Canon PowerShot A650IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Reviews

• Best A-series Canon yet -- worth the upgrade

  
  By A3QPU0MUKVWOQL on 2007-09-14
  I'm a long-standing fan of A-series Canons. I started with the A40, went A80, A95, A620, A640, and now this A650 - yes, it's out there, earlier than expected. They all have excelled in picture quality, but each has brought something new to the game. Most improvements between top end models were notable but fairly marginal (ISO increase, bigger screen or MP). My most recent move from the A620 to A640 was one of the smallest. The A640 had higher megapixels than the A620 and a bigger LCD but offered little else besides a black case. Then they went and stuck the SD card in behind the battery door -- a real bummer continued into the A650.
  
  The A650, though, is a major reboot for the series. Improvements from the A640: 12MP; image stabilization; a 6x lens that's much improved from any previous A series glass; a higher resolution LCD that's the same size as the old A640 but produces much better quality images; a distance sensing flash that won't blow out subjects close to the camera. This works better than manual flash level method when out of Auto in old A640; there are the DIGIC III improvements: red eye removal tool, face sensor, better shot-to-shot speed, longer battery life; a higher ISO 1600 is there and a 3200 (in lower resolution) plus, in my experience, less noise in the lower ISOs when comparing it to the A640 ISO to ISO; a better viewfinder; a new interface for picture playback shows the grid images but slightly enlarges the chosen picture over the tic-tac-toe -- a nice improvement. Finally, there's a focus check that pulls in the focal box image for quick perusal (still love to have a live histogram), and an "auto" ISO that'll bump up the ISO to prevent blurring -- this works, but I prefer to choose (it's selectable off/on). That's a big pile of improvements from one camera to the next. The 6X G-series lens and image stabilization are enough to make the jump but packing in all the rest makes this a worthy move for A640 users.
  
  What else? They've changed the button layout a bit, adding a direct ISO button on the back -- nice. They've also added a much-needed gauge for zoom/wide. You can finally see where you are in the zoom range -- very nice and needed. The viewfinder has an expanded reach that's an improvement over the A640 as well, though I rarely compose with the viewfinder since you are still getting 80% or so of the final image. This camera also brings a new sensor, bigger than the A640. This is a relief, since the print size for a jump from 10-12 wouldn't be huge. But squeezing more MP out of the previous sensor would have brought noise. Canon did things one better and upped the size of the sensor and the pictures really sing for the improvement.
  
  It maintains the usual A-series pluses: runs on AA batteries (four of them - best for the quickest flash recharge), has easy capacity for add-on lenses for telephoto and wide, plus underwater cases, and has the same wonderful flip out screen of the top-end A series cameras (this time with a much needed pixel count increase -- there's much better resolution here). Also the usual full manual control, the many shooting and `scene' modes (21 of them), and a custom slot for your favorite settings are still there. So far, it seems perfectly in line with the A series consistent reputation for image quality.
  
  I did feel the A640 delivered a more contrasty image than the A620. This new A650 produces images more in line with the A620, they feel richer and I feel like the mid-tones are brighter than with the A640 so they don't have the same contrasty out of camera quality of the A640.
  
  What's the downside? Well, really only one major caveat here: The build quality. The A620 was a solid machine. The A640 was nice as well, the black case felt good in the hands. The A650 takes a step back here. The design, with the split silver/black casing already looks cheaper than the old A640. But then, flip the zoom button and you can feel it. The lever is lighter and makes a sort of unsatisfying clicking. It doesn't say "quality." And when the camera body is in your hands, it feels cheaper. It weighs a few ounces more than its predecessor does but it's a larger camera. Instead of a 2 oz. bump, you'd expect five or six based on size alone. They obviously didn't skimp on the glass (lens) and the features are well, you'd be hard press to want for anything (aside from RAW support) here. But the body feels truly plastic. Flip the switch on the A640 that moves you from playback to record and do the same on the newly redesigned A650 and you can feel it. The A650 switch feels light and cheap.
  
  In addition, and no surprise, there's no native RAW support. The lack of RAW may be a non-issue eventually, as free hacked firmware is available (and likely warranty killing) to get DIGIC II cameras to do RAW. DIGIC III is likely right around the corner. But Canon does so well in the lower ISOs that you get a great image "in camera." And this new machine has dialed back the NR so that there's more detail in the higher ISOs. I can't imagine using ISO3200 (they've dubbed it 'cell phone') but the usability of ISO 800 is remarkable. This is from someone who hates noise and tends to stick with ISO80 whenever possible. It's not an F-series Fuji in the low light, but in some ways, it's better. There's more detail and depth than the Fuji with a bit more noise. But no Fuji has the picture quality at lower ISOs in normal light like a Canon. This A-series takes the best images yet from any A-series camera -- and at 12mp! All the feature improvements are very, very welcome (big zoom and IS) but the fantastic image quality is really the bottom line.
  
  

• Does many things well

  
  By A1RDKS3F25FX5F on 2007-10-12
  I wanted the tilt/swivel LCD of the A640 but knew that model must soon be upgraded. I waited, and as soon as this A650 came out, I bought it. My recent experience is mostly with a Nikon D50 SLR (and before that, many generations of film SLRs). This purchase is our "small" camera, less obtrusive than the big black Nikon, easier to tote on a casual walk, less obvious in a social occasion, easier to smuggle into places where photography is "not permitted."
  
  The A650 has exceeded my expectations in many ways. Looking at their images at full resolution on a calibrated monitor, there are only slight differences between the Nikon and the A650: mainly, the A650 betrays a slight blue fringing of high-contrast details in the extreme edges of the frame. This most likely betrays the smaller, cheaper lens design (the lens on the Nikon cost more than the A60 camera!). Aside from this flaw, only noticeable under extreme enlargement, I don't see any difference in sharpness, saturation, or accuracy of color.
  
