Canon PowerShot A720 IS

The PowerShot A720 IS is the quintessential A Series camera in a popular line that matches high-end image quality with fun, easy-to-use features that 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.

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FEATURES

8.0 Megapixel, 6x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer

Top-notch core specifications allow the PowerShot A720 IS 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.

DIGIC III Image Processor

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 A720 IS 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.

Shooting Modes

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 & 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.
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)

Compatible with a wide range of accessories

The PowerShot A720 IS is compatible with many of shooting accessories such as wide and tele converter lenses, High-Power Flash designed for all of the PowerShot models. Also a waterproof case is available for your underwater shooting.

Easy direct printing

The PowerShot A720 IS's Print/Share button makes direct printing easier than ever. Simply connect the A720 IS 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.

Direct Photo Printers
For desktop large-format printing, try one of the Direct Photo Printers that allow you to print without a computer in one of two ways: plug your compatible PowerShot camera into the Direct Photo Printer using the supplied USB interface cable, or simply insert a memory card into the supplied adapter. You can also connect the printer to your computer for more options. Print high-resolution, borderless images as postcards or 8.5" x 11" sheets within minutes.

Compact Photo Printers
Compact Photo Printers let you produce versatile, fun 4" x 6" postcards, 4" x 8" wide greeting cards* or credit card* size prints in just two easy steps: connect and press/print. Control the printer right from your camera's LCD screen. You get durable, dye-sublimated prints quickly with or without borders. Assorted paper types let you create mini or credit card size labels.* You can even take select Compact Photo Printers to a party or an outdoor picnic using an optional rechargeable battery.

*Optional paper cassette may be required.

**Only available with direct printing from select Canon PowerShot models using Canon CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers.

More external Canon PowerShot A720 IS reviews!

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PICTURES

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SPECIFICATION

Sensor • 1/2.5" Type CCD
• 8.0 million effective pixels

Image sizes • 3264 x 2448
• 2592 x 1944
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480
• 3264 x 1832

Movie clips • 640 x 480 @ 30fps
• 320 x 240 @ 30fps
• 160 x 120 @ 15fps

File formats • JPEG (Exif v2.2)
• DPOF 1.1
• AVI (Motion JPEG + WAVE)

Lens • 35-210mm (35mm equiv)
• 6x optical zoom
• F2.8-4.8

Image stabilization Yes (Lens-Shift)

Conversion lenses Yes

Digital zoom up to 4x

Focus TTL

AF area modes • Face Detection AiAF
• 9-point AiAF
• 1-point AF (center or FlexiZone)
• Manual focus

AF lock Yes (on/off selectable)

AF assist lamp Yes

Focus distance Closest focus distance 1cm

Metering • Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame)
• Center-weighted average
• Spot (centre or linked to Face Detection AF or FlexiZone AF frame)
• AE lock

ISO sensitivity • Auto
• High ISO Auto
• ISO 80
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
• ISO 1600

AE lock Yes (on/off selectable)

Exposure compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments

Shuttter speed 15-1/2000 sec

Modes • Auto
• Program AE
• Shutter Priority AE
• Aperture Priority AE
• Manual
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Night Snapshot
• Kids & Pets
• Indoor
• Stitch Assist
• Movie
• Special Scene

Scene modes • Portrait
• Landscape
• Night Snapshot
• Kids & Pets
• Indoor
• Stitch Assist
• Movie
• Night Scene
• Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
• Aquarium
• Underwater

White balance • Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent H
• Underwater
• Custom

Self timer 2 or 10sec, custom

Continuous shooting Approx 1.3fps until card is full

Image parameters My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Custom Color)

Flash • Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction
• Flash compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
• Face Detection FE
• Safety FE
• Flash exposure lock
• Second curtain sync
• Range (Auto ISO): 30cm - 3.5m (wide) / 55cm - 2.5m (tele)

Viewfinder Real-image zoom, optical viewfinder

LCD monitor • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT
• 115,000 pixels
• 100% coverage

Connectivity • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• AV out (PAL / NTSC switchable)

Print compliance PictBridge

Storage • SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus , HC MMCplus compatible
• 16 MB card supplied

Power • 2x AA Alkaline or NiMH batteries
• Optional AC adapter ACK800

Weight (no batt) 200g (7.0 oz)

Dimensions 97.3 x 67.0 x 49.1 mm (3.8 x 2.6 x 1.6 in)