Front (7.5)
The front of the Canon PowerShot A620 has a substantial handgrip on the left with the PowerShot A620 logo on it. The grip has a steep slope that makes handling quite comfortable. The 4x zoom lens sits slightly right of center. It has a polished silver rim that comes off when the user pushes the bottom right button while twisting the rim. Taking the rim off reveals a lens thread for attaching conversion lenses. The lens is labeled, “Canon Zoom Lens 4x” on the top and “7.3-29.2mm 1:2.8-4.1” on the bottom. It extends from the body in three segments.
There are two small dots to the top left of the lens; these serve as the built-in microphone. Above the microphone is the shimmering Canon logo. Just above the second ‘n’ is an LED that serves double duty as the auto focus illuminator and the self-timer indicator. Directly to its right is the small square optical viewfinder. In the top right corner of the A620 is the built-in flash, with “7.1 Megapixels” flaunted just below. The front of the camera as a whole isn’t innovative or entirely gorgeous but the dark sheen of the finish is somewhat attractive.
Back (8.0)
The left side of the A620’s back has a niche with the 2-inch framed LCD monitor recessed into it. The folded LCD’s hinge sits to its left. The LCD folds straight outward and can fully rotate so that just about any angle is possible. The Canon logo sits on the opposite side of the LCD screen. The monitor can be twisted and recessed into the camera body with either the logo or the LCD screen facing out.
Just above the right half of the LCD is the optical viewfinder, which protrudes slightly on a slim platform. The viewfinder window is circular and small. To its right are two LEDs that indicate when the camera is accessing the memory card and when the flash is busy. To the right of the viewfinder, the side of the mode dial is visible. It looks like a studded belt and offers a functional grip. Below the dial on the right side of the back are a host of control buttons. The mode switch, which can be set to either record or playback, is located below the mode dial. To its right is a set of bumps where the thumb grips the camera. Below the mode switch and the thumb grip is the multi-selector and four buttons that form a square around the selector. The top left button accesses exposure compensation and delete functions as indicated by the large icons above it. The top right button has a print icon above it and an LED in its center. The bottom right button is labeled “Menu” in large print, so there is no discussion about what that button does. The bottom left button is labeled “Display.” The multi-selector sits in the middle of these four circular buttons. The selector consists of a central Func./Set button and a navigational ring around it. The solid ring has four dots – one in each direction – to show where users should push to scroll through menus. The back of the camera is generally organized and the acrobatic LCD monitor adds visual interest to an otherwise bland look.
Left Side (7.5)
The hinge to the LCD monitor can be seen from this angle, but there aren’t any other features on the left side.
Right Side (7.5)
The right side is much thicker than the rest of the Canon A620’s body. The right-hand grip has a pleasingly smooth – but not slippery – feel to it. There is a vertical divot in the side of the grip, but it is more for interest than function. The back side of the grip has a rubber cover at the top to protect three ports: USB, A/V out, and DC in. Below this cover is a plastic door with bumpy grips that opens to the memory card slot. At the top of the right side is a wide eyelet for attachment of the wrist strap.
Top (7.5)
The left side of the top is highlighted by the shiny PowerShot A620 logo. Below it is the tiny AiAF insignia. The platform that houses the optical viewfinder is visible in the center, as it protrudes out the back. The right side is packed with controls. Above the right side of the viewfinder platform is a shiny labeled On/Off button. To its right is the mode dial, which has an LED to its left to indicate which mode is selected. The mode dial has letters on its designated “Creative Zone”: C for Custom, M for Manual, Av for Aperture Priority, Tv for Shutter Speed Priority, and P for Programmed AE. There is a green Auto position on the dial, then a host of icons: Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, “SCN”, My Colors, Stitch Assist and Movie. The dial protrudes out the back of the camera just enough so that the thumb can grab it and turn it easily. Above the mode dial at the tip of the right-hand grip is the shutter release button, surrounded by the zoom toggle. The toggle has a little nub at the front for the index finger to push around. Below this feature is the built-in speaker, which is strangely about five times the size of the microphone.
Bottom (7.0)
The fat right-hand grip not only provides comfortable handling, but enough room to store four AA batteries inside. The door on the bottom opens by pushing the switch to the left while also pushing toward the front. To the right of the battery compartment is the tripod socket, which is slightly left of center. To its right are a slew of numbers and legalities.
