Canon Powershot A650IS Digital Camera

Product Report for the Canon PowerShot A650IS Digital Camera

Rating:

Price*: Used: from $279.00. New $435.00

Introduction: I've written in the past about the Canon A640. It's a well put together camera. But it's gotten even better with the newer A650 Model which is the model this Product Report is all about. Canon increased the number of megapixels, going towards 12MP like they should. They've also introduced image stabilization and an above average 6x optical zoom. The 'A' series Canon cameras are great, with simple automatic settings for novice users and full manual controls for those who want to experiment. The A650 IS is a camera you can grow into, and provides you a lot of potential in a small point-and-shoot package.

Product 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)

Technical Details:

Color: Silver
Type: 1/1.7-inch Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
Total pixels: Approximately 12.4 megapixels
Effective pixels: Approximately 12.1 megapixels
Focal length: 7.4 to 44.4mm (35mm film equivalent: 35 to 210mm)
Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4.8
Optical zoom: 6x
Digital zoom: 4x (24x combined zoom)
Focusing range: Normal: 1.6 feet to infinity; macro: 0.39 inches to 1.6 feet (wide)
Autofocus system: TTL
Viewfinder: Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
Display: 2.5-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color vari-angle LCD with wide viewing angle
LCD pixels: Approximately 173,000
LCD coverage: 100 percent
Shutter speed: 15 to 1/2,000 of a second (settable in Tv and M)
ISO sensitivity: Auto, high ISO auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1,600 equivalent (standard output sensitivity, recommended exposure index)
Light metering method: Evaluative, center-weighted average, spot
Exposure control method: Program AE, shutter-speed-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, manual, AE lock, safety shift, auto ISO shift
Exposure compensation: +/-2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
White balance control: Auto, preset (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H), custom
Built-in flash: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash off, FE lock, slow synchro, second-curtain synchro
Flash range: Normal: 1.6 to 11 feet (wide), 1.6 to 6.6 feet (tele), when sensitivity is set to ISO auto
Recycling time: 10 seconds or less
Flash exposure compensation: +/- 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments
Shooting modes: Auto, P, Av, Tv, M, C, portrait, landscape, special scene (foliage, snow, beach, fireworks, night scene, aquarium, underwater, indoor, ISO 3200), kids and pets, night snapshot, stitch assist, movie
Photo effects: My colors (vivid, neutral, sepia, black and white, custom)
Self-timer: Activates shutter after approximately 2- to 10-second delay, custom
Wireless control: N/A
Continuous shooting : Roughly 1.2 fps
Storage media: SD memory card, SDHC memory card, MultiMediaCard, MMC Plus card, HC MMC Plus card
File format: Design rule for camera file system, DPOF v. 1.1
JPEG compression mode: Still image: Exif 2.2 (JPEG); movie: AVI (image: motion JPEG, audio: WAV)
Number of recording pixels: Still image: 640 x 480 (small), 1,600 x 1,200 (medium 3), 2,592 x 1,944 (medium 2), 3,264 x 2,448 (medium 1), 4,000 x 3,000 (large), 4,000 x 2,248 (widescreen); movie: 640 x 480 (30 fps/30 fps LP), 320 x 240 (30 fps) available up to 4 GB or 1 hour per clip, 160 x 120 (3 minutes at 15 fps)
Playback modes: Still image: single, magnification (2x to 10x), jump, auto rotate, rotate, resume, histogram, index (9 thumbnails), sound memos, red-eye correction, RAW playback, resize, image inspection tool; movie: normal, special playback
Erase modes: Still image: single image, all images; movie: part of movie, all of movie
Computer interface: USB 2.0 high speed (mini-B jack)
Video out: NTSC/PAL
Audio out: Monaural
Other: Memory card slot; direct connection to Canon CP and SELPHY compact photo printers, PIXMA photo printers and PictBridge-compatible printers via camera's USB 2.0 high-speed cable
Power source: 4 AA-size alkaline batteries, 4 rechargeable AA-size NiMH batteries, AC adapter
Shooting capacity: Still image: approximately 300 shots (AA alkaline batteries); approximately 500 shots (NiMH batteries)
Playback time: Approximately 1,080 minutes (AA); approximately 1,140 minutes (NiMH)
Item width: 4.41 inches
Item height: 2.67 inches
Item depth: 2.21 inches
Item weight: 10.58 ounces
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
In the box: PowerShot A650 IS, 4 AA-size alkaline batteries, SD memory card, wrist strap, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB cable, AV cable, user's manual

Overview:

In the Canon Powershot A650IS digital camera, Canon has retained what makes the A-series so special: full manual control in a compact camera that runs on AA batteries, four of them in this case.

But full manual control in the A-series cameras doesn't mean just control of the aperture and shutter speed. It also means variable flash power, so you can shoot with fill flash and trigger an external slave flash. And unlike many compact digital cameras, the A-series can be expanded with a range of conversion lenses -- all of which enjoy the built-in image stabilization of the Canon A650 IS.

This model from Canon is my idea of the classic camera. It's a great learning tool for anyone who wants to explore their aptitude for photography. And it has a very pleasing image quality along with some excellent optics.

Customer Comments:

I cannot really talk technical jargon, but I really like it. It won't fit a shirt pocket. It's a little bigger because this fat piece kind of juts out and its a little heavier, but it's a nice camera that takes great pix. It takes AA batteries, which is a Godsend when your power goes and you are somewhere shooting pix. You can buy AAs anywhere. You can also buy AA rechargeables if you want. It has a nice flip out LED screen too. It's simple to take photos or movies with. The 6X optical zoom with the range of the lens really lets you get up close and personal with this camera. I am still getting to know it, but I like it. It was highly recommended to me. It is compact, just not as compact as some others. It is a little bigger than the 5 pixel Minolta I upgraded from.Although not part of the package shown here, mine came with a photo printer that you do not need to hook to a PC, so one is available. This camera will also accept a 2 gig SD, which some cameras do not, as I understand it. (Update: April 2008, I was at a Barry Manilow concert recently and took close up pix of him with this cam where you could see the sweat rolling down the side of his face.) Kathy W in Baltimore, MD

Amazing camera with one caveat. I've used this camera for over six months and have found it to be flawless. It gives far more control and options that most cameras in this class, almost equal to a basic DSLR. At max resolution (make sure it's set to that) the images are amazing for this class, given the type and size of the camera. Why didn't I give it five starts? Because the shutter lag is quite long, much more noticeable that in some other PowerShots. For example, I've compared with the A630 and A720IS, and this camera takes significantly longer to squeeze off the first shot after tripping the shutter. So, this camera really doesn't work as well for action shots or momentary opportunities or "quick draw" shots as some of the other PowerShots.As long as you keep that limitation in mind, though, it's a superb camera. AH-1Z in Sacramento, CA

Excellent small camera for serious photographers who don't always want to carry something larger. Articulated screen lets you shoot low to the ground, Hasselblad style, for great angles with kids, pets, etc. And over your head, which would wouldn't do with a 5 lb Hassy. High pixel count makes the digital zoom a real usable option (on the telephoto end) instead of a toy. Lots of control, unbelievably long battery life.Overall, a fabulous camera. D. Leinweber in Louisiana