  Although it is small alongside an SLR with zoom lens, the A650 is a chunky handful compared to tiny point-and-shooters from, e.g., Panasonic. It won't fit in a shirt pocket unless you wear a lumberjack's shirt, but it is small enough to get into the hip pocket of my Levi 501's, or into the slash pocket of a windbreaker. Part of the bulk is because it uses 4xAA batteries instead of some small, proprietary battery. This is a huge plus in my view: batteries are available everywhere, and I already have a charger and a box of rechargeable AAs.
  
  The menus are clear. The controls are like other Canon Powershot models, so would be familiar to Canon owners. Coming from a different brand, I had to get used to the various buttons, which was not difficult, a testimony to the sensible design of the Canon. Most common options are available from a single "FUNC SET" button that pops up a terse menu on the LCD. All the key actions are ready to hand: deleting the most recent image, awkward with some cameras, is quick and easy; setting Macro/Normal/Manual focus, or Flash On/Auto/Off, is also quick.
  
  The tilting, swivelling LCD is a great feature! You can store it face-in, so it won't get scratched in a pocket or glovebox. You can turn it completely around to compose a picture of yourself. You can turn it face-down so you can hold the camera high over your head and compose a shot over a crowd, or turn it face-up so you can hold the camera at your side and take stealth shots walking down the street. The LCD is bright, but on a sunny day you must still shade it to read it.
  
  This camera even does very decent video! It will put 15 minutes of 640x480/30fps video on a 2GB chip. Recently I needed to record a lot more than that, and the A650 was the only camcorder handy, so I set it to do 320x240/30fps. That format allowed over 45 minutes of recording on a 2GB chip. Using nothing but the naked A650 (no tripod, no external mic) I got acceptable amateur video of a family reunion dinner, capturing speeches and interviews clearly. Using Apple's iMovie and iDVD, I was able to mail out DVDs of the occasion to participants in a few days. The A650 would certainly serve any parent wanting to capture a school play or dance recital.
  
  Good image quality, convenient controls, video ability, an LCD that does the hula -- what's not to like? Well, there are a few minor things to complain about.
  
  One, the optical viewfinder is near-useless, a disappointment to me as I am used to composing in the optical finder of an SLR. There's no picture info in the finder. It crops a good 10% from the actual image. The barrel of the lens protrudes into the finder image at some zoom ratios. The LCD is the only practical way to compose. The finder is a barely-useful fallback when the ambient light is so high the LCD is unreadable.
  
  Two, you zoom by swivelling a lever left or right, and I just can't get it straight whether I push left or right to zoom IN. And, the zoom is hard to control: after I push the lever the wrong way, I push it the other way and quickly overshoot the composition I want, and have to zoom back, jerk, jerk, jerk. There is just no comparison to rotating the zoom ring on the barrel of an SLR lens, which is a smooth and natural way to compose.
  
  Three, a camera with this quality of image, and support for aperture- and shutter-priority as well as full manual control (all of which it has) really ought to support RAW. The "fine" mode JPGs are indeed good quality but how hard could it be to just NOT process the image data?
  
  An irritation that the manual in fact warns about: the in-camera microphone captures every sound of your fingers on the controls. If you zoom during a video, the click-clack of the zoom lever is very audible on the soundtrack.
  
  Finally, I have yet to test the A650 in low-light, high-ISO situations. I have hopes that the upgraded "DIGIC III" processor will do well, but can't say that it does. Other than these issues, the A650 in daily use is pleasant and comfortable. I expect to get many years and images out of it.
  
  

• Beyond Outstanding!

  
  By A178QO6IXBH1M6 on 2007-09-19
  The first reviewer did such a fantastic job reviewing this camera there is little more I can add.
  
  As a professional photographer, I've owned a lot of cameras. I still have and shoot medium and large format film but in the smaller 35mm size, I now shoot nearly 100% digital. For my small digitals, I own several of the G-series and a couple of the A-Series PowerShot cameras, including the A710IS. It's a very, very good camera but I did not like the flash, battery life, or the non-flip LCD viewer.
  
  Canon fixed the flash, doubled the batteries, and put the flip-LCD in! Also, the new SD-SDHC cards are supported. The San Disc 4GB Extreme III with the card reader is the perfect flash memory card for it too.
  
  This is, by a wide margin, the best "pocketable" camera available on the market today at any price. The words "Landmark Product" come to mind.
  
  If the nearly $400 takes your breath away, save up for it and wait until the price drops a bit.
  
  For those like me on the perpetual upgrade treadmill spending $400-$700 every year for the incremental features we need and want, we've finally reached that illusive destination!
  
  
  

• Six Mega-Pixels better than Twelve

  
  By A3TOBT18VWU0KM on 2007-11-27
  After several weeks and 500 photos this seems a fine technically advanced replacement for a trusty A80 which finally died. With four batteries and a flip out higher-resolution screen I much prefer it to the somewhat similar A710 (now A720) that is in my family.
  
  While generally agreeing with all the positive things and extensive details in the reviews written before Thanksgiving, one can wish for what Canon chose not to do.
  
  A smaller lens is not the big reason that the A650 images are not up to the quality of a big digital SLR. Camera people know one problem is the race to have very high pixel counts on the image sensor that has replaced the film. The prominent 12.1MP in the advertising.
  
