CANON A700 SAMPLE PHOTOS Photo Gallery by Bill McClung at pbase.com

CANON A700 SAMPLE PHOTOS

I bought the Canon A700 to take on a trip to Disney World with my granddaughters. A recent trip to the Washington National Zoo with my granddaughters quickly let me know I did not want to carry my digital SLR and lenses around "Mickey's Place" for seven days!

I received the Canon A700 camera on 26 April 2006. These are some early test photos. The A700 offers a lot of camera for the cost. The 6X optical zoom range (35mm-210mm) is excellent for this class of camera. The 2 1/2" LCD makes it easy to see menus and evaluate photos. In really bright sunlight, the LCD does tend to "washout", but when that happens, you can use the optical viewfinder. Many cameras in this class no longer offer an optical viewfinder. If you wish, you can go totally manual with this camera, including focusing (this really comes in handy ..... see the "MIRROR IMAGE" photo in the gallery)!

Battery life, using rechargeable 2500mAh Ni-MH batteries, is outstanding (even with heavy use of fill flash). Photos taken at the higher ISOs are better than any non-DSLR I have ever used. ISO 400 on the A700 is MUCH better than ISO 200 on my old Canon S50. A large number of the photos in this gallery were taken at ISO 400. ISO 800 is actually very good, after some tweaking in Noise Ninja.

I do have two complaints. The A700 does not show the ISO used in the EXIF information, when photos are uploaded to the pbase gallery. ISO EXIF is available using the Canon software supplied with the camera, but I generally use PhotoShop Elements for post processing. Also, sometimes the exposure program shown in the EXIF information is incorrect (e.g., shows "shutter priority" when it should show another setting). Not a big problem, but aggravating. Very minor complaints, considering the "WOW!" photos this camera makes.

COLORFUL MUSHROOMS	COLORFUL MUSHROOMS - THE PREVIOUS IMAGE, WITH AN ARTISTIC FLAIR	FLOWERS AT THE MARKET.jpg	PATRIOTIC WAGON.jpg
WATTS BAR BELLE.1.jpg	GRANDMA BAIT.1.jpg	PAIR OF DUCKS.jpg	LAKE SUNSET.jpg
LAKE SUNSET.2.jpg	HYBRID ROSE.jpg	LAKE HOUSE.jpg	BEE DELLY.jpg
TN SCORPION.jpg	BBQ.1.jpg	BBQ.2.jpg	STAND-OUT COLOR.jpg
MIRROR IMAGE.jpg	PINK ROSE.jpg	YELLOW FLOWERS.jpg	REHEARSAL1.jpg
REHEARSAL2.jpg	FLOWER2.jpg	WHITE SQUIRREL.jpg	BIRD FEEDER RAIDER.jpg
BEST FRIENDS.jpg	PEPPERS.jpg	NC VEGGIES.jpg	FARMERS MARKET VENDOR.jpg
FARMERS MARKET.1.jpg	FARMERS MARKET.2.jpg	FARMERS MARKET VENDORS.jpg	ABANDONED BARN.jpg
ISO400 TEST.jpg	ISO800 TEST.jpg	BLOOM CLUSTER.jpg	BUD.jpg
PINK PURPLE.jpg	MAXIMUM ZOOM 210 mm.jpg	B W MACRO TEST.jpg	BLACKSMITH.2.jpg
BLACKSMITH.1.jpg	VIOLINS FOR SALE.jpg	JOHNSON FARM.1.jpg	JOHNSON FARM.2.jpg
JOHNSON FARM.3.jpg	JOHNSON FARM.4.jpg	JOHNSON FARM.5.jpg	JOHNSON FARM COW.jpg
JOHNSON FARM KITCHEN.jpg	JOHNSON FARM BEDROOM.jpg	JOHNSON FARM_MAIN HOUSE.jpg	FRIENDS.jpg
1951 FORD TRUCK.jpg	NEEDS WORK.jpg	ANTIQUE CARS.jpg	OLD TRUNK STICKER.jpg
OUR HOUSE2.1.jpg	BLOOM AFTER RAIN.jpg	ANT ON ROSE.jpg	BBC CORNERSTONE.jpg
BBC LOGO.jpg	BBC REFLECTIONS.jpg	ROSE BUG.jpg	LIVING ROOM_ISO100.jpg
LIVING ROOM_ISO200_flash.jpg	LIVING ROOM_ISO200_no flash.jpg	LIVING ROOM_ISO400_no flash.jpg	LIVING ROOM_ISO800_no flash.jpg
HELL'S GEEZERS HIKING CLUB	HELL'S GEEZERS HIKING CLUB	LEARNING TO SWIM	BLACKBERRY PICKING
STRANGE PLANT

