Canon PowerShot S30 3MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 153
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 On: 2007-10-18
This Camera, the Canon S30 is a piece of junk. Owned it for two years and it has stopped working.
It shows a fully charged battery as low and you can get two pictures before it stops working and tells you to get a new battery.
Even at its best it was a terrible camera. Save your money and buy something else.
 On: 2006-05-24
Ive had my camera for about 5 years now, I think it takes great pictures overall. Redeye is a problem Ive noticed like some of the other owners, even if you have redeye reduction turned on its still a problem. Aside from the redeye problem with flash, it takes incredible daylight photos. Bright, colorful, amazingly clear with alot of nice manual modes and auto mode is also very good. Very durable also, Ive dropped my camera many times and it keeps on working.
 On: 2006-05-09
I have been using it for 5 years now. never had any problem... Night results are not very very good though, you just need to keep camera still if you want to get them perfect.
On: 2005-06-30
My S30 did all it was expected to do as far as imaging resolution and photo quality was concerned.
Downside issues with this camera:
LCD screen - Poor to zero visibility. OK for auto shooting but useless for creative photography,
Auto focus and close-up focus did not work 100% of the time. Continuous focus was hit & miss.
Battery life inadequate - 20 mins to 1/2 hr at best
Camera was returned to Canon during Warranty but none of the above issues were resolved.
Sold the camera after 18 months of serious useage
 On: 2005-05-31
This was an OK camera but red-eye was a problem from Day 1. Also had trouble taking good night pictures. The 4 Star rating here is WAY too high for this camera. See the most recent reviews.
On: 2005-03-27
I agree with the reviews by Simplicissimus & "curious", it was a great camera until it died. Mine had a critical failure just over one month past the warrentee running out. I paid $150 to have it "repaired." What I got back was a refurb with a different serial number. That lasted less than a year and half before it died. Given the price when I bought it, this camera has already cost me close to $800. The repair price that Canon charges will buy a new camera of the same functionality, with full warrentee. They offer an "upgrade" to a newer model, for $220, but that is a refurb with only a six month warrentee. I would prefer that Canon built a quality product that would last at least two years. I would settle for them at least standing behind their products when they die under normal use.
On: 2005-03-26
I agree with the reviews by Simplicissimus & "curious", it was a great camera until it died. Mine had a critical failure just over one month past the warrentee running out. I paid $150 to have it "repaired." What I got back was a refurb with a different serial number. That lasted less than a year and half before it died. Given the price when I bought it, this camera has already cost me close to $800. The repair price that Canon charges will buy a new camera of the same functionality, with full warrentee. They offer an "upgrade" to a newer model, for $220, but that is a refurb with only a six month warrentee. I would prefer that Canon built a quality product that would last at least two years. I would settle for them at least standing behind their products when they die under normal use.
On: 2004-12-15
For the first 15 months of ownership, I was sure I made the right choice for my first digital camera . Many great pictures, especially available-light stuff, lots of flexibility, rock solid (OK, hefty) feel. Then one day I turned it on to review pictures taken at a wedding the weekend before and nothing happened. No error message, no reaction to replacement with a fresh-charged battery, stone dead. I returned it to Canon Service even though it was a few months off-warranty. They repaired it and returned it very quickly, about two weeks turnaround. I would have called it perfect service except there was no explanation as to what the problem was, what they did to remedy it, and the fact that my MINT S30 was returned with two almost identical, obvious new scratches on top and bottom (clamshell vise?) Now I feel like it is a ticking time bomb that could die again at any time and have migrated back to film and my more dependable 1970s-vintage Rollei 35S.
On: 2004-12-14
For the first 15 months of ownership, I was sure I made the right choice for my first digital camera . Many great pictures, especially available-light stuff, lots of flexibility, rock solid (OK, hefty) feel. Then one day I turned it on to review pictures taken at a wedding the weekend before and nothing happened. No error message, no reaction to replacement with a fresh-charged battery, stone dead. I returned it to Canon Service even though it was a few months off-warranty. They repaired it and returned it very quickly, about two weeks turnaround. I would have called it perfect service except there was no explanation as to what the problem was, what they did to remedy it, and the fact that my MINT S30 was returned with two almost identical, obvious new scratches on top and bottom (clamshell vise?) Now I feel like it is a ticking time bomb that could die again at any time and have migrated back to film and my more dependable 1970s-vintage Rollei 35S.
On: 2004-10-29
This was my first introduction to digital photography. Wouldnt you know, just out of the warranty period, the camera stops working. I test the battery just before my daughters soccer game, then hop in the car. Get to the game and....the thing wont work. The lens will not come out. I now own a piece of junk. I think the retractable lens adds needless complexity to the camera. I will look for something simpler mechanically in the future. Maybe its back to film cameras for me. Im tired of 60 dollar ink cartridges anyway.
On: 2004-10-04
I have had this camera from about 18 months. It has a horrible redeye problem even with the redeye flash turned on. Now it has stopped working altogether. It has developed the dreaded E18 error which means the lens will not come out when you open the camera. This has happened to a huge amount of these cameras; just search the web for the S30 and E18 code and you will see. Buy a different camera.
On: 2004-10-03
I have had this camera from about 18 months. It has a horrible redeye problem even with the redeye flash turned on. Now it has stopped working altogether. It has developed the dreaded E18 error which means the lens will not come out when you open the camera. This has happened to a huge amount of these cameras; just search the web for the S30 and E18 code and you will see. Buy a different camera.
 On: 2004-07-30
Ive shot hundred of pictures in the rain, at the beach and have never had any issue other than the sometimes slow first shot issue, mentioned else where.
It has been drop off the kitchen counter and lived on with a small dent.
Id gladly buy a newer model if I needed to, but 3.2 megs I have found to be more than good enough for family shots. In comparing this to my other camera from a computer vendor Id have to say stick to camera vendors models, they feel and work like cameras, right down to the little mirror/shutter sound that lets other people taking your vacation pictures know that they have in fact taken a picture.
I do think the lcd too small at times to determine some options, like the flash mode (red eye). Perhaps newer SLR digitals will get in viewer features, for when you saving power by not running the lcd display.
On: 2004-07-29
Ive shot hundred of pictures in the rain, at the beach and have never had any issue other than the sometimes slow first shot issue, mentioned else where.
It has been drop off the kitchen counter and lived on with a small dent.
Id gladly buy a newer model if I needed to, but 3.2 megs I have found to be more than good enough for family shots. In comparing this to my other camera from a computer vendor Id have to say stick to camera vendors models, they feel and work like cameras, right down to the little mirror/shutter sound that lets other people taking your vacation pictures know that they have in fact taken a picture.
I do think the lcd too small at times to determine some options, like the flash mode (red eye). Perhaps newer SLR digitals will get in viewer features, for when you saving power by not running the lcd display.
On: 2004-07-25
I bought this camera about a year ago and am still discovering new features. This camera has so many features that Im sure Ill never learn all of them (I only use the "auto" and "movie" settings and cant figure out what the rest of them are for).
The good news is that its incredibly easy to use, even for someone as camera un-savvy as me (and this surprises me because I love electronics). The auto focus works wonders. The 3mega pixels are more than enough to deliver clear and crisp photos from a printer. Photo transferring is a breeze with iPhoto (for Macs) and Picasa (its free for Windows).
I also want to point out that it is incredibly durable. This camera lives in my purse (along with an oversized wallet, cell phone, keys, iPod and accessories... The list goes on, but the camera has no scratches and after a year Ive had zero problems.
No plans to upgrade because all my needs are satisfied with this product... And Ive got years of product discovery ahead of me, starting with the functions of the other 11 settings on the formatting wheel.
On: 2004-07-24
I bought this camera about a year ago and am still discovering new features. This camera has so many features that Im sure Ill never learn all of them (I only use the "auto" and "movie" settings and cant figure out what the rest of them are for).
The good news is that its incredibly easy to use, even for someone as camera un-savvy as me (and this surprises me because I love electronics). The auto focus works wonders. The 3mega pixels are more than enough to deliver clear and crisp photos from a printer. Photo transferring is a breeze with iPhoto (for Macs) and Picasa (its free for Windows).
I also want to point out that it is incredibly durable. This camera lives in my purse (along with an oversized wallet, cell phone, keys, iPod and accessories... The list goes on, but the camera has no scratches and after a year Ive had zero problems.
No plans to upgrade because all my needs are satisfied with this product... And Ive got years of product discovery ahead of me, starting with the functions of the other 11 settings on the formatting wheel.
On: 2004-02-21
I have owned this camera for over a year now and taken probably 3000+ pics. I have learnt a lot in this one year about digital cameras in general and this camera in particular. The picture quality is simply superb in most conditions. The one problem of dull pics indoors that the previous reviewer mentioned is definitely something I noticed too. One thing worth trying is to not use the flash and instead use more light indoors if possible. The problem occurs because the flash range is small and it will illuminate only nearby objects. All in all, a fantastic product. I would buy it again if I had to.
On: 2004-02-20
I have owned this camera for over a year now and taken probably 3000+ pics. I have learnt a lot in this one year about digital cameras in general and this camera in particular. The picture quality is simply superb in most conditions. The one problem of dull pics indoors that the previous reviewer mentioned is definitely something I noticed too. One thing worth trying is to not use the flash and instead use more light indoors if possible. The problem occurs because the flash range is small and it will illuminate only nearby objects. All in all, a fantastic product. I would buy it again if I had to.
On: 2004-01-28
I have had this camera for over a year now. The camera is great until now. I simply plugged the camera into the USB port in order to download my pictures and all the sudden my LCD DISPLAY turned White. I have tried troubleshooting and nothing is expalined about this mess. I talked to Canon and the only option they left me was to ship it in and get it repaired...for $200.00 What a joke!
On: 2004-01-27
I have had this camera for over a year now. The camera is great until now. I simply plugged the camera into the USB port in order to download my pictures and all the sudden my LCD DISPLAY turned White. I have tried troubleshooting and nothing is expalined about this mess. I talked to Canon and the only option they left me was to ship it in and get it repaired...for $200.00 What a joke!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-01-17
Ive owned a Canon Powershot S30 since may 2002 and am happy with my purchase.Cons:
- Joystick used to navigate menu items makes it very difficult to "click"/select items especially if in a hurry. Gets worse with age.
- Sliding door is on/off switch, means camera is often accidentally switched off when framing shot as fingers press on loose door/off switch. Gets worse with age.
- Dust gets on lens easily, under sliding door.
- Supplied memory card (16mb) inadequate, recommend 256mb+.
- LCD viewfinder difficult to see in direct sunlight, makes it very difficult to use manual features where small numbers/icons need to be read.