  The same sized sensor with only 6 MP instead of 12 would result in better pictures. With fewer pixels you get a bigger cell size for each pixel. A bigger cell will collect more dim light. That means a stronger signal, less noise, when you are shooting in moderate light. Less need for the camera to fuzz the lens's sharp details to conceal the speckles of noise.
  
  If you are comfortable with the bulk of this camera that barely fits into a pants pocket, as I am, then this is a very good choice. However I bought it with a tinge of regret at what might have been. I could have had better pictures from a camera with less flashy specs. If more of us feel regret your next camera may have fewer pixels and take better pictures.
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  Update August 2008, eight months and 8,000 pictures later: This is a very good camera.
  
  

• Feature rich camera to grab and go

  
  By A1IJSD2B3JCEUZ on 2007-09-29
  Got this as the small camera when I don't want to tote my DSLR. I've had a PowerShot before...this look and feel is similar to one I got years ago.
  
  It feels good in the hand...easy to shoot one-handed, and is good if you have bigger hands.
  
  Menus are fairly intuitive, and buttons are there for more commonly used functions.
  
  I used this during the day and at night. It performed well in both cases. Obviously noise at high ISOs, but where very dark, it doesn't show up as much.
  
  I feel the construction, while not metal, is still sturdy. It should be kept in a well-padded little camera bag.
  
  Key features are the image stabilization and high ISO, which result in more sharp pictures; also the 180 degree flip out screen, which you can use for getting yourself in the picture easier.
  
  Issues:
  Would prefer shorter option for picture review time than 2 seconds...otherwise, you have to turn off the review altogether.
  
  
• Beautiful Pictures, but know what you are buying
  By A1CMM2U999QR1R on 2007-11-09
  The Canon a650 takes beutiful pictures. I have a high end, digital SLR as well, and while I can notice differences with larger prints, the image quality is not that far off. I would say the difference is more due to the lenses than the cameras. It is not that the lens in the a650 is bad -just that I bought expensive lenses for the SLR.
  
  While the price for the a650 may be daunting for a point-and-shoot, please note that the a650 is internally identical to the Canon G9, which cost another $100 and cannot use AA batteries.
  
  One caution to note, however, is that this camera is heavy and big. It weighs close to a pound with batteries and will not fit in you pocket. Before you buy, go hold the camera. I almost bought the sd950 for its smaller size, but decided that I could not relay only on rechargible batteries, which is ironic considering my SLR only uses reechargibles and I have never had problems.
  
  
• Layman's review
  By A2LXOOFOEGGQL on 2007-12-22
  I won't go into any technical specs about this camera, previous reviewers who are far more knowledgeable have already done this.
  
  I upgraded to this camera from a simple Nikon Coolpix, as I wanted a few more options and better picture quality and a little more performance than the basic coolpix could offer. I also didn't want to go all the way up to a bulky Digital SLR either. This camera bridges the gap between a basic camera and one for advanced users.
  
  It's not as big/bulky as the SLR's like the rebel but it isn't a shirt pocket camera like the Elph's either.
  
  It has plenty of features to allow you to learn how to take photo's, allowing you to experiment with some of the more manual functions and not always rely on using the old point and shoot "auto" function but for those times you need to, that option is still there to fall back on.
  
  The photo quality is excellent and at 12.0MP you get plenty of room to crop your photo's. I would recommend a larger memory card as the one you get with it isn't good for much of anything.
  
  This camera is also compatible with the newer SDHC cards and I put in one of the 8Gb cards whis has plenty of storage for photo's and some decent length Mpeg's.
  
  It takes 4AA batteries but is not as much of a battery hog as I had thought it would be. The rechargeables are great to have but the new AA lithiums do last quite well under heavy use.
  
  Another nice feature, if you are low on power you can turn off the screen (which is a beefy 2.5" variable angle by the way) and use the viewfinder...a feature other camera's have started to leave out.
  
  With some of the other whistles and bells, face detection, Image stabilization and a 6X zoom and this is a solid purchase for the price.
  
  All that and its still very user friendly....
  
  
  
  
• Verrry happy!
  By A3FY3H6F4249E0 on 2008-01-03
  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.)
  
  
• Not an upgrade from my A 620
  By A6UATFNWLPNEJ on 2008-04-22
  This camera (A 650 IS) has two problems on "Auto":
  
  Unreliable autofocus: At my grandson's soccer game the first photo is properly focused but the next one is not. Does the "face detection" system conflict with the "image stabilization" system? Minus one star.
  
  Unreliable exposure: Still at my grandson's soccer game the first photo is F:4 at 1/200 sec, the second is F:4 at 1/400 (dark), the third is F:4 at 1/600 (very dark) all taken within 60 seconds. Minus one star.
  
  With a "point 'n shoot" camera it is essential that after you point it and shoot it you get a good image. This one only does that sometimes.
  
  Amazon itself gets the full 5 stars. I ordered the camera April 4, they shipped April 5, I shot 500+ images including the soccer game April 12, contacted the "online returns center" April 14 and shipped it back the same day, Amazon processed the refund April 18 with no charge for the return shipping. No problems at all and no delays.
  
  I will buy my next camera from Amazon!
  
  
• Good all-around camera
  By A680RUE1FDO8B on 2008-05-04
  I wanted this camera primarily for two features: 1) it uses ordinary AA batteries, 2) the tilt and swivel display.
  
  I really don't like proprietary rechargeble batteries. They always seem to poop out way too soon and, as a result, I wind up carrying several of them. They also impose the burden of needing to be recharged which, in most cases, means carrying yet another gadget, the recharger.
  
  Sometimes I just want the convenience of carrying a camera with AA cells that I can buy anywhere should the need arise.
  
