Product Description

Owning a digital-camera can be easier and more fun than ever. The elegant A710 IS is fully equipped to help busy families capture and hold onto special memories. You'll get up on the stage and down on the field with a powerful 6x optical zoom, and Canon's Image Stabilizer Technology will keep your images clear and sharp at every point in the zoom - even in low light. With 7.1 megapixels of resolution, you'll see uncommon depth and detail in your images. Such high resolution also ensures virtually unlimited freedom to enlarge and crop an image for powerfully expressive photography. With a menu of selectable shooting modes (including still and movie), Canon Powershot A710-IS makes picture taking simpler and friendlier. Shutter speed - 15-1/2000 sec. Focus settings - Normal shooting at max wide angle, Large and Fine. Built-in multimode ElectronicFlash ISO Shoot Speed - Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, and ISO 800 equivalent Single Shot, Continuous Shooting, Self-timer (10 sec., 2 sec., Custom) White Balance Settings - Auto, Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H Shooting Modes - Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Color Accent and Color Swap PictBridge and Canon Direct Print modes USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B) for image transfer to PC or Macintosh computer Audio/Video output to TV (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio) Typical CIPA battery power (2AA) - Still Image - approx. 100 shots (AA-size Alkaline Battery), approx. 360 shots (AA-size Ni-MH Rechargeable Battery) Dimensions - 3.8 x 2.6 x 1.6 inch (97.5 x 66.5 x 41.2 mm) excluding protrusions Weight - Approximately 210 grams (7.4 ounces) (camera body only) A 16MB SD memory card is included. We suggest that an optional 512MB (or higher) SD card is a wiser choice for practical use

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2887 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Canon
• Model: 1286B001
• Released on: 2006-09-11
• Dimensions: 1.60" h x 2.60" w x 3.80" l, .46 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
• 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; Very High Quality 2.5-inch LCD display
• ISO range up to ISO 800 for less blur in low light while hand-holding, but is a little "noisy"
• 3:2 guide masks LCD to display 4 x 6-inch print size; 16:9 format option for still images
• Stores images on SD cards; powered by 2 AA-size batteries

From the Manufacturer
Along with a 6x optical image stabilized zoom, the compact PowerShot A710 IS is packed with features that make it a worthy successor to the popular PowerShot A700 it replaces. Improvements include a 7.1-megapixel sensor and new photo effects that add to the already extensive creative possibilities.

The PowerShot A710 IS maintains many of the features that made its predecessor so successful, including an extensive range of shooting modes, full manual control, VGA quality movie recording, ISO 800 shooting, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

The PowerShot A710 IS features:

• 7.1 megapixels
• 6x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
• DIGIC II, iSAPS, 9-Point AiAF, FlexiZone AF/AE
• Digital teleconverter and Safety Zoom
• 2.5-inch LCD with wide viewing angle and real-image optical viewfinder
• 20 shooting modes

Image quality
The 6x optical zoom lens achieves a focal length range of 35-210mm (35mm equivalent) while allowing the camera to maintain a small form factor. A real-image optical viewfinder enables framing without the LCD through the full focal range, significantly extending battery life.

The PowerShot A710 IS's optical IS has been specifically engineered for this compact format using the expertise Canon has gained since introducing the technology to its professional range of EF lenses. IS counteracts camera shake to reduce blur, enabling photographers to shoot at shutter speeds up to three stops slower. It also allows for steadier shots at full zoom and when using the camera's 1 centimeter (.4-inch) Macro mode. The digital IS control chip processes up to 4000 signals per second, driving precise shifts of the lens element to compensate for any unwanted hand movements. The PowerShot A710 IS's ISO 800 and High ISO Auto mode complement the optical IS by enabling high standards of flash-free shooting in low light or indoor environments.

Photographic flexibility
A new Safety Zoom takes advantage of the camera's large resolution to offer extra zoom magnification without affecting image quality. Users can capture images at up to 12x zoom with enough resolution for lab-quality postcard (10 x 15-centimeter; 4 x 6-inch) prints. Users can also select a new Digital Teleconverter to add extra telephoto reach on every shot--similar to adding a teleconverter lens to the camera.

The 20 shooting modes include Special Scene modes for help with tricky shooting environments, while Manual modes give the more experienced user complete control over exposure settings. Artistic photo effects can be applied in-camera during and after shooting with My Colors. The PowerShot A710 IS also offers a choice of five movie mode settings including VGA quality movies at 30 frames per second (fps) and QVGA at 60 fps.

LCD enhancements
The 2.5-inch LCD retains a selectable Grid Line display for help with framing and leveling. Further assistance is provided by a useful 3:2 ratio guide, which displays an overlay of the print area for standard photo prints. A new overexposure warning feature indicates areas of overexposure in captured images.

