It is easy and quick to operate and yeilds a high quality image. Overall, a great, easy to operate little camera for the money. Someone just took my review!! This camera is GREAT!
R. Laracuente, You just took the words off my lips!!! I also previously owned the SONY DSC-P73 as my first digital camera. Because my previous camera was such a GOOD one, I found myself to be somewhat picky before purchasing the next one. Reason I started researching was because my old one started malfunctioning w/in 1-1/2 years of usage. Things I looked for were: GOOD quality images, Video with Sound, uses SD (instead of Sony's annoying Memory sticks), Cheap, and Easy to Use. Since I never used a Canon before, I was worried about the Image quality and ease of use. But with so many good reviews, I had to try it out. This camera just stood out from the REST of the cameras because of it's A+ rating on every site and having the LEAST negative reviews. I admit, I am happy with my purchase. Never knew I could take pictures this GOOD! Negative Side: A/V door is extremely flimsy which worries me to an extent. Still sturdy, just flimsy. Also, the Lens cover on my camera seems a little uneven (Doesn't seem to close as properly as my sony digital). Not sure if it's with all cameras or just mines. Seems to work fine though. Another Quality Canon Product
This is another quality product from Canon. For the price and quality, you would be hard pressed to find any other camera to beat this one. Images are very decent and menus are user friendly. I would have been happier if it was lighter but then you cannot get everything. I have no hesitation in advertising this model. WOW What an Upgrade!!!
Back around five years ago I bought a canon A 20 2.1 mega pixel camera (for about $200 more then this A 620) and it is a good camera, but really only good for good 6 by 4's. So I have been waiting to upgrade to a better camera, with at least 5.0 mega pixels and when I saw this one on amazon a 7.1 mega pixel camera for the price of a 3.0 mega pixel and saw all the good reviews I had to get it. And I am very pleased. This camera is a nice small size, not to small, it has a good feel to it. It has tons of point and shoot features along with some features an expensive SLR would have. You can just shoot on AUTO or you can go all the way to manual. The pictures I have taken so far have been very very sharp, and the features pretty easy to use. I love the color boosting features for high saturation (reminds me of shoot agfa ultra 50 print film (which does not exist anymore) and the macro is fantastic. I will stop there with the features you can explore those yourselves. Let me finish by saying I am very pleased with this Canon A 620 and I would highly recommend this camera and get yourselves 1-2 1 GIG SD cards to go with it. The card that comes with the camera is too small to do much. Canon Powershot A620
Started taking pictures right out of the box - the quality of the pictures is very impressive even in the automatic mode. Extremely happy with the zoom capability of the camera. At 7.1MP, picture segments can be cropped and printed as 8 X 10 while still maintaining the overall clarity. Very happy and satisfied with the purchase and the product! Great camera at a great price
As far as bang for your buck, I don't think it gets any better than the Canon A620. The image quality is second to none, while it also offers an amazing array of features of settings to be as creative as you want when taking photos. It is a little bulky, so if you're looking for a camera to take out on the weekends to clubs or bars, I would recommend something else. However, if you're an aspiring photographer, or just someone who wants to take amazing photos, buy this camera. I would consider myself a novice when it comes to photography, but this camera makes my photos come out looking like I'm a pro. The camera also offers a great macro feature if you're into that. All in all, you can't find a better camera for this price range. Great Camera
I've had this camera for about a month and absolutely love it. We recently took a trip to the beach and I made remarkably clear pictures from our fourth floor balcony. I was also able to get some great night shots of the full moon over the water. If I had more knowledge of the settings, the pictures would be even better. I recommend this camera to anyone wanting a great digital camera that doesn't require alot of photography knowledge. Review from the standpoint of a novice user
This review is intended for people who, like me, are buying their first digital camera after years of using disposables. I can't comment on whether it would suit the needs of experienced photographers. I bought an A620 a month ago, in anticipation of a vacation, and can offer the following observations: (1) This camera is quite easy to use as a point-and-shoot. The instruction manual will have you up and shooting within 5 minutes of opening the box. Understanding more of the camera's features will require an evening or two with the manual. The camera has both a variety of automatic settings (an all-purpose "auto" plus settings for indoor, beach, fireworks, pets, etc.) and also allows extensive direct control of various parameters, which will undoubtedly be enjoyable to learn. In short, this is easy to use immediately but offers plenty of room to grow. (2) Features that are important, or not: (a) Megapixels: 7 megs appears to be more than a vacation photographer really needs -- photos at this level appear suitable for conversion into poster-size prints. However, both image size and resolution can be set lower; a 1 GB memory card can hold several hundred pictures at the 4x6 snapshot quality. (Note that one absolutely must buy a larger memory card than the very small one included with the camera, which only holds a handful of photos. A 1 GB card will add about $50 to the overall