  So the A650 is very appealing to me for that reason alone.
  
  Next big feature is the tilt and swivel screen. You can use the camera at virtually any angle, which if you're feeling creative, is a huge plus, especially if you're old like I am and not quite as supple as you were 40 years ago. The A650 makes it easy for me to get pictures of my toddler grandchild at her level, not five feet up! Used with a QwikPod or similar device, you'll have no trouble creating well composed pictures that include you, which is nice when you are travelling. No need to rely on strangers.
  
  Those are the big features for me - the rest of this camera's assets are frosting on the cake. The image quality is excellent at lower ISO equivalents. As with all point 'n shoot cameras and many DSLRs, as you increase the speed, you increase the noise. Can't be helped.
  
  The zoom range is adequate, though I would rather have a 28mm capability and less telephoto. I suspect, considering what Panasonic, Olympus and Nikon are doing, that a future A model may have both a wider angle at one end and a higher telephoto at the other. The one thing I hope is that they don't get rid of the optical viewfinder or, in the alternative, include an optical LCD viewer as in the new Nikon Coolpix. You can, by the way, get supplementary wide-angle and telephoto lenses.
  
  The video capability of this camera is terrific, which was a big consideration for me. I want to use video for blogging and hobby purposes. The built-in microphone is excellent though, as you might expect, a tad too sensitive to finger noise on the camera. It also, predictably, becomes less than optimal for voice when the speaker is more than a few feet away.
  
  Optical stabilization works well.
  
  Shot-to-shot time feels a bit on the slow side.
  
  The zoom control is a bit too small and zooming is a bit on the sluggish side.
  
  Autofocus is inconsistent. It is usually tack-sharp, but sometimes it starts to hunt and is slow.
  
  Color rendition is excellent.
  
  Battery life with the four AAs is surprisingly good.
  
  The camera is somewhat on the large side and the pocket you put it in had best be large. It is also a bit heavy, coming in at just under a pound.
  
  Available controls are terrific, including full manual operation.
  
  Overall, the A650 is a continuation of the traditionally excellent Canon A series. There are much smaller and lighter cameras available that provide many of the same features. But if you want the convenience of AA batteries, the versatility of a tilt and swivel screen (and an optical viewfinder) and manual controls, the A650 is just about the only game in town in this form factor.
  
  Jerry
  
  
• I like it
  By A1N6WZ8NPBS4F on 2007-12-25
  I have used A710IS before I bought A650. A650 is really bulky camera. It's heavy and big compared to A710. You won't carry it in your pocket. Bigger sensor means larger lens to achieve same zoom range as in A710. Also it has 4 AA batteries instead of 2 in A710.
  
  Bigger sensor but more pixels so noise is just about the same as in A710: ISO200 is the maximum I can accept. Thanks to image stabilization I shoot at ISO80 most of the time. IS works perfectly.
  
  Display quality is really good. Swivel screen really helps. Screen is not protected well so you have to turn the screen up side down each time you turn off the camera.
  
  Photo quality is good with ISO 100 + Large + SuperFine settings. I have an impression that the lens is better than A710's lens.
  
  Camera is fast. But I don't like flash charge time and autofocus speed compared to SLR. With 4 AA batteries flash charges a little faster than in A710.
  
  Grip is not very comfortable for such a heavy camera but I got accustomed to it.
  
  
  
  I did not like materials and build quality: my camera has a small chink between two body parts. I don't really care.
  
  I don't like weak flash.
  
  I don't like new controls behavior (compared to A710). For instance, to enable/disable flash you had to press Flash button only once on A710, but on A650 first press just opens Flash Mode selection Pop Up window. And second press changes current mode.
  
  Camera does not support 1024x768 video resolution. Why have swivel screen if you still need separate video camera?
  
  I would have changed dedicated ISO button with Slow sync which is available from Main menu only.
  
  All in all, I like this camera.
  
  
  
  
• WARNING!
  By A1JJ74IAKZMP6G on 2008-08-22
  This camera gets 5 Stars but I felt compelled to write a review for the Amazon acolytes who may stumble across this. About a week ago, Amazon was selling this camera for about $300. Now, it appears that Amazon is no longer selling this camera but a different seller, Wall Street Photo, is. Because there are no other sellers, it looks like that is the going price for the camera, when it is not; not by a mile. They are currectly charging the egregious amount of $521.59 ($509.43 + $12.16 shipping).
  
  Don't get suckered in by these bad sellers. Even the most expensive brick and mortar camera store is much cheaper.
  
  Caveat emptor. Big time!
  
  
• Serious Problem You need to Know about before taking Inmportant Pictures
  By A3HG6VALCMNNBU on 2008-06-06
  Had I known about this problem beforehand, I would not have purchased this camera. Canon's response is below, but the whole reason for buying this camera was to use the variangle screen in certain instances. 50% of the pictures I took had colored bars or a picture "break" horizontally across the photo. Not acceptable.
  
  I am sorry that your PowerShot A650 IS is taking photos with horizontal lines through it.
  
  Canon has discovered that a light leak can appear in stored images taken in bright light conditions. If taking pictures with the vari-angle LCD monitor open under sunny skies or where bright light shines on the back of the camera, a "light leak" can occur causing a light color band in the image.
  
  Canon is aware of the situation and a "no charge" repair program to correct the issue will commence during the week beginning October 22, 2007. A Shipping Label will be sent to you to have the camera returned to the Factory Service Center, free of charge.
  
  In the meantime, you can avoid this issue by rotating and closing the LCD panel against the camera body when taking pictures outside or in bright light.
  
