Canon Powershot A620 Review

The Canon Powershot A620 is the 7 megapixel replacement for the very popular 5 megapixel A95 model. As well as the increased resolution, the Canon A620 has a number of important improvements, principally the Digic II processor, which is also used by the company’s high-end DSLR cameras. The twisting, flippable LCD screen is now a 2 inch model, whilst a number of new creative effects are available that you won’t find on other digital cameras. The Powershot A620 has a 4x optical zoom equivalent to 35-140mm, and aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual modes are all on offer. With a current price of just over £200/$300, is the Canon Powershot A620 worth a look? Click the link below to find out.

Website: Canon Powershot A620 Review

Published: Friday, January 13, 2006

Reader Comments

1. I was surprised to see so little noise in the pre-review sample images
   of a camera that crams 7 megapixels onto a 1/1.8" CCD, but now that
   I have examined the 100% crops in the Noise section of this review, it
   appears that at ISO 200 the image detail is just starting to blur, and is
   slightly more blurred at ISO 400.
   
   So it appears the A620's low noise is due to in-camera noise reduction
   rather than a low noise sensor. To achieve a low noise, 1/1.8" sensor,
   one would have to restrict its pixel count to 5 megapixels, as was done
   with the Nikon Coolpix P2, among others.
   
   My concern for the P2 is that Nikon is actually using the exact same 8
   megapixel, 1/1.8" CCD that they use in their P1, and then disabling its
   8 megapixel image size setting, as all other image size settings for the
   two models are identical. Needless to say, that would defeat the noise
   advantage of restricting the P2 to 5 megapixels.

   GARY POGODA at 07:12pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2006

2. Having decided to replace my Fuji A202 2M pixel digital I have been around the block. The A620 was an early choice, courtesy of a good magazine review, but I fancied something more sophisticated with a bigger zoom. After reading many reviews here I seem to have come back to the A620 as a good balance of value and features. The extra size from using AA batteries is fine. They are readily available, as NiMh for regular use, or alkalines in emergency.

   David Usher at 06:40pm on Sunday, March 12, 2006

3. Very good and useful review, much appreciated!

   Rick at 02:03am on Thursday, May 11, 2006