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Canon Powershot A720 IS Digital Camera

Canon A720IS

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B&H $189.95
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Key Features of the Canon A720IS :
  • 8-megapixel Resoultion
  • 6x image-stabilized optical zoom.
  • Large 2.5" wide-viewing-angle LCD display.
  • Face Detection technology and in-camera red-eye fix.
  • 19 shooting modes, including 7 special scene modes.
  • Print/Share button.
  • Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (2 alkaline batteries included).
  • Stores images on SD memory cards (16MB memory card included).

The PowerShot A720IS is the quintessential A Series camera in a popular line that matches high-end image quality with fun; easy-to-use features deliver excellent cost performance. Top-notch specifications include 8.0-megapixel resolution and a long 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer Technology for sharp images throughout the zoom range. Canon's DIGIC III Image Processor offers advanced Face Detection technology and red-eye correction for fantastic images. Even expand your creative possibilities with wide-angle and telephoto converter lenses.

A Camera that Really Competes
Exceptional A-series camera with outstanding features such as 8.0-megapixel resolution, high-power 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer.

Top-notch core specifications allow the PowerShot A720IS to produce a level of image quality that's fully competitive with that of much higher-end cameras. A full 8.0 megapixels of resolution ensure rich depth and detail, and let you enlarge and crop images freely.

The camera is equipped with a genuine Canon 6x optical zoom to get you up close when it counts. Canon's sophisticated Optical Image Stabilizer Technology keeps your shots blur-free, even in low light and at the long end of the zoom range. Miniature gyroscopic sensors detect motion, then send a corrective signal, effectively reducing camera shake.

Canon Technology Maximizes Quality and Performance
DIGIC III Image Processor with 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.

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.

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 A720IS 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.

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.

Everything On the Go
Easy-to-use Mode Dial with a wide range of shooting modes from fully manual to fully automatic, plus AA batteries for convenience anywhere you are.

With a simple Mode Dial, the PowerShot A720IS makes it easy to access the features of the camera you'll use most. Select a scene mode, and the camera automatically sets shooting parameters to get you the best possible shot in that situation. You can also access Stitch Assist, Auto, Movie, and Manual modes from the Mode Dial. And the convenience of using AA-size batteries, no special power adapters or chargers are needed wherever you go.

19 Shooting Modes, Including 7 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Special Scene Mode

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

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.

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-DC16 required for shooting any underwater images. Waterproof case not included--must be purchased separately.)

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 A720IS's Print/Share button makes direct printing easier than ever. Simply connect the A720IS 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:
PowerShot A720IS Body, AA-size alkaline battery (x 2), 16MB SD memory card SCD-16M, wrist strap WS-200, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB interface cable IFC-400PCU, AV cable AVC-DC300



Canon A720IS Photo Samples

Click here to view more samples.
These are actual photos taken with Canon A720IS.
Photos courtesy of Flickr and belong to respective users. To view a larger image click on thumbnail.

Compare Canon A720IS with similar cameras

Name: Casio EX-V7 Nikon L5 Canon SD850 IS Canon A720IS
Megapixels: 7.1 7.1 8.0 8.0
Optical Zoom: 7 X 5 X 4 X 6 X
Max Res: 3072 x 2304 3072 x 2304 3264 x 2448 3264 x 2448
LCD Screen: 2.5 " 2.5 " 2.5 " 2.5 "
Digital zoom: 4x 4x 4x Yes, 4x
Image stabilizer: Yes, Sensor shift & Lens Yes, Lens Yes, Lens Yes, Lens
Media Card: SD/MMC card + Internal SD/MMC card + Internal SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/MMC card
Battery: Lithium-Ion rechargeable Nikon rechargeable NiMH AA's (2) & charger Lithium-Ion NB-5L battery & charger AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Weight (with batteries): 190 g (6.7 oz) 210 g (7.4 oz) 195 g (6.9 oz) 250 g (8.8 oz)
Lowest Price: $164.95 $199.95 $219.94 $189.95
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Canon A720IS User Reviews

Avg. Rating
4.5
Out of 5
This item is reviewed by 278 people so far.
Click here for complete reviews.