  
  
• Great Camera with tons of features for an excellent price !
  By A3R3AI87ZKCEIA on 2007-12-11
  All previous reviewers have done a fantastic job so I won't bore you with the same. All I can say is that I bought it about two weeks ago, took it to a trip to Southern California and took over 500 pix and 4/5 flix using a 4GB and a 1GB SD card.
  
  The outdoor pix are absolutely phenomenal, indoor ones with out using flash are too noisy and the ones with flash using Auto are extra ordinarily yellow, but I am too new to it to play with the settings. Plus this is my first Canon Digicam so I am not familiar with the menus and settings that much.
  
  Overall the pix are great, size & weight is OK, I love the swivel LCD screen (a must have for me, coming from Nikon CP4500) 6X zoom is much better than generic 3X. I wish it were a little faster. I found it to be a bit slow to start and in between shots.
  
  
  
• Almost Ideal
  By A2WNHNGHDP0CIE on 2008-01-19
  My family has several A-series Canons up to the A75. Although all still work, I wanted better resolution via more pixels and a sharper lens, a longer zoom lens, better exposure lattitude, and a stabilized image. The A650 provided all this and more. If you have an older A-series, the controls and features are very similar so its easy to adapt to this new model. I got great 8x10 prints from the older 3 mp cameras, with no cropping. The 12 mp allows you to crop extensively and still get a decent print. The image stablity system remains a phenominal mystery to me. I can hand hold shots at full zoom to about 1/60th sec. with little to no blur. For daylight shooting I don't need to go higher than 200 ISO, beyond which image degradation becomes more than I care for. Also, easy contrast management, two click exposure compensation, histogram review, and AA batteries make this a satisfying camera. Why not 5 stars ? I'd still like to see auto exposure bracketing, a better manual focus (split image ?) remote control shutter release option, and a still larger ccd sensor with more pixels (gotta keep pushing those camera manufactures to the next level).
  
  
  
• Wow! Absolutely worth the price. Macro shots to 1cm!
  By A1N3HHWQH225GB on 2008-02-28
  I've always had Sony CyberShots but when the 12MP+ cameras came out, I wanted better close-up abilities than Sony offered (without an optional lens AND lens adapter); I have a rare book and antiques business and need to take many close-up shots. This Canon 650is is absolutely incredible for close-ups, focusing to within 1cm - yes, ONE CENTIMETER! The Sony came no closer than 10cm. And the quality of these macro shots is incredible as well.
  
  Another advantage over Sony is the Canon software, which allows me to operate the camera remotely, from my keyboard, adjusting tricky lighting/exposure situations by seeing them on my large monitor, not the LCD screen on the camera (although that is, in fact, pretty large; also, the flip screen is kind of cool as well).
  
  If you're doing a lot of indoor/studio shooting, I recommend the ACK600 AC adapter; you'll spend much more for Duracell AA's than the cost of the adapter.
  
  Finally, Canon's function layout is great as well: easy to use, despite the high number of adjustments available. Since the LCD is so large, it's easy to see all the settings and icons, and the adjustment procedures are easy to remember. In the space of a few hours, I may have a hundred different items requiring dozens of adjustments; I was happily surprised to see how easy it was to do all this with the A650; light years ahead of the Sony cameras I've had.
  
  
• Fabulous
  By AL4XSC9H3H3C on 2008-04-20
  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.
  
  
• PowerShot is an Understatement
  By A2ABJBTE1DGFGQ on 2008-06-08
  Alright, I originally ran across this camera on Best Buy's website, where it was listed as of April 08 as "Coming Soon" with a list price of $350. Not wanting to wait until whenever "soon" might be, I took a look on Amazon, and sure enough, the camera had been listed here since November 07! And, for less than $300! I had previously owned a Canon PowerShot camera at 5MP and was extremely happy with it, so I figured I would be happy with this one, and the other reviews here certainly backed that up. When the A650is finally arrived, I was blown away! My earlier PowerShot had the rotating viewscreen, but that is where the similarities ended (other than the overall layout of buttons/icons common to all PowerShot cameras). This camera is simply the best you will find before getting into the high-end, high-priced DSLR cameras. Its relatively wide-angle lens provides a great image, the color depth is spectacular whether shooting at 3MP/5MP/12MP, the rotating viewscreen allows one to get shots from very odd angles that would be impossible with a fixed viewscreen (not to mention that it allows the user to hide the viewscreen so as to avoid scratches when the camera is not in use). As for the zoom, the 6x optical is impressive by itself, but add to that the 4x digital -for a total 24x zoom- and the distances at which one can take detailed photos are often mindboggling. This is enhanced further by a couple layers of image processing handled by the camera's onboard computer, which though the tiniest bit slower than some other cameras, is so powerful as to take my admittedly somewhat shaky hands and the expected image static caused by shooting at extreme zoom and clarify the final image stored on the memory card (SD/SDHC) to near-pristine quality. Regarding memory, it is important to note that this camera IS SDHC (High Capacity) compatible, a feature I highly recommend taking advantage of as any image taken at the full 12MP is likely to range in size from 2 to 4 megabytes; to that end a SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card with MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package) combo is a worthwhile investment as the 4GB card will store nearly 2000 images at 12MP and the card reader allows one to move images off a card and onto a computer without draining the camera's batteries (4xAA) in the process. Better still, even with the camera and memory combo together, the total price beats Best Buy's price for the camera alone! In the end, this is an extremely powerful, very affordable camera which will serve all but professional photographers beautifully for a very long time.
  
  
• Great Camera, Great Photos
  By A11MN13TFEZ8BM on 2008-01-16
  This is by far the best "point-and-shoot" that I've ever purchased. Canon has done a great job incorperating manual operation, allowing tons of creative freedom.
  
