The average size of the A720 IS has so their reason: more space for a good look, which gives enough light incident on a not so tiny sensor: For the good image that is to be built later, a real advantage.
As a super-fast mini clipper it is not suitable so much because of the exposure computer the Camera image data apparently intensively analyzed (incl facial recognition.) And the sharpness of the image is adjusted correctly (with me so far always perfect!) - At the expense of the tripping delay (is but quite acceptable).
Apart from the calculation speed, there is another small flaw of the processor: The exposure time or the amount of flash light when using the flash will not be charged 100% correct. So I have got used to reduce in the near (up to 5m) objects / subjects, the flash output, then it is perfect. Without this modification, it is quite in order.
The strengthening of the camera are clearly in the many "gimmicks" that are possible with this. So manual focus is with a really insane great macro region a tool that very convinced me personally. So you can focus sometimes adapt to unusual and surprising places in the image - which can otherwise hardly any compact digital camera! Manual settings in ISO, shutter speed, aperture, white balance and color profile are of course possible and the impact on the subsequent image will be on display (but not perfect) appears.
In bright conditions (ski / summer) has also almost every display its limits, the (the searcher) above the display so "peephole" anything but superfluous, especially as a display indeed may even break.
Apropos 'can break ...': The camera is relatively sensitive and you should treat them very carefully. There are certainly more robust models that have their corresponding price.
Each camera has various price ranges so their strengths and the Canon A720 IS really has so few.
Still another tip: create a large SD HC card (2-4 GB), good batteries with significantly higher than 2000 mAh, a corresponding charger and a handy pocket on (together they should expect about 50 to 70 additional), then You will have lots of fun with your camera.
