Product Description

Canon's extremely popular A Series reaches a milestone with the PowerShot A650 IS, its new top-of-the-line camera. 12.1 megapixels offers unparalleled resolution for a compact camera, while the powerful 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer Technology delivers clear, blur-free images in low light and all through the zoom range. Hallmark A Series value includes Canon's latest generation DIGIC III Image Processor with enhanced Face Detection Technology, ISO 1600 and Red-eye Correction for sharp, superior quality images.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6604 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Canon
• Model: A650IS
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Dimensions: 2.20" h x 2.70" w x 4.40" l, .66 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• 12.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
• 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD display
• Face Detection technology and in-camera red-eye fix
• 21 shooting modes, including 9 special scene modes; Print/Share button
• Powered by 4 AA-size batteries (4 alkaline batteries included); stores images on SD memory cards (32MB memory card included)

From the Manufacturer
Canon's extremely popular A Series reaches a milestone with PowerShot A650IS, its new top-of-the-line camera. 12.1-megapixel resolution offers unparalleled resolution for a compact camera, while the powerful 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer Technology delivers clear, blur-free images in low light and all through the zoom range. Hallmark A-series value includes Canon's latest-generation DIGIC III Image Processor with enhanced Face Detection Technology, ISO 1600, and red-eye correction for sharp, superior-quality images.

The PowerShot A650IS is equipped with many of Canon's latest features, such as DIGIC III Image Processor, Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake and shooting modes to capture any scene perfectly. In addition, the A650IS is compatible with optional shooting accessories such as wide-angle and telephoto converter lenses.

Top-Level Core Specifications
12.1-megapixel resolution with Canon DIGIC III Image Processor and high-quality 6x optical zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer for exceptional image quality.

The PowerShot A650IS is Canon's first A-series camera to feature 12.1 megapixels of resolution. With this easy-to-use, compact camera, you can capture images and blow them up to poster size with no pixilation. Take part of an image and enlarge it for professional creative effects.

DIGIC III Image Processor
With DIGIC III, your images boast superior quality, the camera operates at top efficiency and battery life is enhanced. What's more, DIGIC III enables Canon's Face Detection Technology and Red-eye Correction to give you better, more true-to-life people shots. Simply press the Shutter Button halfway down, and the camera automatically pinpoints the faces in the scene and chooses the ideal focus point. The camera controls exposure settings and flash to keep every face looking bright and natural. Red eyes can be corrected during playback.

iSAPS Technology is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the fast DIGIC III Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.

6x Optical Zoom Lens with Optical Image Stabilizer
The long, powerful, genuine Canon 6x optical zoom will take you right up close to get just the shot you want. Canon's advanced Optical Image Stabilizer Technology corrects camera shake (common at long focal lengths and in low light) to keep your shots blur-free in any situation. Optical Image Stabilizer uses gyroscopic sensors to detect motion and generate a corrective signal, effectively reducing camera shake.

See the Image Beautifully with a Wide Viewing Angle
Optical viewfinder plus large high-quality 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD screen for flexible viewing at low and high angles.

The camera's 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing, or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture and wide viewing angle to make shooting, playback, and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. Clear and bright, it also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light. The vari-angle design lets you swivel the LCD screen 180 degrees to the front of the camera and display either a mirror image or a non-reversed image so you can shoot from just about any position.

Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology sets the focus, exposure, and flash automatically, leaving you free to compose a group, capture an unguarded moment, or coax the perfect smile.

DIGIC III features Face Detection technologies, giving the you best possible results in any shooting situation. Face Detection AF/AE sets the focus point and exposure for the faces of your subjects. Face Detection FE adjusts the flash to correctly illuminate your subject to provide the best balance between your subject and the overall scene, eliminating the common problems of over- and underexposed faces.

Red-eye Correction detects and corrects red-eye during playback. In unusual cases where red-eye is not automatically detected, it can easily be corrected manually during playback mode.

The PowerShot A650IS features ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto settings that reduce the effects of camera shake and sharpen subjects in low-light situations, giving you greater shooting flexibility.

Easy to Operate for Beautiful Photos
Easy-to-use Mode Dial with a wide range of shooting modes from fully manual to fully automatic; including night snapshot mode, which reduces image blur in low-light shooting.

This is the digital camera that takes care of you, so you never have to worry about anything. Just turn the simple Mode Dial and instantly you can handle any shooting condition. Choose from Auto for most situations, Manual when you're feeling creative, Movie, or Special Scene for superb shots in Night, Snow, Indoor, or Beach settings, among others.