  For me, this camera was the perfect vacation solution. Now I can still get amazing pictures, without lugging around my Canon EOS.
  
  You probably don't need 12 MP on a camera like this, but this camera gives you the option of changing the file size, so I'm using it as an 8 MP.
  
  This product is well worth the money, you will not regret your purchase.
  
  
• Does what it's made to do... and does it well!
  By A3811QEYJOCC1A on 2008-02-14
  I bought this camera for my wife for her birthday last week. I took her to New York to go shopping for her birthday and wanted a great point n shoot camera that would take great pics and clear video/audio. I will be brief since so many others have written in detail about this wonderful camera. The pictures are incredibly clear, the zoom, though only 6x optical, works great. Image stabilization is awsome. I have no complaints about this camera. One thing i would like to note, the flip out lcd screen... perfect addition to an already fantastic device! the lcd will turn at any angle and makes taking pics at different angles a breeze! im still learning this thing and i cant wait to be able to see the full potential! If youre thinking about getting a camera thats affordable and takes great pics, go ahead and buy this one. Canon and Nikon are the best so dont waste your money on any other brand. Some people gave this device a 4 star rating, stating minor, and i mean very minor, setbacks that are mostly in comparison to DSLRs (which i think is completely stupid... you dont compare Honda Accords to 7 series BMWs... common people, use your heads here!) If your budget is in the $300 range, this camera is your ticket. if you are a die hard fanatic with a hawk eye and need perfection in large prints, then you should be looking at DSLRs, not at point n shoots. Being that this is a point n shoot, and it does everything it is supposed to do so well, im judging it in comparison to other great point n shoot cameras, and i give it a 5 star.
  
  Oh and i forgot to add, the battery life on this camera so far is great when compared to my older samsung. the samsungs have a rep for only lasting 1 full active day of taking picture. Its been a week, and this thing is still kicking! And another thing i love love love, that it turns on instantly... no waiting. You push the power button, the cannon logo may show for a half second,(if you blink youll miss it, i swear) and instantly youre ready to take pictures. Buy it and enjoy!
  
  
• Impressive camera that captures amazing photos
  By A3JVVQHH63GWJW on 2008-04-09
  I've enjoyed taking pictures ever since I was a kid. I'm not a pro by any means but I do get some amazing shots at times. Now those times are way more frequent since the purchase of this incredible Canon Powershot A650IS!
  
  I nabbed this beauty when it was first released and went through the whole purple fringe issue for the recall. Amazon took it back no problems and later when the new batches came out that didn't have the light leak issues, I reordered it from here again because I simply fell in love with the camera.
  
  I had taken it on a trip to Colorado and used it extensively capturing photos and videos from the airplane, at Rocky Mountain National Park, and various other places. The outdoor shots were amazing, I was able to take a picture of an elk from a far distance away (perhaps 100yards) using the 6x optical zoom.
  
  What was great also was that after I snapped the shot, I could preview it using the zoom lever (pardon my non-technical names for actual parts) to zoom in and out on different sections of the image. Then I can navigate within that photo with that round function dial to see different parts...this worked great because I was able to see just how focused or not the elk was in the photo! It brought the image of the animal closer to my eyes at that moment than with me physically looking at it.
  
  That zoom lever is great for previewing the images in thumbnail size instead of image by image. I actually didn't know the camera could do that and discovered it by accident...but I'm sure the manual I thumbed through mentioned it somewhere!
  
  Video quality was actually very decent for a digital camera when using the standard mode, not the smaller emailable size. I was able to capture video in lower light conditions that I thought would be impossible. This of course isn't some super great video camcorder but it does an adequate job for those moments you like a small video too along with pictures.
  
  I recently took the camera to the circus and was able to capture some very nice shots! When I got home, I used the included AV cables to hook my camera up to the tv and was able to show the rest of the family instantly what they had missed out on, both pictures and videos came out well, except for the emailable smaller mode for video, they were not good at all but that's low quality to save space.
  
  Speaking of space, I am using a 2gb card and if you're going to be doing photos and videos, you may want to take along a spare...and buy a larger hard drive for your computer because you can't help but snap here and there and film this or that, this camera is fun to use and everyone I've shown the pictures to were impressed by what they saw.
  
  Another outstanding quality is the use of the 4 AA batteries! That alone saved me from the heartache and embarrassment of forgetting to recharge my camera batteries. I was in such a rush getting ready to go to the circus with my little niece that I forgot to check my battery status. After two pictures, my camera shut off because of low battery. I didn't think to bring a spare set so I ventured out to look for batteries. Luckily I asked one of the circus vendors if they sold batteries and he ended up just giving me a set of 4 AA batteries which of course saved the day! You can't do that with a proprietary battery just anywhere *cough cough sony*.
  
  The flip and swivel screen is very handy and I love that I can close it up to protect my lcd screen from damage and smudges!
  
  The included canon software works fine and I like the zoom browser's ability to show the full image specs of each photo I capture on the side panel.
  
  Taking stitched photos takes a little practice but I did manage to get some nice panoramic mountainscapes.
  
  I have uploaded a few photos in the customer image gallery that I thought would be helpful, the more recent ones being the pictures I took in macro view! I was really impressed with how close I could get and still get a focused photograph showing all the details!
  
  With 12 megapixels, you can crop til your heart's content and still retain a lot of the details that otherwise with other cameras be blurry.
  
