Most cameras come with a “Self Timer” setting. This allows you to have time to get in front of the camera and get in place before the photo is taken. Check your manual about how to setup this function. Next you will need some type of Tripod to hold the camera. Place the camera on the tripod, approximate where you will be when you take the photo and aim the camera there. Set the timer and get yourself in place in front of the camera. When the Timer goes off the camera will take the photo. You may have to try this a few times to get the picture you want.

External audio inputs or a mic inputs are getting harder to find on entry level camcorders. Manufactures opting to leave this feature out to keep costs down. There are models available. Canon, Panasonic and Sony have seem to have the most models with this feature.

Some of the leaders in Digital Imaging are (in alphabetical order) Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, and Sony. They have been some of the developers of current technologies and manufacture some of the models most preferred by professional photographers. Canon and Nikon are widely considered the top 2.

User Guides and Manuals can generally be found at the manufactures site. Go to www.canon.com. Select the country. Got to DOWNLOADS>CUSTOMERS. This will take you to the Downloads Library. From there you will plug in the Category (Digital Camera), type of product (PowerShot A Series) and the Model (PowerShot A 640). You will now be in the Downloads area where the User Guides & Manuals are available. They are in PDF format so you will need Adobe Reader on your computer. Once you download the pdf you need you can print it out.