Canon PowerShot A650IS - Expert Reviews

Review summary: What I like most about a good compact point & shoot camera is also what I consider to be about the only thing that separates the huge assortment of mediocre ones from the good ones in the first place: image quality. Canon has consistently come up with ...

Pros: Brilliantly sharp pictures, ISO sensitivities usable up to ISO 800, 6x optical zoom, full manual features

Cons: Heavy and chunky, some chromatic aberration issues

Verdict: It may be big, but if you're looking for a high-end advanced camera with all the bells and whistles that captures brilliant pictures the Canon PowerShot A650 IS is a great choice.

Review summary: The DIGIC processor behind this compact is tried and tested, and quite fantastic at its job.

Pros: Superb picture ; Easy to grip ; Feature rich ; Simple controls and menu layout ; 12.1-megapixel capture

Cons: No Raw

Verdict: The little extras are there; you get the tripod screw hole, Face Detection, Image Stabilizer and, if you spend the money, a broad range of tele-convertors and other accessories including a waterproof enclosure. We think this would make a great family ...

Review summary: Many an upturned nose has been pointed in at compact cameras by 'serious' photographers but the eminently pocketable A650 is not to be sniffed at. A 12.1MP sensor takes in the view via the same 6x zoom lens as Canon's more expensive PowerShot G9

Pros: Great set of features, Excellent picture-performance, Good lens

Cons: Not the cheapest compact around

Verdict: The A650 IS might seem a little pricey, but it's a step up from most super-slim models, with a top-quality 6x zoom lens and a feature set to match. With its wide-ranging metering and exposure options, and an excellent image stabiliser, you'll get ...

Review summary: Announced in August, 2007, the $399 Canon PowerShot A650 IS currently sits atop Canon's budget A-series line. The 12-megapixel camera improves upon its predecessor, the PowerShot A640 in several ways, including a higher megapixel count, a face ...

Verdict: While a camera priced at $399 can't be considered "budget", the A650 IS packs a ton of features for its price level. As the top camera in Canon's A-series, the A650 IS provides a feature-laden option for users who are upgrading from simpler point-and ...