price.) (b) Heft: This camera is too big to fit in a pocket, but not at all heavy carried in a shoulder pouch. I found the mini cameras I sampled too small to get an easy grip on. The A620 fits very nicely in the hand and can be gripped firmly (important for non-blurry shots) by the side compartment. The battery compartment and cable compartment doors are amazingly flimsy -- especially when you first open the box, be very careful installing the batteries since the door looks like it will break in a moment if moved the wrong way. The door over the cable connections is simply a cheap fold of rubber, which I suspect will have fallen off within a year. (c) LCD and viewfinder: Not all digital cameras have traditional viewfinders. The A620 does. I think a viewfinder is essential, since the LCD cannot always be viewed, especially in bright outdoor light. Note that the viewfinder on the A620 is slightly offset from the camera lens, so photos taken using the viewfinder will be "off" a bit. This is something one either needs to learn to adjust for, or plan on doing some cropping on the PC later. The LCD on the A620 swivels out, which is very handy. Not only does this protect the LCD (by folding it in when the camera's not in use), but the LCD can be angled in various ways to help take shots aimed low or high, or flipped all the way around for the inevitable self-protraits. (d) Batteries: This uses 4 AA batteries. I used the same 4 throughout my 2-week vacation and they are still going strong. One should get a set of rechargeable AA's and a good charger (this will add another $40 or so if you don't scrimp). I wanted a camera that uses AA's since my main interest in having a camera is travel photos, and AA's are available everywhere. (e) Movies: The A620 can shoot nice quality video, although the sound quality suffers from an unavoidable motor-like background sound. (f) Zoom: Digital cameras advertise both digital and optical zoom. I understand now the difference between the two, and can summarize it in lay terms: Optical zoom is "real" zoom, performed with the lens, and digital zoom is, in effect, an auto-blur feature. I find the digital zoom useful for using the camera in a pinch as a pair of binoculars, but only the optical zoom produces nice photos. This is also where the 7 megs come in useful: photos taken at very high resolution provide amazing detail, so the best way to get a close-up is to combine the optical zoom at high resolution with subsequent PC zooming and cropping. I had hoped for more than a 4X optical zoom, but that turns out to be hard to find on digital cameras without adding more weight than I wanted. (g) Connections: The camera interacts with your PC and TV through cables plugged in on the side. Downloading the contents of a full 1 GB card to my PC via the USB cable took only a few moments. The bundled software is easy to use for storing photos on your PC; it can tell which photos you've already downloaded from your camera. The software includes only a few editing features. For backing up photos onto CD, the bundled software worked poorly, but this task was easy to accomplish with the CD-burning software that came with my PC's CD-burner (Sonic). Interestingly, lower resolution photos look much nicer on a TV screen than higher resolution ones. (h) Fun stuff: There are settings for stitching together landscapes, making sepia and B&W photos, and (my favorite) swapping colors, so you can, e.g. see what your cat would look like if she were the color of your car. (3) Key lesson learned: A nice side-effect of only having 27 shots on a disposable camera was the importance that gets placed on each shot. With my new digital camera, I took an awful lot of bad pictures on my vacation. I wasn't used to the idea that every shot can be immediately checked, and not patient enough in setting up shots in the first place. By making it almost TOO easy to take pictures, a digital camera also makes it too easy not to put any thought into them. (4) Conclusion: Overall I'm very happy with the A620. I dropped a star since I think Canon knows how to build more solid compartment doors -- there shouldn't be anything flimsy on a product like this. Otherwise I think this is a great starter camera, which should keep snapshot photographers happy for a long time. Powershot Camera
This is a great small camera. Very light weight and easy to carry around. The download feature for your pictures is easy. Best . Digital. Camera. Ever.
I had been hesitant to enter the world of digital photography, having only a few years ago broken down and technologically upgraded to a Canon Rebel from my completely manual 5 lb. Mamiya/Sekor. I was pleased with my decision, finding I enjoyed the luxury of internal light metering, auto focus, and built-in shooting modes, in addition to being able to set everything myself in Manual mode. So I decided to look into digital cameras. I chose to stick with the Canon brand and, as a Digital rebel is several thousand dollars out of my range, I settled on the PowerShot A620. I thouroughly enjoy being able to set aperture priority and allow pictures without a flash (but a very steady hand instead). In addition to taking gorgeous high-resolution pictures, it's good to know that I can buy a teleconverter lens, a macro lens, and even an underwater case for the camera, allowing me to upgrade without buying a new camera. Also, I enjoy some of the bells and whistles featured on this camera, particularly the features in the My Colors mode, which let me swap two colors, or choose an accent color in an otherwise black and white photo. While this won't replace my two manual cameras, just as my Rebel won't replace my Mamiya/Sekor, I am completely satisfied and would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a high-quality digital camera that's easy to use whether you're a novice or professional. The best buy I have had so far !