- Often a long delay on shutter action, means you miss the framed shot.
- Battery life only about 100 shots, seems to get worse with age. Need two batteries.
- Bulky & heavy body, compared to many other compact digital cameras.
- No protective case supplied with camera.
- Software to get images from camera to computer a large-long install, I cant find a way to do it without installing all the software on the CD.
- Impressive number settings can be controlled manually but accessing and changing them via menus and buttons is slow compared to an SLR. Pros:
- Good quality photos.
- Lots of settings can be controlled manually, compared to other compact digital cameras Ive used.
- Very good software on the camera, especially for navigating and viewing images.
- Batteries charge very quickly
On: 2004-01-08
Ive had my Canon s30 for a year and a half now, and its still at the top of its game. Brushed aluminum. Weighty, but not bulky. Crystal-clear screen. Potentially ridiculously intricate functionality, but simple enough for anyone to use. And yes, the video function is incredibly handy to have around.The cons cited in other reviews hold, of course: the joystick is difficult to use, youll want to buy a separate 256 MB card, the battery drains fairly quickly, that sort of thing. Except for these aspects of its anatomy, it really is a brilliant camera. But heres one pro I havent seen anyone mention yet: you can zoom in--really CLOSE!--on a picture youve taken, and then scroll around in it. This is an incredible function, catering to those social settings where everyone gathers around you and demands to see themselves in that last picture you took. Really handy (and sometimes VERY entertaining).
On: 2003-12-29
I have owned the S30, S40, and S50 and have done everything one can do with these cameras. Here is my take on the good and bad on the Canon PowerShot S30.This was a terrific small digital camera when it was introduced, but the digital camera market advances quickly and this model has been surpassed by Canons own S45 (which is an updated S40) and the new S50 (5 megapixel in the same body only in high-tech black). Serious photographers seekng a digital should turn to Canons EOS Digital Rebel. The S30 and S40 are good cameras if you want lots of features in a small package without paying a lot of money. The two models are identical except for this: the S30 is 3 megapixel and allows ISO-equivalence of 800, allowing for low-light indoor photography. The S40 is a 4 megapixel model using a denser CCD, and its maximum ISO is 400. You can make the pictures smaller than the maximum size to conserve space on the removable CompactFlash cards. Several modes are available to you such as Sports (high shutter-speed and high resolution shots), Portrait, Night, etc. You can put it in complete Idiot Mode (okay, Automatic mode) and let it select your shutter speed and aperture, or you can pick one or the other and let the camera pick the missing one, or you can go full into Manual mode and pick both. Theres even a Movie mode, complete with sound, which creates video clips of 320 x 200 pixels. This small camera fits in a purse or shirt pocket easily and wont get in the way if youre shouldering it in a case (not included, just buy a generic). But you pay a price for the small size: the optical zoom is limited to 3x. And unfortuately, the S30, like all the PowerShot S family, starts out with a focal length of 11mm, which is a very wide-angle view. Even at 3X optical zoom you will max out at 55mm, often not as close as youd need. There is a digital zoom, but so what? Crop your picture in software later rather than play with that silly feature. I found 55mm insufficient for shooting across a large room. If you work closer in this wont be a problem, but it is not a good focal length for shooting children, who stop whatever adorable thing theyre doing when they notice you framing that shot. (And see comment on slow shutter response, below.) The sliding door that covers the lens (and turns on the camera) seems flimsy and can cause problems. My 3YO niece got ahold of my S40 (remember, this is the exact same body as the S30) and ripped the door off. I was able to reattach it but now its a loose tooth, ready to fall off again. Even under warranty, my choice was to send it back to Canon for 12 weeks or live with it. I couldnt live without the camera, so I kept it, loose sliding door and all. Ive just learned not to lend it to people who cant baby it; a good push and that door is off the camera again. One of the S30s most frustrating limitations is a slow shutter response. I cant tell you how many shots Ive missed using it; I frame it lovingly, I see the perfect moment, I shoot... but no score. The people have moved on, the sun has set, the universe suffers heat-death, and finally the shutter clicks. If you want a fast shutter then you must have a digital SLR, as almost all the compact-style digital cameras such as this one have the delayed shutter issue. Another note of annoyance on the PowerShot S family: they come with a wrist strap but no shoulder strap. I dont know what use a wrist strip is for a camera; if Im not using it then I want my hands free. I bought a generic shoulder strap but it wasnt a great fit. At least Canon should offer one as an extra-cost accessory. I give this camera 3 stars; 4 for putting so many features in such a small package, but the loss of one because you can buy the S40 for about the same price and the gain of a megapixel more than makes up for losing ISO 800 (which produces very noisy photos, anyway). The PowerShot S30 comes with software, but youll probably want to buy your own image editing package, such as Photoshop Elements. The package provided is fairly limited. Useful software includes PhotoStitch, which allows you to make your own panaramic style images from a series of linked shots. The included 32 MB CompactFlash card is also too small for typical use, so plan on buying a bigger card. Also plan on buying a second battery.
On: 2003-12-28
I have owned the S30, S40, and S50 and have done everything one can do with these cameras. Here is my take on the good and bad on the Canon PowerShot S30.This was a terrific small digital camera when it was introduced, but the digital camera market advances quickly and this model has been surpassed by Canons own S45 (which is an updated S40) and the new S50 (5 megapixel in the same body only in high-tech black). Serious photographers seekng a digital should turn to Canons EOS Digital Rebel. The S30 and S40 are good cameras if you want lots of features in a small package without paying a lot of money. The two models are identical except for this: the S30 is 3 megapixel and allows ISO-equivalence of 800, allowing for low-light indoor photography. The S40 is a 4 megapixel model using a denser CCD, and its maximum ISO is 400. You can make the pictures smaller than the maximum size to conserve space on the removable CompactFlash cards. Several modes are available to you such as Sports (high shutter-speed and high resolution shots), Portrait, Night, etc. You can put it in complete Idiot Mode (okay, Automatic mode) and let it select your shutter speed and aperture, or you can pick one or the other and let the camera pick the missing one, or you can go full into Manual mode and pick both. Theres even a Movie mode, complete with sound, which creates video clips of 320 x 200 pixels. This small camera fits in a purse or shirt pocket easily and wont get in the way if youre shouldering it in a case (not included, just buy a generic). But you pay a price for the small size: the optical zoom is limited to 3x. And unfortuately, the S30, like all the PowerShot S family, starts out with a focal length of 11mm, which is a very wide-angle view. Even at 3X optical zoom you will max out at 55mm, often not as close as youd need. There is a digital zoom, but so what? Crop your picture in software later rather than play with that silly feature. I found 55mm insufficient for shooting across a large room. If you work closer in this wont be a problem, but it is not a good focal length for shooting children, who stop whatever adorable thing theyre doing when they notice you framing that shot. (And see comment on slow shutter response, below.) The sliding door that covers the lens (and turns on the camera) seems flimsy and can cause problems. My 3YO niece got ahold of my S40 (remember, this is the exact same body as the S30) and ripped the door off. I was able to reattach it but now its a loose tooth, ready to fall off again. Even under warranty, my choice was to send it back to Canon for 12 weeks or live with it. I couldnt live without the camera, so I kept it, loose sliding door and all. Ive just learned not to lend it to people who cant baby it; a good push and that door is off the camera again. One of the S30s most frustrating limitations is a slow shutter response. I cant tell you how many shots Ive missed using it; I frame it lovingly, I see the perfect moment, I shoot... but no score. The people have moved on, the sun has set, the universe suffers heat-death, and finally the shutter clicks. If you want a fast shutter then you must have a digital SLR, as almost all the compact-style digital cameras such as this one have the delayed shutter issue. Another note of annoyance on the PowerShot S family: they come with a wrist strap but no shoulder strap. I dont know what use a wrist strip is for a camera; if Im not using it then I want my hands free. I bought a generic shoulder strap but it wasnt a great fit. At least Canon should offer one as an extra-cost accessory. I give this camera 3 stars; 4 for putting so many features in such a small package, but the loss of one because you can buy the S40 for about the same price and the gain of a megapixel more than makes up for losing ISO 800 (which produces very noisy photos, anyway). The PowerShot S30 comes with software, but youll probably want to buy your own image editing package, such as Photoshop Elements. The package provided is fairly limited. Useful software includes PhotoStitch, which allows you to make your own panaramic style images from a series of linked shots. The included 32 MB CompactFlash card is also too small for typical use, so plan on buying a bigger card. Also plan on buying a second battery.
On: 2003-11-27
I own this camera - Canon Powershot S30, for close to 7 months already. I would say I have not much complaints on this camera except it is slight heavy thus I could not carry it around without carryin my backpack as well.S30 Macro shot is sufficient for normal usage (10cm closest), however, I needed more close-up shot. In this manner, I hope to trade in for Canon Ixus 400. But I have no regrets having S30 because it can be used as point-and-shoot and as manual control camera at the same time. I guess I was just getting greedy in wanting my gudget to be in its latest technology and we knew that it is quite impossible unless we buy a new one. I love its paranoma mode. I did a 360 degree shot before and the outcome did not come out as what I have expected due to different lighting but the software knitting the paranoma shots is user-friendly and easy to use. I did other paranoma shots (and not 360 degree or too extreme) and the shots I must say is excellent. I did a paranoma horizontally on a beach scenary. Sometimes,when I press the shoot button to take a picture, the camera did not shoot. I must try the 2nd time before the picture is taken. I also do not know why but I have press hard and deep already, I swear! The battery is still ok, and one lasts me about one and the half hours with LCD on. I bought a spare battery though, just in case. The software is stable since the camera was in the market for 2 years when I bought it. Thus I have no problem on the retracting lens matter. I like the metallic feel of the camera and I just hope that Canon have add-on lens for this series of camera, one day. Think this camera can last with me for the next 5 years or so. No problem with this camera for me.
On: 2003-11-26
I recently upgraded from a 1MP Kodak camera to the S30 and I couldnt be happier. Its a good size, takes great pictures, and has a bunch of features. Pros:
Excellent picture quality, Functionally diverse, Compact metal case, Retracting lens with built-in lens-cover, light weight and rather small, photo-stitch, Lithium Ion battery, Uncompressed format Cons
Included media card is small. The Bottom Line
Its a great camera for camera enthusiasts or even jsut a point and shoot camera.
On: 2003-11-25
I recently upgraded from a 1MP Kodak camera to the S30 and I couldnt be happier. Its a good size, takes great pictures, and has a bunch of features. Pros:
Excellent picture quality, Functionally diverse, Compact metal case, Retracting lens with built-in lens-cover, light weight and rather small, photo-stitch, Lithium Ion battery, Uncompressed format Cons
Included media card is small. The Bottom Line
Its a great camera for camera enthusiasts or even jsut a point and shoot camera.