5
Out of 5
Vary Happy with my Canon Camera
- Reviewd on: 2008-09-04 By: Marlene Hallford
This is the first top notch camera I have ever purchased. IT is easy to use and easy to read the instructions. My purchase through Amazon was very easy and quick, plus the cost was the best. It took 4 days to get my camera and then I was sooo excited. I took it to Yosemite this weekend and took over 400 pictures. I think the screen is very easy to see. And I have rechargeable batteries, which last about 100 pictures. I also purchased a SDHC 4MB memory card which will hold over 1700 pictures. I would buy this camera again. I am very happy!!!

5
Out of 5
love my Canon
- Reviewd on: 2008-09-01 By: BeDelicious
The camera is super! Its light weight and take-it-anywhere-you-go thing. Im taking it with me every weekend when I go out and the pictures it creates are cool and satisfying. Has quite many functions that lets you make a lot of fun. Strongly recommend if you want a camera to take high quality pictures with reasonable price (when on sale) and comfortable to use. Love my Canon.

5
Out of 5
Great pictures, easy to use.
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-25 By: James Gavin
This is my first digital camera, so I had no idea which of the hundreds to buy. Consumer Reports listed this model as its "Best Buy" and that's why I purchased it. I am very happy with the quality of pictures, which are much sharper than I was getting with my 35mm film camera and I find it very easy to use, even for a digital beginner. The instruction book was a pleasant surprise as it was actually written by a native English speaker and was very step by step and easy to follow.
My computer would not accept the CD that came with the camera, and regardless of the dire warnings that you "must" download the CD before copying pictures from the camera to the computer, I took a chance and connected the camera to the computer and the pictures went to "My Pictures" in the computer without a hitch.
I seem to be getting about 50 shots, many with flash, with 2 AA batteries.

5
Out of 5
Canon Powershot A420IS
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-18 By: Drew Nancowitz
I have now had this camera for over 4 months. I use it primarily for nature photography. It is outstanding for so many reasons. My fellow photographers are so jealous that I can get within 1 cm for macro photography. I like that it has AA batteries; easily rechargeable. It's my first digital so I like that I can adjust the aperture and shutterspeed. I LOVE that I can underexpose and see it through the LCD. I often underexpose by a third of a stop for more contrast. For motion photography, I can see throught the view finder and accurately get the subject (Thunderbird planes!). The flash is quite weak but you can buy one as an accessory. You can also buy an accessory lens and even waterproofing to do underwater photography! I also like that with the digital and optimal zoom I can zoom in 24X Wow! That has helped a lot too! I feel I don't need to go to the DSLR because I get outstanding pictures with this. Well worth the price!

4
Out of 5
A great little camera and a Consumer Reports "best buy"!
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-05 By: JP
I got this camera for Christmas. It is great for most types of photos. Consumer Reports recently listed this camera as a "best buy". Its predecessor, the A710, had also been a best buy. Canon seems to update their cameras every year, so my guess is that this camera's successor is due to be released within the next few months.

If you just want a point-and-shoot that does all the work for you, then keep this camera in "auto" mode and forget about all the other settings. If you are an experienced SLR photographer, go ahead and put it in manual mode for a near-SLR experience.

I have noticed that the lens does tend to slightly, but noticeably, curve straight vertical lines. Also, as with most point-and-shoot cameras, while the LCD screen is WYSIWYG, the viewfinder is not--especially when zoomed in.

Remember that for ALL auto-focus cameras, you should press the shutter button down half way so the camera can focus on the subject. Then press the shutter button down all the way to take the shot. This is no different than other point-and-shoot digital cameras.

One reviewer complained about getting blurry photos with this camera. I have not had any problems with blurry photos. If you have a broadband Internet connection, I have posted 433 photos online that I took with this camera during a recent vacation to Japan. As you will see, there are no blurry photos. To see the quality of the pictures that this camera takes, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/jparsons.net/

Recommended supplies: I bought the Tamrac 5290 Camera Bag for it, which holds the camera snugly and does a good job of protecting it from rain. If you would like to improve your photography skills, I recommend the book Understanding Exposure.