Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and
incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is
used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
The A710 IS has a small built-in flash, but it provides
a sufficient amount of light to cover the area framed by the
zoom at the wide angle end without any light fall-off in the
corners.
At 80 ISO, the A710 IS shows little sensitivity to
noise, as can be seen here, and sharpness is very reasonable
across the entire frame.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.81 MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The Auto white balance is used for
these shots of the still life, and a slight difference in hue
can be seen in the cloth backdrop between the wide angle and
telephoto shots, the wide shot appearing more cream-coloured
than in the telephoto shot (see further below).
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
As noted above, at the maximum telephoto setting, the image
the A710 IS yields has a background that is a touch
more white than the wide angle shot, and closer to what the
eye perceives under this mix of lighting.
The image's sharpness is excellent, and reveals a great quantity
of detail, from the printing screen on the old photographic
paper envelope to the texture of the paper itself.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
3.19 MB
Focal Lgth:
210 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f8, shutter speed: 1/30 sec., 80 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
The Canon PowerShot A710 IS is capable of capturing
superb macro shots. Set to the Macro mode, its lens is able
to focus on a subject that is 1 cm (0.4 inch) from the front
element of the lens. This distance, with the lens is at the
wide angle end, yields a field of view of 2.4 cm (0.94 inch)
when measured horizontally.
At macro distances, some barrel distortion can be observed,
but it is rarely distracting from the image.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image is our outdoor test. The architecture
of the building, in particular the angled girders, immediately
show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed entrance can also
often reveal the quality of the exposure.
Harsh winter light with a uniformly white and bright background
is a serious challenge for any metering system. With this
shot, the metering manages to capture a well-exposed shot
of the building, but with some loss of detail in the highlights,
as evidenced by the disappearance of the smaller branches
on the bare trees into the white sky.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.88 MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Nevertheless, it is worth noting
that even under adverse light conditions such as these, the
image reveals only a minor chromatic aberration, and that the
building — the subject of the image — is clearly
imaged and contains a lot of detail.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building,
the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the
metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are
directly lit.
The inclusion of an image stabilizer — here set to
"Shoot Only", which is the most effective mode —
allows capturing this image at a shutter speed of 1/25 second
without the use of a tripod. The magnification afforded by
the 6X zoom makes it possible to frame the entrance of the
building only, and the stabilization makes it possible to
capture the small sign on the door clearly (see below).
Photo Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/25 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.84 MB
Focal Lgth:
210 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
This photo is a good example of
why the image stabilizer in the A710 IS is a valuable
feature when shooting in less than ideal light conditions.
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure, a photo
taken at night is included.
Aperture: f2.8; speed: 15 sec, 80 ISO.
Used to capture an image
at night, with the camera mounted on a tripod, it is important
to remember to turn off the image stabilizer as it
can cause an interference over the course of the exposure.
A maximum exposure time of 15 seconds is possible with the
A710 IS when the Manual mode is used, making it possible
to capture bright night-time images. Moreover, although the
lowest ISO setting yields images that are virtually noise
free, the higher ISO setting can be used to capture even brighter
images.
Up to 400 ISO noise remains
minimal, but at 800 ISO noise is quite obvious, limiting its
usefulness.
Noise reduction is applied to all images captured with a
shutter speed longer than 1.3 seconds, doubling the time required
for the exposure as the camera captures a dark frame with
the same exposure time to identify noise and eliminate it
from the actual exposure before saving it.
Using an aperture of f2.8 and a 15 second exposure at 80
ISO, the A710 IS captures a detailed image that clearly
shows items that are invisible to the naked eye in this light,
such as the old dock pilings that loom out of the darkness
in the foreground (see second image section shown below).
Compare Prices for Canon PowerShot A710IS 7MP Digital Camera
Test Photos
