Digital Cameras : Canon PowerShot A640

I am a pro, I shoot with SLR Digitals (1DS MkII and MkIIN, 30D) but I was looking for a take-along camera that I could bring with me everywhere and not be so conspicuous. Unfortunately, that meant that most snapshot cameras (i.e. elph, etc) had all auto settings and little or no control over the creative elements of photography. In a nutshell - use a snapshot camera and every shot will look like a snapshot - washed out, overexposed, etc etc. I tried the A640 and was VERY pleasantly surprised. The image out of the camera is superb for a point and shoot, as is the color saturation (with some tweaking of the white balance). Performance at higher ISO is OK. Overall I give this camera a very high rating for its manual controls, flexibility, and overall image quality. The Swivel LCD is indespensible when out in the field working in tight spots or on shots that require you to be discreet, that too is one of the best features of this camera. As someone who earns a living making pictures, I have had some very nice (production quality) shots come off the A640. This is a nice little package with good performance and a fantastic price. Complaints: None other than the Mem Card located in the battery compartment. Tips: Use either 2200 mAh NiMh rechargeables or better yet - Lithium disposable batteries and you will never complain about enough power or low battery life again. Standard Alkaline batteries are PATHETIC as power sources for electronics. Nuf Said.. Hide Full Review

The Cannon a640 is a bit bigger than most other cameras, but when you take into account all the features squeezed into it the size more then justifies its self and also makes it very easy to use even one handed. You can use this camera straight away and then when you have time you can make the most of its numerous advance features. The top quality of photo is more than most people need and even the video is passable for a half decent camcorder. If you have the money and you want great photos then this is the camera for you, it even comes with settings for just about every situation, but even if you hasn’t got one you need then you can set it up manually. The software on it is powerful but simple and the soft for a PC is simple and efficient. You can also buy extra leans for this camera is required.
Dislikes – nothing about the camera, although some of the advance feature weren’t obvious to use, I thought it only coming with 32mb memory card was bad, 32mb isn’t much space at all and would only hold 16 large photos. It also come with recharge point, but not the batteries or charger. Hide Full Review

A day after purchasing the A640, I discovered that this camera is the best camera that I've had. 10mp, 5mp higher than my Canon A530, four higher than my A540.
The camera, overall, looks amazing, with its dark, dark blue, nearly black surface. It's weight is perfect, and every button is in reach.
With the LCD being 2.5 iches, and with the vari-angle ability, getting every shot is, well a snap.
As with everything that is "perfect", they suffer some flaws: it's almost unbareable night shots. The only way to get a night scene, you have to bump up the ISO, and well, this is where it stumbles. There's more noise than a 17 year old girl on a cell phone at an AC-DC concert. Also, I've found out that the wrist strap placement is not placed well, what with all the opening and closing of the USB connection port.
With everything that the A640 has to offer, I've found out that this is a very capable camera, and the pros outway the cons. Hide Full Review

I teach photography in a large high school and have been taking pictures for over 40 years. I have also taught in colleges and had my own photo business. I wanted a small, walking around camera and after seeing the quality that one of my students obtained from this camera, as well as reading online reviews, I bought it. Overall, I am very pleased, but there are a few things that you should be aware of. To get the features that I mention as cons, you will have to spend more, if you can get them at all. For instance, if I wanted to spend $200 more, I could have bought the G7 and had image stabilization. I am sure that may have made me happier, but this purchase was also dictated by price. I paid $267, which I consider very reasonable and for that price it was a no brainer. You can easily enlarge photos to 11X14 and probably 16X20. However, my printer only prints to 13X19 and I leave a 1 inch border. At 11X14, the quality is outstanding. I also like the accuracy of the auto focus system. I can count on pictures being sharp as long as I listen for the audible beep. I have done numberous closeups with it held over my head or down at my feet. They are almost always tack sharp. A con that I mention is barrel distortion. It seems that almost all of the small cameras and zoom lenses on DSLR's produce it. I wish it were not so. Unless you buy a DSLR and get a lens made for close up photographs, like the 105mm Micro Nikkor, you will have it. Still, I wish it was not there. The zoom range for this camera is adequate, but modest. I wish it went out further. However, if you want to do closeups, this thing will get you in to about a half inch. All in all, I find this camera to be a modern marvel. The ten megapixels rival medium format film camera quality and exposure and color accuracy is right on the button. Hide Full Review