Featuring a high-tech design with aluminum front cover and metallic handgrip, the Canon PowerShot A70 combines a sense of both the modern and the traditional. Despite its entry-level designation in Canon's digital lineup, the 3.2-megapixel PowerShot A70 is a surprisingly advanced model with a higher resolution than its counterpart A60 model and more manual features than you'll find on most digital point-and-shoots.
Optics and Resolution
The PowerShot A70 features a 3.2-megapixel sensor that can capture images up to 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, producing print enlargements up to 11 by 14 inches. It's also equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm, f/2.8-4.8) to cover a wide selection of photographic opportunities, as well as a 3.2x digital zoom. The PowerShot A70 also features Canon's five-point AiAF (Artificial intelligence Auto Focus) system for focusing accuracy, shutter speeds of 15 to 1/2,000 second, and fast sequence shooting at a rate of 2.2 frames per second (fps).
Movie Mode
Shoot up to three minutes of MPEG video at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels with sound, editing controls, and VCR-like playback. You can also shoot video at up to VGA resolution (640 x 480) for 30 seconds. The camera can also attach voice memos or sound files of up to 60 seconds to each image.
More Features
Offering a wider scope for photographic experimentation, Canon has also included manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority exposure modes. These modes are supported by a metering system that boasts evaluative, center-weighted average and spot options. Canon's DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor ensures excellent color rendition and white balance for every shot, as well as super-fast auto focusing, noise-free imaging, and advanced flash exposure performance.
Other features include:
- 1.5-inch TFT (transreflective) LCD monitor.
- Built-in flash with auto, on, off, manual, and red-eye reduction modes.
- Shot modes include manual, portrait, landscape, night scene, stitch assist, and more.
Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on CompactFlash memory cards (Type I only) and the included 16 MB card holds approximately 16 images at the Large/Fine setting. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Printing
Canon has introduced a series of printers designed to work directly with its lineup of digital cameras. Using these printers, no computer is required--simply connect the camera to the printer and start printing. Printers include Canon's bubble jet direct printers S830D and S530D, and card photo printer CP-100. Of course, photos from your camera can also be printed on any home computer system with an inkjet printer, sent off for online processing, or simply enjoyed on your computer screen.
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four AA batteries (alkalines included; rechargeable NiMH batteries recommended). It measures 4.0 by 2.5 by 1.3 inches and weighs 7.6 ounces (without batteries). This package includes the PowerShot A70 digital camera, 16 MB CompactFlash card, four AA batteries, USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
1 This Camera Broke My Heart
I've owned the Canon PowerShot A70 for about 18 months and loved - LOVED! - it. Simple to use, plenty of options for full auto or manual operation, a ton of extras, efficient battery usage, great companion software for easy uploading - all in a compact, attractive, sturdy package. Then the lens retraction mechanism failed and I got the dreaded "E18" error message. I emailed Canon's support desk and got a speedy and thorough reply. But since the one year warranty had expired, I was told my only options were that I could send in the camera to its service center (average cost of repair: $100 - $200) or I could pay $150 and they'd send me a factory refurbished A70. Considering the expense, I'll just spend a little more to get a brand new camera. Unless somebody from Canon is monitoring these posts and wants to cut me a deal on repair costs for my beloved but broken PowerShot A70...
2 Camera Needed Repair 2 Times in 3 Years!
Although this camera takes wonderful pictures and it easy to use, I wouldn't buy it. We bought it for about $300 and we've had it for less than 3 years. We've need to repair it 2 times. After using it for less than a year, the LCD screen stopped working and the camera took all-black pictures. Canon fixed it because it was still under warranty. A year later, the camera had the same problem but Canon would not fix it. They said I could pay them $150 for a "refurbished" exact same model and send them my old camera. Humm...doesn't make much sense since this camera sells for a little over $190 now anyway. I think it is a bit of a scam. I'd look for something different.
3 Dont buy this
Nice camera - until it stopped working. The lens mechanism jammed, i got an E18 error and the camera would have cost too much to repair by canon so i've had to spend money twice for a camera: one that doenst work and a new one. Never again
4 Overall quality
This camera was a good one as long as it lasted. However, we have used it lightly less than two years, and it has stopped working. We've been told that cost to repair these cameras is frequently more than replacement cost. Since we paid over $300 for this camera, I expected it to last longer.
5 Excellent Camera. Just buy a 128 or 256 card and its great.
I bought this camera in May 2004 and have been extremely happy. It takes excellent videos and pictures ofcourse! I bought a 256 MB card and it works great. It is very frugal on the use of battery so my regular batteries last for a very long time. A great buy I would say.
6 I love this camera
My experience with this camera:
I have owned this camera for two years and have taken thousands of photos with it.
This camera has never broken on me. No software has ever screwed up. My belief is that cameras are NOT toys and should be treated with care - then they will not malfunction.
The available shooting options on this camera are far beyond what any other similarly priced digital camera offers. The large variety of auto/manual shooting modes and other background manual settings are really what sold this camera to me. I wanted a digital camera I could toy with and learn the ins and outs of photography with...before spending money on developing costs associated with traditional cameras. This camera is perfect for me. However, if you want a camera only to take pictures of 'haha he's rolling around drunk on the floor, quick take a picture' or 'cute little fluffykins' - this may not be the best camera for you.
As with all things electronic, it is well worth your time reading the manual. This is how you learn to save batteries/etc. I remember finding out the way to turn off the LCD display so that I could batteries, simply by reading the manual. Many complaints about power use or complicated features can be sorted out by reading the manual. I cannot stress this enough (I would be saying this about any other electronic prodcut as well, so don't take this as a point against this camera).
7 Repair is too expensive
I've owned this camera for two years now. It has its issues. It wastes a lot of battery power by constantly pushing out and pulling in the lens every time the camera is turned on and off. It has a automatic power saver feature that autoshuts down the camera to make sure this happens regularly. It also continuously projects movie like images on the LCD screen of what the camera sees -- nice power wasting feature. I only need it to do that when I am actually taking a picture, not all the time. As you might imagine, you'll get tired of changing the batteries. Low light pictures were never very good.
The camera comes with a bewildering array of options but I found that 95% of them I never used. There is a dial on top with a dozen special settings for various pictures. In my two years I've only used one. The same goes for the various image sizes, compression levels, etc. The one time I actually needed a feature, it failed:
My mistake apparently was to attempt to delete pictures on the compact flash card using my computer's file browser. After I reinserted the CF card back in the camera, the camera refused to take pictures. I had the camera reformat the flash card and still wouldn't take pictures. I tried another CF card and it wont take pictures on that either. New batteries didn't help. Canon says that the repair will cost $200. Gee, thanks guys. The camera cost that much.
The fact of the matter is that I feel that these cameras are too feature laden and kinda buggy. I really would prefer a digital camera that took digital pictures. Period. The computer can do everything I need. I don't need the pile of features to complicate the use of the thing. Ultimately, I feel that all this stuff has left Canon with a camera that is simply not robust. Buy if you want, but understand that once it breaks, you are buying a new one, and all those features just make the thing break sooner.
8 CANON customer service stinks!!!
WARNING! CANON CUSTOMER SERVICE STINKS! Our experience indicates that if you buy a Canon, you should be prepared to pay for the camera a second time in repairs. This is regardless of extended warrantees. BEWARE!
This is the second Canon Powershot camera we have owned. We have had problems with both and in both cases Canon has refused to repair the camera without paying a very high flat fee. The first time the problem occurred after the warrantee period, so we paid it - about $150. Supposedly the camera was then covered for a 3 month further period. Within one month the camera completely failed to work again. We called Canon service long distance from China, where we had taken the camera, but they refused to repair it saying that the warrantee was not in effect because the problem was a different one than the one they had previously repaired. We swore we would never buy another Canon. But, STUPID US!, we read reviews that said Canon was best in our desired type and price range, so we purchased a Canon A70. It is still within the first year warrantee period, but now again Canon refuses to fix it unless we pay the flat fee - this time $100 plus shipping and handling! They say that the reason is that the camera was dropped. We know that there is a small dent on the side of the camera, but we do not want or need that fixed. The problem is that the camera does not take pictures, its obvious and essential function. This problem developed months after the small dent in the corner of the camera. We have tried calls and so far Canon has refused to fix the camera. WE WARN YOU NOT TO BUY CANON! DO NOT BE AS STUPID AS WE HAVE BEEN!
9 Another E18 tragedy
I would be very impressed with this camera. If it were not now, after 13 months of ownership, simply taking up space in a box in my closet (I keep hoping some recall will take place, but doesn't look that way). Really too bad, I thought this camera had everything.
I am not a big camera user. I would say I used this camera once or twice a month to take a few pictures of something. The camera was always stored in a nice padded holder...never dropped, never mishandled. And yet, six months in, the lens stuck and I received my first E18 error. After some jiggling, I managed to get it to retract and that was that. A month later, same problem...same resolution. This would happen about half the time after that, and a call to Canon told me it was probably dust (every time?) and to use canned air. I did so, and it would resolve itself. I skipped using the camera the eleventh and twelth month of ownership (i.e. within warranty), and on the thirteenth (OUT of warranty) the camera REALLY began acting up. It was always hit and miss as to whether the camera would work at all...eventually the lens would retract and I might get to use it. In my naivete, I tried new batteries *roll eyes, I was desperate, ok?* I had two good usages with no problems, then took the camera to Disney World. First time out of the bag the camera froze, and has remained so since. Fixing it will cost me almost the price of the camera to start with.
