Canon PowerShot A650 IS

Connectivity
Software (6.75)
The centerpiece of the software package that comes with the camera is ZoomBrowser EX 6.0. It is provided in versions for Windows and Macintosh. Working through the camera’s TWAIN driver, ZoomBrowser downloads files from the camera, places them into folders on the host computer and allow for simple edits and printing. Once they’re on the computer, of course, you can do all sorts of things with them: mail them, rename them … they’re just files. Just remember that some of them are pretty big. Don’t try to e-mail a 5-megabyte file with a 12-megapixel image in it.

You may wish to purchase more powerful image editing software down the road, but ZoomBrowser will get you out the starting gate.

Jacks, Ports, Plugs (5.0)
Hidden beneath a door on the handgrip are connectors for:
• Audio / video (A/V) signal output, used for connecting the camera to a TV for slide presentations.
• The 4.3Vdc input used to connect the AC power adapter to the camera.
• A USB 2.0 digital input/output port. It is used to connect the camera to either a computer or to a compatible printer.

Direct Print Options (7.0)
The camera supports printing directly to compatible printers (PictBridge, etc.) through a USB 2.0 connection, without an intervening computer.

Battery (3.5)
The camera accepts four AA cells, either alkaline or NiMH, so replacement batteries are not hard to find. Canon sells an AC adapter for it also.

You can get about 300 shots off a set of alkaline batteries. You get about 500 shots per charge with NiMH batteries.

Memory (2.0)
The camera accepts SD, SD/HC, MultiMedia, MMC Plus, and HC MMC Plus memory cards. It comes with a 32MB SD card, which you will quickly want to replace with a much larger one.

Other Features (7.0)
Stitch Assist mode – This mode is accessed by the mode dial. It can stitch up to 26 images into a large panoramic composite using the included PhotoStitch software.

Converter lenses – Canon sells a 0.8x wide ($199) and 2.0x tele converter ($149) for the A650 IS.

External flash – The A650 IS is compatible with a $130 slave flash that Canon claims doubles its flash range.

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