Review of Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera
Pros:
High quality image, low noise, Lot's of Pixels, and an excellent macro capability.
Cons:
No big disadvantages, the optical viewfinder is small, and there is no image stabilization.
The Bottom Line:
The camera is an excellent point and shoot for either a beginning enthusiast or a Prosumer who wants a high quality point and shoot as a backup for casual use.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I purchased this camera in October 2006, primarily for it's point and shoot capabilities. My Canon 5D is an excellent camera, but on daily early morning walks with the dog in the Arizona desert, it is too heavy. Occasionally, a good photo opportunity presents itself in the early morning desert, such as, a new baby quail or a new desert flower, and I wanted a capable point and shoot that I could easily carry around.
The specifications are all very good. For me what especially stood out were the macro focus distance of 1 cm, and the fact that 10 mpx is enough to do some serious cropping. I found that when the photos were compared at the 100 px range on my software, they were still very sharp, which is unusual for such a cheap camera (about $300). What impressed me more was the fact that I could focus the lens practically resting on the flower's private parts (pistil, stamen, etc.) and obtain a very sharp image. I was also impressed by the camera's quick focus recovery to take another photo, the color quality of the image, and the fact that the battery power was more than adequate for 100's of photo's.
The maximum iso is adequate (800) so that in low light, there is an outside chance of acquiring a sharp photo. The camera does not have image stabilization. At 800 iso noise begins to show, but it is O.K. for family pictures. At 80 and 100 iso, the images are of competition quality for enlarging and there is no discernible noise.
There is a small optical viewfinder so that you know you have the proper framing. The LCD screen is 2.5 inch and is capable of "flip out and twist", which is a big advantage for macro work or just to be able to see your framing without sunlight washing out the image.
The shutter speed is good at 1/2500sec at the fast end and 15 sec at the slow end. The latter would require a tripod but if I have to use a tripod, I'll use my Canon 5D.
The camera's size is small enough to put in a man's trouser pocket, but a little too large for a shirt pocket. That's O.K., considering all the quality that's available in this camera.
A somewhat disadvantage is its zoom range of 140mm. This is O.K. for family close-ups, but not to see detail on skittish baby quail. On the wide angle side, the camera is good at 35mm especially for landscape images.
My conclusion is that I'm amazed at the capability of the PowerShot A640. At $300, it's a bargain and probably a camera that will not be outdated for years, even though new cameras continue to be marketed every six months or so.
