Canon PowerShot A650 IS

The 12-megapixel Canon PowerShot A650 IS digital camera offers the top resolution currently available for point-and-shoot and compact models. It has a tilt-and-swivel 2.5-inch LCD display, a faster image processor (Canon’s Digic III), and new scene modes with trendy face detection technology for easier portraits. The A650 IS retains the core features from its predecessor, the A640, like an image-stabilized 6x optical zoom that made it popular. Like other members of Canon’s A- series, it is geared towards automated ease of use, but also offers manual controls. It retails for $399.99.


Physical Tour

Front (7.5)
Two features dominate the front view: the handgrip and the lens. The black matte handgrip bulges outward from the front. The chrome edge of the shutter button and zoom lever are visible at the slightly forward-sloping top of the handgrip. "PowerShot A650 IS" is printed vertically in silver and red lettering along the front of the handgrip.

The lens is slightly off center. It protrudes from the front of the body, even in the closed position. It extends out further in use. The lens is surrounded by a chrome bezel. The lens has an automatic cap that opens and closes when the camera is turned on or off. The cap has a matte black finish, and the lens barrel is anodized a dark gunmetal gray. Around the front perimeter of the barrel is printed in silver and red lettering, "CANON ZOOM LENS 6x IS" at the top and "7.4-44.4mm 1:2.8-4.8" at the bottom.

To the lower right of the lens is a small round button. Pressing this button releases the bayonet mount for the lens bezel. With an additional twist and pull, the bezel can be removed, to be replaced by an adapter barrel for auxiliary lenses or filters.

In the corner of the body, to the upper right of the lens, is a small sliver-shaped flash, surrounded by a black bezel. "Canon" is embossed in chrome lettering below the flash.

Also along the top edge of the body, almost directly above the main lens, is a small square lens. This is the front lens for the optical viewfinder. Beside it, almost dead center along the top edge, is a small round lens. This emits a red autofocus-assist beam. It is also used for red-eye reduction, and as an indicator for the self-timer. Just below the focus-assist light are three small perforations in the camera body. These allow sounds into the built-in microphone, used in Movie mode and to make audio annotations of still pictures.

Between the lens and handgrip is a small gap. The middle fingers of the right hand rest here when the camera is held by the handgrip. There are no controls in this space, just the black printed captions "12.1 MEGA PIXELS" at the top and "6x OPTICAL ZOOM" at the bottom.

Back (8.0)
Most of the camera’s back is taken up by the 2.5-inch LCD display. The LCD is encased in a plastic panel that is hinged on the left, and has a small lip on the right, used to pry it away from the body. It can be tilted up to 180 degrees, where it extends outward from the left edge of the body. From here it swivels over a 270 degree range so the LCD can face forward, backward, up, down, or in between. The display can be docked against the body facing out for viewing or in for storage.

In the closed position, with the screen resting inwards against the body, one is presented with a smooth metallic-plastic surface embossed with "Canon" in chrome letters. Flip the screen so it’s facing out, and one sees a large color image, with optional control overlays, inside a metallic plastic bezel. There are no controls or indicators in the body cavity the LCD docks into.

Above the LCD display, just to the left of center, is a small rectangular bump in the body. The left half of this bump contains a small round lens, which is the eyepiece for the optical viewfinder. The right half of the eyepiece bump contains two small round indicator lights.

To the left of the eyepiece, in the corner of the body, is a small round button with an embossed dot on it, and a printer icon below it. This is the "Print / Share" button, and is used to control printing when the camera is connected to a compatible printer.

To the right of the display and behind the handgrip are most of the camera’s onscreen controls. This area has the same matte black finish as the handgrip. It is densely packed with controls, though there is a control-free area in the top right corner. This is where the thumb of the right hand naturally rests when holding the handgrip, countering the force of the fingers wrapped around the front.

The topmost control, just to the left of the thumb rest area, is the camera ode switch. When slid to the upper position (marked by a red "camera" icon), the camera is in Record mode, able to take pictures or videos. In this mode, the display shows either a live preview, or a review of the last still image taken. When the switch is in the lower position, marked by a blue "play" icon, the camera is in Playback mode, able to select any image or video from the memory card and display it on the LCD.

Just below this switch is a small round button with a white "+/-" icon on it. It is also marked with a blue trashcan icon above it, indicating its multi-functionality.
To the right of the exposure/delete button, below the thumb rest area, is another small round button, captioned "ISO" in white. It is also marked with a blue "jump" icon.

Well below the ISO button, in the bottom right corner, is another small round button, captioned "MENU" in white. To the left of the menu button, well below the exposure button, is a similar small round button, this one captioned "DISP" in white. This button controls the display mode, or the amount of information shown on the LCD display.

The exposure, ISO, menu and display buttons form a small rectangular array of controls. In the center of this constellation is a large, round four-way button – the navigation ring.

The top side of the navigation ring has a white flash icon printed on it, in white. In Recording mode, this brings up an onscreen selection menu for the flash options.

The bottom side of the navigation ring has a "flower" icon and the caption "MF" printed on it, in white. Pressing this brings up an onscreen menu of focus options.

Nestled in the center of the navigation ring is another small round button, with "FUNC SET" printed on it in white. In Recording mode, this button brings up an onscreen menu for setting the basic shooting parameters. It is also used to confirm selected items in the menus.

Right Side (7.5)
Nothing much happening on the left side of the camera: a black plastic accent panel, a couple of screws, that’s it. The hinge for the LCD is visible towards the rear.

Left Side (7.5)
The dominant feature on the right side of the camera is the smooth, matte black surface of the handgrip. However, a hinged doorway opens near the top of this handgrip, to reveal a small bay containing three connectors.

At the very top of the handgrip is a small anchor bar to which the wrist strap is attached. There is no similar bar on the other side of the camera, so a neck strap is impractical on this camera. However, a wrist strap is better than nothing.

Top (7.5)
The top of the camera contains only a few but heavily used controls. Probably the most used of all is the large chrome shutter button, located near the right side at the top of the front bulge of the handgrip. The shutter button is surrounded by a large chrome ring with a short zooming lever on the front.

There are icons printed behind the zoom lever indicating its function in the Record and Playback modes.

Just behind the shutter button, next to the hand-strap anchor, is a set of small perforations in the handgrip surface. These let out sound from the built-in speaker. Next to the speaker, along the back edge of the top, is a large knurled mode selection dial. This selects among the various Exposure or Shooting modes. A green light (which also serves as a power indicator) is located immediately to the left of this dial. It serves a pointer to the selected mode on the dial. The dial surface is a glossy black; the positions are all printed in white, except for AUTO, which is green.

Next to the power indicator is a small round button, captioned simply "ON/OFF." This is the power switch. The power switch is low profile and requires some force to press, so it cannot easily be accidentally pressed.

There are no controls on the left side of the top, as this is commonly used as a left-hand grip area. "PowerShot A650 IS / IMAGE STABILIZER AIAF" is embossed and printed in this area in chrome, red and black.

Bottom (7.0)
On the left side of the bottom is a label containing regulatory certification logos and the camera’s serial number. Next to that, just a little right of center, is a metal tripod socket bolted into a ribbed area on the plastic case.

To the right is a hinged door that opens to reveal a compartment for the batteries and a memory card. This door is a little hard to close, but is latched, so it should be fairly secure.