With a generous 32MB of internal flash memory, this camera is ready to point and shoot the moment you remove it from its wrappings and charge up the battery. It comes with A/V and USB cables, as well as a wrist strap to help keep the camera in hand. At a slender 5.8oz and 2.4 in x 3.6 in x 1.1 in (HxWxD), the Canon PowerShot SD900 Digital ELPH has been described as especially pocket-friendly. This is a camera you can take anywhere. Users praise its photo quality. Some use it for everyday picture-taking, while others bring it out for special events.

Though this camera is the most highly rated on many Internet shopping sites, is has a few downfalls. For one thing, the Canon PowerShot SD900 Digital ELPH uses a proprietary battery. Some users complain that the battery life is too short. Others point out that the camera does not have a battery indicator, which can be problematic to say the least. Also, this is not a plug-and-play device. The camera must have its own software installed before Windows will communicate with it. With so many competitors churning out Windows-ready digital cameras, one has to wonder why Canon didn’t follow suit.

* 7.1 Megapixels
* 6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer (35-210mm equiv.)
* DIGIC II, iSAPS, 9-Point AiAF, FlexiZone AF/AE
* Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
* 2.5” LCD with wide viewing angle and real-image optical viewfinder
* 20 shooting modes

What else has changed?

Although a better looking camera, the A710 IS is more than mere style, with the addition of the optical image stabilization system, the only downside of which is the slight decrease in battery life. Still, one can get an impressive 360 shots from a good pair of rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.

Additional changes include….

* 60fps (QVGA) movie mode
* MyColors effects in playback mode
* Playback overexposure warning
* 3:2 overlay on live view
* SDHC card support
* Underwater scene mode (for use with new optional 40m underwater case)
* Slightly reduced continuous shooting speed (1.7fps vs 2.0fps)
* 10g (0.36oz) heavier

As mentioned before, the Canon PowerShot A640 is a 10 megapixel digital camera. It has 4x optical and digital zoom capabilities. The camera’s minimum focal length is 7.3mm, with a maximum focal length of 29.2mm. The minimum shutter speed is 15 seconds, with a maximum of 1/2500 of a second. Images are produced in JPEG format.

What do PowerShot A640 owners think about their cameras? By and large, they are thrilled with their purchase. Some do point out that certain extra features are available, but only at an additional cost. For example, the A640 has no image stabilization, no information in the viewfinder, and no RAW setting. To get these extra features, customers have to spend extra money – approximately $200 more.

Professionals and photography teachers alike use the Canon PowerShot A640 as their “walking around” camera for everyday use. The quality of the pictures is undeniable, especially when printing. The Canon PowerShot A640 receives high marks for its 11×14 printed photos, with users often calling the quality of the pictures “incredible”. If you do a lot of photo printing, this could be the digital camera for you.