Given A70's demand when it came out, I felt lucky to be able to get my hands on one..beware what you wish for, right? A search for "Canon" and "e18" online absolutely ASTOUNDED me with the huge number of complaints on this issue of the lens sticking. I wish I'd known this beforehand. Clearly there is a problem, and while a flawed product is forgivable, Canon's lack of interest and response in taking care of it will keep me from buying a Canon product again.
Before buying, I truly urge you to consider and do your research before you buy a Canon product, this is not just occuring on the A70's. If you are absolutely determined, I highly urge you buy an extended warrenty as these errors are occuring on average within the first 18 months of ownership.
10 E18 Error Message
The camera has worked effectively for 1 year and 7 months.
However it has now stopping working, and the message given
on the screen reads E18. Apparently this is common problem
that has to do with lens misalignment or something. Canon's
can fix it for 100 - 200, or replace it with a refurbished
model for 150. In any case this seems very frustrating for
camera to only function for about a year and a half.
Another issue is that if you purchase the wide angle adapter
lens it will not work with the flash. I believe this is a design
flaw. The lens is so wide it blocks the flash, and creats a
curved dark area on the images.
One last issue is that the view screen cover is plastic or
something and is very easily scratched. I also somehow got
dust or dirt underneath this screen which was under warranty
and was repaired.
Otherwise its a pretty decent camera. Not a true pocket size
camera. When its working it takes great pictures.
11 Value for money & Warranty problems
About eight months after I bought the camera from Amazon USA I have noticed a white spot on all pictures I took with my A70. First I thought it is a piece of dirt on lens so I ignore it. Soon I realized it is a "dead" pixel. I contacted Canon USA and they told me to contact a service facility in my country. I called the Canon service in my country and, to my great surprise, they told me I must pay 25$, the cost of repair, which actually implies not changing the sensor but downloading new interpolation data so as to hide the white spot. Since I have already paid the warranty, as embedded cost, I do not understand why I should pay extra money.
5 stars for Canon engineers.
0 stars for Canon warranty.
12 Falling Apart After Moderate Use
While the features and ease of use may be good on the A70, the overall quality and durabilty is VERY POOR. My camera developed a fuzzy spot (presumed inside the sealed lens) that appears at the top corner of every photo. A panel on the body also has begun to loosen, even though the camera has always been cased, and never mishandled.
In reading other complaints and problems in this forum, it seems that Canon sees users of its consumer cameras as idiots, who will gleefully send these cameras back to the factory and pay a further $150 (plus shipping) for a refurbished replacement.
I suggest you purchase a higher-quality brand (Nikon, Leica), and leave Canon to sort out its obvious Quality Control problems on other, less-informed consumers.
13 After a year it died!
One year and one month after I purchased this camera and the LCD screen is full of black and purple lines and everyone in the photos looks jaundice. Bring it to the shop. Am told it will cost $140 and all I get is a 90 day warranty! I could buy a new camera for that amount. Get the camera back and they don't even replace the scratched LCD screen. Nor do I get an explanation of what was wrong with the camera in the first place. I am so mad. Canon is such a rip-off! So I call to complain (AGAIN) and get the total run-around from Canon. I only wish I had the time to go on every camera website and write a review of this company and their crappy products. Buy a Nikon.
14 A Devoted Fan
I've had my PowerShot A70 for about a year and a half and I love love love it! I bought it because I wanted a point and click camera that I could take anywhere. The photographs it produces are so much better than I expected from a camera in this price range. Pictures taken on the automatic settings come out well most of the time, and other options that can be set manually let you take perfect photos in trickier situations. Battery life is also good, and the downloading software that comes with it is easy to use. Highly recommended.
My only complaint is that the red eye flash takes really bizarre photos - it looks like the flash goes off twice, so if you're taking a picture with any action in it, you get a sort of double image. But redeye is easily corrected in an image editing program, so I just don't use that feature.
15 Maybe mine was a lemon, but...
...out A70's digital pickup elements died after just a year. It would play back fine, just couldn't take pictures. We sent it back twice for fixing until it finally ran out of its warranty. I absolutely loved the features of this camera though, and was sorry to give it up. And, sorry to say, I wouldn't buy another Canon because of this experience.
16 I loved (past tense) this camera
We went everywhere together. I had it for nearly a year and a half when the mechanism that reads the image suddenly went dead. The camera displays photos fine, so it's not the LCD. I didn't drop it or expose it to any extreme elements. I'm disappointed that it lasted less than 1.5 years - but I do have to say that it was a very good 1.5 years.
If the camera didn't break so early on, I'd have given it the full five stars.
17 Buy it! You'll love it! Great customer service!
My first digital camera and I found it very easy to use. Great high-quality pictures. Easy downloads to my computer. I would suggest using rechargeable batteries to save money in the long run - keep a spare set handy so you won't miss that great shot! I received great customer service with the Canon 800#: I damaged one of the prongs while reinserting the flash card the first week I had the camera. I called the 800# and they were very pleasant and patient, walking me through steps to hopefully resolve the problem while I was on the phone, but I ended up having to send the camera in to be repaired. The camera was returned to me within about 10 days good as new and I wasn't charged for the repair.
18 User Friendly for a Non-Techie!
First of all, I want to say that I am not a technical minded person at all. I love my 35mm camera and was really hesitant about going digital. The ONLY reason I even considered buying a digital camera is that I was traveling to Scotland on my honeymoon and wanted to be able to see the pictures as I was taking them because these were shots that I would never have the opportunity to retake, should they come out badly. So, I did a lot of research and tried to get the most user friendly camera I could find.
This camera has really been great. There are of course a lot of features that I have never used, and a few that I have finally learned. The owners manual was a little intimidating - it was so thick! But with a little practice, I've become a pretty good photographer. The Zoom works really well. Batteries last pretty well - we have a recharger for when they run out. The editing software that comes with the camera is very easy to use. The panorma feature (or photo stitch I think it's called) gave us some great scenery shots and the "auto pilot" feature allowed us to both be in the picture at the same time. The picture quality is generally good. At first it was no match to my trusty 35mm, but then I switched the setting to capture the highest quality pictures, and have had no complaints since then.
In the beginning it was hard to get used to the delay in shutter speed - I was used to "snap and click", but with the powershot I had to hold down the button for maybe a second or so before the picture would take. I was missing a lot of action shots. But now, I've learned to set the speed to action and that is no longer a problem.
I would definitely recomend this camera to any novices like me. As a matter of fact, now that I have the hang of digital cameras, I am moving up to a camcorder - Canon ZR85 here I come!
19 Built-in defect
Dread E18 appeared 2 weeks prior to warranty expiration. I joined the faulty product club. I guess I'll have to buy a new camera soon, not a Canon, that's for sure.
20 Not a bad little camera for the price.
I've had my A70 for a year now and have not had a problem with it. It takes nice pictures and short movies. There are fancier new cameras out there now (like the A75 or A95), but if you're looking for a bargain the A70 is a good choice. I've always had good experiences with Canon products because they're affordable and user-friendly. Some drawbacks: shutter speed is slow, camera is heavy/bulky, LCD is small. I do not mind the drawbacks, however, and I would recommend this camera for a bargain shopper.
21 Loved it until it stopped working
I loved the camera...great software, good fit in hand, takes great movies (something I didn't plan on using as much as I have).
Then the other day (just out of warranty) I turned it on, and got a psychedelic view on the LCD instead of a proper picture. Hmmm...tooks some pictures, and the problem is not in the LCD, it's in the camera. I tried the universal repair method of tapping it on the top and sides, and lo and behold, it works again. Some more taps, and squiggly lines, and occasionally not working. Looks like there is something loose inside.
Call Canon to see about a repair, thinking it will probably take them 10 seconds to fix it by re-fastening something inside, and they tell me it will be a minimum of $100, or $150 to replace with a newly refurbished A70 with 6 month warranty. Whaaa...?
Check online prices for new A75 with more features, and see that they are available for not much over $180. Easy decision.
I also see that Olympus and Kodak and Nikon also have products in the same price range. Wonder how their reliability is?
So my plan is to buy a new camera from somebody that is not Canon, and take my A70 apart myself and see if I can diagnose the problem. Probably a loose connector is my guess.
Buy something else. This camera will break your heart, and do it out of warranty.
22 disappointed in warranty service
Bought this camera along with the accessory pack for my daughter as a college graduation present in May 2004.
It recently dropped out of her purse into a puddle, it was in its case. It worked initially, then stopped working.
The company offers nothing to replace or fix this camera other than she can spend 150.00 to get a refurbished one or she can send it in to be repaired which would cost over 200.00.
That seems out of line for a camera which cost 219.00 originally and you can get now for 175.00.