On: 2003-11-10
If you really are going to buy one .. try this search on Google first "Canon e18". Read the reports this returns.The dreaded e18 error affects cameras across the line and means they are pretty much dead (lens will not retract). Mine got the error a few days ago. Canon has evidence of hundreds of such errors but provides no information on their website.
On: 2003-10-09
I bought a Canon PowerShot S30, and it stopped functioning in the middle of a trip. It was under warrantee, but it took about 4 phone calls to find out where to send it for repair. When I sent it out, it disappeared for about 2 months, after which I got a letter saying that they wouldnt repair it because Id damaged it. After hours on the phone trying to talk to someone, I was finally told, basically, that they couldnt find the problem but, they assumed it must be my fault. After another hour on the phone to Canon headquarters, they agreed that they had made a mistake and said that they would repair it. But, they seem to have lost track because yesterday the camera came back in a box unrepaired with no explanation. Ive owned Canons for years, but I would never buy another one.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-10-06
Before I bought this camera from Amazon, I made sure that I read all the raves, pros and cons and trusted the name canon for a great camera. This camera comes with many features that I probably may not ever need, but its just great having it anyway. For the price, youd think they will throw in a carrying case or a 64mb compact flash memory card. This camera does not take good pictures at night, it over compensates images thus its blur or becomes too fake or dark. its only great for indoors (the red eye does not work either) and outdoors (during daytime). its a good camera to have if you are into digital photography, but if its quality pix you are looking for, canon rebel is still the best buy out there.
On: 2003-10-05
Before I bought this camera from Amazon, I made sure that I read all the raves, pros and cons and trusted the name canon for a great camera. This camera comes with many features that I probably may not ever need, but its just great having it anyway. For the price, youd think they will throw in a carrying case or a 64mb compact flash memory card. This camera does not take good pictures at night, it over compensates images thus its blur or becomes too fake or dark. its only great for indoors (the red eye does not work either) and outdoors (during daytime). its a good camera to have if you are into digital photography, but if its quality pix you are looking for, canon rebel is still the best buy out there.
On: 2003-09-25
The cammera is very nice. The bed things about it thou are that its pretty big and the "joystick" is very hard to operate. Its to samll to use it. But overall the quality of pictures is VERY GOOD. I would recommend this cammera to anyone.
On: 2003-09-07
My camera died after about six months. I had to send it back three times before they fixed it. I paid to send it back the first two times, about $15 each time. When I called the third time and asked to speak to someone beyond the people who answer the phone, I was scolded by the person I was talking to because I balked at calling a toll number. I was told that Canon could not give toll free numbers to everybody. I eventually talked to someone who told me to send it in again. Only, after I balked at paying shipping again did he offer to send me prepaid packaging. Guess I should have balked the first time. So far the third "fix" has worked for over a year.Very nice little camera. The service is very poor.
On: 2003-08-07
I have been using this camera for 5 months now and have been very pleased with it. The controls are intuitive and easy to use-my only complaint is that sometimes the master control/cursor button at the top of the camera is difficult to control. Picture quality is excellent and there is good creative control with the exposure compensation and manual focus. The included software works well with
mac and windows. The photo altering program that comes with it doesnt have many features, but at least alters exposure and removes redeye. I wish the camera used AA batteries like my father in laws Sony.-you definitely need an extra battery with this camera.
On: 2003-08-04
I just bought this camera used from another Amazon member and all I can say is Wow! I need it to take pictures for web and print (as a professional photographer and designer), and this camera is packed with all the features I could imagine I need, at a great price. First off, the camera is a good size--small and light and streamlined. Easy to find controls and great display screen. Its easy to use -- I just charged the batteries, popped them in, and started shooting for a client. The user manual is a bit redundant, but with an image of every step of the process, is is handy. I referenced it immediately to be sure I was setting the time/date and image sizes properly. Far away shots of a dim restaurant are crystal clear. Macro shots of product labels are crisp and perfectly lit. No one has red eyes (auto flash setting). Edges are crisp and colors really pop--no washing out or muddy-ing with this. The only problem Ive found is that the zoom/focus button is a bit hard to maneuver (right in front of shutter button), but I figure I will get used to it. I bought a 256MB flash card and took large images by the hundreds--I took so many I used the battery pretty quickly (2+ hours), so I would recommend a second battery and a good-sized compact flash card to go with your purchase. I plugged the battery and charger into an outlet, ate a sandwich, and the camera was ready to go again in about 20 minutes. I cant wait to try scenery pics and also some portraits (it has a portrait mode). Also want to try the video capture out. For a used price of [less amount] (new is easily [alot more]), and the price of an extra memory card and battery (bought cheap from online auction), I feel I have everything I could want with a digital camera. And with newer models out, prices should continue falling. After using other peoples digitals for the past year (and tons of different brands), I think I picked a gem. I am totally impressed with the digital zoom and glad I opted for a 3 mega-pixel (and savings) instead of wasting big bucks on something more (which I dont need even for print images). Funny thing is, everyone I know spent a fortune on their digital cameras and NEVER use them!! I ask them what kind of camera they have and what features, and they all say, "I dont know. But I know it was expensive." Well, their cameras can gather dust. Mine is going with me everywhere, tucked into my purse.
On: 2003-08-03
I just bought this camera used from another Amazon member and all I can say is Wow! I need it to take pictures for web and print (as a professional photographer and designer), and this camera is packed with all the features I could imagine I need, at a great price. First off, the camera is a good size--small and light and streamlined. Easy to find controls and great display screen. Its easy to use -- I just charged the batteries, popped them in, and started shooting for a client. The user manual is a bit redundant, but with an image of every step of the process, is is handy. I referenced it immediately to be sure I was setting the time/date and image sizes properly. Far away shots of a dim restaurant are crystal clear. Macro shots of product labels are crisp and perfectly lit. No one has red eyes (auto flash setting). Edges are crisp and colors really pop--no washing out or muddy-ing with this. The only problem Ive found is that the zoom/focus button is a bit hard to maneuver (right in front of shutter button), but I figure I will get used to it. I bought a 256MB flash card and took large images by the hundreds--I took so many I used the battery pretty quickly (2+ hours), so I would recommend a second battery and a good-sized compact flash card to go with your purchase. I plugged the battery and charger into an outlet, ate a sandwich, and the camera was ready to go again in about 20 minutes. I cant wait to try scenery pics and also some portraits (it has a portrait mode). Also want to try the video capture out. For a used price of [less amount] (new is easily [alot more]), and the price of an extra memory card and battery (bought cheap from online auction), I feel I have everything I could want with a digital camera. And with newer models out, prices should continue falling. After using other peoples digitals for the past year (and tons of different brands), I think I picked a gem. I am totally impressed with the digital zoom and glad I opted for a 3 mega-pixel (and savings) instead of wasting big bucks on something more (which I dont need even for print images). Funny thing is, everyone I know spent a fortune on their digital cameras and NEVER use them!! I ask them what kind of camera they have and what features, and they all say, "I dont know. But I know it was expensive." Well, their cameras can gather dust. Mine is going with me everywhere, tucked into my purse.
On: 2003-07-26
This was my first digital camera and I havent stopped taking pictures and printing them on my canon printer. I cannot say enough about this camera. Its easy to use and lightweight so I can take it with me wherever I go.
On: 2003-07-17
I ABSOLUTELY love love love love love my camera I used to own the Nikon swivel cool pix and I have to say that although the s30 is a little bit heavier and larger its way better!
On: 2003-06-20
Ive been using my S30 for over 9 months and am extremely happy with it. The one imperative accessory is a big memory card (I opted for a 256Mb card for about 80$). I have always taken pictures at the maximum resolution to give me flexibility in the future. At that res, the files come out between 700kb to 1.1Mb each. Using the standard memory card, thats about 15-20 picures. Using the larger card, Im good for 200-300 pictures, which is more than enough for the longest vacation... Regarding the camera itself, its very easy to use. Just point and click. There are a few tricks to learn like which mode to use to get good pictures every time, but the big break is that you can (almost) always take another if it doesnt work (Ill never go back to film). Battery life is pertty good. I havent needed a 2nd battery yet as its good for approx. 100 pictures at a time. The battery recharges in about 1 hour, so thats worked fine for me. The bundled software is fine. Zoombrowser is the key to accessing and downloading. The included version was a little limited, but Canon sent a link to download a new and improved, which is far better. Picture downloads are super fast through USB (1 second per highest res picture), but you PC needs to be pretty beefy. Ive tinkered with the 30 second movie thing, but that is purely for fun (picture quality and sound are pretty awful). Overall - very pleased! P.S. Make sure you get a case, if you want to avoid the inevitable dings and scratches.
On: 2003-06-19
Ive been using my S30 for over 9 months and am extremely happy with it. The one imperative accessory is a big memory card (I opted for a 256Mb card for about 80$). I have always taken pictures at the maximum resolution to give me flexibility in the future. At that res, the files come out between 700kb to 1.1Mb each. Using the standard memory card, thats about 15-20 picures. Using the larger card, Im good for 200-300 pictures, which is more than enough for the longest vacation... Regarding the camera itself, its very easy to use. Just point and click. There are a few tricks to learn like which mode to use to get good pictures every time, but the big break is that you can (almost) always take another if it doesnt work (Ill never go back to film). Battery life is pertty good. I havent needed a 2nd battery yet as its good for approx. 100 pictures at a time. The battery recharges in about 1 hour, so thats worked fine for me. The bundled software is fine. Zoombrowser is the key to accessing and downloading. The included version was a little limited, but Canon sent a link to download a new and improved, which is far better. Picture downloads are super fast through USB (1 second per highest res picture), but you PC needs to be pretty beefy. Ive tinkered with the 30 second movie thing, but that is purely for fun (picture quality and sound are pretty awful). Overall - very pleased! P.S. Make sure you get a case, if you want to avoid the inevitable dings and scratches.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-19
I love this camera. It is very tolerant of less than ideal circustances. It takes superb pictures even when the kids move around.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-04
I bought this camera about a 1 year ago and it is great. There may be too many features for the general picture taker, but all in all I would receommend it.