  I have also figured out through playing with the custom settings how to capture the murals I paint in the dark! It's nearly impossible to capture photos of my artwork because I do ceiling murals of the starry night sky and those glow in the dark stars does not emit a ton of light and have to be seen in a dark setting. With this camera, I was able to tinker with settings my older camera didn't have and thus capturing actual photos of my work without manually manipulating them digitally! I'm a happy gal with this camera!
  
  I do notice that the processing time in low light conditions will take a bit longer between shots. I'm not sure if that's due to the camera processor or the SD card I use. I've heard the speed of the card would make a difference but I haven't venture as far to the better cards yet.
  
  In the end, I highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants one that will not only take amazing photos in auto mode but also have the freedom to use other settings to suit ones needs! It's a lovely solid feeling camera that fits well in my hands and has given me new found inspiration to photography again, perhaps it will do the same for you!
  
  
  
  
• GORGEOUS DETAILED PICS
  By A2XZ21I0GL7VWX on 2008-06-16
  I almost wanted to return this camera. First I didn't like the color it produced even though I should because it's the natural thing. I just felt like the other cameras I took pictures with had brighter images. Well after finally reading the manual I figured out how to change the setting to vivid color (you need to do this in the program mode). Now I also take my pictures in program mode rather than auto. The colors are super bright and I love it.
  
  Second, my PC was taking too long to load the pictures and to load them to Shutterfly was an eternity. After reading the manual, I realized I could change the megapixel setting to 8MP and even 4MP. I now take my pictures at 8MP (since I don't plan on making enlargements).
  
  The zoom is OUTSTANDING!!!! I take pictures of things as if I was right there next to things and it focuses nice. Sometimes if I'm in a hurry I'll get blurred images but it's rare.
  
  The light leak issue was not a problem since I bought it from Amazon and the serial # was past all that.
  
  I previously had an A620. The reason why I bought this camera because I loved my A620 to DEATH. We went on vacation and the lens fell in a puddle of water and that was the end of it. SAD SAD DAY!! I still miss that camera because it took PERFECT pictures and the megapixel was 7.1 which was ideal for me. It's nice to see the A650IS has the same features as the A620 that I loved and some nice improvements (zoom, image stabilization, etc.)
  
  I love the speed on these Canon Powershots. You don't miss that special moment because you have to wait for your camera to be ready. The battery life on these cameras are also superb to a lot of other manufacturers. These were some peeves with a camera we were using in the time mine broke and replaced it. The A650's battery life is INCREDIBLE!!! Lasts a long time.
  
  I recommend this camera but be sure to read the manual. There are a lot of great things you can change on it. For example, changing it to vivid color and the megapixels to 8MP made all the difference in the world for me.
  
  
• WOW Canon
  By A8DJSRNFCUO49 on 2007-11-13
  I upgraded from a Canon A80 for my recent vacation... and this camera is awesome. Very simple to use with excellent features and outstanding pictures. The image stabilizer makes an obvious difference/improvement. Go Canon!
  
  
• I'm in Heaven
  By A2SBMLG21896Q3 on 2007-12-27
  Before I received this camera I was using an HP M22, which is a 4MP with 3x digital zoom. It was a great little camera for a digital beginner, but using the A650 is like I died and went to heaven. The shots are so clear - no grain! It's like I have my old Canon AE-1 back. When you take shots inside there is little, if any, red-eye...and if there is, the computer program takes it away without any problem. This camera is so "flexible". If you want to point and shoot you can, but if you are into doing it the old way you can use the manual mode! I absolutely love this camera!!
  
  
• Update After Using The A650IS For A Few Months
  By A1I3XDX71783L9 on 2008-04-11
  This is an update to my previous review. I've now taken almost 3,000 images with the A650is. Here is what I have found that I like and some things I don't like. The flip out swiveling LCD lets me EASILY take shots that I just could not make with any standard camera DSLR or not!!! Canon when will you make a DSLR with this feature??? The auto focusing works so well so I almost never need to use the manual focusing feature unless I want to lock the focus for several shots. This includes macro work. Well done Canon! The optics appear to be nearly flawless producing extremely sharp images. Minor faults: The mode selection wheel easily (when you are not expecting it) gets rotated from its desired setting to a different position. So you may get a surprise when you start taking pictures and find you are not in the mode you wanted/expected. The exposure mode setting (Evaluative, Center, Spot) does not get saved when you turn the camera off, it always reverts to Evaluative. I usually use spot mode so this is a bit of a pain having to always go reset this. The custom mode can save this setting but it doesn't seem to allow use of this saved setting with the Aperture Mode. The manual could use some improvement in the explanation of the custom mode! The camera still could use some more detail on finish quality. So far no problems with anything but I wonder if the Mode slection wheel, zoom control, and camera mode switch (Take Pictures/Review Pictures) will last as they "feel and operate" cheap. All in all I love this camera!!
  
  
• Great camera but a little bulky
  By A1R2DSUUWHVOCG on 2008-05-24
  I used to own the 10 MP Canon A640 and thought I'd upgrade to this one. Here are my thoughts on the camera.
  
  Pros:
  - Often takes great pictures
  - Very economical
  - Optical image stabilization
  - 6x optical zoom
  - 12.1 Mega Pixels
  - Lots of shooting modes and features
  
  Cons:
  - Like most other point-and-shoot Canon cameras, the indoor pictures are pretty grainy.
  - The camera is much bigger than the A640 and does not fit easily in the pocket.
  - The casing seems a little flimsy compared to the A640.
  
  Conclusion:
  Most people buy point-and-shoot cameras because they are more convenient to use and more portable. This one however is a little bulky and cannot be carried around easily. If portability and size is not an issue, this camera is one of the best of its kind in the market. Its got great zoom, image stabilization, and a high count on the mega pixels. However, a camera should not be judged by the number of mega pixels it has because higher pixels give you larger images and not necessarily better ones. This camera is a good buy and it gives you very large images that also look great!
  