They didn't even offer to look at it for no fee and give options for repair or credit for purchase of another canon camera.
She was very happy with the performance of this camera and is devistated that all is now lost. I will be hesitant to purchase another canon product.
23 Great Quality and Easy to Use.
This is my first digital camera, I have had it for 18 months, it works great, very easy to use, my 6 year old can even use it. The pictures are great quality, I also use a Canon Rebel SLR camera for when I want top quality photos. It is very durable, my 9 year old dropped it while riding an atv and it was undamaged. Would highly recommend. We did upgrade the memory card to 256, would do that again. If I were to buy another digital camera, I would buy Canon again.
24 A good starter camera
My husband and I finally broke down and bought a digital camera when our 35mm Minolta broke on vacation in August of last year. This is the camera we chose for two main reasons 1. It uses AA batteries and 2. The compact flash card fits into our laptop and HP printer at home. We did not want a camera that was too "gadgety" that would be hard to use. This camera is simple to use and takes good pictures. I did not experience ANY of the problems posted on some of the reviews. Personally I never use the LCD screen to take the photos. It was a novelty at first, but uses a LOT of battery power. I would suggest buying rechargeable batteries and a "quick charger" we bought one that will fully charge four "AA" batteries in one hour. The quality of photos are very good. We print a lot of photos of our daughter in the 8 x 10 size and they turn out beautifully with vivid color and detail. I have suggested this camera to several people. Several have perchased the S410, which is smaller and are extremely happy with it as well. Others in our family have the 5.0 mega pixel version of the Canon and love it. When we are ready to upgrade I would definitely buy another Canon product.
25 A critic from Argentina
This is my 3rd Digital Camera from Canon that I have bought and I had it for almost a year, and it has work perfect. Even it took a big fall from my backpack, it was inside the case (lowepro) and it still working just as new.
This is a Camera to recomend.
26 Let's Sue!
I had the e18 error two months after purchasing this camera. I got it fixed because I had no choice and had just spent $299 purchasing the stupid camera. This cost me $120. Now, 14 months after I purchased it, the camera has the black and purple lines on the LCD. I have a four month old baby that I'd like to take pictures of but can't. I am so mad!! I will never ever buy another Canon product. Let's sue them for a faulty product. Just wanted to update this review to post the following reply from Canon about my problem:
We are sorry to hear of the difficulty you have experienced with the LCD screen on your PowerShot A70. Please note, Canon USA does not monitor, confirm, endorse, or attest to the accuracy of any information posted on third party websites. It
seems many customers are overwhelmed by the barrage of information (or misinformation) being posted on unregulated, non-Canon websites. Unfortunately, this is not something over which Canon has any control. We are able only to confirm the performance of the camera based on our own testing. Canon USA has not released any service notifications regarding an issue
with the LCD screen. Since the camera is more than one year old, it is out of warranty. We have two options available: you may send the camera in for repair, or you may participate in our PowerShot Upgrade program. The standard labor cost to make the repair will range from $100 to $200. Parts may be an additional cost. Cameras damaged by impact, liquid, or sand may have a considerably higher repair cost, depending on the
results of the Factory Service Center's evaluation.
So even though this has happened to many people and on many websites there are similar complaints about this model, Canon won't take responsibility. If you've experienced problems, I suggest you call them. A better suggestion, don't buy Canon products. The repair and upgrade program they refer to are both jokes. $100-$200 to repair a camera that now costs $180? Ha! or a $150 for a refurbished camera that will likely break again.
27 Good one
This is a good camera no doubt but I won't rate it as the 'best' I have ever seen. Because 1st of all it's not so small. It can't fit in your purse. 2ndly, it takes four batteries every time. Batteries last long no doubt but since I had only four rechargable batteries, I couldn't let one set for charging and use the other one. When I was out for long time, I had to leave four of the batteries for charging for eight hours and go out without any camera. So, anything else which uses two batteries at a time is far more better. 3rd point is, sometimes the photos in night mode are hazy, for that you probably need a tripod, because if you shake your hand for a fraction of second, the photo will be a mess. Overall, canon A70 is a good deal.
28 Mine no longer works either....
I really loved this camera--for 13 months.
Then, like some other people who have reviewed this camera, the lens stuck open.
Fortunately, thanks to another reviewer, I discovered that American Express doubled the 1 year warranty, and issued me a credit. (Took about a month of back and forth faxing, returning the camera, etc).
I love the camera so much that I'm tempted to buy the same one all over again---as long as it breaks within 2 years, I'll be fine :)
Most likely I'll upgrade to a newer Canon model---again, as I said, while it worked it was a wonderful camera, easy to use, easy to upload photos via the USB port of my PC, and with my Viking expansion memory card, stored a bunch of photos.
29 Not for a snapshot photographer
This camera attracted me to it because of the use of standard batteries. I was in an area without electricity for one month, making specialized lithium batteries useless once they went dead. The use of a compact flash card is also a bonus, seeing as they run in large sizes and tend to have cheap prices.
There are some pre-defined modes for motion, auto, or manual settings. I found that indoor pictures never turned out well. The color always had an amber hue whenever the flash was used. Even the action setting created some streaks when objects would move. I had some problems with pictures getting a pixilated edge, a possible bug in the camera software itself. The 'auto' mode has a very hard time focusing on very close objects. Don't ever expect a night photo to turn out without the use of the flash.
Only users familiar with f-stops can get decent pictures. Again, the use of standard batteries did make this camera worth its purchase for the setting I was in, but give other models a shot.
30 Disappointed
Just like the other review, my canon powershot A70 became non-functional, just beyond the warranty period. Instead of the picture, it produced orange and black stripes. The Canon Service Center determined it to be a non-functional imaging unit and indicated it would take a minimum of $100 to repair. My options were either to junk the camera and lost $300 investment in it or agree to their demand. I would have expected Canon to repair it for free because the camera was discovered to be non-functional within 13 months of the purchase and at the time of discovery had not been used for over a month. I have reluctantly ponied up $100 for the repair but would warn any one considering a canon powershot to be aware of the reliability problem with their imaging unit.
31 Good Camera
I've had this camera for about a month now. I've been pretty impressed with the picture quality and features.
One thing I notices recently is that it's making a grinding sort of noise aftering powering on/off. the noise occurs after the lens is fully extended. the same noise happens when focusing for a shot. i can't remember if it was doing this all along or not, but it's made me paranoid. wondering if anyone could shed some light on this...
thanks --
32 Can't Imagine a Better Value
I bought this camera for myself after hearing great reviews from friends and seeing it receive excellent marks in Consumer Reports. I have LOVED it. It has all the features I've ever needed, plus many manual functions that I haven't had time to play with yet. If you are averse to settings, you just need to keep it on "Auto" all the time. You'll get beautiful pictures. I don't even keep it on the highest resolution setting and I've never needed more resolution. Tip: I think using flash can make subjects too stark. When I turn it off, most pictures come out better. I have had the camera for 8 months.
33 Great camera.
This camera is very user friendly, takes amazing pictures and video footage. I am not a technical type at all and after reading a few pages of the manual I can operate mose features of this camera. I have had it for 6 months and it travels well too. I highly recommend it.
34 Dead after one year.
Great while it worked, which wasn't long. After 9 months of ownership the camera stopped working, with all the pictures coming out black. Because it was still under warranty Canon repaired at no charge, but the same problem occurred again 3 1/2 months later. No longer under warranty, my only option now is to spend $100+ to fix the exact same problem, which is only guaranteed for another 90 days. Not worth it. I will be spending the $100 towards another camera, and it will definetely NOT be a Canon.
35 Prospective Canon A-Series buyers, please read!
PLEASE CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING A CANON 'A' SERIES CAMERA. Slightly more than a year ago I bought a Canon PowerShot A70, having read many excellent reviews of it and having compared it with other 3MP cameras then on the market. Until a few days ago (when its warranty had lapsed by several weeks) the camera was a joy; all the good things said about it in its many reviews had proven true. But then, one afternoon, out of the blue, 'E18!' The camera's optical unit failed, the lens would not retract, and the camera became completely nonfunctional. To no avail I tried the few remedies suggested by Canon tech support on line, by e-mail, and over the phone (where responses were quick, courteous, but completely ineffectual). The telephone tech rep then informed me that I could send the camera, at my expense, to Canon, who would repair it for anywhere from $100 to $200. I asked him if lens-unit failure was a common problem with the camera (already, from the dozens of reports I'd read on the web, I knew it was), and, quite candidly, he replied that it was. He added that this was true with ALL PowerShot 'A' series cameras, so that I could not buy a subsequent model (e.g., A75 or A80) with any confidence that the 'E18' problem would not occur with it. Please read the negative reviews of this camera and consider that the problems described may affect your camera (and those of the rave review writers) several weeks or months into ownership. For over 40 years I had been a highly satisfied user of Canon products (most of them, unlike the new digital cameras, made in Japan). No longer, alas, since I shall not buy another Canon camera.
36 A Bargain! Buy it while it's still available!
This is my first digital camera and I absolutely love it. I am a computer guy myself, so the basic come a little easier to me than others but even my wife (not so much the computer person) is able to use it without reserve and she prefers it better than our still camera.
