The SL620 is a basic point-and-shoot. Its main objective is facilitating ease of use, and the SL620 does it well. It not only has some good automatic settings, include an automatic scene mode and full auto, but also includes a demonstration mode and full help menu. Of course, this means the SL620 has far fewer manual controls than an Ultra-Zoom or a DSLR. What it does have, however, is a far more portable frame and far more affordable price point. The SL620 will be available in March 2009 at an MSRP of $199.99.
Point-and-shoot cameras are all about automatic modes, and the SL620 is no exception. The camera has Smart Auto mode, which is a scene recognition mode. It also has a good array of face detection modes: normal, self-portrait, smile shot, and blink detection. Smile shot will automatically snap a photo when it detects a smile, and blink detection will automatically take another shot if the subject blinked. There's also a Beauty Mode, which will smooth out skin tones and remove blemishes.
Movie Mode
The SL620 has a basic movie mode. You can fiddle with EV settings, choose 640x480 resolution or 320x240, 30 or 15fps, adjust the metering, add a color effect, or enable image stabilization.
The SL620 has a basic movie mode.
Drive/Burst Mode
The SL620 has a basic burst mode (you can choose either single or continuous). You can also turn on AEB mode (auto exposure bracketing), which will take three pictures at varying exposure levels.
Playback Mode
Keeping with this intelligensia theme, the camera also has a Smart Album program, which is an advanced search program.
Custom Image Presets
There are 11 scene modes on the SL620, which haven't changed from the previous model, the SL420. The modes are: frame guide, night, portrait, children, landscape, close-up text, sunset, dawn, backlight, fireworks and beach & snow.