  
• Too Grainy
  By A3UB6QFE7MXKUK on 2008-03-27
  I returned this camera after using it for only one week. Most of the photos, taken indoors. seemed too grainy. My cousin's SD650 seemed to take much better photos than this camera. Definitely not worth the price.
  
  
• Almost....
  By A2QNBS4AWYL8B4 on 2008-03-27
  As good as this camera seems to be - to me - they have left out 2 important items. 1) The "DATE/TIME-STAMP" function works only in the "postcard" mode. WHY would anyone write software with such an important (at least to me) limit for an otherwise good unit. 2) There isn't a jack to plug in an external flash. Sure - they have what looks like some little wimpy thing that best I can tell - it senses the main flash on the camera and blinks in responce to it? Are there others that will work? I don't know yet, I am looking... If it wasn't for those 2 things, I would say this is as good or better than you could ask for for the price...
  
  
• Impressive photos, more options as a highend pointnshoot!
  By A3T1LY69AJNJ2Y on 2008-06-09
  I can't say enough about this camera, the pictures are very good. I read up on this and the SD950 extensively before I purchased this item. While many call this camera bulky, I think it is perfect as the other SD series cameras are small, and much harder to hold onto. This camera also has features that are above standard point and shoots, making this a higher end. The camera also has the ability to use lens add-ons, and in some cases, filters. So if you want more then a point and shoot, but don't want to pay out for a DSLR, this camera is great. A word on the 12.1 mega pixels, as a previous poster mentioned, the picture quality is only as good as the person taking the picture. With the 12.1, you get 4000 x 3000 resolution pics. On a 11 x 8.5 glossy paper, the pictures look astonishing, but, if you take an out of focus picture, and print it, you get a blurry picture. This camera is easy to use out of the box, though in a few hours of reading, the camera can be utilized to its fuller extent. The different settings and shoot modes can really make a difference.
  
  Battery comsuption is highly impressive, I have taken more then 200 pictures, and several minutes of video, and I am still on the same batteries!
  
  As for some of the other reviews. The display... wow it is cool. It will rotate the picture for you depending on it's angle. It also has a histogram, with all the other info for those who want to be professional about pics. IF you decide to turn off the display (Using the display button) it will STAY off. Generally it will dsiplay some settings, but the screen will be black. Push the display button, and it will come back on. Most if not all of the buttons, have several functions depending on what functions the camera is set on. It would be wise for anyone who buys the camera, to read the manual before hand. The "Lens" problems listed by some I haven't encountered. If you research the light leak problems, Canon will tell you how to get past it, and will fix it. There is fair amount on the problem at sites dedicated to Digital Photography. My camera doesn't have this problem, check the serial number to see if it might have the problem or if the camera has been factory fixed. Info on it is easy to find. E-18... Lens error as some call it. I haven't had this problem, but it can be found on numerous sites as to what it is, what causes it, and how you can fix it should you have problems with Canons support. Like all things electronic,a bit of common sense, read the manual, and don't mistreat it. If you operate the camera with almost dead batteries, abuse it, or start changing settings without being aware of what they do, you WILL HAVE PROBLEMS!
  
  
• Great specs, poor built quality
  By A17RQS9F4EGIA6 on 2008-07-29
  PowerShot A650IS has very impressive specs and features. Battery life is amazing - 400+ shots on a set of AA rechargeables, very good optics for a point and shoot camera and extremely useful vari-angle LCD.
  
  Unfortunately Canon's marketing push to squeeze 12 MP into 1/1.7 CCD sensor resulted in extensive digital noise on high ISO settings and slow performance. 1/1.7 CCD sensor is probably the biggest of any point and shoot camera on the market today, but 12 MP is too much even for this relatively large sensor. If Cannon would choose to put 7-8 MP on a sensor of this size, they would probably produce the best P/S digital camera ever made.
  
  The build quality of this camera is also below level that one would expect from Canon. The body plastic looks cheap, there are some gaps between body parts, batteries are easily falling out when you try to access the memory card, zoom lever feels loose and it's hard to avoid accidentally pushing menu button when you try to hold the camera with one hand.
  
  Two A650IS that I received from Amazon had one burned/stuck CCD pixel clearly visible on every picture taken with the cameras when viewed on a computer, so I had to return them. When I asked if it'd make sense to try to get another replacement, I got the following answer from Amazon: "...As it seems that the problem with this item is more widespread than we originally thought, we are not able to send another replacement. We will gladly refund you in full for the return of this item..."
  While it could be just a standard customer support answer to a second replacement request, it could also indicate the real widespread problem with burned/stuck pixes on this camera model and poor quality control @ Canon.
  I did contact Canon tech support and I was told that burned CCD pixels are not normal (even one of them) and that I should send it to Canon for a warranty repair.
  
  Quality issues aside, this camera takes excellent pictures in the good lighting conditions and most of the times, with its built in flash, just don't count on it to produce anything useful above and sometimes even at ISO400.
  
  

• Built NY E-HCS-BLK Small Hoodie Camera Case (Black)
• Built NY E-HCS-SHS Small Hoodie Camera Case (Soho Stripe)
• Built NY E-HCS-OLV Small Hoodie Camera Case (Olive Green)
• Built NY E-HCS-D07 Built Small Hoodie Camera Case (Brown)
• Vista Explorer 60" Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag

• Canon PSC-85 Deluxe Soft Case for Canon Powershot A650IS and A720IS
• Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Transcend TS4GSDHC6 4GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
• SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)