The shooting modes are easily accessible on the top dial. You can switch from AUTO, to camcorder, to action shots within seconds. I can get 137 pix out of one 128mb card. The battery life is great. I DEFINITELY recommend rechargables!
There are a couple little *quirks* about it like the fact that there are two menus which can be a pain if you know you saw a feature somewhere but don't remember exactly which menu had it. Plus I can't figure out a way to get a date on the print. It may be there but then I'd have to read the manual :-)
Otherwise, you simply can't beat this camera for the price. Get it now before Canon phases it out. There are two newer models out there now so the clock is ticking!
37 better than expected! but off to the factory already!
i got this camera after being disappointed with the quality of my 3MP fuji finepix s5000. i did my homework and researched 3MP digital cameras for a few weeks. i noticed the A70 had the same advanced controls as the finepix s5000. it got good reviews from both professionals and casual users. so, i bought it and i have been VERY happy with this camera ever since.
my advice? READ THE MANUAL if you ever plan on doing more than pointing and shooting. even if you don't, read it anyway! this camera has a great feature set and you'd be wasting your hard earned money if you don't check it out. also, as always, spring for a bigger compact flash card (at least 128MB), rechargable batteries and a case. protect your investment!
PROS:
* takes excellent 3MP photos (color is cool and images are sharp). isn't this what digital photography is all about?
* advanced features are great! it's a great point and shoot camera, but also has tons of advanced features for those wanting more control; white balance, shutter speed, aperature, ISO, and many, many more!
* movie feature is kinda cool. with sound, too!
* fairly small and feels comfortable in your hand. controls are where they should be.
* menu is easy to understand.
* battery life seems to be pretty good (i use rechargables).
CONS:
* LCD on back of camera scratches very easily. don't remove the protective cover, or buy one on ebay. people actually sell these things. :)
* LCD gets a pink hue to it when i am in daylight, taking photos. the LCD is hard to see in daylight. try using the viewfinder. though the optical viewfinder isn't exactly what you'll see when you transfer to your 'puter, but it's close enough.
* time between photos could be better.
overall, a SUPER camera! i just hope i don't get the dreaded "E18" error!
7.12.04
well, it's off to the factory already for repairs. it's been a little over a month since i bought the A70 and it's already got problems. pink streaking on the LCD and although it doesn't show up in the pictures, it does show up on the video. i am so scared of sending this thing to the canon factory to be worked on 'cause i have heard so many stories about their horrible customer service. oh well, here goes...
38 Great camera, especially for the learner
I've long believed that the only way to become good at photography is to keep experimenting and the move to digital allowed me to indulge in my hobby without worrying about consuming film on failed photographs. I have found the A70, with its impressive list of manual controls, perfect for the job. Its pictures are sharp and clear and uploading them to the computer is a piece of cake.
Its wide range of shutter speeds and apertures allows for a lot of experimentation, especially with low light and night shots. I've come up with some night shots and macros that I've been quite proud of. I also have a three year old and as anyone with kids knows, they never have the time to pose for a photograph. So for such moments when there isn't enough time to fiddle around with the settings, the preset modes like portrait, shutter priority, etc. work real well. The batteries last quite long(I've taken about 200 shots, most of them with the LCD on, with one set) and with 2 sets of rechargeables, I make sure I'm never without a fresh set.
The reduction of 1 star is due to the E18 error I've gotten several times. And apparently it is quite prevalent if the forums are to be believed. Though its never affected my photographs(since it occurs only when shutting down or turning the camera on in play mode), it is quite annoying and scary.
Overall, I love my A70 and never leave the house without it!
39 Great camera!
I love this camera. I did a lot of searching for a camera under $300 that had all the features I thought I needed like manual settings and focus. Turns out, the auto settings work just fine and I don't really want to stop what I'm doing and fool around with settings anyway.
Pros: (1) It just feels nice in my hand. Sure, it's a little bulkier than other cameras, but it's not so large that you can't carry it in your pocket. (2) The battery life is amazing compared to my last camera. I filled a 256k card on one set of AAs. (3) The video setting is better than I could have imagined. I thought the quality would be grainy and the sound bad, but happily, I was wrong. (4) It has a power button rather than a knob that is easily bumped or is flimsy and can break.
Cons: (1) I have a lens cover problem. It sticks a lot and has since day 1. I can't bear to part with it though so I never sent it in for service. (2) The software that comes with it is confusing. I now use another program to capture and download and it also has a way better editing feature than what the camera came with. (3) Picture quality is pretty good, but you really need an editing program to sharpen things up.
All in all, I'm really glad that I bought this camera and would recommend it to anyone, especially the budget minded person who wants a great first digital camera.
40 A New Baby Must!
We just had our first child and needed to upgrade from our basic 1.1MP camera to something with a bit more power. This camera is excellent. It is a nice size and feel unlike other cameras which are so small, you forget you're holding a camera.
This model is feature packed. I usually keep it on auto mode for shooting, but found the sports setting and P settings good for shooting in low light without the flash. As much as this kid is photographed, we would blind our baby with constant camera flashes.
The photo stich assist feature is great for capturing panorama views. I've used it to save a 360 view of the baby room to share with relatives.
As for battery life, my number one criteria is that we don't have to take a second mortgage to afford to power the camera. So far, the batteries are hanging in there after many shots and on-camera reviews of pictures. We have yet to invest in rechargable batteries, but I imagine the performance is the same.
If there's one piece of advice I have for new parents, it is this: Leave your camera out ready to go so you can capture those special moments. With a 128MB CF card, we can get over 100 pictures at the highest resolution. We can shoot many pictures before off loading to the laptop. Then, the blurry, low light, or otherwise uninteresting shots can be dumped.
Bottom line: This camera is a great value.
41 Excellent
Easy to use and trouble free since day one. I absolutely love this camera!
42 Great Camera, Camcorder, Great Price!
OK So the camcorder comment may be a bit overdone...but this really is a great camera. The price, for what you get, is very fair and unless you're taking pictures for publication in National Geographic magazine, it's going to do a great job for you.
From still shots of a european vacation to shooting thirty second videos in the manufacturing facilities where I work, this camera does a great job and with a little tweaking it will make great videos in Windows Movie Maker where you can cut custom DVDs. I use it to make training DVDs for machinery and equipment.
One thing in particular that needs to be pointed out is that you definitely need to upgrade to at least at 256 MB memory card (around $75), rechargable batteries (around $30 for batts and charger), and a padded case to protect your imvestment.
43 I'm tossing mine
It takes nice pictures when it works. Unfortunately it seldom works. Two trips back to Canon is enough. I think Canon has a quality control problem with this as well as their SLRs.
44 Wow, What a Camera!
I am a reader and not a photographer. I enjoy taking pictures with the next man but I would not call it my hobby as much as a necessity from my wife. I bought this camera because frankly we needed a new camera that was digital and would allow this amature to delete pictures before running to Wal-Mart to process them. This camera is great for me!
The camera itself is lightweight and quite easy to learn. I had some difficulty at first figuring out how to take pictures, switch to the video, and then move to cutting and deleting pictures and short films. However, Canon sends an easy to follow book that teaches you all you need to know to run the camera.
Finally, buy rechargable batteries! This camera (as I am learning with all digital cameras) eats batteries for fun. Spend the $50 to get a battery pack and get a nice camera case as well (Canon does not provide you with one).
45 Truly superb digital camera
This camera is worth every penny you will pay for it. I could not expect anything more out of a low-mid price range digital camera. Canon has thought of everything when it comes to making their products user-friendly. I have messed around with a lot of digital cameras recently and most of the non-Canons have not yet mastered camera ergonomics. Many manufacturers are trying to make their camera super small, which I admit, can be nice sometimes. But in doing so, they've thrown ergonomics out the window, so using the more advanced features is very frustrating. You have to have sharp fingernails to press some of the buttons on other cameras. But with the Canon A70, fingertips work fine. The camera is shaped so that your right hand fits perfectly around the body without obstructing the lens or mashing unwanted buttons. I don't need to list all the features here, as they are listed in several other reviews. But one neat feature(some people think it's a negative) is that it takes four AA batteries instead of a battery pack. The real trick is to buy two four-packs of either the Rayovac or Energizer rechargeable NiMh batteries and a charger. Instead of spending 80 bucks on an extra battery pack, you spend 15 bucks on a charger and 12 bucks per 4-pack of AAs. Plus, when your friends are scrambling for a wall-outlet to charge their camera battery packs, you just drop in the other set of AAs and shoot away. It has been an invaluable asset when I'm shooting in the field away from AC power. The software that is bundled with the camera is almost limitless. The "Photo-stitch assist" mode of the camera is really cool. It helps you line up subsequent pictures for a panoramic, so when you bring the pics into the computer software, it does an amazing job at making a panoramic image! I'd recommend a 256 MB CF memory card for this camera for more than enough storage. (...)Way to go Canon!
46 Great pictures, good features, but battery life is short
I've had the camera for over 2 weeks now and I must say I am more than satisfied with the quality of pictures. The optics and electronics produce really neat pictures. Has good features like full manual control of shutter speed, exposure etc..
