Canon PowerShot A700

Reviewed May 2006

Interface & Software

Interface

The information presented on the monitor, superimposed on the image originating from the CCD or on an image under review, is composed of white characters and icons that are readily identifiable. In the capture modes, more or less information can be shown, but even when the most information is superimposed on the monitor, the image is never obstructed, and the fact that the camera always shows the aperture and shutter speed when the shutter release is pressed halfway is commendable. Similarly, the use in the menus of uniform colour backgrounds underneath the options, whatever the mode, ensures legibility.

The Setup section of the menu is accessible from all modes, and its icon is easily recognizable. It controls some basic camera settings:

• Mute: mutes all sounds produced by the A700.
• Volume: serves to adjust the volume of each item listed below over 5 increments, or turn the sound off:
  • Start-up Volume
  • Operations Volume
  • Self-Timer Volume
  • Shutter Volume
  • Playback Volume
• Power Saving controls two items: whether or not the camera powers off automatically (On or Off); and the time delay before it turns off the monitor if the camera is inactive (10, 20, 30 seconds or 1, 2, 3 minutes).
• Date/Time: serves to set the date and time on the A700.
• Format: allows formatting a memory card, which deletes all files, including protected images. In addition an option is available to "low-level" format the card, returning it to its original read-write speed.

• File Numbering: offers two options: Continuous, which numbers image files consecutively, or Auto Reset which restarts numbering images from 1 when a new or freshly formatted memory card is used in the camera.
• Create Folder offers two options:
  • Create New Folder: automatically creates a new folder into which images are saved every time the camera is turned on.
  • Auto Create: to decide when the camera creates a new folder (Off, Daily— Monday through Sunday — or Monthly).

• Auto Rotate: On or Off. Determines whether images captured vertically are automatically played back vertically.
• Distance Units: decides the measuring units used when the camera is focused manually (metres and centimetres or feet and inches).
• Lens Retract: decides the delay until the camera retracts the lens when it has been switched to the Playback mode.
• Language: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Korean or Japanese.
• Video System: NTSC or PAL.
• Print Method: this option makes it possible to change the printing method when the A700 is connected to a Canon Selphy CP710 or CP510 printer equipped with roll paper, making it possible to print borderless wide format images (16:9).
• Reset All: returns all camera settings to their factory defaults, with the exception of the date and time, the interface language, the video system, the custom white balance and the colour mode.

The PowerShot A700 is retailed with a number of printed manuals:

• A Basic Guide containing simple to follow instructions and explanations on to use the camera.
• An Advanced Manual that details the more advanced functions of the A700, but which regrettably does not cover information supplied in the Basic Guide, making it necessary to flip back and forth between one manual and another.
• A Manual that explains how to print directly with the camera,
• A Manual that explains the functions and use of the software included with the camera.
• And finally a System Card that identifies all the options and peripherals that can be used with the PowerShot A700.

While the information is presented clearly and covers all the necessary elements of the camera, the number of manuals may be a bit daunting to some users.

Software

As it is sold in North America, the PowerShot A700 is bundled with a single CD called Digital Camera Solution Disk (version 28.0), which contains the following software:

Macintosh:

• Image Browser 5.6
• PhotoStich 3.1
• EOS Utility 1.0

Windows:

• ZoomBrowser EX 5.6
• PhotoStitch 3.1
• Twain drivers (6.6) and WIA (6.4)
• ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5
• Apple QuickTime
• EOS Utility 1.0

Finally, the larger window pane on the right presents the images contained in the currently selected folder in one of three ways: Zoom Mode, which displays thumbnails and which magnifies an image under the cursor; Scroll Mode, which displays an index sheet; and Preview Mode, (shown at right) which displays one image at a large size while the remaining images in the folder are shown in a strip below, and which can show the shooting data, a histogram, comments, ratings, and other file information.

Whatever the view mode, once an image has been selected, it can be edited by clicking on the Edit button.

Images can be edited for: Red Eye Correction, Auto Adjustment, Colour, Brightness, Sharpness, Trimmed, have Text inserted, or even be edited using an external image editor already present on the computer.

PhotoStudio, from ArcSoft, provides more powerful image editing tools than the few offered in ZoomBrowser. PhotoStudio supports cloning, layering, and through the use of selection tools such as the lasso, makes it possible to edit part of an image without affecting the rest.

QuickTime, an Apple product, is designed to view the movies captured with the A700. And last, EOS Utility 1.0, is designed for use with Canon's digital SLR cameras, and is only included on the disc because the same software is bundled with all Canon cameras.