Overview
The Canon Powershot A650 IS is a 12 megapixel digital camera with a 6x optical zoom lens. It includes a number of more advanced features such as manual exposure controls and manual focusing. Image stabilisation has also been added to the Powershot A650 IS. One feature I really like is an LCD screen that you can pull out and twist round. This is great for awkward shooting positions and you can also move the screen away from the sun. This is also one of the few digital cameras with a viewfinder.
To increase the flexibility of the lens you can buy a series of conversion lenses for the Powershot A650 IS.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
6x
2.5 inches
112.1 x 67.8 x 56.2
300g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
1cm
No
Yes
AA
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
All the cameras I tested on the day I took this photo found it hard to cope with the glare from the sun. Taken on a bright autumn day there is still a degree of strength in the sun and the fact that the sun is a bit lower in the sky creates the problem. The Canon Powershot A650 IS does quite a good job of handling the glare without being perfect. This leads to a loss of detail where the sun strikes the boats.
There is plenty of good news though. Sharpness levels are clearly better than I am used to seeing. Colours are more or less spot on. A common problem I am used to seeing is the blue lines on the boats taking on a strong purple tinge. The A650 IS is able to completely overcome this problem.
This photo is top quality. With the lens zoomed all the way out many camera struggle to focus and also find it difficult to correctly expose darker areas under the trees. The Powershot A650 IS has no such problems and manages to take one of the better wide angle shots I have seen.
The sharpness and definition the Powershot A650 IS manages to produces when the lens is fully zoomed in are excellent. With other brands this test shot often tends to lose sharpness towards the edges. That is not a problem with this camera and I am very impressed with the result. My only disappointment is that I would like to have seen a bit more colour in the sky.
Portraits
I used the face recognition setting for all of my portrait tests. For the outdoor one I also set white balance to cloudy. The sharpness and detail in this photo are some way above average. I also like the skin tones and colours in general.
This photo works very well for me. The Powershot A650 IS manages to produce a very sharp photo. Despite using the flash, colours are not washed away and the lighting is good as well. The original photo showed a small amount of red eye. This gave me the chance to test out the red eye correction tool. It worked a treat and is also easy to use.
Rather than using flash for indoor portrait some people prefer the camera to make the most of the light that is available. Without using flash my test result has a pink tinge and is a bit darker than I would like to see. The lighting used is not perfect, but I think in most indoor situations you are likely to be best off using flash.
Macro, Colours and Noise
When it comes to clarity it is difficult to beat this range of Canon cameras for close up shots. The Powershot A650 IS produces one of the very best.
Apart from when the zoom lens is fully extended there are no problems colour wise. The colours are punchy and well balanced. These are fairly close to my own personal ideal.
At higher ISO settings this camera shows an improvement over previous Canon cameras I have tested. In fact at ISO 400 the photo is quite good with only low levels of noise showing.
At ISO 1600 there is a clear loss of detail as noise becomes a more major issue.
Summary
Overall these are an excellent set of test photos. I have few complaints and the Canon Powershot range still manage to be just about the best around.
Style
The Powershot A650 IS is built along the lines of a mini SLR camera. It has a grip on the front to hold it steady and in my view is a good choice for someone with larger hands.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.38 seconds
12.34 seconds
1.1 seconds
19.66 seconds
Ease of Use
With all the features the camera has it is not as simple as a more basic point and shoot. Time spent getting to know the camera will be worth it in the longer term.
Points I Like
Picture quality - viewfinder - flip out and twist LCD screen - red eye correction tool
Where it Could Improve
Skies can lose colour when the lens is zoomed in.
Verdict
The Canon Powershot A650 IS is a very smart digital camera. It has a good selection of features and picture quality is among the best you will find from a consumer, compact digital camera. I have really struggled to come up with any negative points about the camera. You will also find the build quality of the camera a step up from most other Powershot models. Recommended.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Canon Powershot A650 IS Review Canon Powershot A650 IS Specification Canon Powershot A650 IS Sample Images Canon Powershot A650 IS Features
Review Date
October 2007
