We've been handing out digital camera buying advice for some time now, and of late we've been recommending the Canon A720 IS to anyone who has a budget of around 12 to 14K for a consumer camera. It just hit us a couple of days ago that we still hadn't posted a review for it...so here goes! A successor to the popular PowerShot A710 IS, this one features the same boxy (yet compact) design. Measuring 97.3 x 67.0 x 41.9 mm, the A720 IS is a wee bit smaller and tips the scales at 200 grams (the same as the A710 IS). It has a two-tone plastic and metal finish (with much more plastic being used than metal).

Powered by the DIGIC III imaging processor, the A720 IS gets an 8 MP CCD with 6x optical zoom lens (35 to 210mm eff.) and optical image stabilization (IS). The IS sensors detect the tiny movements of your hands while clicking a picture (this movement is known as "camera shake"), and shifts a lens element to compensate for this motion, which results in a much sharper image at slower shutter speeds than one could get on a camera without IS. The 2.5-inch LCD at the back has a maximum resolution of 115,000 pixels and can be used for viewing photos and videos, and as a viewfinder as well. Also present is an optical viewfinder that will help you save on battery life when shooting outdoors. Other features include PASM shooting modes, an ISO range of 80 to 1600, support for conversion lenses, and a 640 x 480 (30fps) movie mode. The Bundle

PowerShot A720 IS camera 512MB Secure Digital card Two AA alkaline batteries Wrist strap USB cable A/V cable CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solution, Apple QuickTime, and drivers Printed Manual <__PAGETITLE__Introduction & Bundle __/PAGETITLE__> Specifications

<__PAGETITLE__Specifications __/PAGETITLE__> Features As mentioned, the A720 IS has a 1/2.5-inch 8 MP CCD with a 6x optical zoom lens that has lens shift-type optical image stabilization as well as a 4x digital zoom. The focusing range for the lens is 55cm (1.8 ft) to infinity (Normal) and 1 to 55cm (Macro). The base around the lens can be removed to allow the attachment of a wide or telephoto lens. One thing to remember when talking about an OIS system is that it counters camera shake only to a certain extent. As a result, in large panoramic shots or ultra-zoomed-in close-ups, you would definitely need a tripod.

The 2.5-inch LCD doesn't lag much, and gives you maximum detail without being obtrusive while shooting pictures. The optical viewfinder is pretty clear but doesn't show the full frame. The inbuilt flash has a range of about 3.5 m (12 ft) at the wide end of the zoom and offers the usual range of modes like Safety FE, forced flash, and automatic flash. These modes can be easily switched on or off as per requirements. The AF illuminator is a carry-forward from the A710 IS; it is used as a focusing aid in low-light situations, and is fairly impressive compared to irritating pre-flashes (like those on some other cams), resulting in a faster picture capture operation. In addition to manual focusing, the A720 IS uses focusing aids like Face Detect AF, AiAF (9-point), and FlexiZone. <__PAGETITLE__Features __/PAGETITLE__> Shooting Modes

