Canon PowerShot A70 Review
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Review
Date: Sep 8, 2003 |
User's Experience
Thursday,
Aug 28, 2003 - Here's what I receive in the box:
- PowerShot
A70
- Wrist
Strap
- 4
AA Alkaline Batteries
- 16MB
CompactFlash (CF) Memory Card
- Interface
Cables: A/V; USB
- English
and French Instruction Manuals: User Guide;
Software Starter Guide; Quick Start Guide; System
Map
-
Software CDs: Digital Camera 12.0; ArcSoft Camera
Suite 2.0
The
Canon PowerShot A70 is a very attractive digital
camera with a clean and elegant design. It has
a distinctive handgrip that makes the camera comfortable
to hold.
Usually
the first thing I do is charge up the battery.
Hold on, there is no battery charger! The A70
comes with 4 disposable standard AA Alkaline batteries.
A sticker close to the battery compartment clearly
indicates how to orientate the batteries. Battery
life is excellent, but I believe most people would
still want to get rechargeable NiMH batteries.
There is no advance warning when the battery power
is getting low -- it just goes dead. That is why
it's a good idea to have 4 extra fully charged
batteries in your pocket. So, I recommend buying
the optional battery charger and 8 rechargeable
NiMH batteries (4 in the camera + 4 spare).
Speaking
of batteries, there is also a date battery behind
the rubber Terminal Cover. This keeps the date
and time fresh. If your camera is not keeping
the date correctly, it might be time to change
this date battery for a new one. Canon also recommends
that the optional AC adapter be used when transferring
images from the camera to the PC. Using batteries,
there is the danger that you suddenly run out
of power in the middle of the transfer. Don't
risk losing precious images or damaging the camera.
Either use fully charged batteries or, better,
get the adapter. I would recommend the adapter
if, like me, you transfer images every chance
you get. Using the AC adapter also means you don't
use up precious battery power to transfer your
images from the camera to your computer.
Since
I already installed Zoom Browser and PhotoStitch
when I reviewed the PowerShot
S50, I don't have to install it again. My
PC also runs Windows XP, so I don't need to install
the USB driver.
Being
here in Canada, all documentation comes in both
English and French versions.
The handy Quick Start Guide is all I need
to get the A70 up and ready for picture taking.
Read this card first before you put in the battery
and memory card.
The User Guide's small format makes it
a bit difficult to keep the pages open. I would
prefer the screen shots be a bit bigger because
I find it difficult to see what exactly they are
trying to illustrate. Otherwise, I find the User
Guide well written and I was able to find all
the information I needed to operate the camera.
I
take the time to set the A70 to the way I would
like to use it:
FUNC:
- Exposure
Compensation = 0
-
White Balance = Auto
- Drive
Mode = Single
- ISO
= Auto [sometimes, 50]
- Photo
Effect = OFF
-
Metering Mode = Evaluative
-
Image Size = 2048x1536 (L)
-
Image Quality = Superfine
MENU:
- AiAF
= OFF
- Red-Eye
= ON
- AF-Assist
Beam = ON
- Digital
Zoom = OFF
For
Shooting Mode, I mostly leave it at Program AE.
You could use it in Auto mode, but I prefer Program
AE, which works just like Auto, except it allows
you to change certain parameters (for me, basically
to specify the ISO). The rest the camera takes
care of, just like in Auto.
One thing I notice is that the A70 when set to
Auto ISO does not record the actual ISO used (it
simply says, 'Auto'). That is a bummer since without
this vital piece of information, it is impossible
to correctly determine why a picture exhibits
certain type of exposure problem. And that is
why later we decide to use ISO 50 for some of
the shots.
Well,
since there is no battery to charge, I head out
to do some quick test shots. The 16MB CompactFlash
memory card holds about 9 SuperFine Large images.
First
impressions:
I
really like the A70, its compactness (I find it
is compact enough to carry in my large pants pocket,
but a soft case is recommended), and especially
its ease of use. It is well balanced and operation
is quite fast.
The
A70 is a well-designed camera; unlike some cameras
that look like a cross between something and something
else, the A70 looks like someone took time and
care to craft a handsome piece of equipment. That's
what I find in all Canon cameras: they are 'crafted,'
whether it's an expensive dSLR or an entry point-and-shoot
digital camera. Some people mention the zoom lever
seems loose. Well, it does, but I've not had any
problem using it. Truth is, until now as I write
this, I've not even paid any attention to it in
actual use. After a while, it ceases to be a 'problem.'
The
one item I would like to see improved is the LCD.
It is not bad if all you want to use it for is
to compose and cursorily review. But if, like
me, you like to judge the quality of the
captured images and make a decision then and there
whether to keep or delete and retake, I find that
78,000 pixels resolution is not clear enough for
me. I also cannot judge if the shadows are too
dark (hence retake the shot with, say +1/3 EV,
exposure compensation). I recommend that you bracket
your exposure in extreme lighting situations (too
sunny or too much in shadow). So wish list here
is: higher resolution LCD with anti-reflective
coating.
A
Quiet Moment:
16.2 mm, Program AE, 1/200 sec., F4.8 and ISO
Auto
Transferring
images from the A70 to my PC is just a matter
of connecting the USB cable into the appropriate
slots. Move the Mode Switch to Replaying Mode,
and turn on the camera. At the computer screen
prompt, I select Zoom Browser EX and the images
are transferred. It takes about 4 sec. to transfer
one image on my PC. Once done, I just unplug the
cable at both end, and I'm done. There is no need
to turn off the computer at any time. To erase
the pictures from the camera, while in Replaying
Mode, go into MENU and select ERASE ALL.
Wish
list to Canon: Exposure Compensation is such an
important function that it must be made easier
to adjust than having to go into FUNC. Default
the Left and Right buttons to that function.
The
dedicated Macro button makes it easy to switch
back and forth into that mode. There is even a
Manual Focus mode for those who want to use this.
The
Canon PowerShot A70 is the perfect digital camera
for an aspiring photographer. Its 3 megapixels
resolution allows 8x10 in. prints; it has the
image quality Canon is famous for; plus, it provides
the features and exposure flexibility a beginner
can experiment with to learn and grow. Add an
unbeatable price, and you've got one hard-to-beat
attractive package.
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