comment |

Buds Menor		25-Jun-2008 09:54
Hi. I was about to sell my A700 and buy a DSLR. But with your shots, i was encouraged to keep it. Hope i could get similar quality shots.

Sami Jumppanen		24-Jun-2008 10:42
Thanks for great photos, Bill! David asked whether the images were sharpened. Sure they are, resized and sharpened (what else?) - a bit too sharp for my taste. I wish there were (some of) the originals available. Anyway, A700 is a great camera. The macro gets as close as 1cm and MF is really handy in the close range. When shot at 1cm, you get approx. 7nm (130+ pixels / mm) details saved when using full 6Mpix resolution. I've used A700 as a microscope, to verify mobile phone electronics soldering, for example. The lens has annoying barrel distortion in the wide end (considering the 35mm is not really wide), but otherwise it's good for the price class. The tripod mount hole is in poor location, on the far left side (the batteries are on the right), so care must be taken when using a pocket tripod or the camera will trip over. Otherwise be always careful because the tripod mount is plastic. Of course, I have to mention CHDK - the non-destructive firmware update for a bunch of new features beginning with RAW file saving option, turning off the NR, getting even shorter or longer exposures, script-controlled action... Just search "CHDK canon" and you should get there. I know this comes a year-or-two late, but I just found this site and couldn't resist :) On the other hand, meanwhile I've seen a few newer pocket sized or small CCD cameras and I have to say the image quality doesn't seem to be getting any better. 6Mpix is good image resolution for A700 size class. I now also have a Canon EOS D60 so I have some idea when to use A700 and when the DSLR. They both have their uses. Cheers, Sami

David Casler		05-Oct-2006 00:54
Wow. I actually didn't believe that these sharp, crisp pictures were taken with a Canon A700 pocket camera, so I saved a few of your shots on my drive and viewed them with Nikon View software to confirm the camera. Sure enough the camera was the A700. Are you using sharpening in Photoshop? Or any special affects? I am so impressed with the quality of these pictures I will buy one today! My father bought the SD700 with image stabilization and the pictures were half as sharp. We both hated it and he returned it. I think the image stabilization isn't quite mature yet. This camera rocks. Also, you're very good with it! Thanks for your fun album.

Guest		15-Aug-2006 11:20
Congtatulations Bill on your splendid album - technique,composition and general interest are brilliant. I am about to change my Sony V1 for something faster and more modern - and you've sold me the 'Canon A700'; what a great camera - not to mention the photographer! Many thanks ... johnbach

Bill McClung		16-Jul-2006 01:10
Thanks Jim. We live in western North Carolina in heavily forested mountains, with lots of the cooler greens. I actually have the A700 turned down on reds and greens. The factory defaults were just too vivid for my taste. You have lots of greens where you are too. I spend many days working in the U.K., usually up at RAF Molesworth (near Cambridge).