The only problem I had with this camera is that it sucks on batteries. within a few days of clicking, i exhausted the battery pack and am now left looking for a good set of rechargeable batteries.
Also, it doesn't have a battery status indicator (only beeps alarm when battery is critically low).
Otherwise, it is worth every cent :)
47 Great while it lasted !!
The camera took great pictures for a full year. 2 days after the warranty expired the lens cover got stuck. Support said they 'might' replace it since it was so close to the warranty period. They wanted me to ship it back and they'd let me know. Instead I called American Express (the card I purchased the camera on) who doubles all warranties up to one year. About 2 weeks later I received a check for my full purchase price and am now shopping for a new camera.
48 excellent point and shoot camera
I have owned this product for almost a year now. It is still in good condition and I love it a lot. The image quality is excellent. The good part about this camera is that it gives you a lot of control - for a non-professional camera, contrary to other camera which really on gives you ability to POINT and SHOOT. It gives you control over shuttle speed, focus length, ISO speed, various image sizes, flash intensity, just to name a few.
The con about this product is that it needs 4 AA batteries, which makes it quite bulky and heavy. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a camera which is easy to use and still does not want to lose too much of control, pick Canon A70.
49 Lens cover failure
The lens cover failed 2 weeks after the warranty expired. The top half closes but not the bottom. Canon support stated that the lens cover is very sensitive and that it would cost approximately $175 to repair.
50 camera specs
Is the Canon Powershot A70 camera pictbridge compatiable,and does it come with a cable to conect to and print pictures directly from my Canon i560s printer?
51 Poor image quality
I used this camera to take images in a lab as a record of some work done on a steering mirror system. It's a cheap camera and the image quality reflects it. Matte surfaces had nasty artifacts, even at the 'upper medium' resolution and 'Superfine' quality.
Although the camera is easy to handle and quite simple to use, the image quality is everything - and this is a piece of junk in that respect. Any of the Nikon Coolpix series are infinitely superior.
Sorry, Canon. You should be able to do better than this.
52 Canon Powershot A70 is simply amazing
After doing TONS of research over a span of about two months, i finally bought this camera. I tried it out in stores (along with many others) and it was simply the best for the money. Though it may not be one of those TINY pocket cameras, i never had a problem fitting it in the pocket of my cargo pants or jeans. If you are unsure about this camera, this may help:
1. Great quality pictures. Believe me, 3.2 MP is plenty for the average person. Amazing quality up untill 8 by 10 inches
2. Though it is not advertised, the camera lasted through a day of pouring rain while i was hiking without a problem. It was very wet, but even in a cloud on the top of a mountain i found no problem with the camera. I would still suggest avoiding wet weather (just in case), but it stood up fine for me.
3. Panoramic mode is really great - stiches very easily together
4. Movies have great quality with long length - sound works well, i have a lot of fun with them.
5. Software is simple to use, easy to upload pictures
6. TV output made it easy to show everyone the pictures
7. Long battery life (with rechargeables)
9. Nice zoom + nice quality = good editing. I was able to zoom way in on pictures i took in NYC from a building to see the license plate numbers clearly - the quality is that good!
10. easy to switch between modes
11. personalizeable
12. Reasonable weight - not cumbersome evern for long hikes
The only problems I encountered with this camera are:
1. Long period of time between when you press the shutter button and when it takes the picture - if you are going to need to catch very fast shots of things (maybe whale watching) you could have a problem - i solved this however by using the movie mode and taking out the frame i wanted on the computer.
2. Took a while to get the correct settings for museum shooting. too bright, too dark - i did get it to work well eventually. it just needs some fiddling.
3. The software isnt amazing, you may want to buy a better program for editing.
I would suggest buying several accesories for the camera:
1. a larger memory card (I got a 512 MB card so i would never need another, and I am very happy with it. It stored every picture I toook over the span of a week in the Virgin Islands no problemo. at highest quality, you can take over 300 pictures without a worry!
2. Rechargable batteries (i got 2200) they last very long!
3. a good case
All in all, this is an amazing camera. a solid choice for everyone except maybe a professional photographer. after the research, this is definately the best value for the money.
53 a new digital camera user
I admit that I don't have anything to compare this to--but I am very happy with this camera. Is simple to use, takes great pictures. I'm sure there are people who have a lot of experience with digital cameras that could find something to be improved on this rather inexpensive, average number pixal model, but for a newbie like me it's great!! I'm glad I bought this one rather than the other 20 or more I looked at.
54 Disappointed
I bought the A75 and was very disappointed in the quality of pictures. It said it was Auto, but you better know a lot about photography so you can set it all manually. I wanted a quick point and shoot camera. The photos I took looked fine on the camera monitor, but when I brought it up on my computer they were dark. The only easy thing about it is the menu and settings, etc. But after 3 days of reading and trying to understand the thick book that came with it, I gave up and took it back. To me if I have to spend days trying to figure out how to operate something, it isn't worth having. I ordered the Olympus Camedia D-580 and I love it! VERY easy to understand, pictures 100 times better and they come up on my computer and look beautiful. With the Cannon, every person and dog had glassy yellow or red eye and I tried Auto and manually put it on red eye reduction, but still their eyes looked horrible. I'm sure if I went in and manually set whatever the professionals set, the eyes would have been fine, but I'm not a professional. I want something simple and easy and fast. Olympus - the eyes were PERFECT! Blue eyes and brown eyes - no shine - no glassiness - no red. Oylmpus instructions were a lot easier to understand and explained more, but yet in 1/4th of the pages it took cannon. Cannons book - you have to keep refering back to other pages because it will say "Refer to page such and such". I don't have time to sit and keep fliping around to different pages. Also Cannons softwear - the 1st day my new XP computer reconized the cannon, the 2nd day it would not reconize it. Olympus camera - you don't need to load softwear at all if you don't want to - the computer will reconize it and you can bring the photos up in any program.
The cannon would be fine for a person that knows a lot about photography and all the meanings, settings, etc. but for an amature - I say go with Olympus. And if you want your pictures to come out clearer and better on your computer to print - go with Olympus.
55 Good features, crappy viewfinder
I selected the A-70 because it ran on AA cells (don't have to lug a charger around - although you will probably need to anyway because of alkalines' short life in the camera) and had a good variety of features. After a couple years with the camera and about 2000 exposures, some observations:
- Optical viewfinder is junk - but this seems to be common in cameras of this price range. Shows only about 70% of view, and mine is also off about 10 degrees in rotation.
- A long delay between shutter press and exposure - as much as a couple seconds. Again, this is common in cameras of this price range. Using manual focus can speed this up.
- Picture quality is excellent, as long as the "ASA" is kept on Auto or at or below 100. "Auto ASA" will net shutter/apertures at ASA 50 equivalent. At ASA 400, there is lots of noise and the camera will overexpose pictures taken in daylight.
- Power management is poor. Batteries die without warning (I've never seen the "low battery" indication), and camera has gotten "stuck" a couple of times in a mode where it seems to think even fresh batteries are no good; it has recovered after a few minutes with the batteries removed: was it a speck of dirt on the contacts? I could not tell. Can take about 120 no-flash pictures on a set of 2000 maH NiMhs, with LCD mostly on. Battery life on alkalines actually seems to be shorter than high-capacity NiMh's.
- Autofocus has failed on about 1% of pictures.
- A small number of pictures have had bright speckling in low light situations or streaking in daylight.
56 Great small camera for novice and everyday use
This is the third Canon (we have one Sony) in the family. I bought Canon because the other two provided good pictures, good software, easy and user friendly operation, all at a good price. My A70 has been a joy to operate. This is my first digital camera to call my own. I have two Minolta 35mm camera, and although this digital won't replace them, it can be carried a lot easier than my two film cameras, and all their lenses. I also like the instant color-to-B&W (and other special features) rather than switching out film. The batteries last for a long while, but even longer since I bought (free with rebate) a card reader. The local retail store prints copies of the digital pics that you want to put in the album or in a frame. Good camera with no problems. The 3MP at just over $200 has served me well.
57 Why, Canon, Why?!
I give the A70 one star because of the mental anguish it has caused me, and not because it is a bad camera. I don't understand the people at Canon. I had a PowerShot s30 - an excellent camera, with virtually the same features as the A70, but small enough to fit into your pocket - but my s30 was stolen and I was forced to buy the A70 because the s30 was discontinued. The A70 takes just as good pics as the s30, and it has almost the same features, BUT it's substantially bigger and it takes four clunky, heavy AA batteries rather than a small rechargable one half the size of an average matchbox.
I just don't get it. With the S30, you had a great manual camera that was small enough to fit into your pocket and that was reasonably priced. Now, Canon forces you to choose between a manual large camera, and a non-manual pocket-sized one. Why can't they just revive the great features of the S30?
My advice: If you want a high quality, low-priced digital camera with manual features, and don't mind a large and heavy one, get the A70 or eqivalent new model. If you want any other mix of features, try something else.
58 Sent in for Repair 2X
Perhaps I got a rare defective product, but it was annoying enough that I felt the need to write a review.