21 Shooting Modes, Including 9 Special Scene Modes

Shooting Modes
Advanced presets for the best possible photos under certain conditions.

Auto
The camera chooses all the settings so you can concentrate on your subject.

P Program
Access advanced exposure compensation features while shooting mostly automatically.

Av Aperture-priority
You define the aperture to either isolate your subject or have clarity throughout the entire picture, and the camera will choose the corresponding shutter speed.

Tv Shutter-priority
You select the shutter speed to stop or blur action, and the camera finds the appropriate aperture. With slow exposure times, Canon's noise reduction system activates to ensure low image noise.

Manual
The ultimate in creative control, you set both aperture and shutter speed manually.

C Custom
Define and store your own settings to achieve the effects you prefer.

Portrait
The camera sets a large aperture, focusing the subject and artistically blurring the background to make your subject "pop."

Landscape
For front to back sharpness, the camera sets a small aperture.

Kids and Pets
Reduced focusing time freezes fast-moving subjects, so you won't miss those special shots.

Night Snapshot
Get natural-looking pictures with brighter backgrounds and subjects lit by flash.

Stitch Assist
Build awe-inspiring panoramas by neatly aligning sequential images.

Movie
Shoot in VGA (640 x 480 at 30 frames per second [fps]/30 fps LP), QVGA (320 x 240 at 30 fps) for up to 1 hour or 4GB), or QQVGA (160 x 120 at 15 fps) for up to 3 minutes.

Special Scene Modes

Foliage
Capture brilliant shots of autumn foliage, greenery and blossoms.

Snow
Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint.

Beach
Get clear shots of people at a sunny beach without darkened faces.

Fireworks
Grab brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks.

Night Scene
For impressive sunset or nightlife shots, the camera properly exposes the background and uses slow-sync flash for the subject.

Aquarium
Achieve proper flash-free exposure and natural hues at indoor aquariums.

Underwater
Capture underwater images with reduced backscatter effect. (Note: Optional waterproof case WP-DC18 required for shooting any underwater images. Case not included--must be purchased separately.)

Indoor
Reduce blur and improve color accuracy when shooting handheld indoors.

ISO 3200
Expands the user's ability to shoot in dark settings without using the flash.

The Complete Print Solution
Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading, plus ID Photo Print and Movie Print with select PIXMA Photo Printers, CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers.

The PowerShot A650IS's Print/Share button makes direct printing easier than ever. Simply connect the A650IS to a Canon CP, SELPHY, or PIXMA Photo Printer or any PictBridge compatible photo printer, press the lighted Print/Share button, and print! Also use the Print/Share button to transfer images to a computer (Windows and Macintosh).

Print your own ID photos in 28 different sizes or use the Movie Print function to output multiple stills from a recorded movie on a single sheet with a Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printer.

What's in the box:
Canon PowerShot A650IS digital camera, AA-size alkaline battery (x 4), 32MB SD memory card SDC-32M, wrist strap WS-DC4, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB interface cable IFC-400PCU, AV cable AVC-DC300

Customer Reviews

Best A-series Canon yet -- worth the upgrade
I'm a long-standing fan of A-series Canons. I started with the A40, went A80, A95, A620, A640, and now this A650 - yes, it's out there, earlier than expected. They all have excelled in picture quality, but each has brought something new to the game. Most improvements between top end models were notable but fairly marginal (ISO increase, bigger screen or MP). My most recent move from the A620 to A640 was one of the smallest. The A640 had higher megapixels than the A620 and a bigger LCD but offered little else besides a black case. Then they went and stuck the SD card in behind the battery door -- a real bummer continued into the A650.

The A650, though, is a major reboot for the series. Improvements from the A640: 12MP; image stabilization; a 6x lens that's much improved from any previous A series glass; a higher resolution LCD that's the same size as the old A640 but produces much better quality images; a distance sensing flash that won't blow out subjects close to the camera. This works better than manual flash level method when out of Auto in old A640; there are the DIGIC III improvements: red eye removal tool, face sensor, better shot-to-shot speed, longer battery life; a higher ISO 1600 is there and a 3200 (in lower resolution) plus, in my experience, less noise in the lower ISOs when comparing it to the A640 ISO to ISO; a better viewfinder; a new interface for picture playback shows the grid images but slightly enlarges the chosen picture over the tic-tac-toe -- a nice improvement. Finally, there's a focus check that pulls in the focal box image for quick perusal (still love to have a live histogram), and an "auto" ISO that'll bump up the ISO to prevent blurring -- this works, but I prefer to choose (it's selectable off/on). That's a big pile of improvements from one camera to the next. The 6X G-series lens and image stabilization are enough to make the jump but packing in all the rest makes this a worthy move for A640 users.