On: 2003-06-01
A friend of mine, who diligently researched the digital camera market for months before making a buying decision, eventually chose to purchase the Powershot S40 -- the top-of-the-line Powershot at the time he made his choice -- because it was clearly the best combination of power, ease of use, and price. Months later, based on his legwork, I went with the S30, because it was considerably less expensive, and I knew that 3MP and 3x optical zoom were fine for my purposes.As I expected, my friends research paid off. The S30 is a comfortable camera to use. It is a nice size and feels solid and durable. It is easy to use in automatic mode (open, point and shoot) and offers the usual options in manual mode for power users. With the factory memory, you can shoot up to 37 shots in highest quality, and you can add memory chips up to some ludicrous amount if you just cant bear to download and delete your photos every now and then. Even though it offers "only" 3MP, it takes beautiful photos in a variety of lighting conditions. Downloading to a computer is simple using a USB interface (it comes with a special USB cable as the camera connection is an odd size) and included Canon software. The software package itself has some nice features for photo editing as well, including email and internet "wizards" for compressing your photos. They are no substitute for a professional photo editing program like Adobe Photoshop, but they are nice as a package deal and will be sufficient for most "holiday snapshot" users. I have, in fact, nothing negative to say about the S30; and Im sure the S40 and the latest releases in the Powershot line are even better, if you have the money to spend. I have found mine to have been a very good investment. I wasnt taking many pictures with my 35mm or my clumsy, old, cheap digital camera, so at first I didnt think I would get my moneys worth from the S30, but in fact I have found that I shoot tons more pictures now just because the S30 is so easy to use and takes such good pictures -- and thats a great thing since I have a young son and am living overseas for a few years.
On: 2003-05-30
Fully automatic point and shoot for the novice in the family but with fully programmable features to satisfy even the most experienced amateur. Ill let sites like Imaging Resource (.com) and others like it comment on image quality and other technicals, which are fantastic, and I encourage you to check these out for the meat of your investigation. For this review, Ive chosen to focus mostly on ergonomics, feature set and usability.Pros:
- Small sturdy form factor: in the 3 MP category, not as small as the DimageX, but doesnt sacrifice quality so you can hang it around your neck - not that kind of camera
- Advanced feature set to satisfy the experienced amateur
- Movie mode: capture 30 seconds at a time w/ sound - not a good substitute for a camcorder, but more handy than you would think (e.g. I capture 4-5 golf swings in 30 seconds, download it to my computer and analyze in slow motion/frame advance in Win Media Player 9)
- Absolutely fantastic image quality (my laymans opinion) Cons:
- On camera flash a bad light source: all 35mm/digital cameras have this problem, but what makes this a con for this camera, especially if you are an experienced photographer, is the S30 can not power an off-camera flash (through a hot sync).
- "Enter/OK" softkey switch that controls a number of menu functions is a little difficult to master.
- No diopter: this means that why you see through the viewfinder is not quite what you get. You must use the LCD to see exactly how it will be framed, but of course this uses battery power. Other Issues:
- Proprietary battery: I wouldnt worry about this - the batteries charge quickly (1 hour), are getting cheaper (see this site for the NB-2L) and are Lithium Ion which should last a good while.
- Somewhat fragile sliding lens cover - dont handle it roughly and it will function fine Also, reading the manual is a must - take the 60 minutes and just do it. A word on the other Powershot cameras - the S40, with 4 MP, and the S50 with 5 MP. The S30 is more than adequate to get a 35mm quality 8x10 print - why an amateur would want 5 MP Im not sure, but if you are a professional, I doubt youre looking at the Powershot series so stick with the S30. If You Buy It: get (1) a bigger CF card (at least 128 MB - see my Viking review), (2) an extra battery (see my Canon NB-2L review) and (3) a CF card reader to save on battery power. Bottom Line: Not quite a home run, but great mid to high end consumer 3MP - you will not be disappointed.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-05-14
Do prices go down fast or what? I brought my camera 1 year ago for 400, and now it is 300. Now that I have owned this for 1 year, I know both pros and cons of this camera.Pro: very nice pictures overall and great quality too. The cool feature is the "night" mode". Switch to this mode, go into a dark room, and then take the picture. Presto, the pictures comes out in color as if it was daytime. But sometimes, if you use this mode at farther objects, the picture tends to get overexposed and you get a blurry lighted picture that looks like lighting struck. Takes excellent everyday pictures! Con: battery life is pretty short..if you plan on going on a trip, I guess buying an extra battery and bring the recharger.
- dark indoor pictures sometimes. Ive tried this on several occasions taking indoor pictures. If your subject is close to you, the picture comes out excellent and great quality. But if you were to take the picture from far away and try to zoom in at something (such as at a concerthall, or a graduation, the picture comes out dark and dull). Anyone have suggestions to make it appear brighter?
-if you leave it on for a while (1/2 hour), the camera will get very warm. Im not sure if this is true of all digital cameras though.
On: 2003-04-27
Its been nearly four months since I purchased Canon S30, and I must say that my contentment with it is increasing every day!The image quality is excellent. In the automatic mode, all you have to do is simply pressing the big button. Even if youre a professional, this becomes handy when you need quick and good pics. Otherwise, the manual option is excellent too. If you do not wish to use the flash, then you have to be very careful in holding the machine still; because a slight tremble can create a blur in the whole image. But these are, usage issues, that can be solved very quickly. The size of the pictures varies from your computers screen to a 8-11 page. Its good that you get big pictures, because you can resize them to any dimension you want afterwards. Theres a movie feature, which runs from 30s to 2 min, according to the size of it. I did not know this when I was buying it; but I must say that for the most of the time, Im shooting movies instead. The reason is that you can record sound perfectly as well and I do mean it! Its in .mov format which can be easily played by any player. Furthermore, Ive actually put together an amateur short film, by combining and editing the movies in Windows Movie Maker. Its just wonderful to have this machine. The softwares included with the machine are good, but they have some flaws unfortunately. The picture organizer, called ImageReady, hassles sorting all the images when you add or remove an image, which takes a lot of time when you have hundred images. Its really necessary that you purchase another battery. Having two keeps you safe in long journeys. I also recommend you to buy another memory card. The one that comes with the machine is 16 megs, which is not bad actually, but you might want to get a 256 meg one, and do not bother with loading off your images frequently. This is totally extra, but I also have a memory reader, Intelliflash, which is about 6 times faster than the computer in transfering the images. If youre dealing with many pictures or movies at a time, this might be your solution. If you really want to make a combo with S30 by buying a photo printer, then I would go for Canon i850, for which I have a special review on the products page in amazon. With the two, you will be able to shoot pictures, transfer them to computer and print them in minutes. What sets a digital camera apart from a nondigital camera is that you can modify your images on computer. If you want to leave things to chance, and wait for results, nondigital is loveable. However, if you want to edit your images, crop some people out or make yourself more beautiful or handsome, digital camera is just for you! I have both of them. I carry them side by side inside my canon bag. (Yes, Im obsessed with Canon!) According to how I feel about the atmosphere, I use them interchangeably. Also, another thing about Canon S30: I was also once trying to figure out which camera to buy, looking at all zooms and digital zooms of every machine... But, you know what, it just never ends! The next day we will have 20x zooms. So, I grant you, that this machine will not disappoint you by any means. Do what your mind tells you...
On: 2003-04-07
Ooooooh Boy What a camera, for guys like who dont want more proffesional photography point of view this is an excellent choice. I developed my photos in Costco which is just 2.00 for an 8/12 SIZE photo, its clarity and pixels are breath taking man. Actually I got this camera in a gold box price at 340/- but that is an ultimate deal. If you get it for 350/- also its good. Any how I am enjoying with this camera which has all options except external built in flash light mode which is not a big thing but for night shots its a must for long view shots.
On: 2003-03-22
Canons S30 fills a nice niche between expensive, feature-laden cameras and point-and-shoots. Its compact size, snug enough to fit in the palm of your hand and perfect for slipping into a pocket, makes it an ideal companion for those excursions when a larger camera would be too bulky or conspicuous. The silver all-metal body is sleek and stylish, so much that its almost a fashion accessory. Its loaded with features, an amazing feat for such a small package, while at the same time offers unparalleled ease of use. Lastly, its a great deal considering its price-feature ratio.The S30 includes the usual automatic presets such as landscape and portrait, but also offers the semi-automatic and fully manual modes that a serious photographer would want. The following adjustments may come in handy: 1) film speed from ASA-equivalent 50 to 800, 2) spot, center-weighted and evaluative metering modes, 3) three selectable autofocus areas, 4) exposure compensation between -2 and 2 EV in steps of 1/3 EV, 5) continuous drive mode (though maxing out at a modest 2.5fps), 6) macro mode. While I still prefer an SLR in most situations, the S30 fills many of my needs very nicely. I use the it to take preview or experimental shots or to take shots that I would hesitate to blow film on. Morever, the S30 makes your job a cinch when it comes to panoramas. The panoramic mode shows you a third of the previous frame, either vertical or horizontal, which is an invaluable guide to help you line up the current frame. I used to have to spend a lot of time in Photoshop to line up adjacent frames and erase the seams between frames. Canons Photostitch software does all of that and more, at the click of a button! Picture quality is very good, with excellent sharpness throughout the image and no noticeable softness in the corners at wide-angle. Macro shots are very sharp, to the point that I decided to do close-ups primarily with the S30. Colors can be a little flat, but this can be easily fixed in Photoshop. There is a special "Vivid" or saturated mode, but this comes at the expense of losing other controls over the shot. Ive noticed that the dynamic range for the CCD sensor is quite low, much worse than for color negatives or slides. This is most apparent if youve got a mixed light and dark scene; either the sky would be washed out or the foreground would be underexposed. This could be a shortcoming of CCDs in general and not one particular to the S30. The S30s 3-megapixels resolution is good enough for a 2048x1536 image, which in turn is sufficient for 8x10 enlargements. If this is not large enough for your needs, the S40 ups the ante to 4 megapixels. There is a USB jack for downloading images and an A/V jack for previewing images on TV. You will want to invest in a CF card-reader however, for conveniences sake. The storage slot takes Type I or II CF cards, and also accommodates a Microdrive. The S30s compact size is its greatest asset, but is also responsible for a few shortcomings. The 1.8" LCD screen is bright and contrasty, but only indoors. Lacking a swivel and anti-glare coating, its virtually useless outdoors. You may have to resort to the optical viewfinder, which does not cover 100 percent of the image. The LCD displays most useful information, but inexplicably lacks a battery life indicator. Youd have no idea how much power is left until the low-battery indicator flashes. To make matters worse, the rechargeable Li-Ion battery has rather short lifespan, between 30-50 shots. I have to carry 2 spare batteries in order to shoot for a whole day. The thumb-operated directional controller is rather awkward to use. You scroll to move up/down and press to move left/right. To select, you have to press down on the middle. In my case, to hit select, I had to learn a way to press it just right, otherwise the controller would move left or right instead. Lastly, while this may not matter much to most people, I frequently use a tripod, which blocks the battery cover and makes changing battery quite a hassle. Despite its shortcomings, Ive found the S30 to be an indispensable companion. Ive had it for almost a year and taken it with me on trips to Asia and throughout western North America. At times I yearned for a more advanced camera like the Canon G2 or even a digital SLR, but more often than not I found myself thankful that I was able to take pictures I wouldnt have taken otherwise with a larger camera. The S30 has more than paid for itself.
