Overview

The Canon PowerShot A700 is a compact digital camera. It offers 6 megapixels resolution and a large 2.5 inch LCD display, that can boost the brightness of the preview picture in low light conditions. In addition to the LCD, an optical viewfinder is also available, a feature that a lot of other compact digital cameras are missing.
The PowerShot A700 also impresses with its 6 times optical zoom, in a camera class where a 3 times zoom is the standard.
To reduce image blur and allow for shooting in low light conditions, the A700 offers a high sensitivity setting (ISO 800).
While high quality movies can be recorded in 640×480 and 30fps, the PowerShot A700 also comes with a high speed movie mode, allowing you to record up to a minute of fast moving action at 320×240 with an amazing 60 frames per second.
The camera should be suitable to both inexperienced and demanding photographers alike, as it features both fully automatic and pre programmed scene modes, as well as full manual settings.

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Available Reviews

• Canon Powershot A700 review at ephotozine
• Canon Powershot A700 review at cameras.co.uk
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at imaging resource
• Canon Powershot A700 review at Popular Photography
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at Megapixel.net
• Canon Powershot A700 review at LetsGoDigital
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at DPInterface
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at DCRP
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at Steve's Digicams
• Canon PowerShot A700 review at dpreview

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Specifications

Resolution: 6 megapixels
Focal Length: 35-210mm, 35mm equivalent
Optical Zoom: 6 times
Exposure Modes: Program AE, Scene Modes, Shutter Speed-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Manual
Macro Mode: 0.39in. / 1cm
Movie Mode: 640×480 at 30fps, high speed mode: 320×240 at 60fps
Shutter Speed: 15-1/2000 sec.
LCD Display: 2.5 inch
Storage Media: SD card
Battery: 2 AA type batteries
Dimensions (H x W x D): 3.72 x 2.62 x 1.71 in. / 94.5 x 66.5 x 43.4mm
Weight: 7.05 oz. / 200g, body only

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Press Release

Canon’s newest quartet of A-Series digital cameras—the six-megapixel PowerShot A700 and the PowerShot A540 models, the five-megapixel PowerShot A530 model, and the four-megapixel PowerShot A430 digital camera—add an array of advanced, enhanced, yet easy-to-use features into compact and eminently affordable packages. These four new models expand upon Canon’s success as A-series models have captured the number one digital camera position for three years consecutively1.

Among the featured enhancements on the PowerShot A540 and A700 digital cameras is a newly designed six-megapixel image sensor that together with Canon’s proprietary DIGIC II image processor helps to dramatically reduce “noise” for better image quality and achieves ISO equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800. This increased sensitivity allows the use of faster shutter speeds, thereby reducing the effects of camera shake and subject blur during hand-held photography in low light.

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This formidable photographic foursome can brilliantly capture fleeting images in the blink of an eye. What’s more, a quick review of the shot on any of these cameras’ big and bright LCD monitor reveals whether that image comprises the perfect moment captured forever or whether it should be condemned to death by deletion (in time to take another photo worth keeping).

From close-ups capturing the unabashed joy of a baby’s face, all wide-eyed innocence, chubby cheeks and gummy grin; or powerful panoramas, vast vistas and once-in-a-lifetime looks at nature’s wonders, to the family functions and memorable milestones that punctuate life’s journey, these new pocket- or purse-sized PowerShot digital cameras easily create enduring images that depict and define special moments in time.

“While ‘the one that got away’ has always made for good fish stories worthy of perhaps a thousand words or more, the perfect picture is the one that is captured for all to see and not the one almost captured if only…. These new A-series PowerShot digital cameras reaffirm Canon’s commitment to creating affordable, simple-to-use digital cameras that produce extraordinary quality images for the everyday picture-taker, the special occasion-shooter and the newcomer alike,” stated Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Indeed, it is that very commitment to affordable imaging excellence that has made our A-series PowerShot digital cameras America’s number one choice for the past three years1 and it is a tradition we intend to continue for many years to come.”

The PowerShot A700 Digital Camera
A new addition to the line-up of PowerShot A-Series digital cameras, the PowerShot A700 model features six-megapixel resolution together with a retractable 6x 35-210mm optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent). The A700 model incorporates 22 shooting modes from fully automatic to fully manual to achieve optimum results for any photographic application. The new camera is also compatible with optional wide angle and telephoto lens converters, as well as a close-up lens and a wireless flash unit.

The A700 model offers ISO equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800 with dramatically less noise at ISO 400 than previous PowerShot models. The camera also features a large 2.5-inch 115,000-pixel LCD color monitor, making it easier than ever to review captured images and even to do limited in-camera image editing and retouching such as a new Face Brightener function to help compensate for backlit images. The PowerShot A700 digital camera will be available in March for an estimated selling price of $349.992.

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DIGIC II Image Processing Technology—Hi-Speed USB 2.0
True to the PowerShot tradition, the A-series cameras have many of the latest advances in Canon technology including the proprietary DIGIC II imaging processor. The processor enhances picture definition, vibrancy, and quality, while helping increase the speed of the cameras’ startup, autofocus, shutter response, playback, and image processing speed while reducing power consumption by 35 percent compared to the original DIGIC chip. Consumers benefit from accelerated image transfer speed (when used with a USB 2.0 compatible computer, printer, or other peripheral), thanks to the inclusion of a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port3. The USB 2.0 port is backwards compatible (at no increased speed) with computers featuring standard USB 1.1 connections.

New Features and Special Effects
All of the new models offer a new widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting that facilitates creating panoramic-style prints. Additionally, all PowerShot models support 23 languages (now including Thai and Arabic). The new cameras have an improved direct printing function that permits greater flexibility in print settings, including a face brightener setting for backlit photos.

Canon also enhanced the “My Colors” mode found in the new PowerShot line. Where previously, users could only enable “My Colors” while shooting, the current iteration permits captured images to be retouched as well, without the need for special software applications or tools. Available “My Color” playback modes include Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, and Vivid Red; lighter and darker skin tones, as well as options for creating black and white, sepia, neutral and positive film effects. A color accent setting turns all colors but the one selected by the user to monochrome and the color swap mode enables users to alter specific colors in an image by sampling another color from the same image or any other image on the camera’s memory card. So, “My Colors” provides PowerShot users with an incredible range of creative photo effects that can be accessed directly in the camera with no need for post-processing in a computer.

Direct Print
Like all PowerShot digital cameras, these newest additions to the A-series work seamlessly with Canon’s petite SELPHY Compact Photo Printers—an essential PowerShot accessory. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a SELPHY printer—such as the SELPHY CP510 and CP710 models. Press the lighted Print/Share button, and within seconds4, images emerge. Presto! It is that simple. Canon’s SELPHY Compact Photo Printers are PictBridge compatible. They work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras and offer excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera. At 28 cents per print5, printing photos directly from a digital camera is both easy and affordable.

Canon will debut it latest PowerShot A-series digital cameras in its booth (#3509) during the Photo Marketers Association (PMA) exhibit in Orlando, Fla., from February 26-March 1, 2006.
(source: Canon)