Canon A720 IS PowerShot Digital Camera
November 29, 2008 | Canon, Digital Camera, Electronics | Comments OffCanon knows not to fix what is not broken. Last year, the PowerShot A710 IS impressed us with its wide range of features, solid design, and good value. The 8-megapixel PowerShot A720 IS does little to change that formula, sticking very close to the path traveled by the A710 IS. To save a few internal upgrades, the A720 IS is almost identical to its predecessor. The two devices share the same 35-210mm equivalent f/2.8-4.8 goal, the same optical image stabilization, and even 2.5-inch LCD screen.
The A720 is still sharing its predecessor’s physical design, right down the location of buttons. The A710 IS ‘grip had a rubberized texture that this new version does not, but otherwise you would be hard to distinguish between these two devices at a glance.
Basically, the only changes the A720 IS offers over the A710 IS are its new sensor and image processor. The camera 8-megapixel CCD can reach ISO 1600, beating its older brother of the limit of ISO 800. The camera uses Canon’s DIGIC III image processor, an upgrade by former DIGIC II processor that offers automatic face detection and autoexposure, an increasingly common feature that helps in the preparation of portraits and family photos. Besides these updates, it might as well be the same aircraft that the A710 IS.
Fortunately, the A710 IS worked so well that the A720 IS does not really need to change that much. Like its predecessor, this new camera brings Chunky function over form, with large keys accessible and a solid, grippable body design. The A720 IS weighs 200g heavy – only 10g less than the A710 IS. Like his older brother, the A720 IS has a full selection of manual exposure controls, including program, opening shutter, manual (PASM) modes easily accessible through the camera fashion.
Like most Canon PowerShot A-series cameras, the A720 IS performs quite quickly if you do not use the flash. After a mere 1.4 seconds waiting to capture his first shot, the camera could take a new photo every 1.8 seconds after the board with flash disabled. With the flash enabled, that wait balloons to 4.3 seconds. The shutter feels responsive, delay of only 0.5 seconds with our high-contrast target and 1.2 seconds with our low-contrast target. In burst mode, the camera captures 15 images in 10.8 seconds for an average of 1.4 frames per second.
The A720 IS look exceptional photos, especially low levels of sensitivity. Shots taken at ISO 200 or less seem remarkably bright and beautiful show impressive details. At ISO 400, you can start to make noise on a separate computer screen, but prints are still clean. ISO 800 shots produce noise that shows on the major draws, but they remain at least somewhat usable.
Significantly noise jumps at ISO 1600, making it almost unusable plans. Very few compact cameras successfully remove ISO 1600 or higher shots, we can not judge the A720 IS too harshly for that.
Surprisingly large depth of field and solid white balance contribute to the camera’s excellent image quality. Both small text and fine textures appear crisp and full of detail, even when stretches on several fronts. Slight fringing appeared on off-white and yellow edges, but not to the point that the photos suffered. In general, if you stick to ISO 400 or less, the A720 IS will produce great pictures.
It takes too long for its flash to recycle and you should only use ISO 800 as a last resort, but the Canon PowerShot A720 IS presents an excellent value for its price range. Its low sensitivity photos remarkably clean, it draws quickly when the flash is not used, and it is filled with manual exposure controls that experienced photographers and those who learn the ropes, will appreciate. If you want a solid, flexible main camera, secondary or a camera to use with your digital SLR, the A720 IS is an excellent choice.
