Editorial Review:Product Description:Canon's popular A Series cameras have always stood out from the competition, but PowerShot A640 takes that concept to a whole new level. Experience breathtaking 10.0 megapixel resolution-a first for an A-Series camera - and the power of a 4x optical zoom lens. You'll have more fun shooting, and make your finished images even more rewarding, with the camera's exciting array of easy-to-use, high-performance features including 21 shooting modes and ISO800/High ISO Auto settings for much greater ability to shoot in low light. Light Metering Method - Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot Metering Exposure Control - Program Auto Exposure (AE), Shutter Speed-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Manual Shutter Speed Range - 15 seconds to 1/2500 second (settable in Tv and M) Automatic, multi-mode electronic-flash Storage Media - SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard (MMC) - We recommend purchasing an Optional 1GB SD or MMC memory card.It will allow you to store a lot more Video and images, as well as take advantage of the camera's high Resolution abilities Shooting Modes - Auto; Creative - P, Av, Tv, M, C; Image - Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids&Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap), Stitch Assist, Movie Print/Share Button for direct connection to PictBridge-compatible printers via camera's USB 2.0 Hi-Speed cable Unit Dimensions (WxHxD) - 4.31 x 2.60 x 1.93 inch (109.4 x 66.0 x 49.0mm); Weight - 8.64 oz. / 245g
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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A good, reliable camera
I've had my Canon A640 for about a year and a half and taken over 2000 pictures and more gigs of VGA movies than I care to try to remember. Long story short, it's a terrific camera for fast and discrete urban(very!) street photography, and with always ready to go alkaline batteries it's fast enough for those family photos that pop up without warning and won't happen again. I carry it around in my cargo pants pockets in the summer and my jacket pocket in the winter even though it's a tad on the heavy side and not exactly mini in size.
Carrying it around in pockets with my keys, change, and exposed to all the dust and grit should have totaled it long ago, but it just keeps on working.
PROS - Takes nice pictures in reasonable light that any amateur photographer like me will enjoy. Color accuracy and vividness is more than good enough for amateur photography and quick snapshots of kids and pets that won't sit still for more than a few seconds before they're gone.
The flip screen has ruined me. When I bought the A640 I thought the flip out screen was a gimmick. Now, I'd have to carefully consider whether I'd buy another camera without it. Really works good for discrete urban photography.
Speed. The A640 starts up fast enough to capture those family moments that pop up without warning and only last for a few seconds.
CONS - The LCD screen is low resolution and needs more brightness for accurate color presentation.
The automatic lens covers sometimes jam up and won't open or close fully. The slot they slide in is too small so I have to use one of those dull, round pointed kitchen knives to carefully spread the slot in order to free the lens covers. Ah yes....that's consumer grade photography equipment for you. I've come to the point where I'd actually prefer a manual lens cap over automatic lens covers.
SUMMARY - A well built camera that also feels well built when I hold and operate it (except for the automatic lens covers). Fast and takes nice pictures. Hard working and tough for every day use. Good value for the money.
Rating: 
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Cracked Screen
I recieved this camera as a gift a bit over 2 years ago. Aside from the bulky design i was very pleased. Until, I was carrying it around in my bag and pulled it out to take a picture only to find the screen completly cracked. I turned it on and I could see where it had cracked and could not take any pictures. I sent it back to canon and fixed it for a whopping $150. I only griped a bit because I had enjoyed the camera so much. After getting in back in the mail I went on a wild goose chase looking for a camera case. Lets just say it wasn't easy. The design was very hard to find a case that could even fit it! The side battery section was very inconvenient. But, finally I found one. I hadn't had the camera back more than a month when I had it out taking pictures. I closed the screen and put it in my bag without the case (huge mistake) and went on my way. Next time I took it out the screen had cracked in the exact same way it had before. I was not happy. I had a nikon before the canon and not once did I have a problem. I carried it in my bag the same as the canon and the screen was fine. I'm debating on sending it back, yet another time, and paying yet another $150. Either way, I will never purchase another canon. If you are buying this product beware of the screen!
Rating: -
nice functional camera
Very good camera for the price. Be sure to get at least 1 GB memory.
Rating: -
Worst camera ever!!!
I bought this camera last march for our trip to Europe. The pictures were never of the quality of my Canon Elph 2 mp. A couple weeks ago the button to switch from shoot to view fell off. Yesterday the camera quit working all together. I have called Canon but they told me that the warranty was up. After three cameras and two video cameras, the rep told me; OH WELL!! I think I will buy my next camera from Nikon or Sony.
Rating: -
strictly ameture
I am strictly an ameture photo guy...OUr primary criteria was keep it simple but with flexibility if we need it. Had it out of the box and running in 15 minutes. Looks like it has lots of adjustments, but I will most likely keep it on AUTO.
My wife has small hands and loves the fit... I have X-large hands and it is very comfortable to me as well.
Generally this camera gets great reviews and the only negetive that concerns me is that it may have a weak auto focus... primarily on faces... we'll see. I really like the LCD and it has nice larger icons and print and great "twist"
Definitely get a set of NIMH's and a charger. This baby uses 4 at a time. Some careful shopping and you should be able to get a set with charger for under 30; stay with 4 hours to overnight faster chargers will eat the batteries up.
I did a lot of comparisons between this and other models and makes of cameras...and read a lot of + and - reviews...for the bucks (329) this was very reasonable... I would not pay more.
I will up date this is 6months after we get some milage on this pig.