What else? They've changed the button layout a bit, adding a direct ISO button on the back -- nice. They've also added a much-needed gauge for zoom/wide. You can finally see where you are in the zoom range -- very nice and needed. The viewfinder has an expanded reach that's an improvement over the A640 as well, though I rarely compose with the viewfinder since you are still getting 80% or so of the final image. This camera also brings a new sensor, bigger than the A640. This is a relief, since the print size for a jump from 10-12 wouldn't be huge. But squeezing more MP out of the previous sensor would have brought noise. Canon did things one better and upped the size of the sensor and the pictures really sing for the improvement.

It maintains the usual A-series pluses: runs on AA batteries (four of them - best for the quickest flash recharge), has easy capacity for add-on lenses for telephoto and wide, plus underwater cases, and has the same wonderful flip out screen of the top-end A series cameras (this time with a much needed pixel count increase -- there's much better resolution here). Also the usual full manual control, the many shooting and `scene' modes (21 of them), and a custom slot for your favorite settings are still there. So far, it seems perfectly in line with the A series consistent reputation for image quality.

I did feel the A640 delivered a more contrasty image than the A620. This new A650 produces images more in line with the A620, they feel richer and I feel like the mid-tones are brighter than with the A640 so they don't have the same contrasty out of camera quality of the A640.

What's the downside? Well, really only one major caveat here: The build quality. The A620 was a solid machine. The A640 was nice as well, the black case felt good in the hands. The A650 takes a step back here. The design, with the split silver/black casing already looks cheaper than the old A640. But then, flip the zoom button and you can feel it. The lever is lighter and makes a sort of unsatisfying clicking. It doesn't say "quality." And when the camera body is in your hands, it feels cheaper. It weighs a few ounces more than its predecessor does but it's a larger camera. Instead of a 2 oz. bump, you'd expect five or six based on size alone. They obviously didn't skimp on the glass (lens) and the features are well, you'd be hard press to want for anything (aside from RAW support) here. But the body feels truly plastic. Flip the switch on the A640 that moves you from playback to record and do the same on the newly redesigned A650 and you can feel it. The A650 switch feels light and cheap.

In addition, and no surprise, there's no native RAW support. The lack of RAW may be a non-issue eventually, as free hacked firmware is available (and likely warranty killing) to get DIGIC II cameras to do RAW. DIGIC III is likely right around the corner. But Canon does so well in the lower ISOs that you get a great image "in camera." And this new machine has dialed back the NR so that there's more detail in the higher ISOs. I can't imagine using ISO3200 (they've dubbed it 'cell phone') but the usability of ISO 800 is remarkable. This is from someone who hates noise and tends to stick with ISO80 whenever possible. It's not an F-series Fuji in the low light, but in some ways, it's better. There's more detail and depth than the Fuji with a bit more noise. But no Fuji has the picture quality at lower ISOs in normal light like a Canon. This A-series takes the best images yet from any A-series camera -- and at 12mp! All the feature improvements are very, very welcome (big zoom and IS) but the fantastic image quality is really the bottom line.

Does many things well
I wanted the tilt/swivel LCD of the A640 but knew that model must soon be upgraded. I waited, and as soon as this A650 came out, I bought it. My recent experience is mostly with a Nikon D50 SLR (and before that, many generations of film SLRs). This purchase is our "small" camera, less obtrusive than the big black Nikon, easier to tote on a casual walk, less obvious in a social occasion, easier to smuggle into places where photography is "not permitted."

The A650 has exceeded my expectations in many ways. Looking at their images at full resolution on a calibrated monitor, there are only slight differences between the Nikon and the A650: mainly, the A650 betrays a slight blue fringing of high-contrast details in the extreme edges of the frame. This most likely betrays the smaller, cheaper lens design (the lens on the Nikon cost more than the A60 camera!). Aside from this flaw, only noticeable under extreme enlargement, I don't see any difference in sharpness, saturation, or accuracy of color.

