The main attraction of the Canon Powershot A700 is its 6x optical zoom lens. This is twice the length of a standard zoom. In addition to the increased zoom power the camera also has a number of features aimed at someone who is looking for more than a simple point and shoot digital camera. These include a fully manual exposure mode. The Powershot A700 is a six megapixel model.
I must admit to liking the Canon Powershot range of digital cameras in general and I found that the Powershot A700 upholds this reputation when it comes to picture quality. The images are very sharp. In fact this is an area where the Powershot A700 outperforms just about all other brands. I also found the camera works well indoors or in lowlight situations.
Colours are strong without being overpowering and are well balanced. This helps to achieve a pleasing natural feel to skin tones in portrait shots. It also augers well for landscape style shots and many other every day type photos.
There is a good sized LCD screen (2.5 inches) to compose photos and access the menu. A viewfinder is also available if you prefer to use one. The Powershot A700 is one of the ever decreasing number of digital cameras to offer one.
An advanced movie mode available. In addition to the standard movie mode that allows you to shoot TV quality movies there is a second type of movie you can shoot. This records up to one minute of footage at a fast frames per second speed. The benefit of this is that you can then replay the movie in slow motion. This is often used to analyze golf swings and other similar activities.
Although the good things in life are said to be free you do need to pay a fair price for the Powershot A700. Canon has set the pricing level above some digital cameras offering a longer 10x optical zoom lens. Therefore I can see it being a difficult decision for many people as to whether they go for this camera or one a little cheaper with a longer zoom lens. One factor than could work out in favour of this camera is the fact that it retains a fairly compact shape in comparison with the larger 10x optical zoom models.
As you would expect it could take you a while to become fully conversant with this camera. It is a step up from a basic point and shoot digital camera so there are more features to get to know. In general I find the menu system that Canon use to be a bit harder to get to grips with than other brands.
The Powershot A700 runs on AA batteries and stores images on SD cards. Although there is a convenience to AA batteries I would suggest buying a set of rechargeable batteries to keep running costs down to a minimum.
Plastic rather than metal has been used for the camera body. Despite this I felt the camera still had a solid feel. In terms of size it is too large to fit comfortably into a pocket. The upside of this is that it fits well in the hand and the raised grip area on the front helps you to hold the camera steady while taking a shot.
All in all I was very impressed by the Canon Powershot A700. It offers more than a standard point and shoot camera. It is likely to appeal to anyone who is looking for above average picture quality and who will also appreciate the manual controls it offers. This is a camera for someone who enjoys photography.
This article was provided by Andy Needham of Cameras.co.uk . Cameras.co.uk provides digital camera reviews, price comparisons and general help for buying digital cameras. There is also a special section where you can ask a question if you would like further help.
For a more detailed review of the camera and to see some sample images please visit Canon Powershot A700 Review