* After 6 weeks, the replay mode stopped working. I couldn't look at old pictures I had taken. Furthermore, since the camera needs to be in replay mode to download pictures, I couldn't even get them onto my computer. I sent the camera back for repair ($10+ shipping that Canon doesn't cover) and they repaired it in about 3 weeks. Problem solved. Or was it...
* A month after that, horizontal lines started to appear on LCD, and also on the pictures I took. Annoying, but I dealt with it. Some pictures were so distorted, it looked like LSD rather than LCD. After a while, the display would totally give out and remain black about 50% of the time. The resulting pictures were also black. I sent the camera in again for repair ($10+ shipping). This time Canon fixed it and sent it back within a week.
Canon gets halfway decent marks for doing the repairs smoothly, and the camera itself is great. But as far as reliability, chalk this user's experience up in the lemon department.
59 Excellent Quality
I purchased this camera two months ago and do not have a single complaint. It is easy to use (though I did have to spend an afternoon with the manual to understand the more esoteric features) and takes wonderful pictures.
The batteries that came with the camera were eaten up in about two days. I decided I'd better get rechargable batteries at that rate of consumption so I picked up an Energizer kit with four batteries, and got 4 extras so I'd always have a charged set.
What I have found is that the second set of batteries probably was not necessary. We use this camera a couple of times a week for 15-30 minutes at a time - including making several movies - and after two months the original rechargable batteries are still going strong! That is much better performance than I ever would have dreamed.
The camera fits comfortably in an adult hand and is easy to operate. The only quibble I have with the construction is that the cover to remove the CF card is poorly designed - when you unlatch it, the bottom of the cover "sticks" so you have to be careful you don't snap it trying to open it. The plastic on this cover feels flimsy, like it could break easily if extreme care is not taken.
Still, anhyone with common sense will use care when handling a camera, and I haven't found this one issue annoying enough to regret my decision at all. A very good bargain.
60 Good but quite annoying
I have taken about 500 pictures so far in the last couple of months with the A70, my first digital camera. My review is strictly my opinion on using the A70, since I have never used any other brand, so I don't know if other may behave similarly or not.
First the good things: The A70 produces excellent color images, both on the monitor/tv or printed. It uses the least expensive memory card - compact flash. It uses the least expensive AA size batteries. (I bought 8 rechargeable ones, still very inexpensive compared to those batteries used in some very small tiny digital camera). Direct hookup to tv for viewing without the need of a dock.
Now the negatives: It bothers me very much that what you see in the viewfinder is not what you get. The little 1.5 inch screen seems to show what you will really get, but not the viewfinder. Under bright sunlight, the little screen is totally useless, you cannot see a thing. And since using the viewfinder does not correctly show you what you'll get, it's very frustrating to have to guess. Also because of the little screen becomes totally useless under bright sunlight, it is extremely hard to make any setting changes since settings are only displayed on the little screen, not through the viewfinder. For example, if you need to change from flash-on to flash-off under bright sunlight, good luck. The second annoying thing is the zoom control. It is almost impossible to zoom precisely. You'll go too far one way and when you zoom back, you'll go too far the other way. No precision control on the zooming mechanism. It is fine with casual snapshot type of pictures, but not when you want a little bit of artistic creation. Third annoying thing is the delay reaction on the shutter, which I have read on other brands also, so it is not a unique A70 issue, but that does not make it not annoying. Among the three, the third is the least annoying.
61 It's OK
This is an OK entry level digital camera. It's small and well built, not a cheesy piece of junk. When it manages to focus on the subject, it takes pretty decent photos. There lies the rub. The focusing system is worthless. It picks random points within the field of view to focus on and I have not found a way to make it consistantly focus on the center of the frame. The small lens picks up no light, so every indooor shot is a flash photo, which leads to red eye and flash bounce from everything. The time between finger press to shutter release in agonizingly long. Half the time, you'll move the camera thinking something is wrong just as it's releasing the shutter.
If you can deal with these problems, then it's not a bad system. I would go the next level higher and get one that you can actually pick what gets focused on.
My 2 cents.
62 Nice camera
I have had this camera for about 3 weeks now and am very happy with it. The image quality is very good with good color and contrast and sharp images. They are not as good as my father's Canon Digital Rebel, but then his camera also cost 3 times as much. I have printed the photos on my Epson Stylus C84 (also available at Amazon, and highly recommended) and the results have been truly great. I got the printer because of the camera, and the 2 are a perfect team!
It is a nice size to hold, not too big and not too small. The features are many and it has many manual controls, including flash level, focus, and many other things you would not expect on a camera like this. The only real feature that I have found sometimes not that great is the AiAf (artificial intelligence auto focus), sometimes it is not artificially intelligent but instead genuinely stupid. It is possibly to manualy control the focus on the camera though.
Pros:
Good pictures
Lots of control when wanted
Lots of features
Solid build quality
Cons:
AiAf can sometimes be just plain stupid
63 Battery friendly
I have had this A70 since Christmas 2003. All who see the finished pictures always ask how many pixels it is because of the extra fine quality. The battery life is absolutly unbelieveable for a Digital camera. I love the panoramic view photos which are very impresssive [and very easy to make].
The ability of conecting it to the TV and seeing the photos so big is a great big WOW! The setting for the best quality picture is 38, but the quality it produces is worth it.
64 Very good overall but design and battery is a big problem
Very good overall but design and battery is a big problem.Since Canon does not supply battery charger with the camera you have to pay 20 bucks more.And the camera is very battery consuming.But other features are good enough.It is worth buying it.
65 Awesome for beginners to advanced photographers
This camera works great and has tons of modes. In auto mode all you need to do is press the shutter and you have an instant picture. Very high quality pictures with very little noise. This camera also includes a manual mode for the advanced users and people who want to learn it.
66 Very Pleased
I have been very pleased with the A70. I used to do a lot of photography in college, but afterwards found that without access to a darkroom, point-and-shoot (Rollei 35S) was the easy way to make photos. About three months ago, I made the switch to digital and decided to invest in a camera with the capability of manual controls. The learning curve for the A70 was not trivial, and it took awhile for what was obvious thirty years ago to come back. The biggest challenge has been focusing using the macro mode. In general, I find this camera a hoot and am enjoying photography again. I feel liberated by being able to pick the 10% of the photos that really stand out. The amount of info in the 3.2 meg image seems adequate for 4x6 or 8x10 prints. As I said in the title, I'm very pleased.
67 AWESOME!
I waited for a while for this Camera to come down below $250.00 and I scored it for $220.00 or so here on Amazon and I couldn't be happier. Great print out quality at 8 x 10's shooting at the highest resolution and superfine quality. The video function is actually practically useable with a 512, 9mb write speed card. Sequence shots have been great with wakingboarding and skating. Can't wait to get the waterproof casing for it. Aluminum body is sturdy and ergonomic. Doesn't eat batteries. Get ya one!
68 Nice quality, good price (I think)
I'm new to digital cameras and I'm not even sure why I bought this one. I think I got one just to do it.
I'm not quite sure what to take pictures of yet, but what I have taken pictures of look very good. I don't have any other cameras to compare it to though. The images are good quality, but I wished it was even sharper than it is. When you look at the largest images (2048 x 1536) with a desktop resolution of 1280 x 960, the images are somewhat blurry when you zoom into the image 100%. It looks very good though. I took pictures of my backyard and I tested it's ability in low light. I took a picture of myself with me only being lit dimly by my computer screen and it showed up pretty well (I used the nighttime photo mode). And even if the image isn't bright enough or colored the way you want you could just edit them once you download them to your computer.
I was suprised with the quality of the video. It is very good looking, but at 640x480 it can only record for like fifteen seconds. I suppose I can make movies like Michael Bay though with thousands upon thousands of 5 second shots.
I researched different cameras and went to review sites with image quality tests and this one seems to have the best looking images for the cost. And it also seems to have the most features. The bottomline is that the images taken with this look great, the video feature looks great, lots of options to choose from and the camera itself is very sharp looking.
69 Good to 130'
I have been using this camera for over six months now, above and below the water with the Canon housing. Don't get hung up on higher resolution camera - 3.2MP is terrific. I bought Maha 2200MaH batteries plus a couple of 256 Meg CF cards. It's all been reliable. The software is good too - I make panoramas with the Canon - some of them 9' in length.
70 Great Camera
I'd been waiting to get this camera for a while and got it about a month ago when it finally went on sale for under $225.00. I love it. It doesn't eat batteries as bad as most of the other digital cameras out there. The aluminum case is super sturdy. Picture quality is great. I got the viking 512 flash card on sale and it will take around 300 pictures at highest quality and highest resolution. Pictures print out well at 8 x 10. With the standard viking card at the highest resolution and size it will shoot about one frame per second. I would suggest getting the Ultra II compact flash card with the 9mb write speed if you plan on doing a lot of action sequence shots. I'll be getting it soon. Also having all the manual features available is great. Plus the camera is nice and compact and very ergonomic. Over-all I give this camera a 5 outta 5 as a great point and shoot camera. Plus you can get the other lense attachments from Canon if you want or the waterproof case.