Although it is small alongside an SLR with zoom lens, the A650 is a chunky handful compared to tiny point-and-shooters from, e.g., Panasonic. It won't fit in a shirt pocket unless you wear a lumberjack's shirt, but it is small enough to get into the hip pocket of my Levi 501's, or into the slash pocket of a windbreaker. Part of the bulk is because it uses 4xAA batteries instead of some small, proprietary battery. This is a huge plus in my view: batteries are available everywhere, and I already have a charger and a box of rechargeable AAs.

The menus are clear. The controls are like other Canon Powershot models, so would be familiar to Canon owners. Coming from a different brand, I had to get used to the various buttons, which was not difficult, a testimony to the sensible design of the Canon. Most common options are available from a single "FUNC SET" button that pops up a terse menu on the LCD. All the key actions are ready to hand: deleting the most recent image, awkward with some cameras, is quick and easy; setting Macro/Normal/Manual focus, or Flash On/Auto/Off, is also quick.

The tilting, swivelling LCD is a great feature! You can store it face-in, so it won't get scratched in a pocket or glovebox. You can turn it completely around to compose a picture of yourself. You can turn it face-down so you can hold the camera high over your head and compose a shot over a crowd, or turn it face-up so you can hold the camera at your side and take stealth shots walking down the street. The LCD is bright, but on a sunny day you must still shade it to read it.

This camera even does very decent video! It will put 15 minutes of 640x480/30fps video on a 2GB chip. Recently I needed to record a lot more than that, and the A650 was the only camcorder handy, so I set it to do 320x240/30fps. That format allowed over 45 minutes of recording on a 2GB chip. Using nothing but the naked A650 (no tripod, no external mic) I got acceptable amateur video of a family reunion dinner, capturing speeches and interviews clearly. Using Apple's iMovie and iDVD, I was able to mail out DVDs of the occasion to participants in a few days. The A650 would certainly serve any parent wanting to capture a school play or dance recital.

Good image quality, convenient controls, video ability, an LCD that does the hula -- what's not to like? Well, there are a few minor things to complain about.

One, the optical viewfinder is near-useless, a disappointment to me as I am used to composing in the optical finder of an SLR. There's no picture info in the finder. It crops a good 10% from the actual image. The barrel of the lens protrudes into the finder image at some zoom ratios. The LCD is the only practical way to compose. The finder is a barely-useful fallback when the ambient light is so high the LCD is unreadable.

Two, you zoom by swivelling a lever left or right, and I just can't get it straight whether I push left or right to zoom IN. And, the zoom is hard to control: after I push the lever the wrong way, I push it the other way and quickly overshoot the composition I want, and have to zoom back, jerk, jerk, jerk. There is just no comparison to rotating the zoom ring on the barrel of an SLR lens, which is a smooth and natural way to compose.

Three, a camera with this quality of image, and support for aperture- and shutter-priority as well as full manual control (all of which it has) really ought to support RAW. The "fine" mode JPGs are indeed good quality but how hard could it be to just NOT process the image data?

An irritation that the manual in fact warns about: the in-camera microphone captures every sound of your fingers on the controls. If you zoom during a video, the click-clack of the zoom lever is very audible on the soundtrack.

Finally, I have yet to test the A650 in low-light, high-ISO situations. I have hopes that the upgraded "DIGIC III" processor will do well, but can't say that it does. Other than these issues, the A650 in daily use is pleasant and comfortable. I expect to get many years and images out of it.

Beyond Outstanding!
The first reviewer did such a fantastic job reviewing this camera there is little more I can add.

As a professional photographer, I've owned a lot of cameras. I still have and shoot medium and large format film but in the smaller 35mm size, I now shoot nearly 100% digital. For my small digitals, I own several of the G-series and a couple of the A-Series PowerShot cameras, including the A710IS. It's a very, very good camera but I did not like the flash, battery life, or the non-flip LCD viewer.

Canon fixed the flash, doubled the batteries, and put the flip-LCD in! Also, the new SD-SDHC cards are supported. The San Disc 4GB Extreme III with the card reader is the perfect flash memory card for it too.

This is, by a wide margin, the best "pocketable" camera available on the market today at any price. The words "Landmark Product" come to mind.

If the nearly $400 takes your breath away, save up for it and wait until the price drops a bit.

For those like me on the perpetual upgrade treadmill spending $400-$700 every year for the incremental features we need and want, we've finally reached that illusive destination!