On: 2003-03-21
I am very happy with the picture quality, but am sad because it is not as portable as I had hoped. Actually, it flunked this area. I was keeping the camera in my coat pocket, and within a few weeks, after taking some night pictures near a fire, I noticed all kinds of dust inside the lens was putting little white blurry dots all over my photos. They dont show up on the day photos, but they are almost like a cloud on the night pictures. Its really awful, and Im really disappointed in this. Upon further inspection of the lense, it is obvious that the sliding door does not fully cover the lens in an air-tight way. And the door is sort of flimsy. Stuff can get inside the edges quite easily. Also, the lens itself is not a sealed thing. If you look closely at it, you can see that the lens glass in the front has a very small gap all the way around it. The lens must now be cleaned professionally. This camera is great, but you must keep it in a case, and Id also advise you keep it in the "bubble wrap" within that case. So much for "portability".
On: 2003-03-19
... Ill summarize a few points:1) I saw a couple other "cracked LCD screen" comments. This is NOT BS, people. Ours cracked after just a month or so of use, and under very questionable circumstances. It may have been the sun. It may have been a bump. We dont know. But it did cost $150 to get it repaired by Canon. Not cool! 2) Shutter speed: out of the box, you WILL be disappointed with the slow shutter speed (blurry pictures). The default equivalent film sensitivity is "in the range of ISO 50 to ISO 100". Very slow film for most apps. 3) Movies: Dont pay $100 extra for the movie capability. The movies are disappointing in quality (~200x300 pixels) and length (max 30 seconds) These cons aside, the camera often does perform swimmingly.
On: 2003-03-09
I love photography and Im a computer geek! Why did it take me so long to get a digital camera? Ive had this model for 4 days and love it! I got an extra battery and a 256 MB memory card at the same time. It only comes with a 16 MB card which I got 18 shots on, one of which was a 10sec video. Not bad but the battery lasted about 10 shots longer. The battery charges really fast, 20 min or so. So with two batteries this is a good camera for day trips. My next major purchase will be a car charger.I also like that you can hook it up to the video in jack on your tv and view you pictures and videos there. You can also set up shots on the tv. I highly recommend this camera to anybody with a resonable amount of geekyness. :o)
On: 2003-03-08
I love photography and Im a computer geek! Why did it take me so long to get a digital camera? Ive had this model for 4 days and love it! I got an extra battery and a 256 MB memory card at the same time. It only comes with a 16 MB card which I got 18 shots on, one of which was a 10sec video. Not bad but the battery lasted about 10 shots longer. The battery charges really fast, 20 min or so. So with two batteries this is a good camera for day trips. My next major purchase will be a car charger.I also like that you can hook it up to the video in jack on your tv and view you pictures and videos there. You can also set up shots on the tv. I highly recommend this camera to anybody with a resonable amount of geekyness. :o)
by: jonciccone On: 2003-03-06
Searched and searched for a relatively inexpensive high quality digital camera. This one definitely fits the bill. Quick setup, easy to use software, and great quality make this a fantastic buy. Make sure you buy a smart card reader though to help save battery life when downloading pictures.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-01
The Canon S30 is overrated. I find that the shutter speed is really inadequate and I have missed some terrific moments because the performance isnt up to snuff. In general, I find the whole lens operation slow. I find that the slider button--for zoom/slideshow operation is actually quite difficult to use. And I have small fingers, to boot. I bought the camera in 2002 and the LCD is pretty scratched up, even though I keep it in a cushioned bag all the time. I have never dropped it or anything like that. Really not good for wear and tear. I am very disappointed with this camera, having heard such great things about it before I bought.
On: 2003-02-28
The Canon S30 is overrated. I find that the shutter speed is really inadequate and I have missed some terrific moments because the performance isnt up to snuff. In general, I find the whole lens operation slow. I find that the slider button--for zoom/slideshow operation is actually quite difficult to use. And I have small fingers, to boot. I bought the camera in 2002 and the LCD is pretty scratched up, even though I keep it in a cushioned bag all the time. I have never dropped it or anything like that. Really not good for wear and tear. I am very disappointed with this camera, having heard such great things about it before I bought.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-02-22
I love the S30. I bought this camera specifically for underwater use (with the Canon underwater housing of course!). It is pretty easy to use and has quite a few features for the price. You probably wont need a higher pixel camera than this unless you want poster size prints. Add a 1GB IBM Microdrive, a spare battery, and you are set.
On: 2003-02-21
I love the S30. I bought this camera specifically for underwater use (with the Canon underwater housing of course!). It is pretty easy to use and has quite a few features for the price. You probably wont need a higher pixel camera than this unless you want poster size prints. Add a 1GB IBM Microdrive, a spare battery, and you are set.
On: 2003-02-17
I had been looking for a digital camera for personal and family use for a couple of months. Having used the Canon G2 at the art gallery where I work, I was familiar with how a high quality digtial camera works. So I used the G2s features as quidelines for choosing a digital camera for myself. I wanted something smaller than the G2 to make it more portable for travel, etc. less expensive, and yet with similar features. I found just what I was looking for in the Canon Powershot S30. I love it and the images it takes. Image and color capture is great. I still havent learned or tried all its features, but so far am more than satisfied with my choice and would recommend it highly.
On: 2003-02-16
I had been looking for a digital camera for personal and family use for a couple of months. Having used the Canon G2 at the art gallery where I work, I was familiar with how a high quality digtial camera works. So I used the G2s features as quidelines for choosing a digital camera for myself. I wanted something smaller than the G2 to make it more portable for travel, etc. less expensive, and yet with similar features. I found just what I was looking for in the Canon Powershot S30. I love it and the images it takes. Image and color capture is great. I still havent learned or tried all its features, but so far am more than satisfied with my choice and would recommend it highly.
On: 2003-02-14
This is a pretty snazzy one and has lots of things I never use. I mostly keep it set on auto. It takes excellent pictures though. I always take them on the highest quality setting - they are bigger than my screen. But then if I get them printed on one of those Picture Maker Machines - they look perfect. You would never know they were from a digital camera. (This is a 3.2 MegaPixel camera - the only reason I see to go bigger would be = the bigger the picture, the more you can crop it and still have a high quality picture). One of the best things about the camera is that it has a rechargeable battery - so I never have to buy batteries or film. I rarely use my regular camera anymore. Also.. It takes great little 30 second movies, and I love to hook it to a tv at parties and show off all the photos I just took. What fun.
On: 2003-02-13
This is a pretty snazzy one and has lots of things I never use. I mostly keep it set on auto. It takes excellent pictures though. I always take them on the highest quality setting - they are bigger than my screen. But then if I get them printed on one of those Picture Maker Machines - they look perfect. You would never know they were from a digital camera. (This is a 3.2 MegaPixel camera - the only reason I see to go bigger would be = the bigger the picture, the more you can crop it and still have a high quality picture). One of the best things about the camera is that it has a rechargeable battery - so I never have to buy batteries or film. I rarely use my regular camera anymore. Also.. It takes great little 30 second movies, and I love to hook it to a tv at parties and show off all the photos I just took. What fun.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-31
It is just too sensitive of water.
Even a few raindrops killed my 1-month new S30. I sent it to repair, but Canon asks me to pay more than the price I bought it......
On: 2003-01-31
You know the performance.
You know the features.
You know the product.
And You know the name.
Its a Canon Powershot.
Absolutely still the best camera.
On: 2003-01-30
I used an olympus c3040 prior to buying this camera and have thi camera for 4 months now. I like this cameras small size for the same MP/zoom range as the c3040. The small size makes it a little shakier, but you will get used to it. It takes very good quality pictures in daylight and fluoroscent lighting and has multiple white balance modes. You can also set your own white balance, which some people may find useful. I find the color and hue saturation with the factory set white balance great and much better than my previous 3MP camera. Night/Low light pics are not as good if you use the auto mode. Remember to set the setting to P (program) mode for night shots. Manual modes are great for low light situations and this camera works like any other non-digital (SLR-35 mm Film) camera. The RAW format images are useful to make even larger sized prints using appropriate software. I think the software bundled with the camera ... when used on windows 98. All they needed to do was to have windows 98 recognize it as another drive, but they made it twain based instead and boy that really ... for me. I have to go thru hoops to download pics to my windows 98 machine. However if you have XP, it is a breeze to use the camera and once you install the drivers it works like any other camera. I recommend reading the manual at least 3 times before using the advanced functions. The manual is somewhat technical but you need to read it! There is an available attachment for underwater pics, which is also great if you just want to use it in the summer on a beach or to take underwater pictures. As far as I know no other digital camera offers this yet. I also like the Photostitch option that allows you to take multiple pictures and then weave them together to get a large sized (panoramic) picture. You can combine multiple pictures to get a huge poster (even 40x40 inches) for example by using this function. It comes with a 16MB CF card which is rather small (holds 16-24 pics in high resolution and only 6-8 pics in RAW format). Now that 128/256/512 MB CF cards are available you may want to pick one up. However then you will also need an extended battery or an AC power pack as you will run out of power before you use the entire CF card. If you have no computer, this blighter can even print directly to a compatible printer, which is cool if you are travelling. I also would have really liked canon to include a small leather case with this, but then one cant ask for all! I still feel I have not found out all this camera can do even at 4 months and there are many features that I have not tried yet. The multipurpose button is sturdy, but some what difficult to use. Also they could have combined to zoom function to the same button (like in many videocams) for better funtionality while shooting. However I got used to the small buttons now and am really not finding it that much of a problem.