71 Would buy again without a second thought !!
Love it! So much easier to use than the Kodak DX-3215 I bought previously. Simple to use, many cool features. I'm still learning what it can do. Plugs right in to the usb port to transfer pictures. My daughter didn't even have to teach me how to use it! Great buy, great quality product.
72 Excellent value
Sharp pictures with 3.2 megapixels has turned out to be a great camera.
73 Simple...
After much research I decided to buy the A70 as a gift for my "technology impaired" dad, and I wasn't disapointed. The camera is easy to use and the software is simple, yet effective. Most of the pictures come out great, the only drawback is that if you want to take shots of fast moving objects the A70 does not do the job too well. If you are looking for a camera to take on vacation this is a great one, easy to use and not too bulky or heavy. All an all, a highly functional machine.
74 Just what I needed
After much research and testing, I decided upon the A70 because of the quality of the pictures and the look and feel of the camera. I upgraded the memory to 256MB and got the rechargeable batteries (a must) and also purchased a card reader.
I took the camera on a trip to London and Paris and I got the most incredible photo's! I'm not at all a photographer but when I showed the pictures to family and friends they thought that some of them were postcards. One picture of Big Ben had activists and police at the top of the tower. By zooming in on the photo (taken at least .10 miles away and the tower is quite high), I can actually see them and read the signs they were holding in protest. Just amazing. I took over 175 pictures and never worried about running out of space.
The card reader works just like another drive on your PC and I easily drag and drop the pictures to my hard drive or to write onto a CD.
Best Christmas present I ever bought for myself!
75 I LOVE THIS CAMERA!
This camera is awesome. There isn't a thing about it that I don't like. It's extremely versatile. I've gotten fantastic shots of everything from flowers only a few inches away to horse races. I've heard complaints about its ability to photograph fast moving objects, but I've gotten great shots of both agility dogs and racehorses moving at 35 mph. Most of the shots come out crystal-clear, and if they don't, it's usually my fault. The shutter speed is a tad bit slow at times, but 90% of the time it's quick enough for what I want to photograph. Highly recommend this camera.
76 Great for the money!
For the money this is a great camera! For someone with large hands it might be awkward to use. My husband felt it was "too flimsy" and the zoom button was too small. I had a S30 Canon which was a lot pricier and more sturdy for my husband's large hands. After 11 months it broke. I got this A70 to replace it - I figured if it broke in 11 months I wouldn't have such a big $ investment in it! After 8 months it's going fine. Would highly recommend for a beginner or amateur photographer.
77 Still going strong
After nearly a year of hard use, my A70 still works as well as the day it arrived. For a versatile little snapshooter at a very reasonable price it can't be beat. As for the many reports of "E18" error codes and shoddy repair service on this and Elph models, maybe those users tend to be unaccustomed to precision machines. Dust, grit, and impact will kill almost any precision photo gear. I can say from experience that even the stoutest old Zeiss and Leitz rangefinders were not gritproof, and ten-thumbed technicians were occasionally certified by Leitz for warranty work.
78 I get some pretty amazing photos, and love those closeups!
I have had this camera for several months now. I bought it in particular to take photos of the jewelry I design and sell on the internet. As I'm not a photography pro, I needed something easy to use and that could take good quality closeups. I also wanted something I could afford on a tight budget. If I could compare this camera to a car, I would compare it to my Toyota Corolla... both are comfortable to use, reliable, sturdy, and fantastic quality for a reasonable price.
I read the booklet to learn how to use the manual controls of the camera, and it helped tremendously to be able to adjust the amount of light I let in as I photograph my jewelry within a few inches, inside my house near a window. I turn off the flash so as not to have a glare or washed out colors, and it's amazing with just a little adjustment on the camera, how I can get a natural looking light on my subject, as well as fine detail. When taking closeups, you just press the closeup button so that it can focus on objects within a few inches. A little square appears on the screen to show you exactly what it's focusing on. (...)
As for "regular" photography of people and places outdoors, for example, I have gotten amazingly beautiful shots of scenery that look like they should be in a magazine, and others that of course are ho-hum. The great thing though, as with digital cameras, is that I can take several shots and choose the best ones to keep.
Now, I have to admit that I also use Photoshop Elements with many of my photos, and the combination of the camera and the editing program makes for some pretty professional looking photos! With Elements, I can crop, add contrast, adjust color, brightness, and sharpness, so that even not-so-great photos can come out pretty amazing.
The weight and feel of the CanonA70 is just right. It's not heavy, and rests comfortably in the hand. I don't feel like I'm going to accidentally crush it as I would with an ultra-slim camera. I love the self-closing lens and the fact that I don't have a detachable lens cap that could get lost. The lens automatically closes up like a sliding door when you turn off the camera.
The A70 may not be a camera for professional photographers, but I recommend it so much for casual photographers, and even people who do web photography like I do.
79 Nice camera...Excellent for beginners
I chose the A70 looking for a entry-level model, and this camera has met my expectations. I feel it is a good value because it offers more than I was looking for but is still priced well within where I would expect it to be.
This camera is easy to use out of the box. It has a lot of features and shooting modes that I would not expect at this price. The manual is easy to follow, and the software is easy to install and use.
There are only a few improvements that I would like to see. Regarding the body, the terminal cover seems flimsy and can be difficult to slide open, and the LCD monitor is glossy and seems prone to scratching. There is also no battery meter other than a "low battery" indicator. None of these issues would deter me from buying this camera.
I've also noticed inconsistent quality in low-light shooting. That may be the operator rather than the camera, but keep this in mind if you will use this a lot for low-light pictures.
I like being able to use 4 alkaline batteries, and I got around 215 shots (most with flash) before having to replace the batteries. The 16MB Compact Flash card it comes with will of course need to be upgraded, but this is true of most digicams. The A70 does offer a wide range of picture size and image quality, so you can get anywhere from 8 to 150 pictures on a 16MB card depending on what resolution you shoot.
This is also a popular model, so there are a lot of resources on the web. After a month of use, I have not had any problems with it. I'm very happy with this camera and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality entry-level digicam.
80 Most bang for the buck
I spent quite a bit of time researching digital cameras in the 300 dollar or less range before purchasing this camera. I am pleased that I picked the Canon A70 camera. Uses AA batteries, rechargeable or alkaline. So if the rechargeable batteries go dead on you, just slap some standard AA batteries in and continue shooting. Uses relatively inexpensive CompactFlash cards. Has manual overide capability if you want, so you can take total control of your shots. The 15 fps movie mode with sound is awesome. The camera can take a 640X480 movie clip of 3 minutes in length and produces about a 20MB file. Of course you can take many of these 3 minute clips as long as you have space on your CompactFlash card. 320X240 movie clip lengths are only limited by the amount of free space on your memory card. Definitely a good buy.
81 Amazing Pictures, Features, Quality
This is obviously a little more pricey than some of Canon's other 3MP cameras, but WELL WORTH IT. The picture quality and features are amazing, and this camera was rated as one of the best in its class by consumer reports. I am very pleased that I did the research and made the right choice by purchasing this camera.
82 Good family or first digital camera
For those non-techies out there (myself included) who just want an inexpensive, easy to use family camera, this is it. The A70 is a nice little camera -- it's easy to slip into a pocket or backpack, takes consistently clear pictures, and can take mini-movie clips that are wicked easy to e-mail (especially if you have Windows Movie Maker or similar, and can combine the clips and shrink the files down). I purchased a larger memory card (128MB) and rechargeable batteries, and have really enjoyed using the camera for six moths without any problems. You can also purchase additional lenses (which is nice, because it has a limited zoom). We have packed away our Nikon and camcorder, because this is less obstrusive, more convenient, and simpler to use. Pictures which we've developed at WalMart have also come out clean and crisp, although we've never done a larger size than 4x6. My only complaint is minor -- there is no battery indicator, so when the batteries go, they go with minimal warning. (I just pack an extra set of disposible AAs as a back-up.) This is our first digital, and we will most likely purchase a Canon again based on this one's performance. Hope this helps!
83 awesome digital camera!
This camera has given me no problems. The software that comes with it is great as well. I highly recommend it!
84 Excellent value - great picture quality
This camera is well worth the money because:
- it has many features that many cameras in the same class don't have
- very good picture quality, even better quality if you know what you are doing and know how to tweak camera settings
- it can use refular AA batteries as opposed to propierarity batteries as Sony cameras do
- manual control; i.e. full aperture and shutter speed control
- satisfying picture quality in automatic shooting mode
I gave it 4 stars because:
- it is missing a battery indicator
- it uses 4 batteries instead of 2 (although this results in longer usage time)
85 Very impressive for the price, and holds up well
I took the A70 to Argentina last summer along with 3 sets (12) of recharchable batteries, a Rayovac quick recharger (really nice here, and necessary there) and a power transformer. The transformer cycled things down from 220 to 110 but it took a while to charge, nevertheless the battery life from 3 sets was enough that I could go on a side trip from Buenos Aires through central and northern Argentina without my charger and not worry about running out of juice for a week. All in all I took about 600 pictures, and manyof them are really quite stunning post-card quality - the others are MISTAKES on my part. I'm disappointed that the A80 has that flip out LCD which looks like a potential battery hog, I think they should have kept it simple. This is a great model, and for this price you will definitely not be disappointed.