The batteries just never dies. Quality of picture is more than what I have expected. I have had other digital cameras before but this one is the best one I have used. I'm planning to buy 2 more for some friends ! Canon Camera 7.1mp
The Aperture Sensor was not working so almost every photo was pitch black since the lens did not open. I took 28 photos, including the Space Shuttle Launch, Peabody Hotel ducks, Disney area, and friends. Due to the appeture not working, only 4 photos actually took. I inserted the original SD card, and out of 14 photos, only 2 took--it was not the card. It was returned for a replacement, and I'm off to Yellowstone National Park to try it out. The Wolf Camera salesman said it was a factory defect that was extremely rare and any problems always show up in the first 90 days. Super fun camera
I did a fair amount of research, reading reviews and checking prices and finally decided on this camera. The day after I got it, our company sponsored a class given by a professional photographer and she said this was a great camera -- the kind of thing she'd take on vacation, so I felt I had made a good choice. Since then, I have been photgraphing kids and grandkids, as well as the staff and volunteers where I work -- the pictures are great and stand up to being zoomed in on and cropped without getting fuzzy. I love it! High-performance workhorse on a budget
4 AA batteries lasted about 400 photos, a few videos, and a lot of playing-with-all-the-features time. And the camera suffered no ill effects from being dropped and banged a few times at concerts and bars this summer. The camera is a bit large and not as chique as it's wafer-thin competitiors, but it has all the features of those cameras at a 40% discount. Also, while the LCD display is about 1/3 the size of the largest of the wafer-thin cameras, its colors are vivid, and I am able to see the pictures in sunlight. Video and sound are impressive, as is the incredible zoom capability of 7.1 MegaPixels. For example, the small print on a wine bottle 20 feet away was sharp and readable. Great Camera so Far
Upgraded from Olympus Stylus 300 and what a difference a few years makes. Shoots pictures fast, and has an amazing amount of settings. We really like the color shooting mode where on one of the features you can focus on just 1-color and everything else is black and white. Took some amazing red-only 4th of July pictures with my kids. I was worried about battery life since it didn't come with a rechargeable battery but the set that came in the camera lasted about a month taking several hundred shots. Purchased Energizer rechargeables and they are working great to avoid purchasing new AAs each time. There are 2 cons with this camera compared to say the Canon SD450, the first is size, it is a large camera - but it is worth it for the quality of pictures it takes. The other con is the screen size, the SD450 has a much bigger screen size and is much smaller. If you're looking for a great camera that has most of the bells and whistles of this camera but is smaller choose the SD450. If the highest quality shots is your number one priority, then buy this camera. BEWARE LENS MALFUNCTION!
I bought this camera on 6/2/06 and loved it,until today. I was taking pictures of my grandson when the lens began to malfunction. It makes a horrible grinding noise when you turn it on or off and the lens has trouble extending and retracting. I called Canon and it must be shipped to them to be repaired. They only have one service location in the U.S. and they cannot estimate how long it will take. I have to ship it via UPS or Fed Ex and must insure it. I am NOT happy NOW! Someone else eluded to this problem, so heed their advice and BEWARE! so far so good
I used this camera to take pictures at Niagara falls and it was capturing both the people and the background rather well. I am satisfied with it. Great camera, excellent value!
I bought this camera after my older Canon Powershot A85 broke (my fault). It is basically the same camera in terms of operation, but it has some nice upgraded features that I really liked. The moveable screen allows you to easily set up timed shots, photograph over a crowd, or take pictures of you and a friend. The 4x zoom is a nice upgrade from 3x; it does make a big difference, and the 16x digital zoom allows for extreme closeups. Even with the 16x zoom, the pictures come out very clear and well-focused. Another feature I love on this camera is the photo stitch. It allows you to take multiple, overlapping pictures of a panoramic area and stitch them together seamlessly on your home computer. I just returned from a hiking trip to Utah, and I was able to take amazing panoramic photos that were really 12 or 13 pictures stitched together. This camera takes excellent quality pictures all the time. I am extremely happy with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great camera in the $200 range. The Powershot A620 is great
I particular enjoy the underwater mode that filter out the blue. Of course it has to be used with a waterproof housing. No Image Stabilization -- Show Stopper I was interested in this camera because of the swivel LCD. It looks really good in all areas, but it is missing a very important feature essential in cameras at this time: Image Stabilization It is making its way into all lines of cameras, including the Canon Elph series. Sony, Kodak -- they are all moving towards image stabilization. I have used several cameras with image stabilization and I will never go back to a camera that doesn't have it. The 2" LCD is also small by today's standards. The Kodak EasyShare One is selling at a very | ||