On: 2003-01-29
I used an olympus c3040 prior to buying this camera and have thi camera for 4 months now. I like this cameras small size for the same MP/zoom range as the c3040. The small size makes it a little shakier, but you will get used to it. It takes very good quality pictures in daylight and fluoroscent lighting and has multiple white balance modes. You can also set your own white balance, which some people may find useful. I find the color and hue saturation with the factory set white balance great and much better than my previous 3MP camera. Night/Low light pics are not as good if you use the auto mode. Remember to set the setting to P (program) mode for night shots. Manual modes are great for low light situations and this camera works like any other non-digital (SLR-35 mm Film) camera. The RAW format images are useful to make even larger sized prints using appropriate software. I think the software bundled with the camera ... when used on windows 98. All they needed to do was to have windows 98 recognize it as another drive, but they made it twain based instead and boy that really ... for me. I have to go thru hoops to download pics to my windows 98 machine. However if you have XP, it is a breeze to use the camera and once you install the drivers it works like any other camera. I recommend reading the manual at least 3 times before using the advanced functions. The manual is somewhat technical but you need to read it! There is an available attachment for underwater pics, which is also great if you just want to use it in the summer on a beach or to take underwater pictures. As far as I know no other digital camera offers this yet. I also like the Photostitch option that allows you to take multiple pictures and then weave them together to get a large sized (panoramic) picture. You can combine multiple pictures to get a huge poster (even 40x40 inches) for example by using this function. It comes with a 16MB CF card which is rather small (holds 16-24 pics in high resolution and only 6-8 pics in RAW format). Now that 128/256/512 MB CF cards are available you may want to pick one up. However then you will also need an extended battery or an AC power pack as you will run out of power before you use the entire CF card. If you have no computer, this blighter can even print directly to a compatible printer, which is cool if you are travelling. I also would have really liked canon to include a small leather case with this, but then one cant ask for all! I still feel I have not found out all this camera can do even at 4 months and there are many features that I have not tried yet. The multipurpose button is sturdy, but some what difficult to use. Also they could have combined to zoom function to the same button (like in many videocams) for better funtionality while shooting. However I got used to the small buttons now and am really not finding it that much of a problem.
On: 2003-01-28
I just returned home from a week long trip having just purchased my s30 and like several others on here I debated the s230 and the s30. Wow...what a great camera the s30 is..I really dont have a bad word to say about it except maybe the rocker button on it is a little hard to work. This is my third digital camera and I purchased this one based on its size, my other two were too big to be any use although they took fine pictures they were nothing compared to this beauty.
Ive printed several 8x10s that I shot in medium 2 resolution that are flawless and this using an older Epson 880 printer, I can only imagine what high resolution must look like. Anyway you will not be disappointed with this camera...trust me I take a lot of pictures and the s30 just makes it that much more fun. This is one device that delivers as advertised.
On: 2003-01-27
I just returned home from a week long trip having just purchased my s30 and like several others on here I debated the s230 and the s30. Wow...what a great camera the s30 is..I really dont have a bad word to say about it except maybe the rocker button on it is a little hard to work. This is my third digital camera and I purchased this one based on its size, my other two were too big to be any use although they took fine pictures they were nothing compared to this beauty.
Ive printed several 8x10s that I shot in medium 2 resolution that are flawless and this using an older Epson 880 printer, I can only imagine what high resolution must look like. Anyway you will not be disappointed with this camera...trust me I take a lot of pictures and the s30 just makes it that much more fun. This is one device that delivers as advertised.
On: 2003-01-26
I have been looking for 2 months for a good digicam, checked out every site, every review, every everything. I bought the s30 camera and all I have to say is, WHAT A CAMERA!...Whether you are a novice like me who wants to just shoot great pics, or a more advanced person who wants to mess around with all the manual settings, you wont be dissappointed!...Do yourself a favor, stop worrying about whether the camera youre going to buy will be good......dump it and get the Canon s30!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-21
I bought this camera in the Caribean so I could get rid of my disposable cameras! The battery charged in an hour and was ready to use the same day! I am so pleased with my pictures and the software. I was lucky that when I bought this camera I was GIVEN a 64mb memory card along with the camera for a very good price. This camera is so easy to use that you will definately want to get a larger memory card than the 16MB it comes with! Great camera for vacation, and home!
On: 2003-01-20
I bought this camera in the Caribean so I could get rid of my disposable cameras! The battery charged in an hour and was ready to use the same day! I am so pleased with my pictures and the software. I was lucky that when I bought this camera I was GIVEN a 64mb memory card along with the camera for a very good price. This camera is so easy to use that you will definately want to get a larger memory card than the 16MB it comes with! Great camera for vacation, and home!
On: 2003-01-17
I shopped around and read a lot of reviews before I bought the
S30. I am an amateur photographer with a little more experience than most people and wanted manual exposure settings and manual focus. Many digital cameras out there do not have manual focus. This camera is an awesome machine for the size. the controls are intuitive. My pictures have been turning out great on auto settings.I had been thinking of buying the Sony cameras with the CD-r capability, but have to say that downloading pictures with the Canon is a breeze. The computer even detects the camera as soon as you plug it in to the USB cable. Software was easy to install on both Windows ME and XP and works well to touch up pictures.
On: 2003-01-16
I used to own a fairly bulky epson photoPC 750z and I wanted a camera that could more easily fit in a pocket (what good is a camera that you never want to carry around with you?). To be honest, the color on the 750z (which is only a 2MP camera vs. 3 for the s230) was better than on this camera, but Im willing to sacrifice some quality for the seriously tiny form factor of this camera. I was also pleasantly surprised at the ability to be able to shoot video with this camera. I was in NY for new years and took some video at the stroke of midnight.
...
On: 2003-01-16
I love this camera. I originally received a HP Photosmart 320 as a gift, but it was too basic a camera and had poor image quality especially if the digital zoom was used (there was no Optical zoom). The person who gave it to me suggested I return it if better quality was something I wanted. So I did some research and came to two possible cameras to trade in for, both made by Canon, the HP reviews just were good enough. I originally went in search for the A40 but being after Xmas it was sold out, so I browsed at the S30 and was convinced to spend the extra money on it, I knew the reviews were awesome for this camera so, So I made the decision and have not regretted since.The S30 takes high quality pictures, no comparison to the HP. Setting up the software was originally a problem, I was using Windows 98 and there was simply no response when the camera was connected. I had the intention of upgrading to windows 2000, which I did within 2 days of my purchase and my problem was gone and I am now able to upload my pictures. Wow they look great. Now, being a Canadian we have cold weather and snow so taking the camera outside is risky, especially when it is snowing, I needed something to protect the camera form the elements. I was able to find the camera underwater casing but it cost was just too much, costing half as much as the camera itself. I do intend to use the camera in and around water, but going any deeper than 10 feet is overkill for me. So the camera case currently is not an option, especially since I am a student with a limited budget. I looked online and came across a British made waterproof pouch called Aquapac which claimed to be 100% waterproof and was rigorously tested. I ordered it and it cost me only about $40. Now I just have to get some extra memory and a spare battery. If you meet somebody with the Canon S30, they will only have good things to say about this camera and.....Remember to say "CHEESE!"
On: 2003-01-15
I used to own a fairly bulky epson photoPC 750z and I wanted a camera that could more easily fit in a pocket (what good is a camera that you never want to carry around with you?). To be honest, the color on the 750z (which is only a 2MP camera vs. 3 for the s230) was better than on this camera, but Im willing to sacrifice some quality for the seriously tiny form factor of this camera. I was also pleasantly surprised at the ability to be able to shoot video with this camera. I was in NY for new years and took some video at the stroke of midnight.
...
On: 2003-01-15
I love this camera. I originally received a HP Photosmart 320 as a gift, but it was too basic a camera and had poor image quality especially if the digital zoom was used (there was no Optical zoom). The person who gave it to me suggested I return it if better quality was something I wanted. So I did some research and came to two possible cameras to trade in for, both made by Canon, the HP reviews just were good enough. I originally went in search for the A40 but being after Xmas it was sold out, so I browsed at the S30 and was convinced to spend the extra money on it, I knew the reviews were awesome for this camera so, So I made the decision and have not regretted since.The S30 takes high quality pictures, no comparison to the HP. Setting up the software was originally a problem, I was using Windows 98 and there was simply no response when the camera was connected. I had the intention of upgrading to windows 2000, which I did within 2 days of my purchase and my problem was gone and I am now able to upload my pictures. Wow they look great. Now, being a Canadian we have cold weather and snow so taking the camera outside is risky, especially when it is snowing, I needed something to protect the camera form the elements. I was able to find the camera underwater casing but it cost was just too much, costing half as much as the camera itself. I do intend to use the camera in and around water, but going any deeper than 10 feet is overkill for me. So the camera case currently is not an option, especially since I am a student with a limited budget. I looked online and came across a British made waterproof pouch called Aquapac which claimed to be 100% waterproof and was rigorously tested. I ordered it and it cost me only about $40. Now I just have to get some extra memory and a spare battery. If you meet somebody with the Canon S30, they will only have good things to say about this camera and.....Remember to say "CHEESE!"
On: 2003-01-13
Before I purchased my s30 , I was orginally going to get the s230. Considering that the s30 had a drop of price to 400 , and now it was the same price as the s230 , that made my decision difficult. Many people buy the s230 because of its size, and that was the reason I was going to get it. But before I purchased a camera I played with both of them and the s230 is so small its hard to navigate between the different shooting modes and I knew I would not take the same quality pictures with it and it did not have the same zoom (6x as opposed 10x), I decided to go with the s30 and I am very PLEASED!!!! its great and the menus are so easily accesible and I love it! the only con is the movies are limited to 30 seconds each .(but you can tape many of them on your memeory card depending on its size.) Definetly canon is the way to go!!!!!!!!!! now whether you go for size or better camera is your choice , but trust me the s30 is a much better overall camera and it is not much bigger.
On: 2003-01-12
Before I purchased my s30 , I was orginally going to get the s230. Considering that the s30 had a drop of price to 400 , and now it was the same price as the s230 , that made my decision difficult. Many people buy the s230 because of its size, and that was the reason I was going to get it. But before I purchased a camera I played with both of them and the s230 is so small its hard to navigate between the different shooting modes and I knew I would not take the same quality pictures with it and it did not have the same zoom (6x as opposed 10x), I decided to go with the s30 and I am very PLEASED!!!! its great and the menus are so easily accesible and I love it! the only con is the movies are limited to 30 seconds each .(but you can tape many of them on your memeory card depending on its size.) Definetly canon is the way to go!!!!!!!!!! now whether you go for size or better camera is your choice , but trust me the s30 is a much better overall camera and it is not much bigger.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-12
This camera is great for the photography enthusiast. It has lots of great options and features built-in (e.g. the ability to take short movie clips).However, the "paddle" button control is a little annoying. My fingers are an average size, but its still hard at times to scroll and use the menu options because of this odd button. Also, its price is still a little on the high side (I purchased this when it was retailing for about $$$). However, you do get what you pay for -- this camera is worth every cent. Otherwise, its a great camera. Its size is a definite plus for someone who wants great pictures without the heavy accessories!
On: 2003-01-11
This is our first digital camera. I wanted one that was easy to use, could take photos as good as a 35mm camera and allow you to be creative. The S30 is very easy to use.