The mode dial features Auto, Manual (M), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv), Program (P), Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Special Scene, Stitch Assist, and Movie. The Special Scene mode incorporates Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, and Underwater shooting modes. Although most of the preset modes are common to many cameras across different brands, very few offer PASM modes that allow you to try out lots of different settings and better learn digital photography. One of the modes I really like is Stitch Assist; it allows you to click a series of shots (16:9 or otherwise) to create panoramic-style pictures. The A720 IS lets you record video in various resolutions including 640 x 480 (30fps / 30fps LP), 320 x 240 (30fps) and 160 x 120 (15fps). Also, it supports 25 languages, and has an improved direct printing function that permits greater flexibility in print settings. The A720 IS has a SD/SDHC memory card slot for storing images, and a USB 2.0 and Audio/Video Output for connectivity; it uses 2 AA alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries. Controls and Menu For those who have used Canon cameras earlier, the A720 won't pose any challenges as far as accessing the features and functions is concerned. It uses an easy-to-use button layout at the back. The conventional body allows ease of handling and gives a good grip as well. The view/record switch at the top right corner give additional support for the thumb and helps keep the camera steady. The OSD on the A720 IS is also carried forward from previous PowerShot models, and is really easy to use. Even those new to a Canon camera will find it easy to navigate through the various options. <__PAGETITLE__Shooting Modes, Controls & Menu __/PAGETITLE__> Performance Powered by the DIGIC III processor, the A720 IS produces sharper and better images than most other cameras. All image and scene modes are easily accessible. The menus are ultra-simple, but Canon could have used a better color scheme (not that this one is bad.) Reviewing the pictures isn't too complicated either. Image orientation depends on the way you hold the camera; it is dynamic. Overall, the handling, operation, and usage is easy. The modes are job-specific and will take some time to master. Camera performance is very good for the most part. Just push the power button on and the A720 is eager to shoot in just about 1.5 seconds. Focus time is above average, and there is very little shutter lag. Low-light focusing is better than on most cameras we've tested. Image quality turned out to be very good. Although the digital zoom doesn't really rock the world, with the 6x optical zoom lens you'll seldom find the need to use the digital zoom. The photos we obtained were well-exposed, with excellent color reproduction and smooth detail overall. Noise levels are manageable even at ISO 400. Even when shooting in bursts, the A720 is pretty quick, and you can shoot an unlimited number of pictures at 1.3 frames per second. The video and voice recording quality is above average. Videos are stored in the AVI format; voice recording is in the WAV format. Now, let's see what we didn't like in the A720 IS. As with the A710, the use of two AA-sized batteries results in a delayed flash cycle. This particular drawback comes into the picture (pun intended!) while taking flash shots (even when the batteries are low). At times, the delay can be more than 5 to 6 seconds between flashes -- and that is rather irritating. Next, the 2.5-inch LCD (115,000-pixel resolution) is a letdown. Outdoor visibility was average, while in low-light situations, the screen was easy to see, since it "gains up" automatically in those situations. <__PAGETITLE__Performance __/PAGETITLE__> ISO Tests

As you can see there is very little noise till we reach ISO400, beyond that the images are rarely of any use as noise creeps up a lot. <__PAGETITLE__ISO Tests __/PAGETITLE__> Battery Life

As mentioned, the PowerShot A720 IS uses 2 AA alkaline or NiMH batteries. We used 2 GP AA 2300 NiMH batteries and shot close to 340 pictures with minimum reviewing and flash usage, while we got to shoot about 310 pictures with an average amount of reviewing, fiddling with functions, and flash usage. Overall, the battery life is very good indeed. An important point to note is that we carried out all the tests for clicking images in a real-world scenario rather than using studio images. We prefer it that way since the camera will almost always be used in such conditions by the consumer, and not in a studio. A word of advice: rather than using standard alkaline batteries that won't last too long (and it will be expensive in the long run), it's a good idea to acquire at least two pairs or rechargeable AA 2600 NiMH batteries and a fast charger as well. Our Conclusion The Canon A720 IS is available for a street price of around Rs 12,500, and comes with a two-year warranty. For that price, you get a digicam that gives you good all-around performance, and which comes loaded with lots of features and functions. Also, with the PASM modes, amateurs will find this cam pretty handy. A A720 IS is still our recommendation as one of the best cameras for the price it commands. Test Unit Sourced from : 20:20 Media, New Delhi <__PAGETITLE__Battery life & Conclusion __/PAGETITLE__> Landscape Mode

<__PAGETITLE__Sample Shots 1/3 __/PAGETITLE__> 6x Optical Zoom

Full 24x Zoom (6x Optical + 4x Digital)

<__PAGETITLE__Sample Shots 2/3 __/PAGETITLE__> Action Shots

Macro Mode

<__PAGETITLE__Sample Shots 3/3 __/PAGETITLE__>

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