For the record I had a little case that I carried the camera and the two extra sets of batteries in at all times. They all fit very compactly, and I never needed more than the one 256mb card I brought down with me.
86 Excellent camera at an excellent price
I ordered 5 of these digicams last year for my workplace. We use these to create training aids and to document problems and/or unusual situations. Since then, I've recommended this camera to 4 of my friends, and they are all quite satisfied with the A70s performance.
There are better digicams out there, but for the price, the A70 cannot be beat. The A70s are fairly user-friendly. There are many technologically impaired people at my workplace, and I've managed to train them on the most basic features of this camera with little effort. And for those who require more advanced features (f/stop, shutter speed, exposure compensation,...), the A70 will provide satisfaction (although some of these features are buried deep in menus).
The A70s size is compact, though not quite as small as many of the super-compact digicams (Canon ELPH, Pentax Optio, Casio Exilim, Olympus Stylus,...). But for those with larger hands, the A70 is very easy to handle. When I am using a super-compact digicam, I often feel as if it will slip out of my fingers. The larger grip of the A70, however, provides a wonderful sense of security.
The biggest gripe I have with this camera is the lack of a RAW or TIFF mode. Granted, most users won't use these formats, but some of the more advanced users may appreciate them.
We've printed pictures up to 8x10 inches with pretty decent results. Most point and shooters will find the A70 to more than adequately suit their needs (when was the last time you had an 8x10 made?).
If you do get the A70, definitely invest in a larger CompactFlash card (consider 128MB). And don't forget to purchase a couple sets of rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and a recharger.
If you think you need higher resolution, the recently released 4MP Canon A80 may suit your needs. The A80 also comes with a swiveling LCD, which is quite helpful in taking self-portraits or shooting from an unusual angle (it also makes an excellent real-time "reverse-mirror").
87 Great Camera for the Price
I previously owned Sony 1.3 MP and I was not happy with the performance. I can compare image to image and find all the differences. I would give full stars to Canon A70 and this is my prized possession and I would recommend this to all.
88 Over a year owning it....
I bought this earlier in 2003 since my children live in MA and I live in CA and I was tired of disposables and the trouble of the new xray machines. I love it. I wish it was smaller but at the time I purchased it it was the lowest cost for the best resolution. Canon has come out w/a smaller version that I would buy now - but this is a great camera for those looking for a real-size camera that offers FULL manual options for picture taking. The batteries last the life of adding in a larger card to take over 100 pics. The software is very easy to use and now I print specific pictures for my children and myself. Canon keeps coming out w/higher MP at a lower cost so now this model is not the optimum to get. I won't buy a new digital until a 4MPx is $200 and the size of a credit card since, when this one is 'off', fits in any pocket of my clothing. Drop me an email w/any questions - I'm an honest person who shoots straight...m_jessing@yahoo.com
89 Great Camera!
I purchased my A70 4 months ago and it works great! I bought the NIMH battery pack with charger and rechargeable batteries. I had read reviews on this camera draining batteries quickly but this is not the case at all. The batteries don't need charging for quite a while. As far as features, I am a beginner at using them and haven't quite figured them all out. I have found that when using the P mode and changing the focus to spot metering, the camera takes better pictures particularly of a single person. I love having the movie mode. This camera was a great price and I do not regret my purchase at all.
90 Awesome camera
If you are looking for a great digital camera with great features, this is the one. This camera take awesome pictures and has more features than I know what to do with. What I liked most about this camera is that it can be completley manaul and completley automatic. This camera has all the features you will ever need and produces awesome pictures. The only think I don't like about the camera is that it does not come with a rechargeable battery. But this problem is easily solved if you buy the Canon battery pack. All in all a great camera for a great price.
91 Not happy
Camera suffers E 18 error -- service department were very unhelpful
92 Excellent pictures... Easy to use...
I bought this camera a couple of weeks ago... It takes excellent pictures outside and inside (auto mode), and you need to 'play' a little with the settings to get amazing pictures.. That's the good thing about this camera, you can adjust the settings manually... Also, you need to buy a bigger compact flash to take lots of pictures... And the only thing I would add, is a battery meter to know when the batteries are out... With four 2100mAh Ni-MH batteries you can take more than 154 pictures at full resolution... Buy and enjoy it!
93 Very pleased with the product
I have been using the A70 for 9 months now with over 10000 photos taken. Not even a single problem with the camera. I use a 256 Mb memory cart and standard bty. I often take over 150 photos on a single set of bty. When buying them in lots of 48 per pack at $20 you cannot go wrong. I just return from a month vacation in France where I took over 600 photos. All of them turned out picture perfect. I would recommend buying this camera to anyone particulary new commers in the digital field as it is very easy to use. Sorry no E18 errors.
94 DO NOT buy this camera
It's been three months since i bought my A70. I ran into an "E18 problem" where the lens won't retract and the camera won't power up. Turns out it's a common problem with most such cameras and the Web has thousands of complaints about the E18 problem floating around. Make sure you do a search on this problem and find out for yourself. So now I have to ship my camera to Canon wher they will attempt to fix the problem. Too bad Amazon editorial reviews never bothered to do their own research before recommending a completely useless product!
95 Can't be beat for the price but there is room 4 improvement.
The quality of the pictures are just amazing with this camera. I personally took a chance with the whole E18 error and have not had it happen to me yet. However even the sales folks at the local electronics store knew about the error and were looking forward to the A80 not having the same thing happen to it. Let's hope so...but there are other issues out there with this camera. The main one is for those of us out there that will be using AA batteries and rechargeable batteries. It seems as though the A70 is a bit picky when it comes to changing out the batteries. You can put in 4 brand new cells (all from the same brand) and the camera will reject the new batteries. The message that is presented is "change battery pack". By playing musical chairs with the batteries it will work after some dancing. But this should not be necessary.
So that is the negative stuff. Here is the positive stuff that you will really enjoy to read. We purchased the camera in September from Ritz.com off of this site. You may read some reviews stating that the camera is heavy due to the batteries. This may be true. 4 AA batteries can be heavy. However the batteries are situated where the palm of your hand will be gripping the camera. This provides a great feel for the product that feels like quite a bit of thought went into it. The pictures will be bragged about it the other hundreds of reviews for the A60, 70 and 80 models so I will just concur with them stating that they are all subjective. The functions on the camera are as intuitive to operate as say a Sony product who is usually the leader in this area. Not to say that the Sony line is inferior but just to say that this would be a complimentary statment to Canon. Oh and yes I nearly forgot. The software that comes with this camera is really top notch considering what it can do. It is so user friendly and makes you feel like you got everything under control with how to download and then email each image. Thanks for reading and if the A70 ends up being your choice you won't be sorry. I hope you enjoy the camera as much as we have.
Update March 22, 04 "E18 error" The error is the end of my fond and brief relationship with this camera.
96 Great Camera
Very versatile little camera. Compact, light, nice looking. Feels sturdy and is sturdy. My little daughter knocked it out of the car when I first got it. The body split apart a little, but I snapped it back together and it hasn't missed a beat.
3.2 megapixels is plenty to take nice pictures. Couple this camera with a Canon i860 printer and Photoshop Essentials (plus a Photoshop Essentials tutorial book - I recommend Photoshop Essentials for the Digital Photographer by Scott Kelby) to correct and touch up your pictures and you've got a nice photo studio right in your house.
Don't be afraid to buy this camera.
97 Everthing is great until you have E18 problem!
Think again and google the internet (canon digital E18 issue) before you buy it. You donÁøt want to bet on your luck. Everything is great until you have E18 problem (the lenses jams, google the internet to see how many complains out there!).
I had sent my A70 back to the repair facility (in IL) and got it back two days ago, but the problem happened again after about 20 pics taken. Have to send it back to the repair factory again. It's costly when the shipment cost adds up.
98 it's a great digital camera until you have E18 problem!
Think again and google the internet (canon digital E18 issue) before you buy it. You don??t want to bet on your luck. Everything is great until you have E18 problem (the lenses jams, google the internet to see how many complains out there!).
I had sent my A70 back to the repair facility (in IL) and got it back two days ago, but the problem happened again after about 20 pics taken. Have to send it back to the repair factory again. It's costly when the shipment cost adds up.
99 Excellent camera
I bought this camera around Thanksgiving from Amazom and got an excellent price. This camera is easy to use and takes great pictures. I read one review complaining about battery life and a suggestion to turn the display off. I have taken around 250 pictures with the viewfinder and still am using the original batteries. Excellent camera
100 Great camera, poor software
The camera performs very impressive in its price range, especially all the auto settings work in most conditions.
The problem is the software. The bundled ZoomBrowser is very badly designed in user interface. Too troublesome to download photos. The design was somewhat against intuitive -- the tags look weird, and the "selection" of photos is very tricky if you are used to windows selection keys. I had to use a CF reader to download the photos to avoid the stupid interface.