I bought this camera to take with us on a ten day cruise.So far we have taken over 250 photos and printed the ones we wanted, down loaded some into our computer and reused the card for more photos.
The photos were as good as my 35 mm Canon SLR. Everyone that we showed the photos and the S30 to, were all impressed. Three of them are going to buy this camera.
I do recommend you buy a 128mb or larger flash card and an extra battery. For me the battery lasted all day and at night I just charged it up.
We are very satisfied and highly recommend the Canon S30.
On: 2003-01-10
Ive owned about 5 digital cameras in my life and this is by far better than anything Ive ever seen. The first rule about digital photography is that a camera only takes great photos when you take it with you. If its too big to carry everywhere you wont get much use out of it. The S30 has a flat shape and travels well - far better than any fuji, nikon or kodak Ive owned before. Second, the photos it takes are spectacular. While recently studying abroad I took about 2800 photos and the clarity and color of the shots I took is better than a traditional APS film camera. I have been very surprised with how well these shots come out when I take them to Costco or Shutterfly for printing (even at 8x10 and larger). It also has some additional features I tend to use a lot more than I expected. A lot of cameras out there today offer the ability to take 30 second movies, but very few also offer sound. The S30 has a built in microphone that makes this feature far more useful and the clips you take much more memorable. Watching a movie of your friends laughing at a joke isnt very funny if you cant hear the punch line. This ability to take small clips and fit the camera into a pocket also eliminated my need to buy a separate video camera. The panorama feature is also a ton of fun to play with and my home now has 30 inch prints of panoramas Ive taken in various cities around the world. Finally, Canon has by far the easiest and most intuitive software for organizing and archiving photos on your computer. Amazingly, the software is simple enough for anyone to pick up but robust enough that hard-core enthusiasts like myself still use it to do nearly everything. Even the using the camera itself is a no-brainer to figure out. Get a larger memory card and I recommend an extra battery if you are planning on traveling with it. I am probably one of the most critical people when it comes to electronics but this camera has exceeded every expectation Ive had and I plan to hold onto it for a long time.
On: 2003-01-10
This is our first digital camera. I wanted one that was easy to use, could take photos as good as a 35mm camera and allow you to be creative. The S30 is very easy to use.
I bought this camera to take with us on a ten day cruise.So far we have taken over 250 photos and printed the ones we wanted, down loaded some into our computer and reused the card for more photos.
The photos were as good as my 35 mm Canon SLR. Everyone that we showed the photos and the S30 to, were all impressed. Three of them are going to buy this camera.
I do recommend you buy a 128mb or larger flash card and an extra battery. For me the battery lasted all day and at night I just charged it up.
We are very satisfied and highly recommend the Canon S30.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-04
I researched digital cameras for several weeks before purchasing the S30 for my wife as a replacement for her point and shoot film camera. The camera is easy to use and takes great pictures right out of the box (Of course you need to charge the battery first). Most of the shots we has taken so far have been in the "Auto" mode and exposures both indoor and out are excellent. The S30 is loaded with so many features it should satisfy even the more advanced shutterbugs.Two things I would recommend, an extra battery and larger CF card as the S30 only comes with a 16MB card and a single battery. I do agree with some of the other reviews that the joystick takes a little getting used to; otherwise I would have given this camera 5 stars.
On: 2003-01-04
trying to decide between S230 and S30 was a hard one: S230 is significantly smaller and much cuter (very much a girls camera); but s30 has 3x zoom and slightly better optical properties. after going back and forth, i finally decided on s30 and have been very happy with it. bottom line: if youre looking for portability, go for the S230 because the s30 is too thick to fit in your pocket. however, if youre caring a purse/bag/case around anyway, get this one! (i also found a cheaper price elsewhere so make sure you look around.)
On: 2003-01-03
I researched digital cameras for several weeks before purchasing the S30 for my wife as a replacement for her point and shoot film camera. The camera is easy to use and takes great pictures right out of the box (Of course you need to charge the battery first). Most of the shots we has taken so far have been in the "Auto" mode and exposures both indoor and out are excellent. The S30 is loaded with so many features it should satisfy even the more advanced shutterbugs.Two things I would recommend, an extra battery and larger CF card as the S30 only comes with a 16MB card and a single battery. I do agree with some of the other reviews that the joystick takes a little getting used to; otherwise I would have given this camera 5 stars.
On: 2003-01-03
trying to decide between S230 and S30 was a hard one: S230 is significantly smaller and much cuter (very much a girls camera); but s30 has 3x zoom and slightly better optical properties. after going back and forth, i finally decided on s30 and have been very happy with it. bottom line: if youre looking for portability, go for the S230 because the s30 is too thick to fit in your pocket. however, if youre caring a purse/bag/case around anyway, get this one! (i also found a cheaper price elsewhere so make sure you look around.)
On: 2002-12-28
We researched digital cameras for 15 months before buying this one. Its awesome! Takes excellent pictures and is fairly easy to use. I purchased a Kodak 4900 for my mom and it felt so light. I love the weight and sturdiness of this camera. It is all metal!
I am used to a point and shoot. This camera has it all. The point and shoot ease with the ability to take more advanced photos. I have had it for 6 months and have taken 100s of photos. The only downside is the battery. I have yet to purchase a second one which would be great for travel. I have not run into any problems with the battery dying. It charges very rapidly and it just takes a bit of thought. At home I keep it charged and charge it before I leave on a trip. It takes WONDERFUL indoor and even better outdoor pictures. I definetly recommend purchasing a 256mb memory card. The software works well and my pics download within seconds. We dont even need a card reader. Overall, a great buy! I would now only upgrade to a G2 because It would be great to learn about the lenses. But for the family who wants a point and shoot camera for the kids and one that can take postcard like photos you wont be disappointed with this purchase. Great job Canon!
On: 2002-12-27
We researched digital cameras for 15 months before buying this one. Its awesome! Takes excellent pictures and is fairly easy to use. I purchased a Kodak 4900 for my mom and it felt so light. I love the weight and sturdiness of this camera. It is all metal!
I am used to a point and shoot. This camera has it all. The point and shoot ease with the ability to take more advanced photos. I have had it for 6 months and have taken 100s of photos. The only downside is the battery. I have yet to purchase a second one which would be great for travel. I have not run into any problems with the battery dying. It charges very rapidly and it just takes a bit of thought. At home I keep it charged and charge it before I leave on a trip. It takes WONDERFUL indoor and even better outdoor pictures. I definetly recommend purchasing a 256mb memory card. The software works well and my pics download within seconds. We dont even need a card reader. Overall, a great buy! I would now only upgrade to a G2 because It would be great to learn about the lenses. But for the family who wants a point and shoot camera for the kids and one that can take postcard like photos you wont be disappointed with this purchase. Great job Canon!
On: 2002-12-27
This is my second digital camera and from what I see thus far this will most likely be my last. I think Ive found the perfect digital camera. Check out the positives and negatives with the PowerShot S30.Positives: (where do I begin?)
* Made of solid, sturdy metal. Feels like a real camera not a cheap plastic toy like other digital cameras.
* Has features galore!!! Has standard features plus some pretty nice extras such as:
-customizable flash-can change the strength of the flash, helping to prevent washed out pictures which is common with most digital cameras when you use the flash.
-flips landscapes pictures that would normally appear sideways. the camera lets you flip these pictures rightside up so you wont have to do it on your computer.
-can take panoramic pictures.
-the camera is customizable! What does this mean? This camera lets you customize the startup screen. You have an option between clear blue water, evening skyline or a sitting bird. You can change the startup sound, your options include a default theme, science fiction and animal sounds(dog barking or bird chirping). These sounds are designed to presumably match the startup screens but they can be mix and matched. The shutter also has various sounds you can choose from. All these sounds can, of course, be turned off.
-this list goes on and on. Check this camera out to see everything.
* Superb true true-to-life daytime and night pictures.
* Pictures come out crisp and sharp with or without the flash, in
brightly lit or darky lit areas.
* What you see is what you get. What you see on the LCD screen is usually how the pictures will appear on your computer monitor or when you print them out. The LCD, when you press lightly on the
shutter button, will show you actually how the picture will appear once viewed on screen or on paper. So if your LCD has a bright contrast and you are in a dark room, when you press the shutter button lightly, the LCD will adjust itself to the actual lighting of the room. There will be no deception and you wont have to wonder why the pictures look lighter on the LCD than on the computer screen or in print.
* Can record mini movies with sound.
* Uses compact flash card.
There is much, much more that I can add on to this list but you will have get this camera and see for yourself. Negatives:
* Hard to install the driver software on th PC. I had to ask Canon tech support for help. Even then the process was very confusing.
* Joystick navigator takes some getting used to. Very hard to maneuver through the menus resulting in accidently going to the wrong options.
* There is no power button. You have to shut the lens lid to turn off the camera. This makes me nervous. Im always scared that this will somehow damage the lens.
* The macro setting isnt the best. Sometimes the macro pictures can appear blurry.
* Uses the very expensive NB-2L rechargable battery as opposed to inexpensive, more common rechargables such as NiMHs or other types. Plus NB-2Ls can only be used with PowerShot S30, S40 cameras and Elura 40mc camcorders. I was initially put off by the price of this camera but I must say it is well worth the money.
Get the Canon PowerShot S30 if you want superior quality in a small package.
On: 2002-12-26
This is my second digital camera and from what I see thus far this will most likely be my last. I think Ive found the perfect digital camera. Check out the positives and negatives with the PowerShot S30.Positives: (where do I begin?)
* Made of solid, sturdy metal. Feels like a real camera not a cheap plastic toy like other digital cameras.
* Has features galore!!! Has standard features plus some pretty nice extras such as:
-customizable flash-can change the strength of the flash, helping to prevent washed out pictures which is common with most digital cameras when you use the flash.
-flips landscapes pictures that would normally appear sideways. the camera lets you flip these pictures rightside up so you wont have to do it on your computer.
-can take panoramic pictures.
-the camera is customizable! What does this mean? This camera lets you customize the startup screen. You have an option between clear blue water, evening skyline or a sitting bird. You can change the startup sound, your options include a default theme, science fiction and animal sounds(dog barking or bird chirping). These sounds are designed to presumably match the startup screens but they can be mix and matched. The shutter also has various sounds you can choose from. All these sounds can, of course, be turned off.
-this list goes on and on. Check this camera out to see everything.
* Superb true true-to-life daytime and night pictures.
* Pictures come out crisp and sharp with or without the flash, in
brightly lit or darky lit areas.
