Canon PowerShot A70 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
by Canon
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List Price: Our Price: $19.99 You Save: $380.00 (95%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon PowerShot A70 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Customer Review: Great deal on a very solid digicam.
Summary: 5 Stars
After all the years and all the digicams I've owned, borrowed and/or tested, I've come to believe that the Canons are the most reliable of the lot. While the "A Series" may be Canon's entry level lineup, they may also be their very best value. They are well built and sturdy enough, not too large to carry easily in a purse (and in fact a bit easier to grip than are the Elph models, therefore making them easier to hold steady), and they offer enough adjustable features for 99% of the digital photo takers whom I know. Happily, the A70 will also function nicely in the automatic mode for folks who just want to point and shoot. The combination of an optical 3X zoom plus a 3 megapixel resolution is truly ideal, a place where I think most users will find their "sweet spot" in digicams. The 3X (true) optical zoom is powerful enough to make itself useful in many non-portrait settings (sightseeing, sports, etc.) and the 3 megapixel resolution is more than adequate for computer viewing and storage, emailing, website posting and for printing crystal clear enlargements up to 11" x 14". Of course, the A70 offers all the expected niceties, such as easy connectability to your PC, good battery options (including disposables and rechargeables) and an almost infinitely expandable memory. Then there is the price; certainly the A70 is competitive with all other 3X/3Meg cams. This is a good enough digicam that hardly anyone who gets one will likely be the least bit disappointed.
Customer Review: Nice quality, good price (I think)
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm new to digital cameras and I'm not even sure why I bought this one. I think I got one just to do it. I'm not quite sure what to take pictures of yet, but what I have taken pictures of look very good. I don't have any other cameras to compare it to though. The images are good quality, but I wished it was even sharper than it is. When you look at the largest images (2048 x 1536) with a desktop resolution of 1280 x 960, the images are somewhat blurry when you zoom into the image 100%. It looks very good though. I took pictures of my backyard and I tested it's ability in low light. I took a picture of myself with me only being lit dimly by my computer screen and it showed up pretty well (I used the nighttime photo mode). And even if the image isn't bright enough or colored the way you want you could just edit them once you download them to your computer.
I was suprised with the quality of the video. It is very good looking, but at 640x480 it can only record for like fifteen seconds. I suppose I can make movies like Michael Bay though with thousands upon thousands of 5 second shots.
I researched different cameras and went to review sites with image quality tests and this one seems to have the best looking images for the cost. And it also seems to have the most features. The bottomline is that the images taken with this look great, the video feature looks great, lots of options to choose from and the camera itself is very sharp looking.
Customer Review: I love this camera
Summary: 5 Stars
My experience with this camera:
I have owned this camera for two years and have taken thousands of photos with it.
This camera has never broken on me. No software has ever screwed up. My belief is that cameras are NOT toys and should be treated with care - then they will not malfunction.
The available shooting options on this camera are far beyond what any other similarly priced digital camera offers. The large variety of auto/manual shooting modes and other background manual settings are really what sold this camera to me. I wanted a digital camera I could toy with and learn the ins and outs of photography with...before spending money on developing costs associated with traditional cameras. This camera is perfect for me. However, if you want a camera only to take pictures of 'haha he's rolling around drunk on the floor, quick take a picture' or 'cute little fluffykins' - this may not be the best camera for you.
As with all things electronic, it is well worth your time reading the manual. This is how you learn to save batteries/etc. I remember finding out the way to turn off the LCD display so that I could batteries, simply by reading the manual. Many complaints about power use or complicated features can be sorted out by reading the manual. I cannot stress this enough (I would be saying this about any other electronic prodcut as well, so don't take this as a point against this camera).
Customer Review: I don't understand the gripes of the other people...
Summary: 5 Stars
To me, those gripes are for 5MP cameras or higher. Soft-focus in the A70 is barely noticeble if at all. This is still considered a entry-level camera guys, so if you're a professional photographer than you're really short of money or you stink. Believe me I tried every brand 3MP camera out there, even bought and returned a couple (at places w/o restocking fee), and Canon A70 far outbeats them except for a few higher-priced, metal case, 3MP Canon models. To me in addition to the great indoor/outdoor picture quality, the biggest asset is the longetivity of the battery life. I bought 4 rechargeable 4 NiMH batteries (no-brand) and they lasted 4 days on vacation. Are you kidding me, there's digital cameras out there that need a life support system just to last a couple of hours.For those who think this has blurriness, try the Olympus 560 model. That'll make you think twice before complaining of blurriness.
Heaviness of the camera, focusing delay, and the other gripes I hear are so typical of the many who try only one camera and never did research at other brands at the same level. That means every little minor issue w/ the camera is magnified 100x if there's nothing to compare to.
But don't take my opinion for it. Read all the professional reviews, ask every salesman, and try out as many 3MP cameras you can. To me this is the best priced, quality 3MP out there.
Customer Review: Excellent Quality
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this camera two months ago and do not have a single complaint. It is easy to use (though I did have to spend an afternoon with the manual to understand the more esoteric features) and takes wonderful pictures.The batteries that came with the camera were eaten up in about two days. I decided I'd better get rechargable batteries at that rate of consumption so I picked up an Energizer kit with four batteries, and got 4 extras so I'd always have a charged set.
What I have found is that the second set of batteries probably was not necessary. We use this camera a couple of times a week for 15-30 minutes at a time - including making several movies - and after two months the original rechargable batteries are still going strong! That is much better performance than I ever would have dreamed.
The camera fits comfortably in an adult hand and is easy to operate. The only quibble I have with the construction is that the cover to remove the CF card is poorly designed - when you unlatch it, the bottom of the cover "sticks" so you have to be careful you don't snap it trying to open it. The plastic on this cover feels flimsy, like it could break easily if extreme care is not taken.
Still, anhyone with common sense will use care when handling a camera, and I haven't found this one issue annoying enough to regret my decision at all. A very good bargain.