Affordable and Practical Photography Solution (Canon Powershot A75)

Member Name: t0m101

Product:	Canon Powershot A75
Date:	06/07/05 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Compact, easy to use, and plenty of features

Disadvantages: Heavy on batteries when using the flash

I have been using the Canon Powershot A75 digital camera for 12 months, providing me with excellent photographs and performance throughout. I will cover in my opinion the most important aspects of this product.

-> Shooting Modes

There are an array of shooting modes available, stretching from the simple and easy Automatic mode, to more complex and specific manual options. For the novice the option to just 'point and click' is easy to use and gives excellent results. For the more advanced user the ability to tweak the settings to get exactly what shot you want gives the camera depth and appeals to a wide variety of users. A mode I have found particularly useful is the 'Sport Mode'. The fast shutter speed means that moving objects are captured with high clarity - although I often use this mode more when taking photos outside as on a windy day the camera can move around quite a lot. You have the option to turn the flash on or off or let the automatic sensor decide for you. The macro mode enables you to take high quality close up images.

-> Battery Usage

I recommend using rechargable batteries with this camera. Having a spare set ready when the current set runs out is very useful. With low flash use I tend to get around 200 pictures from 1300mA Uniross batteries. If you use the flash with every picture then this number decreases by at least half. However compared with other cameras I have used, the A75 proves relatively efficient in its power consumption. The ability to turn off the LCD display is a good feature for improving battery performance.

-> Design

To look at the camera is very pleasing. The battery comparment sticks out but provides something sturdy to hold on to when taking photos. Some parts have a very plasticy feel although as a whole the camera has a very good feel to it. Batteries consist of a good deal of the weight but it is not excessive, nor is the size excessive. I own a Canon case for the camera which allows me to hold an extra set of batteries and an extra memory card, and I carry this in my coat pocket or small bag very easily.

-> Flash and Zoom

The flash is an important aspect of a camera allowing you to get good pictures in low, or little light. I have found that sometimes the automatic flash comes on when it is not really needed. With experience I tend to either have the flash on or off. The flash can be very powerful - something that can be beneficial or not depending on the situation. I have taken pictures in complete darkness which have turned out exceptionally good. The zoom feature of this camera is split into two sections, optical, and digital. It is possible to turn off the digital zoom, although I recommend that the digital zoom is very effective. The optical zoom is easier to use, whereas it takes a bit more technique to get a really good quality picture when using the digital zoom at its limits.

-> Video

The ability to take video is a real bonus - and the quality is very good. With the included 32Mb compact flash card you can get around 30 seconds of the highest quality video, but if you get a bigger memory card then you can take longer video clips. Using the optical zoom you can set the zoom level before you start recording and a simple press of the shutter button sets the movie rolling. You can view the clips back on the camera or view them full screen when transfered a computer.

-> Memory

The A75 uses compact flash memory cards. Included in the box is a 32Mb card. I quickly bought a 256Mb card enabling me to take photos all day and not have to worry about the space. I have the settings on maximum quality and typically each photo is 1Mb to 2Mb in size. I think it is possible to get compact flash memory cards in the gigabyte range which would hold an astonishing amount of pictures.

In conclusion I have been very pleased with the A75. It is affordable whilst offering a huge variety of features from the simple to the complex. An excellent choice!

Summary: Easy to use giving exceptional results. Great looking camera.

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