* What you see is what you get. What you see on the LCD screen is usually how the pictures will appear on your computer monitor or when you print them out. The LCD, when you press lightly on the
shutter button, will show you actually how the picture will appear once viewed on screen or on paper. So if your LCD has a bright contrast and you are in a dark room, when you press the shutter button lightly, the LCD will adjust itself to the actual lighting of the room. There will be no deception and you wont have to wonder why the pictures look lighter on the LCD than on the computer screen or in print.
* Can record mini movies with sound.
* Uses compact flash card.
There is much, much more that I can add on to this list but you will have get this camera and see for yourself. Negatives:
* Hard to install the driver software on th PC. I had to ask Canon tech support for help. Even then the process was very confusing.
* Joystick navigator takes some getting used to. Very hard to maneuver through the menus resulting in accidently going to the wrong options.
* There is no power button. You have to shut the lens lid to turn off the camera. This makes me nervous. Im always scared that this will somehow damage the lens.
* The macro setting isnt the best. Sometimes the macro pictures can appear blurry.
* Uses the very expensive NB-2L rechargable battery as opposed to inexpensive, more common rechargables such as NiMHs or other types. Plus NB-2Ls can only be used with PowerShot S30, S40 cameras and Elura 40mc camcorders. I was initially put off by the price of this camera but I must say it is well worth the money.
Get the Canon PowerShot S30 if you want superior quality in a small package.
On: 2002-12-17
I recently bought my s30 along with the ibook and am set. This little camera is small, sleek, and light. It is easy to use, and after reading the instructions I can even use the fancy features such as preset contrast( to prevent washout) and a cockle doodle doo to signal a self timer shot (makes every one laugh). These are only a few of the many features included. The quality is also exceptional. Digital cameras sometimes have trouble with action shots. This camera took a crisp close up of my girls face, hair in the wind, while swinging. Enlarged to 8x11, it is great. This point and shoot is great.
On: 2002-12-16
This camera was the best purchase I have ever made. After careful searching on the web and reading reviews I settled on this camera. I purchased this camera a year ago and wanted to wait to write the review so you could hear from someone who has owned for more than a weekend. Now, of course the S40 is the same price as I paid for the s30 and would purchase that if you have the money. I thought the s30 was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I have always been into photography and liked all the options, and loved the small size. I have never once regretted spending a little over my budget on this camera. I mean, how many digital cameras can you adjust the shutter speed, over expose or under expose, set all different kinds of light setting, adjust the flash, and be so easy to use a person with no photography knowledge can use. This camera really can do it all! On top of that, the picture quality is amazing. Even printing out on my 150 dollar printer with photo paper my friends swear that they were professionaly developed. If you send them into shutterfly.com, you will NEVER be able to tell they were taken from a digital camera. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great all around digital camera that can do everything an SLR can do.
On: 2002-12-16
I bought this camera in April 2002 (right before I had my first baby). As of this month Dec 02, I have taken almost 3,000 pictures. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! Its small yet durable. I am a picture fanatic. I take a camera with me everywhere I go. Now, Ive become so dependant on this digital one, I dont even take another camera with me. The pictures turn out excellent and it is very quick and easy to download. The only problem I have had is keeping the battery charged. I bought an additional battery and think that it is definitely necessary (if you take lots of pictures). I even take my pictures in a medium resolution and they still turn out excellent. I usually fit over 200 photos on a 128 MB card. Well worth the money!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-06
I always read everyone elses reviews, but this is the first time Ive felt compelled to write one of my own. I am compelled because I absolutely LOVE this camera (Canon S30). I almost did not purchase it because the demo one at the local electronics store was pretty beat up and I wasnt sure it could handle all the possible dings that little items like this can suffer. Well, I swore I would keep it in its bubble wrap and case for as long as possible, especially after reading the review of the person who got the cracked LCD. So far, this camera has been to Tahoe, Norway and Korea and has not suffered one bit. Its very easy to use and very intuitive. The only ding I might give it, is sometimes when trying to navigate through the menus, the set button doesnt always work (maybe I have big fingers?). The pictures are fantastic. I am one who had a decent SLR camera, but never could get great pictures. I enjoy the speed at which it downloads to my computer. I also very much enjoy the panorama feature and how great the pictures look on my 22" monitor at work (yes, my boss spoils me!!). Definitely purchase another compact flash card for it (at least 128 mb). Anyway, Im not one to give recommendations normally, but if you buy this, you will not be sorry.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-03
the s30 is well built... very robust on the exterior... and performance has met all of my expectations... ive taken great pictures in auto mode... the manual controls (shutter speed and/or aperture) are great for those photos that the auto mode cant quite get right... flash is great... film isos of 50,100,200,400,800... night shots are terrific... 3x optical zoom... also got the canon i850 printer to go along with the s30 which produces perfect prints... there are more features that i didnt mention but i am one satisfied customer...
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-28
I found this camera to be all it was said to be regarding features. Picture clarity and movie clarity were very good. However, the camera is very heavy for a camera in this size range. I cant see it in a case on your belt walking around, and I believe most of us intend to carry our cameras around. I returned it in search of something lighter. If you are not concerned about weight, then this camera has everything you need.
On: 2002-11-27
I found this camera to be all it was said to be regarding features. Picture clarity and movie clarity were very good. However, the camera is very heavy for a camera in this size range. I cant see it in a case on your belt walking around, and I believe most of us intend to carry our cameras around. I returned it in search of something lighter. If you are not concerned about weight, then this camera has everything you need.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-26
I have this camera for like 3 months now. I love it so far other than the battery dies on you all the time and you have to recharge it if you dont have a spair. So if you do get this camera get anther battery or two it be woth it if you are somewhere when your battery goes down and cant recharge it when you need it most.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-20
The best 3.2 MP camera you can get for that price, can be used as point and shot, but this is not what it made for.Endless features are packed into this relatively small body, very high built quality, feels like a little brick, image quality is a full 10, I did print 8x11 images that are very hard to distinguish from film. If you have no patience to read its 144-page manual, dont bother, you are wasting your money, I got amazing results once I was able to master it, took me about one month.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-19
Just check out the majority of these reviews. There are very few complaints. This is a great camera. It is very technologically advanced--I have owned it for almost two months and have still not figured out all the features. The main thing I love is that it is so, so easy to hook it up to my computer and download freshly-taken pictures instantly.
One suggestion, buy the extra memory card (128--click on accessories link) when you order your camera so you can take an enormous amount of pictures at once and store them all on the card until you have the time to sit at your computer and download. I have never even used the included 16 card.
It comes with cables and software, as well as a wall charger for the battery and a small memory card. My battery has lasted a really long time so far. I am very impressed. The wall charger has a green indicator light on it that shows when your battery is charged. That is a very handy feature for those of us who are in a hurry and cannot keep track of how long we have a battery on a charger!
The quality of pictures is awesome! I bought the Canon photo printer for my computer. I can print directly from my camera without even powering up the ol HP! How great is that?!
I love the LCD screen. Now, I have not taken the little plastic cover off the screen, for fear that I might scratch it. However, if you spring for a camera bag or carrying case, I believe your fears of harming the screen can be put to ease.
Buy this camera if you are looking for a good, affordable digital camera well worth the money. It includes all the features most novices demand, like zoom, short movie making, auto focus, red-eye reduction, and automatic light sensoring for the flash.
Update: I wrote this review about two years ago and I still have the camera and still use it regularly. It is still in great condition. I still love it!
On: 2002-11-19
The best 3.2 MP camera you can get for that price, can be used as point and shot, but this is not what it made for.Endless features are packed into this relatively small body, very high built quality, feels like a little brick, image quality is a full 10, I did print 8x11 images that are very hard to distinguish from film. If you have no patience to read its 144-page manual, dont bother, you are wasting your money, I got amazing results once I was able to master it, took me about one month.
On: 2002-11-14
I bought this for a trip to Australia. Its beautiful, easy to use and produces high quality pictures. You will probably need a number of accessories, so you should consider their cost when making this purchase. (Same is true for other digital cameras.) My accessory suggestions:
1. You need more memory. I bought a 256MB flash memory card which was enough to store about 150 pictures.
2. You might consider getting a second battery if youre going to be using the camera much between charges.
3. You will need to buy a camera case. I bought it locally so I could find one that held my accessories comfortably and compactly.
4. I also bought an underwater housing for the camera. I took 50 or so photos while scuba diving on the GBR. Worked perfectly. If I had known, I would have rented a slave flash unit for even better underwater shots.
On: 2002-11-11
If youre looking for dozens of image, flash, zoom, and exposure settings, in a small package, youve got the right camera. The Canon Powershot S30 camera is clearly not a camera intended for photography professionals who want to take hundreds of pictures at different resolutions, want to play with the lighting and other effects, as well as have the ability to zoom into the object many times over. However, it is a complete package. The S30 offers features found in much larger cameras at twice the price for half the price at a much smaller size. The S30 is a compact camera, widely acknowledged as the best bang-for-your-buck camera in its size on the market. The S30 is virtually identical to its cousin the S40, with several minor differences. The S40 shoots at a slightly higher resolution, has one additional shooting mode, and is 4 megapixels as opposed to the S30s 3.2. However, the S40 is commonly found for over [$$$] more, and these features, in my opinion, are not worth the investment. The S30 shoots images at the maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, at a 3.2 Megapixel resolution. Similar cameras of similar sizes offered by competitors top off at around 2.1 Megapixels, without paying premium prices. The S30 offers thirteen different shooting modes, all of which can take advantage of its 3X optical or 10x digital zoom from the automatic, where the ISO speed, flash, and shutter speeds are calculated by the camera, to the movie mode, which can record up to 30 seconds of full-audio AVI film at 320x160 resolution, and approximately 20 frames per second. Other modes include portrait, speed, and slow modes. These can be used to shoot pictures of objects up close, where the foreground recieves more exposure than the background, as well as to capture objects, whether fast or slow, in motion with little blur (fast/slow shooting modes). The camera also allows you, with additional settings, to set the shutter speed, ISO settings (up to 800) and lighting setting with a touch of a button. The S30 accepts both Type 1 and Type 2 compactflash cards, including the IBM microdrive, which comes in sizes up to 1 GB - more than enough space to store approximately 600 pictures, shot at the maximum quality and size on the S30. Because of the cameras size, it might be expected that the battery, card, and all other "removable" parts would be hard to access and would require large fingernails. However, Canon has made a small slot on the bottom with several spring mechanisms which allow easy access for the card (when ejected) as well as the battery. The LCD is brilliant, and captures much of the color in the viewfinder. Upon moving the pictures to my computer, I found that they looked virtually identical in thumbnail form as they did at their maximum resolution. You can also set the LCD to turn off or on, in order to conserve battery power. Right out of the box, the camera is very easy to use. The on/off switch is built right into the lens cover, so simply popping in |
