A lot is written lately about compact cameras with 10 megapixels: simply too many elements on such a small sensor, causing noise and blurry images.
And indeed: most 10 MP compact cameras do not yield better pictures than 6 or 7 MP cams. When part of an image is cut (”cropped”) out of the original, details don’t look very natural.

The abundance of noise is sometimes compressed in such an agressive way that details get lost… So: forget about 10 MP cameras???

No: in tests, there is a remarkable exception: the Canon Powershot A640 as currently delivered to stores. This A-type camera is powered by standard AA batteries, has a 4x optical zoom, a big 2.5″ flip-out display and 10 usable megapixels.
As a real A-type, it can be used fully automatic, as well as completely on manual control offering all artistic freedom one can wish.

How did Canon do this: offer so many features in this quality with even ISO 800 pictures looking good? That’s their secret…
With 10 MP, the biggest poster-sized images can be printed, so this camera can be regarded more future-proof than most others.

Read more about this technical wonder here.