Full range of accessories
A complete range of optional lenses includes wide (0.7x) and telephoto (1.75x) converter lenses as well as a close-up lens for macro photography. The High Power Flash extends the camera's range on night shots and expands the possibilities for creative flash work. Constructed with anti-fog double glass and flash light diffusion plate, the optional waterproof case allows full control at depths down to 40 meters. (Accessories are not included and must be purchased separately.)

Technologies Explained
DIGIC II
Canon's purpose-built DIGIC II (DIGital Imaging Core) image processor links all primary camera functions for maximum efficiency. DIGIC II processes signals at high speeds, resulting in outstanding responsiveness, rapid autofocus, and extended continuous shooting ability. Advanced image processing algorithms deliver superb image detail and color reproduction with accurate white balance and minimal noise. DIGIC II operates efficiently to extend battery life, for longer shooting on a single charge.

iSAPS
iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) automatically optimizes key camera settings before every shot. Each scene is analyzed and cross-referenced against Photographic Space--a vast in-camera library of photographic data. This enables the camera to make optimal adjustments to autoexposure, autofocus, and auto white balance before image capture occurs.

9-Point AiAF
Canon's 9-point AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Autofocus) automatically scans and selects subjects from a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. This ensures accurately focused images even when subjects are not in the center of the frame.

FlexiZone AF/AE
FlexiZone AF/AE lets users manually select the focus point from almost any point in the frame by moving the autofocus window in the viewfinder. Exposure can be linked to the focus point to ensure that the chosen subject is both accurately focused and exposed.

Optical Image Stabilizer
The PowerShot A710 IS uses a lens shift-type Image Stabilizer (IS) system to detect and correct slight camera shakes that can cause image blur. Minute vibration gyros detect lens tilting caused by hand shake. These signals--up to 4,000 per second--are processed by a single-chip IS controller, which discriminates between hand shake and intentional camera movements. Shake signals are sent to the IS unit, which moves one of the lens elements accordingly to deflect the light rays and cancel out the effects of shake. For improved accuracy and responsiveness, the moving lens element is supported on tiny ceramic spheres. In addition to minimizing friction, ceramic spheres avoid some of the problems that can affect metal spheres, such as thermal expansion and magnetism. The PowerShot A710 IS's optical IS allows photographers to shoot at shutter speeds up to three stops slower with no perceptible increase in image blur.

Digital Teleconverter and Safety Zoom
Similar to placing an accessory lens on the front of the camera, Canon's Digital Teleconverter adds a constant zoom to every shot--1.5x or 1.9x, depending on the image size selected. While optical converter lenses cause a reduction in aperture and consequently require a slower shutter speed, the Digital Teleconverter maintains aperture size, reducing the risk of image blur.

Safety Zoom protects the image from interpolation at high levels of digital zoom, allowing users to extend zoom magnification without sacrificing image quality.

What's in the box
PowerShot A710 IS body, AA-size alkaline battery x 2, SD memory card SDC-16MB, wrist strap WS-200, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB interface cable IFC-400PCU, AV cable AVC-DC300

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Customer Reviews

Perfect Camera once shutter recharge lag was solved.
I purchased this camera a few weeks ago. It offers a lot of features in a small package. I like that. I have a full-sized digital SLR camera, but wanted something to carry around easily in my purse or pocket.

When the camera first arrived, I seriously considered returning it because of the L-O-N-G flash recharge. It would sometimes take 3-5 seconds before the next picture could be taken. It was only after I purchased the camera that I discovered that the A710 is well-known for this problem. However, the problem has been solved. Here's the changes I made:
1) Used high-quality rechargeable batteries. (Be careful of the rechargeable batteries as they lose charge just sitting around. Choose the pre-charged type.)
2) Set the camera on AV mode.
3) Purchased the Transcent SDHC Class 6 8gb SD card offered here on Amazon.com. I just received the card in the mail today, so I immediately put it into the camera and tried it out.

The results were AWESOME. The flash recharge problem disappeared. I guess a large part of the lag time was writing the picture to the memory card. I will never buy a "regular" SD card again!

Wonderful, but the A720 is newer and cheaper now
I absolutely love this camera. I've taken it everywhere from birthday parties to the beach to an African safari, and have gotten excellent results. And don't miss that the free CHDK hack enables some additional features such as an intervalometer so you can use it for "time lapse" photography. I love that it takes AA batteries so I never have to worry about running out of power when I need it.

I spent $350 for it a couple of years ago and think I got great value for my money. But now the A720IS is available for only $200! What's up with that? I'm going to buy the A720 for myself, and pass the A710 along to my wife (who covets it).

Above average p&s
This is a very good point-and-shoot camera which also offers enough flexibility for those interested in manually controlling some of the parameters. As such it is a good camera to play with if you're thinking about moving onto dSLR and want to see if you'll enjoy bigger control over your camera settings.

If you want to get a decent battery life, you must use good quality rechargeable Ni-MH batteries. Then, we can get almost 500 shots on a single charge. With disposable batteries, you'll be lucky to get over 50 pictures. While this is a very good camera overall, very slow flash charging between shots is a major annoyance.