borderrose		15-Jul-2006 10:05
This is a very nice gallery. Every picture is executed well from a technical perspective. I particularly like the flower shots. You should be very happy with your A700. A few of the outdoor shots look a bit on the "cool" side in terms of colour balance. With my A620 I have the "My Colours" feature tuned to boost the red chanel by one click. I use the My Colours for those situations where I think that the blue component of the light may be a little too much for a particular scene, such as outdoor shots that do not contain a great deal of green scenery. Again, great shots. Post some more when you have them. Cheers, Jim West Sussex, UK

Jepz		23-Jun-2006 11:19
Your comments and pictures prove useful in my decision to purchase the Canon A700 as a backup to my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I also compared pictures taken by DPREVIEW between the Canon A700 and Fuji F10. The Fuji F10 clearly wins in the high ISO department. But the Canon test picture came out clearer and sharper than F10 once NOISEWARE is applied.

Chris		04-Jun-2006 13:51
Bill, thanks for the test. Im on the fence between Canon A620 and this A700. It appears that you lose slow flash and 2nd flash with the A700. You also lose remote capture. You also lose sensor size (1/2.5 vs 1/1.8 of the 620) Yougain the 210 lens and supposedly its sharper. I dont think id use or miss a swing out lcd at all , like that of the A620. So had you considered the A620? THey are also being sold right now for $230.00. But the 210 lens!! See where Im stuck. Im currently shootin a Canon A70 form 3 years ago and still like the quality, so I should be ok either way, just curious to your thoughts on this.

Leo		22-May-2006 20:16
Hi Bill, My complements to you for your posted photos! I also have DSLR K-M 5D and canon Pro1 for different use. My pocket camera was (may be still is) Canon S70 based on the RAW, 28-100 and familiarity with Canon menu/ergonomics. It is over 30 days with Canon repair service. I hope to get it back. S70 by size and weight is very similar to A700. It is 50 grams heavier and uses Li-Ion battery instead of AA. However, the max zoom is only 100. It is a bit short for a pocket camera especially when taking it for bicycle rides. I have dropped from consideration FZ7/FZ5 and S2/S3 because of their size/weight. Almost bought small Kodak with EVF. The A700 and TZ1 are only two left. Both use small 1/2.5 6MP CCDs. That means similar noise and resolution. TZ1 has longer zoom and IS but no manual control and no viewfinder. I would like to have A700 with IS but .... it is not. My question is related to the A700 LCD. Can you read it in a bright sunny day? I have used a small functional camera (Fuji F700), which LCD I could not read on a bright day. That means no menu setting or camera setting could be seen on the screen. Then it does not matter how functional the camera is. My e-mail is leob2100@sbcglobal.net Thank you for the help. Regards, Leo

Bill McClung		19-May-2006 02:08
David: Glad your legs are waking up! You will enjoy the A700. I thought about getting an S2 (and then an S3 when I read about it). But both of those are much bigger and heavier than the A700. The A700 will fit in a case on your belt. The S3 would have to be carried in a shoulder bag or a waist pack. For the A700, I use a Lowepro D-Res 8 (an exact fit....looks like it was made for the camera) most of the time. The D-Res 8 has a pocket for an extra memory card, but no room for extra batteries. When I need to carry extra batteries or the weather looks bad, I carry the A700 in a Lowepro D-Res 10AW. It has room for 4 extra AA batteries and a memory card. The AW stands for "all weather" and the D-Res 10AW has a neat little waterproof cover that pops out of the bottom when you need it. Both the D-Res 8 and the D-Res 10AW will fit on your belt with a Velcro attachment.

David		19-May-2006 01:13
I am ordering one tomorrow. I have been on the fence between the S3 and A700. I too have a DSLR with lenses and sometimes a good "mobile" camera is absolutely necessary. You helped me get off the fence. Thanks. My legs were going to sleep on me. David - Houston, TX

Bill McClung		08-May-2006 04:32
Jo: Glad to be of help. I love being able to "test" new cameras and other photographic gear. I really bought the A700 because I'm too lazy to carry around my DSLR and lenses at theme parks, etc., but the camera has pleasantly surprised me with its capabilities.

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment