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Canon PowerShot S1 IS 3.2 MP Digital Camera with 10x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 146
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 On: 2008-09-30
The lens mount trim ring was glued in place making it impossible to add an accessory lens, and possibly making service repairs more costly or impossible. This was not revealed in the description, and cost me shipping both ways to find out.
 On: 2008-04-24
I bought this camera way back in 2004. I took it on numerous trips, Thailand, Bombay and of course I used it at home as well...
It gave fantastic service, I took some really great photos all over. I had trouble iwth it once, when I had to take it into Canon repair for the pop up flash, which wouldnt pop up.
Apart from that, nary a complaint. (Being a novice photographer, I guess I wasnt too demanding to begin with).
About six months ago, the LCD/EVF conked off... I would get a haze and then later I would get a line and black screen. The first few weeks I was in denial. It cant happen to me etc. and then I was too busy to take it in for repair. I was to go on another overseas trip, so I finally decided to get the camera fixed and handed it into canon.
I was told, that the parts to fix are not being made any more. My first reaction as... oh crap.
BUT, they replaced this camera with Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP 12X FREE of charge.
Thank You Canon! I need to buy a Point and Shoot. No prizes for guessing, which brand of camera Im going for...
 On: 2008-03-14
I bought my S1 IS in 2005 from a brick & mortar store. It traveled across half the globe with me and took exceptional pictures. Often, I was amazed at the crispness and color of the pictures. I also LOVE the underwater case, and have used it in a few all-weather conditions (including sand). Sadly, near the end of 2007, my screen started getting purple lines across it. It seemed like a once in a while occurrence, but in Feb of this year, it completely blacked-out. Of course this had to happen one week before my son turned 1yo. I was an avid picture taker, from traveling, scenery and animals, to 3-20 pictures a day of the (almost) first year of my sons life.
I absolutely loved this camera. It was the PERFECT compromise between a simple point & shoot and a very expensive digital SLR. It takes amazing pictures, has a VERY strong flash (which is a little slow to recharge), and not too bulky. I will for sure buy the latest version after saving some money, since I already have the waterproof case. In the meantime, I am going to try-out an SD800.
Having been my first digital camera (I am a lover of old school SLRs, and really wanted a digital SLR, but didnt have $1K to shell out just for the body) I had no idea what a reasonable lifespan for these cameras should be. But I guess 2.5-3 years isnt very good. It is frustrating & reasuring that others have encountered the same problem with this model. However, I dont see the logic in paying for repairs when that could cost me close to the price of the camera itself (I think I paid around $350).
My S1 IS is severely missed... but hopefully soon upgraded :)
On: 2008-03-08
I purchased this camera in Oct 2004. In January 2008 the viewfinder went blank (dark) no picture. Before this, it had a few pictures with lines through them (distorted). I did not purchase this camera from Amazon. This camera worked great for me and took really good pictures, but I am very disappointed that it would break just a little over 3 years old. It should last longer than this. I carried it back to the store where I had purchased it, because I had the service plan. After 3 weeks, they called and told me they would do an exchange because they could not get the parts to fix it. I did like this camera but it is just a shame that it does not last long.
On: 2008-02-03
I bought this camera with my then-boyfriend to backpack across Europe with for the summer of 05, and it was, with a few exceptions, perfect for the situation. It was worth the extra 3 pounds given the options of the smaller point and shoots that year, especially with the 10x zoom. Our outdoor shots were phenomenal, and though its very tricky to get a good shot in low-light situations without a flash - which Im not really a fan of using - we got some very good shots at night and indoors. The 3.2 mp is deceivingly awesome as well, Ive been able to make beautiful poster-size prints out of many shots!! I wouldnt buy it again because there are more improved point-and-shoots available now, but there are some features that rival even the performance of some of todays cameras.
Ive heard of the fabled "E18 error" with these Canon models, and complaints of various problems from poor build quality, but this thing survived in top condition through being tossed around in our hiking backpacks for two months; trains, taxis, long treks on foot, camping, and even a moped tour. It took a fair amount of knocks without problems, and is still working great 2 1/2 years later.
My only complaints are the sluggish, sometimes 2-second delay response of its picture taking (which is helped by depressing the shutter button halfway to give time for the autofocus to figure things out), its less than awesome performance with action shots, and the aforementioned difficulty with low-light. Other than that, Im sorry that my ex-boyfriend got custody of it!
 On: 2008-01-09
Superb point and shoot camera, bright and colorful pictures, excelent movie mode (with zooming and sound), but on November 2007 begins with the "flickering lcd screen" and about a week later no image, no photo, no nada (nothing), i was able to review my taken photos and movies but i cant take new pictures, i was a victim of the infamous CCD problem for this model, you can read about it at :
http://www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html
there under the "Canon" section you can find this little Gem (what a pity and waste of money).
On: 2008-01-08
Superb point and shoot camera, bright and colorful pictures, excelent movie mode (with zooming and sound), but on November 2007 begins with the "flickering lcd screen" and about a week later no image, no photo, no nada (nothing), i was able to review my taken photos and movies but i cant take new pictures, i was a victim of the infamous CCD problem for this model, you can read about it at :
http://www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html
there under the "Canon" section you can find this little Gem (what a pity and waste of money).
 On: 2007-12-11
I purchased this camera for almost 500.00 about 2 years ago. After only 1 year it started giving me trouble, not wanting to power on and the flash gave me problems. I sent it in to Canon and they charged me 97.50 to fix that problem and 2 months after it was supposedly repaired it started giving me trouble again!! I hate this camera and I have been frustrated with it in the last year. I will NOT buy Canon camera again. I now have almost 600.00 tied up in this camera that worked only 1 year. All the 5 star reviews here are from customers who just purchased their camera, so it is hard to say whether this is a good camera when you have not owned it long. Give it some time and I will promise you, you will have problems with this camera.
It is NOT worth the money. It appears wonderful at first and of great quality on the outside but that is it, all the quality was invested on the outside to make you purchase it and they cut corners and got cheap when it came to the inside of the camera. Never judge a book by its cover because you will be less 600 bucks like I am and stuck with a camera that has been sent in for repair 2 times already and still not working.
On: 2007-12-10
I purchased this camera for almost 500.00 about 2 years ago. After only 1 year it started giving me trouble, not wanting to power on and the flash gave me problems. I sent it in to Canon and they charged me 97.50 to fix that problem and 2 months after it was supposedly repaired it started giving me trouble again!! I hate this camera and I have been frustrated with it in the last year. I will NOT buy Canon camera again. I now have almost 600.00 tied up in this camera that worked only 1 year. All the 5 star reviews here are from customers who just purchased their camera, so it is hard to say whether this is a good camera when you have not owned it long. Give it some time and I will promise you, you will have problems with this camera.
It is NOT worth the money. It appears wonderful at first and of great quality on the outside but that is it, all the quality was invested on the outside to make you purchase it and they cut corners and got cheap when it came to the inside of the camera. Never judge a book by its cover because you will be less 600 bucks like I am and stuck with a camera that has been sent in for repair 2 times already and still not working.
On: 2007-11-15
I bought my 1st S1 in September of 2005, and had great luck with it. Took lots and lots of pictures of my foster dogs, and was even able to zoom in on them for close-ups when they were clear out in the corner of the back yard. However, the LCD screen completely died on it after about 10 months. I called Canon and they offered to send me a factory refurbished replacement for only $175.00, which I thought was a good deal. I got the replacement camera, and was very pleased with it, until about 11 months after I got it, the LCD screen quit working on it too. I am now looking at buying a Sony and staying away from Canon!
On: 2007-09-23
Canon S1 IS is a great camera and as promised by various digi cam review sites, it is good for people in the intermediate range, i.e. between rookie (point and shoot) and pro (SLR and costly lens). Overall performance is great, focus, pic quality, battery consumption, ergonomics etc.
Some people say it is bulky but remember what all it is capable of, so i dont mind it.
However there are 2 things that become an irritation overtime......
1] It takes ages to focus fast moving objects (like jumping Dolphins in Sea World or flying jets in an Air show). I have seen better performance in simple $120 worth digi cams!!
2] Within the 1st 2 months there were 5 dead pixels (now it is 8 months since I bought the camera - no new dead pixels).
On: 2007-08-19
The S1 is the only camera I could find with a fairly high power zoom that also has a waterproof box which can be bought separately (no, it does not fit the S3). Although the retail price is a bit steep, I found a used camera with cleaning kit, filters, 3x lens, wide angle lens, etc. I ended up paying nearly $500 but I have a very versatile camera which I dont plan to replace for a long time. 3.2 mp works fine up to printer size paper. 2500 mah nimh batteries last plenty long enough and custom white blanking allows impressive low light pictures. I mostly use the auto setting because I still havent explored all of the features explained in the manual.
On: 2007-06-01
Ive had this camera for more than 2 years and Im ready to upgrade to the s3 version although this camera is still working great after years of moderate-heavy use as our "family camera". Although the size isnt all that convenient, its fantastic movie mode means you can sell your camcorder. I have a professional Canon that I use in my wedding business, but this is in the bag for a backup situations and short video clips. If you practice in the creative modes, adjusting white balance, ect, not only will you get better, more creative photos-making this easy to use camera fun for an amateur photographer- youll overcome the low-light situation mentioned in other reviews. Also I have lots of great photos from family trips taken in dark caves, around campfires and Disney at night. Just read the manual and use the right mode for the situation. A common mistake is using the portrait at night mode instead of the action at night in the auto modes.
On: 2007-04-22
VERY sensitive to cold weather. Pouts and does not put its lens out if left in the JEEP overnight in Montana even if its spring and theres only a light flurry that evening. I was just getting everything set perfectly (yes, its taken me 4 years) when the lens quit extending. It is now a paperweight or doorknob art. It does still read cards...a plus, for door knob art, I think. I saw one person whose camera didnt work for them in the winter very well at all, mine worked fine while dog sledding and other great times in Montana and this camera moved from Florida all at once.
Shooting it fully automatic as you would with a cheap compact, you miss out on many of the features, not to mention: many good photos from dawn through a dimly lit club in the wee hours~~all without flash. If you can read the manual, you can work this camera, which has ways to personalize settings without worries as you can always "return to default" without concern.
Mine enjoyed over exposing when running free on fully automatic in full on daylight. I wish it would had been better at identifying moving targets and selecting shorter exposures, even in rapid mode.
These problems aside, the camera itself is capable of very good photos. Be advised, this could be a point and shoot, but to get the photos that you really want, decisions must be made! I dont believe this is for the casual photographer that is only interested in point-and-shoot. A feel for the basic photography concepts: using aperture or timing priority or fully manual; knowing what effects ISO and exposure compensation, etc. These will all be explained enough in the manual for you to operate the camera enough to enjoy it, I think. If you know how to use Picasa, the simplest way to add UV filter, I think, you dont even need to buy the proprietary click in version to actually place on the camera to make your photos look more appealing and professional. Go to go to Irish Gypsys my space page to see photos ALL taken with this camera.
I strongly recommend spending a few hours with the advanced manual and the camera and learning properly how the exposure, white balance and focus controls work. It will really pay off! What you see on the approximately 1 knuckle length wide by about 1.5 knuckle long display screen will be what you get. Though it is difficult to see the itsy bitsy screen in bright daylight, this camera really shines in dim light with help from things like white balance to make sure you dont get the false sepia tone that makes things look so awful in dim light photos and Image Stabilizer mode, which I used even on the tripod, in case I forgot to turn it back on. Either way, this camera ate batteries like a bear on huckleberries. My battery recharger is worn out!! Ill be replacing the camera and the recharge.
All in all, worth the cost of purchasing the camera as a first digital camera. It is bulky, and I did miss out on some great shots because I didnt feel like hauling the camera with me on some particular excursion. I hope my replacement will take shots as nicely.
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May I say that I purchased this through here and Amazon does a DARN fine job!!
On: 2007-03-17
Thats all you need in a simple camera.
Compact Flash (the cheapest), NiMH AA batteries (idem), 10x optical zoom.
Just missing a macro but, ...
On: 2007-03-06
The size isnt very convenient compared to the compact digitals, and the viewing screen is too small.
On: 2007-03-05
The size isnt very convenient compared to the compact digitals, and the viewing screen is too small.
On: 2007-01-06
Well, I did it. I finally bought a digital camera. Dont tell anyone, but I didnt buy it here.
The Canon S1IS has gone a lot of places with me, and has always done exactly what I want it to, flawlessly. It has gone to the ocean, the bowling alley, on numerous hikes, to Burning Man, to the mountains, to work..and has performed like a pro.
To me, the controls are laid out very logically, and it is easy for me to turn off the flash when I want to take a night shot.
After a few days with the manual, and using the camera regularly, the menu options became familiar.
For those of us who like self portraiture, the LCD screen that swivels and turns around all the way is perfect, as you can set up your self portrait easily.
I love the black and white and sepia modes too.
Taking video with this Canon, even at night, is easy. The only hitch I have seen is that you cannot zoom in very close, otherwise the camera cannot possibly keep up with keeping the video in focus...this is easily solved with my tripod.
To sum up: I am SO glad I bought this camera as my first digital. It is perfect for me, and we are very happy together. Now I am eyeing a smaller Canon that I can slip in my pocket. But sssshhhhh, dont tell my S1IS.
On: 2007-01-05
Well, I did it. I finally bought a digital camera. Dont tell anyone, but I didnt buy it here.
The Canon S1IS has gone a lot of places with me, and has always done exactly what I want it to, flawlessly. It has gone to the ocean, the bowling alley, on numerous hikes, to Burning Man, to the mountains, to work..and has performed like a pro.
To me, the controls are laid out very logically, and it is easy for me to turn off the flash when I want to take a night shot.
After a few days with the manual, and using the camera regularly, the menu options became familiar.
For those of us who like self portraiture, the LCD screen that swivels and turns around all the way is perfect, as you can set up your self portrait easily.
I love the black and white and sepia modes too.
Taking video with this Canon, even at night, is easy. The only hitch I have seen is that you cannot zoom in very close, otherwise the camera cannot possibly keep up with keeping the video in focus...this is easily solved with my tripod.
To sum up: I am SO glad I bought this camera as my first digital. It is perfect for me, and we are very happy together. Now I am eyeing a smaller Canon that I can slip in my pocket. But sssshhhhh, dont tell my S1IS.
On: 2007-01-04
This camera has a good response time, nice picture quality (as you would expect from a canon), excellent battery life (i use 2500 mAH rechargeable batteries). Low light performance is very good too.
On: 2006-09-01
I bought this camera last year and returned it after about two weeks. In some reviews I had read, people mentioned how great it is at outdoor photos but that indoor/dim photos are not the best but I decided to ignore the second part. Most of my photo-ops are inside and none of the pictures I took turned out so great. Just thought I would do a quick warning because I was pretty bummed when I loaded up my pictures onto the computer and saw how poorly they had come out.
On: 2006-07-12
I love this camera it has enough features to keep you amazed even after 2 years of use like me.
I just found out that i can use the software to control the camera ...WOW
Also dont let the 3.2 MP fool you the image quality is great.
The zoom is also awsome.
I just had mine repaird as it had a optics problem i sent it into canon for repair and after a $100 repair bill :( i got it back good as new ... My next camera will definatly be a canon.
On: 2006-07-11
I love this camera it has enough features to keep you amazed even after 2 years of use like me.
I just found out that i can use the software to control the camera ...WOW
Also dont let the 3.2 MP fool you the image quality is great.
The zoom is also awsome.
I just had mine repaird as it had a optics problem i sent it into canon for repair and after a $100 repair bill :( i got it back good as new ... My next camera will definatly be a canon.
On: 2006-06-23
I bought this camera last year Im very satisfied whit it, its incredible the resolution and good color, saturation and quality of pictures, you must be atention with low light condition but the rest its a great camera very sofisticated and when I have more money I will buy the S2.
On: 2006-06-22
I bought this camera last year Im very satisfied whit it, its incredible the resolution and good color, saturation and quality of pictures, you must be atention with low light condition but the rest its a great camera very sofisticated and when I have more money I will buy the S2.
On: 2006-06-10
If you want a nice camera that works well for 15 months, then look no further. But mine died completely and is headed for the electronic recycling bin. I didnt realize I was getting a disposable when I bought it.
On: 2006-06-09
If you want a nice camera that works well for 15 months, then look no further. But mine died completely and is headed for the electronic recycling bin. I didnt realize I was getting a disposable when I bought it.
On: 2006-05-09
I have had this camera for about 2 years now. Before I bought this camera I had a smaller camera with a 3x zoom. I didnt really miss the zoom option on my previous camera but now that I have the 10x zoom on the PowerShot S1 Im not sure how I could live without it in the past. The camera takes good pictures and it is easy to operate. You can use the predefined modes if you want to..or you can adjust a lot of stuff manually if you are into that :-) The only problems with this camera is size and the lens cap. It is "big" and bulky...no, it is not as big as a SLR camera but it is still a bit to bit to stick in your pocket when you are going out on a Friday night. The camera lens keeps falling of all the time and it is not a big problem but from time to time the lens gets dirty due to this problem. I have posted lots of pictures taken with this camera on my homepage (check the profile). All the pictures from the NYC trip and until today is taken with the camera.
Conclusion: I would not hesitate to recommend the PowerShot S1 (or the new S2) to people I know :-)
On: 2006-04-09
I bought this camera about a year ago to replace an Olympus Camedia C-750 (which was stolen). The camera has exceeded my expectations and is better than the Olympus is many respects.
a) The Canon S1 has a much better video mode that records in 2 modes (hi and low resolution) with great sound. Even in low resolution, the video looks good. I can also frame the video by zooming in and out since the 10 times zoom works great while in video mode.
b) The stabilizer is great. I have a technique that I use to capture quick shots using only one hand (eg, when skiing or when driving). Ill set the film speed to the highest (ISO 400). I then set it to shutter priority mode (Tv in this camera), and set the shutter at a fast speed--1/400 second or so). I just hold and aim the camera, holding it with one hand, in the general direction of the action I want to capture, without looking into the view finder to focus, and snap away. The cameras auto focusing unit is fast enough that Ive captured very good shots that I would not have been able to capture any other way.
The Olympus may have slightly better color and resolution than this camera but not really noticeable in any way that counts (to me at least).
Ive taken this camera on multiple vacations (bryce and zion canyons in Utah, skiing at Sugarbush and Killington) and it has performed admirably even when I was taking pics in a snow storm (in Sugarbush). Ive fallen hard multiple times with the camera in my backpack while attempting moguls on Outer Limits in Killington and its still working great (better than my knee).
Some reviewer mentioned that it came with Photoshop software, but thats not correct. It also does not work in Raw mode, but that is not important to me.
For a $250 camera (thats what I paid on Amazon), you cant beat it with a stick.
On: 2006-04-01
I bought this camera particularly for the 10x zoom, but I didnt realize that it would have so much trouble focusing at short range. The zoom is very good for outdoor (nature, sport) photography, but if you plan to take photos of small objects at close range, all the manipulation of light, white balance, shutter or aperture settings will not overcome its inherent inability to focus at short distance (or in low light).
There was a bit of a slow learning curve for me, as a first-time Canon owner, with its layers of menus and options but once learned they are rather easy to use. Unforunately I learned the camera doesnt meet my needs. However, for snapshots, for fast-moving targets (particularly in day-light or with flash), it works quite well.
It feels good in the hand, like an old-type SLR. The shutter release is in a comfortable spot, though some menu buttons can too easily be pressed by your palm. Note that its fairly heavy - I like it the feel, but it isnt the forget-its-in-your-pocket/purse variety.
For me, for all it does it doesnt do what I want it to. I find the camera excels at snapshots - for which I wouldnt have bought a 10x zoom. I am realizing, as well, that 3.2 megapixels renders computer-resizing difficult (again, small objects), as too much detail is lost. I think more megapixels, macro, and less zoom would probably work out better. Since the lens--if you havent bought its second lens--only goes as wide as 35mm., I see this as either a camera for snapshots or a specialized camera for those taking photos from afar or of/from moving objects. The image stabilizing feature works especially well.
Overall: It has a lot of bang, but not the right combination of bang, for the buck.
On: 2006-03-31
I bought this camera particularly for the 10x zoom, but I didnt realize that it would have so much trouble focusing at short range. The zoom is very good for outdoor (nature, sport) photography, but if you plan to take photos of small objects at close range, all the manipulation of light, white balance, shutter or aperture settings will not overcome its inherent inability to focus at short distance (or in low light).
There was a bit of a slow learning curve for me, as a first-time Canon owner, with its layers of menus and options but once learned they are rather easy to use. Unforunately I learned the camera doesnt meet my needs. However, for snapshots, for fast-moving targets (particularly in day-light or with flash), it works quite well.
It feels good in the hand, like an old-type SLR. The shutter release is in a comfortable spot, though some menu buttons can too easily be pressed by your palm. Note that its fairly heavy - I like it the feel, but it isnt the forget-its-in-your-pocket/purse variety.
For me, for all it does it doesnt do what I want it to. I find the camera excels at snapshots - for which I wouldnt have bought a 10x zoom. I am realizing, as well, that 3.2 megapixels renders computer-resizing difficult (again, small objects), as too much detail is lost. I think more megapixels, macro, and less zoom would probably work out better. Since the lens--if you havent bought its second lens--only goes as wide as 35mm., I see this as either a camera for snapshots or a specialized camera for those taking photos from afar or of/from moving objects. The image stabilizing feature works especially well.
Overall: It has a lot of bang, but not the right combination of bang, for the buck.
by: ksu93 On: 2005-12-31
I think just about everything that can be said about this camera has already been said in other reviews, so Ill just add my four stars to the mix by saying that Ive had this camera for about a year and a half and that it has served me very well on trips all over the world as well as closer to home. It takes excellent photos with vibrant color, and of course the 10x zoom is wonderful. There is only one reason why I did not give it five stars, that being that it does not perform well (or at all) in low-light situations. My first digital camera was an Olympus C2100 (also a 10x zoom lens), and it took absolutely outstanding low-light photos. Otherwise the S1 IS is excellent.
On: 2005-12-13
This was my first digital camera, so Im a novice to all this, but I have to say, I love this camera. Its an SLR styled camera, but its small enough for you to want to take it everywhere. It takes great pictures with amazing color. Dont like color? Theres a mode so that you can shoot black and white or sepia. The menu is fairly easy to learn. Though the viewfinder shows a little less than whats actually in the picture, you can see everything that you would on the LCD.
Sure the LCDs a little small, but this was my first digital camera, so what do I care? It looks fine to me. Focusing in low light is a problem, but once Im fully comfortable with the automatic parts, Ill start messing more with the manual focus.
This is a great camera even for starters as it offers easy auto shooting, but is intuitive enough to learn on, and to grow to use its full capabiltities.
On: 2005-12-11
large but not too heavy. main problem is slow speed of photo after hitting button. zoom way too fast for me, making middle positions very difficult. good pictures but fast zoom is a big problem and slow picture taking is very poor.
On: 2005-12-10
large but not too heavy. main problem is slow speed of photo after hitting button. zoom way too fast for me, making middle positions very difficult. good pictures but fast zoom is a big problem and slow picture taking is very poor.
On: 2005-12-03
This was my 3rd Canon digicam. I was aware that it would not handle low light well (and its idea of low light is my idea of medium, but oh, well....) but was willing to deal with its limitations because of my previous experience with the brand.
A year and a half after I bought it, in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos islands, the flash door popped up and would never shut again. This is annoying, but not impossible to live with. However, since then I have found that the batteries, whether I am using the camera or not, are completely drained in only a few days.
Canon charges a huge amount to even send the camera in for diagnosis, making the whole situation cost-prohibitive.
Since this model is no longer in production, this posting may be moot. But I do know that I wont be replacing it with the S2....
On: 2005-12-02
This was my 3rd Canon digicam. I was aware that it would not handle low light well (and its idea of low light is my idea of medium, but oh, well....) but was willing to deal with its limitations because of my previous experience with the brand.
A year and a half after I bought it, in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos islands, the flash door popped up and would never shut again. This is annoying, but not impossible to live with. However, since then I have found that the batteries, whether I am using the camera or not, are completely drained in only a few days.
Canon charges a huge amount to even send the camera in for diagnosis, making the whole situation cost-prohibitive.
Since this model is no longer in production, this posting may be moot. But I do know that I wont be replacing it with the S2....
On: 2005-11-30
My pro tools Is the worst company I have ever delt with.... I have the chip I prdered from Amazon they are wonderful but My Pro tools has not let me know my tracking number or anything... They promise the moon and you get bupcuss... I cant even rate the item because I am still waiting and I orderded a new camera and it better not be used!!!!!! I had to put a rating in for a camera I have yet to receive but I wanted to let everyone know not to deal with MY Pro Tools
On: 2005-11-27
This camera is a good deal for the price. You get a lot of features. However, focusing in lower light seems to be a challenge. Also, in video mode the focusing is always adjusting. The zoom is great and otherwise the videos are great. Pictures are excellent quality. Would buy again because of all you get at this price.
On: 2005-11-09
I bought the Powershot S1 IS in Oct. 2005 to replace my Canon T70 film camera. I really like this camera, and here is why:
1) It has an "Auto" mode so that my wife and kids can use it without worrying about flash, f-stops and shutter speeds. OK, almost all digitals do this. ;-)
2) But, you can change to Program AE, Tv, Av or fully manual mode. Now were talkin! Im all for point and shoot ease when it comes to family snapshots, but sometimes I like to get creative with a sunset, moonrise, night shot, fill-flash, silhouette, etc. and this camera can handle it. Its got up to a 15-second shutter, which is longer than many in this class.
3) You can add narration comments to photos, which I find handy when documenting something that the picture alone does not explain. Like, I do genealogy photos so I want to say who lived there or whose grave marker that was, or whatever. You can download the comments to the computer as a WAV file as well. Its like taking notes while youre recording the scene.
4) Movie mode is *almost* a replacement for my Sony Digital8 camcorder. Other than the camcorder recording in stereo and having better low-light sensitivity, the Powershot S1 can handle most of what I use a camcorder for. Image stabilization and zoom while recording are bonuses in this camera class.
5) No lens swapping any more. With the 10x zoom from 38mm to 380mm, theres no need to carry any lenses with it, although you can get a wider wide angle and a longer telephoto, but why? If youre that into photography, you should be looking at digital SLRs anyway.
6) Vari-angle LCD makes it so much easier to get an angle that you cant when the LCD is attached. Shoot over your head, from your feet, around a corner... not many cameras in this class can do that.
7) Stitch Assist mode. OK, this was a feature I liked in particular that you may not care about. But I like to take panoramas, and with the T70, I was guessing how much overlap I had, what the exposure should be for each shot, etc. With the Powershot S1, it locks in white balance and exposure on the first frame, then shows you 1/3 of the last frame in the next shot so you can line them up. I can do hand-held panoramas all day! :-)
OK, so there were a few negatives that Ill share too:
1) Theres no hot shoe for my Vivitar flash, although you can buy a Canon flash unit for this model. But I probably wont because I think the built-in ~15 ft. flash range will be all I need.
2) Speaking of that... flash pictures that you take from about 5 feet and closer seem to be washed out in the highlights. That may be because the sensor is reading the dark background and overcompensating. But you can manually adjust the flash power, which I set to about 1/4 on the scale and that seems to cure the problem for close ups.
3) A low-light focusing lamp would help. I had some trouble on Halloween eve focusing outdoors with natural light.
4) I think I like the pre-flash type of red-eye reduction rather than the little LED light thats on this camera. It doesnt seem to take care of red-eye in all cases (like when people are not looking directly at the camera), but it works OK in most cases.
I believe the newer Powershot S2 takes care of some of these issues, but then again, its almost 2x as expensive at this point in time.
When you buy this camera, you will need a case and a memory card for it. I bought the Tamrac 5693 Digital 3 Bag here on Amazon, which fits the S1, an extra set of batteries, an extra memory card, and the cameras video cable. Ive heard that the Canon PSC-70 bag is on the small side for this camera. The memory card I bought (here on Amazon again) was the SanDisk SDCFH-512-901 512MB Ultra II CompactFlash Card, which has plenty of space for what I need and is a pretty fast card.
One other thing youll probably want to buy is some NiMH batteries. I didnt have a charger either, so I bought a package of 8 2500ma Energizer batteries and a nice Powerex MH-C204W charger for about $50 at [...]
I came away with this whole setup for about $375, which I think was a great deal and well worth the convenience and quality that I got. I considered the Panazsonic Lumix DMC-FZ4 too, but I liked the Canon features and the fact that it used cheaper AA batteries and CF card. So the big 35mm bag sits in my closet now and this little camera goes everywhere with me.
On: 2005-11-09
Ive had the S1 IS for about 6 months now and I am very happy with the camera.
Positives: Very easy to use; awesome video quality + sound; good picture quality; image stabilization feature seems to work well; nice variety of shooting modes; 10X optical zoom will spoil you; omni positional screen will become a must have for future cameras.
Negatives: 3.2 MP is OK, but more is always better, especially if you are going to blow up and/or crop your shots; macro mode would be nice; sometimes camera seems to search too long in mid to low light in auto mode - picture quality can suffer.
Ive not yet explored even half of the cameras features. Ive been very happy shooting stills mostly in auto mode and video. Camera can do a lot more if you ask it to.
Id definitely recommend this camera, or the S2 if you want to spend a bit more for more MPs and other features. I added a 1 GB flash card and two sets of rechargeable batters, neither of which I could do without. Youll need at least a 500MB card if you plan to shoot much video.
On: 2005-11-09
I have had to return two of these. Not sure if the remaining stock is bad, but make sure you put the camera through its paces in the first 30 days so if there is a problem you can return. For the record Amazon has been VERY cooperative with this situation, VERY IMPRESSED with Amazon, Very UNIMPRESSED with the camera-
On: 2005-11-08
I bought the Powershot S1 IS in Oct. 2005 to replace my Canon T70 film camera. I really like this camera, and here is why:
1) It has an "Auto" mode so that my wife and kids can use it without worrying about flash, f-stops and shutter speeds. OK, almost all digitals do this. ;-)
2) But, you can change to Program AE, Tv, Av or fully manual mode. Now were talkin! Im all for point and shoot ease when it comes to family snapshots, but sometimes I like to get creative with a sunset, moonrise, night shot, fill-flash, silhouette, etc. and this camera can handle it. Its got up to a 15-second shutter, which is longer than many in this class.
3) You can add narration comments to photos, which I find handy when documenting something that the picture alone does not explain. Like, I do genealogy photos so I want to say who lived there or whose grave marker that was, or whatever. You can download the comments to the computer as a WAV file as well. Its like taking notes while youre recording the scene.
4) Movie mode is *almost* a replacement for my Sony Digital8 camcorder. Other than the camcorder recording in stereo and having better low-light sensitivity, the Powershot S1 can handle most of what I use a camcorder for. Image stabilization and zoom while recording are bonuses in this camera class.
5) No lens swapping any more. With the 10x zoom from 38mm to 380mm, theres no need to carry any lenses with it, although you can get a wider wide angle and a longer telephoto, but why? If youre that into photography, you should be looking at digital SLRs anyway.
6) Vari-angle LCD makes it so much easier to get an angle that you cant when the LCD is attached. Shoot over your head, from your feet, around a corner... not many cameras in this class can do that.
7) Stitch Assist mode. OK, this was a feature I liked in particular that you may not care about. But I like to take panoramas, and with the T70, I was guessing how much overlap I had, what the exposure should be for each shot, etc. With the Powershot S1, it locks in white balance and exposure on the first frame, then shows you 1/3 of the last frame in the next shot so you can line them up. I can do hand-held panoramas all day! :-)
OK, so there were a few negatives that Ill share too:
1) Theres no hot shoe for my Vivitar flash, although you can buy a Canon flash unit for this model. But I probably wont because I think the built-in ~15 ft. flash range will be all I need.
2) Speaking of that... flash pictures that you take from about 5 feet and closer seem to be washed out in the highlights. That may be because the sensor is reading the dark background and overcompensating. But you can manually adjust the flash power, which I set to about 1/4 on the scale and that seems to cure the problem for close ups.
3) A low-light focusing lamp would help. I had some trouble on Halloween eve focusing outdoors with natural light.
4) I think I like the pre-flash type of red-eye reduction rather than the little LED light thats on this camera. It doesnt seem to take care of red-eye in all cases (like when people are not looking directly at the camera), but it works OK in most cases.
I believe the newer Powershot S2 takes care of some of these issues, but then again, its almost 2x as expensive at this point in time.
When you buy this camera, you will need a case and a memory card for it. I bought the Tamrac 5693 Digital 3 Bag here on Amazon, which fits the S1, an extra set of batteries, an extra memory card, and the cameras video cable. Ive heard that the Canon PSC-70 bag is on the small side for this camera. The memory card I bought (here on Amazon again) was the SanDisk SDCFH-512-901 512MB Ultra II CompactFlash Card, which has plenty of space for what I need and is a pretty fast card.
One other thing youll probably want to buy is some NiMH batteries. I didnt have a charger either, so I bought a package of 8 2500ma Energizer batteries and a nice Powerex MH-C204W charger for about $50 at [...]
I came away with this whole setup for about $375, which I think was a great deal and well worth the convenience and quality that I got. I considered the Panazsonic Lumix DMC-FZ4 too, but I liked the Canon features and the fact that it used cheaper AA batteries and CF card. So the big 35mm bag sits in my closet now and this little camera goes everywhere with me.
On: 2005-11-02
We picked up this camera as a replacement for our lost Nikon Coolpix 3100. Wed been really happy with the 3100, and wed read a lot of professional reviews of available cameras before settling on this one. A lot of people liked it, so we figured it was a good bet for us.
At first, though, it was frustrating; the camera seemed to struggle with focus indoors, and we werent able to get it to take many good pictures. For the first half an hour, I wondered if it would just be better to return it and go for another camera.
However, thats first impression; and I was used to a little point and shoot camera. Once you get used to this one, though, you find that its much more capable; and the problems it has are mostly things you can get around.
Firstly, the focus in low light. There are a number of ways around it - firstly, the manual focus combines with the autofocus pretty well. I was able to get some pretty sharp results out of this the very first time I tried it, using the camera at full zoom in not great lighting. Secondly, you can use some of the little camera tips (focusing on similar-distance objects that the camera can pick out better - a little backward as a solution, but it works pretty well) and finally, because the camera lets you configure a custom shooting mode yourself, you can set up a hyperfocus mode. A lot of people using this camera have found that a decent hyperfocus setting all but wipes out the cameras struggles with focusing in low-light, allowing it to work well as an indoor point-and-shoot camera.
The next issue is the screen size - but honestly, I dont have a problem with it at all, probably because its the same size as our old camera had. On top of that, the screen is a decent resolution, its clear and much brighter than the screen on our old camera, and the fact that you can tilt and flip it means you can take pictures from just about any angle or position you can dream of. If you want to take a picture with the camera close to the ground, just flip the screen out and angle it upwards; and if you want to take pictures of yourself, flip the screen around. No more guesswork, and no more pulled muscles and twisted necks trying to take tricky pictures!
The other features add together to make this camera wonderful, especially at the price. The video mode is great - 30 frames a second, 640 by 480 pixels with good sound recording to boot, though youll want a fast memory card to use it, and the video clips come out as fairly hefty AVI files. The 10x zoom is nice to have too - you can take pictures you were never able to before. Image stabilization, too, works a treat - and the battery life is wonderful.
Basically, this camera has traded megapixel resolution for features and versatility, and I think its more than worth it. 3.2mp seems small in todays market, but its still a good resolution; far more than is needed for web pictures, and plenty to produce crisp 5x7" prints. And with the other features that this camera has, the pictures youll be able to take will simply be better than those you could have taken with a higher mp, but less capable camera.
In the end, its a little less accessible than the simpler point-and-shoot cameras at first, but its very rewarding once you get to grips with it. Definitely worth getting, and definitely worth sticking with.
(Update - after almost a year of use, we still really like this camera. Its quality for general photography is great, and the quality of videoclips it can takes are more than good enough to put onto a DVD. However, weve missed the quick response of our old little camera sometimes - there are certain situations where our old Nikon was faster and much easier to handle, and for very close-up photography, the lack of resolution means youre a little limited. But as an all-round camera, its still been a great one, and still deserving the full five stars for the price.)
On: 2005-11-02
i love the way this camera feels in my hands: like a real SLR camera. its also got enough weight that i dont feel like its going to blow away with the slightest breeze. its just a tad on the large side, not really fitting into a pocket, but it fits alright into an average sized purse. the options for additional acessories are wonderful, including extra lenses and a waterproof case. the LCD screen is incredibly cool. when not using the camera, the screen protects itself from unwatned fingerprints or dust, but when you want to use it, it flips out, turns around (which allows you to take pictures of yourself and friends if no one is there to hold the camera) but once turned around, the screen also flips back in, allowing you to use it as you would any old screen. (that might just be my favorite feature--its the little things). this was one of consumer reports favorites for people who like to shoot snapshots, but also occasionally like to get a little creative, and that fit me to a tee. although pricey, i feel like this camera is worth every penny.
On: 2005-11-01
We picked up this camera as a replacement for our lost Nikon Coolpix 3100. Wed been really happy with the 3100, and wed read a lot of professional reviews of available cameras before settling on this one. A lot of people liked it, so we figured it was a good bet for us.
At first, though, it was frustrating; the camera seemed to struggle with focus indoors, and we werent able to get it to take many good pictures. For the first half an hour, I wondered if it would just be better to return it and go for another camera.
However, thats first impression; and I was used to a little point and shoot camera. Once you get used to this one, though, you find that its much more capable; and the problems it has are mostly things you can get around.
Firstly, the focus in low light. There are a number of ways around it - firstly, the manual focus combines with the autofocus pretty well. I was able to get some pretty sharp results out of this the very first time I tried it, using the camera at full zoom in not great lighting. Secondly, you can use some of the little camera tips (focusing on similar-distance objects that the camera can pick out better - a little backward as a solution, but it works pretty well) and finally, because the camera lets you configure a custom shooting mode yourself, you can set up a hyperfocus mode. A lot of people using this camera have found that a decent hyperfocus setting all but wipes out the cameras struggles with focusing in low-light, allowing it to work well as an indoor point-and-shoot camera.
The next issue is the screen size - but honestly, I dont have a problem with it at all, probably because its the same size as our old camera had. On top of that, the screen is a decent resolution, its clear and much brighter than the screen on our old camera, and the fact that you can tilt and flip it means you can take pictures from just about any angle or position you can dream of. If you want to take a picture with the camera close to the ground, just flip the screen out and angle it upwards; and if you want to take pictures of yourself, flip the screen around. No more guesswork, and no more pulled muscles and twisted necks trying to take tricky pictures!
The other features add together to make this camera wonderful, especially at the price. The video mode is great - 30 frames a second, 640 by 480 pixels with good sound recording to boot, though youll want a fast memory card to use it, and the video clips come out as fairly hefty AVI files. The 10x zoom is nice to have too - you can take pictures you were never able to before. Image stabilization, too, works a treat - and the battery life is wonderful.
Basically, this camera has traded megapixel resolution for features and versatility, and I think its more than worth it. 3.2mp seems small in todays market, but its still a good resolution; far more than is needed for web pictures, and plenty to produce crisp 5x7" prints. And with the other features that this camera has, the pictures youll be able to take will simply be better than those you could have taken with a higher mp, but less capable camera.
In the end, its a little less accessible than the simpler point-and-shoot cameras at first, but its very rewarding once you get to grips with it. Definitely worth getting, and definitely worth sticking with.
(Update - after almost a year of use, we still really like this camera. Its quality for general photography is great, and the quality of videoclips it can takes are more than good enough to put onto a DVD. However, weve missed the quick response of our old little camera sometimes - there are certain situations where our old Nikon was faster and much easier to handle, and for very close-up photography, the lack of resolution means youre a little limited. But as an all-round camera, its still been a great one, and still deserving the full five stars for the price.)
On: 2005-10-23
This is a great camera. I bought it just prior to a trip to Russia and quickly learned its many features. I continued to learn about more features as I used it on this trip. Great photos and easy to use 10X zoom allowed me to capture all the sights with little or no training. I bought a SanDisk 512 memory card and can record several hundred photos. I reviewed my photos at the end of each day and deleted the poor shots from the camera. I also bought a ($14) camera bag, 4 rechargeable AA batteries with charger ($10) at Walmart that works great. I use Picasa2, free photo edit software, abd now I am good-to-go. You will love this camera. I previously used a Epson PC600 digital camera $600 and there is no comparison - this camera MUCH better, but 6 years has elapsed.
Luck,
Vince LaPorte
Marshall, MN
On: 2005-10-22
This was my first digitel camerea.After an hour of not getting it to work,I finally changed the batteries.The sealed batteries that came with the unit were dead.Then it wouldnt down load for more than a day at a time,then my printer wouldnt print for more than a day.Finally after a week of wrestling with everything I gave up .Upon un -installing all cannon softwere it also took down my D files.Fortunately I remembered "RESTORE"and got everything back to normal.It seems there was a glitch in either the camera or the softwere.
I will try again but with a Kodak instead.
On: 2005-10-22
This is a great camera. I bought it just prior to a trip to Russia and quickly learned its many features. I continued to learn about more features as I used it on this trip. Great photos and easy to use 10X zoom allowed me to capture all the sights with little or no training. I bought a SanDisk 512 memory card and can record several hundred photos. I reviewed my photos at the end of each day and deleted the poor shots from the camera. I also bought a ($14) camera bag, 4 rechargeable AA batteries with charger ($10) at Walmart that works great. I use Picasa2, free photo edit software, abd now I am good-to-go. You will love this camera. I previously used a Epson PC600 digital camera $600 and there is no comparison - this camera MUCH better, but 6 years has elapsed.
Luck,
Vince LaPorte
Marshall, MN
On: 2005-10-21
This was my first digitel camerea.After an hour of not getting it to work,I finally changed the batteries.The sealed batteries that came with the unit were dead.Then it wouldnt down load for more than a day at a time,then my printer wouldnt print for more than a day.Finally after a week of wrestling with everything I gave up .Upon un -installing all cannon softwere it also took down my D files.Fortunately I remembered "RESTORE"and got everything back to normal.It seems there was a glitch in either the camera or the softwere.
I will try again but with a Kodak instead.
On: 2005-10-19
This camera has been a lot of fun. The flip screen is very convenient. The flash and zoom is incredible. However, this camera is rather bulky and almost impossible to put in a purse. This camera is worth its money.
On: 2005-10-19
The Canon S1 IS Powershot is an easy to use point and shoot camera with plenty of capabilities that I have yet to master.
The zoom (10x optical, 32x digital)is fantastic, I have taken quite good pictures of the moon and some landscapes. Image stabilization is also a great feature that will help with long zooms and low light conditions, although it wont work sometimes properly for full moon shots or very intense sources of light.
The function buttons on the camera are well placed (ergonomic)
The LCD monitor, although smaller (1.5 inches) than in other digital cameras swivels and you can flip it around and keep it closed for protection when not in use.
The Canon Powershot S1 IS only has 3.2 megapixels, but as other reviewers have said this is compensated by the 10x optical zoom (38-380mm in a 35mm equivalent)
The camera includes a 32MB Compact Flash memory card-not internal memory- and uses 4 AA alkaline batteries. Regarding this two aspects I recommend to get a bigger compact flash memory card (at least 128MB, 256MB desirable) and rechargable batteries since common AA alkaline batteries will not last long (no more than 30-40 shots)
Despite its minor limitations this camera with plenty of functions will help you to take great portraits, landscapes, night shots, sports, ( with a powerful zoom, and an image stabilizer.) With its superb optics the Canon S1 IS Powershot Camera is a great buy, so if you are a casual photographer on a budget that want to take great pictures, this is the camera for you.
On: 2005-10-18
The Canon S1 IS Powershot is an easy to use point and shoot camera with plenty of capabilities that I have yet to master.
The zoom (10x optical, 32x digital)is fantastic, I have taken quite good pictures of the moon and some landscapes. Image stabilization is also a great feature that will help with long zooms and low light conditions, although it wont work sometimes properly for full moon shots or very intense sources of light.
The function buttons on the camera are well placed (ergonomic)
The LCD monitor, although smaller (1.5 inches) than in other digital cameras swivels and you can flip it around and keep it closed for protection when not in use.
The Canon Powershot S1 IS only has 3.2 megapixels, but as other reviewers have said this is compensated by the 10x optical zoom (38-380mm in a 35mm equivalent)
The camera includes a 32MB Compact Flash memory card-not internal memory- and uses 4 AA alkaline batteries. Regarding this two aspects I recommend to get a bigger compact flash memory card (at least 128MB, 256MB desirable) and rechargable batteries since common AA alkaline batteries will not last long (no more than 30-40 shots)
Despite its minor limitations this camera with plenty of functions will help you to take great portraits, landscapes, night shots, sports, ( with a powerful zoom, and an image stabilizer.) With its superb optics the Canon S1 IS Powershot Camera is a great buy, so if you are a casual photographer on a budget that want to take great pictures, this is the camera for you.
On: 2005-10-11
Still need to learn how to use it; but simple trials gave quite good results.
On: 2005-10-10
The size of this product isnt quite as huge as youd like to believe, its just about 3/4 the size of a CD. Its not very heavy until the batteries go in but its pretty much worth it. Its not something youd want to do heavy duty work with, as in the abuse your regular little disposable camera would get. This camera would be ideal if youre going somewhere where you can keep it safely cushioned such as a wedding or something that I do like busfanning.
The optical zoom is excellent and pictures that you take are very clear, and the IS or image stabilizer works very well in conjunction. However, if you zoom in all the way (10x) and you shake the camera, the picture does come out blurry.
There are many little tricks that this camera comes with, all too confusing sometimes if you dont know what it all means, and always need to have the manual nearby.
But yes, overall, this camera is really nice, and getting it from amazon was the best at getting the "bang for my buck." If youre looking for something that zooms well, and the IS that stops all your blurries, then this is a good camera for you.
On: 2005-10-10
Esta camara no por ser de 3.1 MP es de baja calidad,es una camara con todas las caracteristicas de una camara de mayor precio, para quien no se dedica a impresiones de gran formato como los publicistas, es ocioso mas megapixeles, seria como comprar un yate para navegar en una alberca.
On: 2005-10-03
I received this camera for my birthday a few weeks ago, and I could not be happier. It is my first digital camera and it is so easy to use! And, of course, it takes wonderful pictures. The image stabilizer is my favorite part of it, because I have a baby niece, and, of course, it is very hard to get her to stay still long enough to snap a picture. All in all, a very great camera!
On: 2005-10-02
I received this camera for my birthday a few weeks ago, and I could not be happier. It is my first digital camera and it is so easy to use! And, of course, it takes wonderful pictures. The image stabilizer is my favorite part of it, because I have a baby niece, and, of course, it is very hard to get her to stay still long enough to snap a picture. All in all, a very great camera!
On: 2005-09-21
I have had 4 digital cameras in the past 6 years and this one is the best so far. I had the tiny cameras which have their place but I do like the feel of this big camera. People actually are impressed by the look of it. The pictures are great but the focus is a little tricky in dark conditions. The 10x zoom works great and the movies are wonderful. It has more features and functions then you could possible need for your everyday photographer. I would buy another one!
On: 2005-09-15
The PowerShot takes quick pics, gives you lots of photo options and its styling and engineering is impressive. As with any good camera, the owner needs to practice and learn what it can do and how to adjust for possible problems. I find that the auto-focus, for example, is good in most circumstances, but you get better results in low-light and back-lit situations when that feature is turned off. A lot of camera for the price. 4 stars plus.
On: 2005-09-15
Having 10x zoom has changed the way I take pictures. You can take pictures of things that most people dont even notice! The flip screen is also really useful for taking pictures in crowds, or strange angles. The only time this camera has problems is in low light conditions. If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures at parties you may want to look for something else, it has some trouble focusing in these indoor/low light conditions. Besides that its practically perfect. Get a huge card for it if you plan on taking lots of videos (the video quality is my favorite part of the camera). I have a 1GB card, but I wish I had gotten a bigger one because you can only take about 11 minutes of high quality video. Im looking into a 4GB card, I think thats the biggest the camera can handle.
On: 2005-09-14
Having 10x zoom has changed the way I take pictures. You can take pictures of things that most people dont even notice! The flip screen is also really useful for taking pictures in crowds, or strange angles. The only time this camera has problems is in low light conditions. If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures at parties you may want to look for something else, it has some trouble focusing in these indoor/low light conditions. Besides that its practically perfect. Get a huge card for it if you plan on taking lots of videos (the video quality is my favorite part of the camera). I have a 1GB card, but I wish I had gotten a bigger one because you can only take about 11 minutes of high quality video. Im looking into a 4GB card, I think thats the biggest the camera can handle.
On: 2005-09-13
Im station in Iraq and have entirley way too much time on my hands. I decided I needed a hobby and bought the Canon S1. This camara is everything I expected and more. I bought a 1GB memory card with it (highly recomended) and have taken countless pictures (well over 6,000). The Image Stability works very well and the 10X zoom always comes in handy (and keeps me out of harms way). I have also used it to take video and was amazed by the quality that it gives. I can not belive what an amazing camara this has turned out to be. My only complaints are the Pop Up Flash (it dosnt alwas pop up on its own) and the lens cap dosnt like to stay on. The batteries go quick but it all depends on your shooting habbits. These are minor complaints and in fact althought I have only owned the camara for maybe 4 months I have already purchased the S2 and am anxiously awaiting its arival.
On: 2005-09-13
I bought this camera when my daughter was born because I wanted both the zoom feature and the ability to take video clips. The first is impressive, and the second is adequate for my needs - but the included 32MB CF card is a throw-away; even at 320x240 resolution, the cameras AVI format gobbles megabytes fast.
The still image quality is pretty good, sharp enough for 8x10 prints. I am a bit disappointed with the auto exposure - flash pictures tend to wash out, and its not very good in low light. It is also annoyingly slow to auto focus, especially on close-ups, and fails to lock in on many shots. The cameras manual focus feature is too cumbersome to be of any use. A focus ring would be a vast improvement. This is still a very nice camera with an impressive array of features for the price. But if you want professional results, bite the bullet and buy a professional camera.
On: 2005-09-12
GOT THIS FOR 249.00 AND GLAD I DID DOES EVERY THING BETTER THAN I IMAGINED.DO NOT HESITATE TO BUY THIS CAMERA.
On: 2005-09-10
The other reviews sums it up. This camera is just awesome for a Point and Shoot enthusiast who is advanced enough to just venture into the manual settings world. This is a great camera for the price. THe pictures comes out just great. The Image Stabilization works (for real!!). My wife (who is not a very photo enthusiast) too a few snaps while we were driving at 80mph through Montana. I couldnt believe that the pictures came out without any shake!
Not wasting your time further ... just buy this camera - its a great price too!
On: 2005-09-08
This camera has a great zoom capability and produces clear, sharp pics and great video! I love this little guy!
On: 2005-09-07
It has a problem with pop-up design.
The weight could be improved.
On: 2005-09-06
It has a problem with pop-up design.
The weight could be improved.
On: 2005-09-03
This camera is by far the best Ive used. I love it! Great clarity and great pictures!
On: 2005-09-02
This camera is by far the best Ive used. I love it! Great clarity and great pictures!
On: 2005-08-30
I was looking for a combination of high optical zoom, low weight, long battery life, and fast shutter cycle time. I found them all in the Canon S1IS - and all at a price remarkably close to what I paid for my Canon A60, a much lower-end camera.
The movable display is a great feature - you can keep it closed, so the LCD doesnt get scratched, or you can open it and rotate it so you can see it from a variety of angles.
Only a couple of downsides Id grumble about: 1) the lens cap doesnt stay on as well as Id like - its easy to bump it and have it come off, and 2) the viewfinder is electronic, so following a fast-moving scene, or one in low light, is tough. But thats been a very small concern for me.
On: 2005-08-29
It is an excellent camera compared to others with the same price. Fast shipped.
On: 2005-08-28
I got this as my second digital because I wanted the zoom and I wanted to begin to learn how to do things manually.
This camera has been great. Ive taken hundreds of pictures so far and having both automatic and manual modes is wonderful as sometimes you just want to pull it out and shoot.
It is also great for the price as I didnt want to get a camera that would cost more than my rent and didnt see the point in spending that much as I am a beginner anyways.
I carry it everywhere with me and although it isnt as small as my other digital it will still fit in my cargo pants pockets very easily.
My only warning on it though is that it does not focus well on macro shots, but that could also be a user fault and not with the camera. Like I said Im a beginner.
Another great feature is that the lens cap is snug enough that it doesnt fall off in my pocket but when I forget to take it off it pops off without stressing the lens motor. Wonderful for those of us who get too excited about a shot or are just absent minded.
Anyways, there are some comparable cameras to this one and I researched them all and am not dissapointed with my decision one bit.
Happy shooting to you.
On: 2005-08-27
Great Camera! IS Zoom is amazing! In auto mode zoomed in on an airplane flying overhead; the lettering on the side of the aircraft actually are visible! Night shots and daylight filtered exceed every expectation. Too many awesome features to list. The auto mode is so smart I dont think Ill ever need the manual modes. Wish it was a little lighter.
On: 2005-08-26
This is my first dig cam. I have had it for two months now and am satisfied by the performance. It is a good camera for beginners and has lot more options and controls than other cameras at the same price range.
+ + + 1. IS works really well.
2. Videos are very nice.
3. Ultrasonic motor is nice.
- - - 1. Images are generally soft
2. Lot of noise at higher ISO
On: 2005-08-26
Great Camera! IS Zoom is amazing! In auto mode zoomed in on an airplane flying overhead; the lettering on the side of the aircraft actually are visible! Night shots and daylight filtered exceed every expectation. Too many awesome features to list. The auto mode is so smart I dont think Ill ever need the manual modes. Wish it was a little lighter.
On: 2005-08-23
I think this is a fabulous camera for the price. Ive had a great time playing with the zoom, and I love that so many functions, like shutter speed, are adjustable. This is my third digital camera. My first two were Sony cybershots, and even though they were more expensive, this is definitely my favorite. I was a little concerned about downgrading to a 3 MP camera (my last sony was a 5 MP) but to be perfectly honest, the pictures coming out of my Canon S1 are crystal clear, although I havent tried to make any huge enlargements and I really dont intend to. Why buy more than you need?
On: 2005-08-18
Its a really great camera. I just the turning on and off mechanism were a little more easier, you have push a little thing and turn the camera switch on/off. If that could be improved. Also, it does suck up a lot of battery really quick! Overall its a great buy for the price. Keep the good stuff coming Canon.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-08-17
Great camera for the price. Many options to grow with. Batteries go pretty fast though, rechargebles are a good idea.
On: 2005-08-15
Quick pictures, nice photos day or night, so far no complaints.
On: 2005-08-13
The Canon PowerShot S1 is a fabulous camera. It is my second Canon PowerShot. I recently took this camera to Disneyland and it easily took pictures of fast moving rides in bright sunlight AND pictures of the amazing 50th anniversary fireworks display. This camera takes good automatic images but its real strength lies in everything you can customize. You can manually set the aperture, exposure, shutter speed, and even the white balance. I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2005-08-10
Very nice Camera. Plenty of zoom and the snout of the camera isnt really that big. Almost no fuzzy pictures with this baby. 3.2mp might be a little slow for some but I just send all of my pics to the local Wal-Mart for prints and it works just fine for me. Ive sent one in for an 8X10 and it looked very nice to us when it came back.
Do yourself a favor and throw away that dinky 16meg compact flash memory that they send you and go out and buy some ultra2 compact flash memory. It speeds up the operational speed of the camera tremendously, however it still takes forever compared to my old Canon A75.
Overall I have no regrets buying it.
On: 2005-08-10
This camera I take with me on extended canoe and kayak trips.With only 3.2 MP, I can still have plenty of memory space to get away with only one card along.Also,and even more important,usuing 4 AA batterys,I have plenty of power available for long periods of time.The 10X lens,allows me to get pretty far out with my shots,and am still able to have picture quality left over to blow up enough for my enlargements.I very seldom get over 8 X 10,and this camera suits me for this and all other respects.Looks at first too complex, but is very well organized for operation after limited practice.Very-very satisfied
On: 2005-08-09
This new camera is very easy to use, even my three year old is enjoy taking pictures with this camera. I would recommend this one to anyone who is new to digital cameras. Aside from the fact the it is user friendly it also takes great pictures.
I am very pleased with the Cannon all around.
On: 2005-08-09
I have returned the Canon for several reasons. First, the flash was broken. The cap wouldnt stay on. I could not control the zoom lens -- it would jerk completely out or in but to move it to any other place needed such care that I would have lost the picture before it was in place. The case felt as if it was made out of cheap plastic. Worst of all, the manual was so convoluted in its writing that it was difficult to follow.
I have had a Canon AE 1 SLR for years that I love, but this product was not worthy of the Canon name.
On: 2005-08-09
This camera I take with me on extended canoe and kayak trips.With only 3.2 MP, I can still have plenty of memory space to get away with only one card along.Also,and even more important,usuing 4 AA batterys,I have plenty of power available for long periods of time.The 10X lens,allows me to get pretty far out with my shots,and am still able to have picture quality left over to blow up enough for my enlargements.I very seldom get over 8 X 10,and this camera suits me for this and all other respects.Looks at first too complex, but is very well organized for operation after limited practice.Very-very satisfied
On: 2005-08-06
This camera is everything I hoped it would be. Unless youre blowing up poster size prints, this is all the camera you will ever need. The 10x optical gives extremely crisp full zoom pics and even with full digital zoom (32x) the pics still look pretty good. It is bulkier and heavier than my powershot A60 (which is also a great camera), but the extra pixels and super zoom make the larger package worth the effort to drag it around. I couldnt believe the quality of the video that I took in existing light at night time. With my 512mb card, I can use the S1 as a digital camcorder and it is certainly a lot smaller and lighter than a camcorder. Canons versatility from simple point and shoot to professional custom characteristics make it an ideal camera for almost anyone and lots cheaper than other super zoom cams.
On: 2005-08-04
I took this camera on vacation and it took GREAT pictures. The only flaw with this camera is the small LCD screen.
On: 2005-08-04
Keep in mind that youd be ponying up less than $300 clams for this baby. 3.2 MP is more than enough - Ive used this camera for 1 year now and its everything and more. Ive taken great photos and Im no whiz at this stuff. Sure the 3.2MP seems low, but its more than enough for your 8 X 10 photos and youre getting a Canon lens that is tremendous. Canon optics are the best in my humble opinion for regular joe consumers like me.
10X zoom with IS is a great function to have at such a decent price. The zoom is very quiet and quick whereas some cameras make that whirring sound and you wind-up hearing it when you take movies. Canon basically put same zoom drive that it puts in its higher end cameras into this one.
One feature that is great is the LCD screen can move out of its solid camera body which is a great feature considering it allows you to take shots at different angles like when you are in a crowded area. You wind-up using that feature a lot.
Max of 1 GB capacity for Compact flash cards which is OK but ideally you might want more if you were to shoot short movies fairly frequently. Movies are of very good quality - no complaints although I rarely do them.
Only negative is lens cap falls off which is a bit annoying. And the bag is a bit lame - very chintzy. And the Canon logo on the camera strap peeled off fairly quickly.
Another great thing is that you can buy a waterproof case for $150 which is a great add-on. Many other accessories to this too.
All in all, for the price, you are getting a camera loaded with features and excellent build quality and a Canon lens which makes a huge difference in pic quality. If not the S1, consider the S2 or the upcoming S3 as this line of cameras is top-notch.
On: 2005-08-03
Keep in mind that youd be ponying up less than $300 clams for this baby. 3.2 MP is more than enough - Ive used this camera for 1 year now and its everything and more. Ive taken great photos and Im no whiz at this stuff. Sure the 3.2MP seems low, but its more than enough for your 8 X 10 photos and youre getting a Canon lens that is tremendous. Canon optics are the best in my humble opinion for regular joe consumers like me.
10X zoom with IS is a great function to have at such a decent price. The zoom is very quiet and quick whereas some cameras make that whirring sound and you wind-up hearing it when you take movies. Canon basically put same zoom drive that it puts in its higher end cameras into this one.
One feature that is great is the LCD screen can move out of its solid camera body which is a great feature considering it allows you to take shots at different angles like when you are in a crowded area. You wind-up using that feature a lot.
Max of 1 GB capacity for Compact flash cards which is OK but ideally you might want more if you were to shoot short movies fairly frequently. Movies are of very good quality - no complaints although I rarely do them.
Only negative is lens cap falls off which is a bit annoying. And the bag is a bit lame - very chintzy. And the Canon logo on the camera strap peeled off fairly quickly.
Another great thing is that you can buy a waterproof case for $150 which is a great add-on. Many other accessories to this too.
All in all, for the price, you are getting a camera loaded with features and excellent build quality and a Canon lens which makes a huge difference in pic quality. If not the S1, consider the S2 or the upcoming S3 as this line of cameras is top-notch.
On: 2005-06-08
Canons done a great think with this product. This AA-ready, 10x-zoom product from a highly reputable camera manufacturer is a *highly*-recommended option for the serious amateur photographer. All in all, this camera is a GREAT value. If all consumer electronics companies held themselves up--for every product they made--to the basic dependability, overall ease of use, and impressive versatility of this camera, wed all be in a much more affordable and hassle-free world relative to our mobile phones, DVRs, MP3 players, computers (especially), and everything else that sometimes beeps, whirrs, or flashes in our lives!
If youre a "point and shoot" kind of photographer, however, move on: this PowerShot S1 is far more feature-rich, large, and heavier than youll want.
My review is based on 8 months of use. Heaven forbid that it stops working properly anytime soon--or even anytime within the next 5 years--but, thus far, Im impressed. The camera accompanied me from the U.S. on a wintertime trip to England at the end of 2004 where it got a thorough workout and a great deal of manhandling, and held up through the entire vacation (and since then) solidly.
*FEATURES: Manual over-ride exists for every key element: aperture, ISO speed (only a 50 to 400 range, however), flash, and even focus. Other features I find myself using a lot include switching the timer from 2 second delay (when I dont need to run in front of the camera to get into the photo myself) and 10 second delay (when I do), and over-riding the flash--that is, setting it from AUTO to ON, so that it will act as a "fill flash" even when the light meter is reading that the scene is bright because of background light. (There are two or three features Ill never use actually--and which I find rather silly, frankly--like "sepia" mode. Whatever.)
*I.S.: Image stabilization is solid--not extra-ordinary, but good.
*BATTERY: I have not had problems with battery depletion simply because I did what Id recommend you do, too, if considering this product. I bought a AA recharger that I also cannot recommend highly enough (the "Sony Power Charger with 4 Ni-MH AA Batteries"--purchased via Amazon at the same time I purchased the Canon PowerShot) and 4 additional rechargeable AAs at my local K-Mart. So, as I shot, I simply kept 4 charged batteries at hand to swap in for the 4 temporarily exhausted ones if needed. I was never at *any* point without the ability to take photos for want of power. And then I recharged batteries, if needed or desired, during the night. Regardless, I found that 4 batteries lasted through *hundreds* of images with the camera set at the ideal setting for 4"x6" prints (150 dpi, I suspect, but Im not sure off-hand), and in normal temperatures (more on that below).
NOTE: far too many digital cameras require special batteries, sometimes proprietary (like Kodak for one). Setting aside the issue of batteries being rechargeable, the simple fact that this PowerShot takes AAs is fantastic. It means you will never have a difficult time finding power for your camera...as long as youre not far from "civilization."
NOTE: *Temperature* affects battery life to a surprising extent. Im aware that cold temperature can affect battery life, but the PowerShot seems particularly sensitive to this. When shooting outside in England in December, keeping that second set of 4 AAs was very important. Four AAs alone would not have been enough. However, indoors or at regular temps in spring, summer, and autumn, 4 batteries--especially those manufactured for use in digital electronic goods--will be adequate.
*VIDEO/AUDIO: I only took 3 video clips on my trip. My sense is that this is what drains battery life; it certainly drains memory. Nonetheless, I considered the video feature "icing on the cake," and didnt care about it much anyway. So, I was very pleasantly surprised when I played back my video clips on my computer and encountered not only a very clear image which demonstrated the cameras ability in video mode to zoom and refocus fast, but also audio that seemed neither muffled nor--the other extreme possibility--"tinny."
(One word of commonsense advice though on using the video mode. Dont speak loudly or at all when youre the shooter, because the microphone will pick up your voice very well due to your proximity to the microphone, and in play-back youll be roaring compared to all the other sound. I can even hear myself breathing in the playback!)
*INTERFACE: The interface of this camera was designed fairly well considering the wide range of options and features. Its got lots of buttons and lots of options, so ***practice*** with this camera before you use it for some special event or vacation, etc. Canon seems to have correctly anticipated which features people will want to over-ride or mess with the most (such as turning the flash to ON, OFF, or AUTO) and separated those buttons from the rest, which is helpful.
*COLOR: I have not encountered color distortion when viewing images digitally. I have printed out very few images, since I put images online mostly, so I cannot yet review how the PowerShots images translate color-wise when printed. Of course, the printer one uses affects the quality and color-correctness of prints, too.
*WT/SIZE/FEEL: This camera is totally SLR-esques in feel and heft, though its more compact than an SLR. Im happy with the cameras feel. Its size would be difficult to make much smaller given current limits to technology, unless one sacrificed the basic SLR-like mold of the camera. I was able to get this camera completely into the pocket of my winter jacket--I never while in England needed a bag, case, or carrier for it. It will not, however, fit into a typical coat pocket--like on a light jacket, a suit coat, etc. It will fit into a normal purse, Im sure, but not a small handbag.
It *is* heavy, however. That is one thing to note that is a negative. But, along with that heft, I feel, comes better control and stability.
There are a few little niggling things about the cameras menus that annoy me, 10x zoom is good, but often not enough for me, and the lens cap doesnt stay on very well (but, its attached to a camera by a shot nylon cord, so you *wont* lose the cap!), and when I think about these negatives Im tempted to give the camera 4 stars, not 5; but, there are so many other strong positives with the PowerShot S1 relative to the FUNDAMENTALS of camera use and design--plus a competitive (though not "low") price--that I realize the negatives are ultimately minor. If "4 1/2" was an option, I suppose Id give the product that rating.
That said, Ill rate this camera "5 stars" as an excellent product for the dedicated amateur photographer.
On: 2005-06-03
Good pictures, lots of features. Really like it, but the batteries cost a lot and only last a month!!!!
On: 2005-05-31
For those reviewers complaining that the camera does not imprint the date/time on the image except when printing, please note that the date and time the image was taken and many other technical details are included in the EXIF data embedded in the JPEG image. To view this information in Microsoft Windows XP, right-click the image, choose Properties, and look at the "Date Picture Taken" on the Summary tab.
I intend to purchase the Canon PowerShot S2 IS when it is released at the end of June 2005. I have been very happy with the three Canon point and shoot digital cameras I have owned. Picture quality is excellent, and the Canon menu system is comprehensive and easy to use.
The S1 IS does not include an autofocus assist lamp to help focus in low light situations. I like making 8x10 inch prints, and three megapixels does not provide enough resolution for a full-quality print at that size.
On: 2005-05-23
I bought this camera about a month ago after researching about a hundred different cameras. I was looking for something aroun 4-5 megapixels and $200-$300. This camera had lower megapixels (3.2) and it was at the top of my limits. I have one thing to say:
I am glad I bought it.
I received the camera in a matter of days from Amazon. That was normal for any order that I have placed with Amazon. Fast service. I received it just a few days before we left for a vacation to Disneyland in California so I did not have time to mess with it much, but I had time to play around with some of the features on the way down and I am impressed with this camera. I took pictures from day to night and from stills to shooting scenery out of our vehicle going 85 mph. Oops, I meant 75 mph officer. I would say that 99% of them came out great. I turned the video resolution down to the next one lower. A 512 MB CF card held about 12 minutes of video in one continuous shoot. That is probably the one feature that sold me on this camera. It did not have a limit on the minutes of continous video that could be shot. Other cameras had a 1.5-3 minute limit. I even used it to record half of a speech that I gave to a group to see how I presented myself. The camera was about 10 feet away and it still picked up my voice.
The included AA alkaline batteries went dead within about a couple of hours. I bought two sets of rechargeables and found that one set lasted from 8 am to 10 pm at Disneyland. And I took alot of pictures and video! One day, I filled two 512 MB CF Cards and one 256 MB card. That is my only suggestion with this camera. Buy rechargeable batteries and a larger CF card if you are going to shoot video. I am planning to buy a 1 GB CF card later.
When I bought it, I had the intention of selling it on ebay if I did not like it. No way. I am keeping it. Oh...one other thing in my favor, my daughter-in-law works as a photographer. She could show me things that camera would do that would have taken me quite awhile to figure out. She had a chance to use it and she was impressed with it.
On: 2005-05-22
Overall I am happy with the camera. I prefer optical zoom over megapixels, so it is good combination for me. Pictures are great. Image Stabilizer helps a lot. Video qualify is good too.
Its zoom can be annoying sometimes because it makes a noise that gets captured in your video shots. Not a problem for still pictures though.
But battery life is pretty bad. If you are planning to buy this camera and would take it on trips, buy lots of NiMh and car charger for them.
On: 2005-05-22
I bought this camera about a month ago after researching about a hundred different cameras. I was looking for something aroun 4-5 megapixels and $200-$300. This camera had lower megapixels (3.2) and it was at the top of my limits. I have one thing to say:
I am glad I bought it.
I received the camera in a matter of days from Amazon. That was normal for any order that I have placed with Amazon. Fast service. I received it just a few days before we left for a vacation to Disneyland in California so I did not have time to mess with it much, but I had time to play around with some of the features on the way down and I am impressed with this camera. I took pictures from day to night and from stills to shooting scenery out of our vehicle going 85 mph. Oops, I meant 75 mph officer. I would say that 99% of them came out great. I turned the video resolution down to the next one lower. A 512 MB CF card held about 12 minutes of video in one continuous shoot. That is probably the one feature that sold me on this camera. It did not have a limit on the minutes of continous video that could be shot. Other cameras had a 1.5-3 minute limit. I even used it to record half of a speech that I gave to a group to see how I presented myself. The camera was about 10 feet away and it still picked up my voice.
The included AA alkaline batteries went dead within about a couple of hours. I bought two sets of rechargeables and found that one set lasted from 8 am to 10 pm at Disneyland. And I took alot of pictures and video! One day, I filled two 512 MB CF Cards and one 256 MB card. That is my only suggestion with this camera. Buy rechargeable batteries and a larger CF card if you are going to shoot video. I am planning to buy a 1 GB CF card later.
When I bought it, I had the intention of selling it on ebay if I did not like it. No way. I am keeping it. Oh...one other thing in my favor, my daughter-in-law works as a photographer. She could show me things that camera would do that would have taken me quite awhile to figure out. She had a chance to use it and she was impressed with it.
On: 2005-05-20
I will be brief. This is a great camera but it does not have the date/time stamp option which I took for granted as being available on all newer digital cameras. My previous camera had it and for me it is a very important feature. After all, we look back on photos for the memories they bring and knowing the date (and/or time) that the picture was taken is VERY important to me.
On: 2005-05-01
I have had my Canon for about a year now. It is great. I use the movie function a lot. This camera takes great movies for a camera this size. It is big for a regular photo camera but it takes great photos too. At 10x optical zoom the image stabilizer helps out. I dropped this camera in the mud a few weeks ago and it still works great. I was worried that the lense would get stuck but after wiping it down, it has no problems. I bought a 1 GB card so that I can get more video time.
If you dont mind the size and think you will take a lot of videos as well as pictures this is the camera for you.
On: 2005-04-10
This beauty is brilliant! The body style is ergonomically pleasing and lightweight, the overall design is simple to use, it will satisfy a novice and professional alike, and the pictures are beautiful! Even the manual is well designed. My long search for the perfect camera finally came to an end.
When I first took this camera out of the box I was in love with the design. Weight is important to me, and this camera balances beautifully. Its extremely lightweight and easy to grip. Obviously, a lot of engineering went into the body style. After trying out a myriad of cameras that fit my hand clumsily, this one fit like a glove. The only drawback is that its meant to be gripped with the right hand, so it could take some adjusting for lefties. Otherwise, its an ergonomic 10 out of 10.
The overall design of camera options leads the pack. It wont take long to master the operation of this camera. The most used options have their own buttons, so you dont have to wade through menus all the time. It is loaded with features, and sometimes this makes a camera hard to master for a novice. Not with this one! If you want a point and shoot camera that you can set and forget, this camera is for you. If you are a hobbyist or pro who wants the ability to easily switch from automatic to manual operation, this camera wont disappoint. It is also a camera that can grow with you. With a ton of add-ons and interchangeable lenses, you wont have to shell out money for a new camera as your skills improve. The zoom is more than you get with most cameras, and having a viewfinder is a must if you like to shoot outdoors in bright light. Theres even a vision adjustment on the viewfinder. You may have read criticism of the lens cap. If you read the manual, you will see that its meant to attach to the neck strap, so you really dont have to worry about losing the cap as some reviews state. I would prefer, however, a more secure snap on cover.
As we all know, the proof is in the pictures, and Canon is still delivering the goods. I immediately set out to shoot a little bit of everything. In my opinion, one of the hardest shots to get perfect with point and shoot is indoors at night with inconsistent ambient lighting. I used the low light option on the dial, and I was really impressed. The shots I took were very evenly lit and the flash hadnt overexposed my subjects. I took a picture of an outdoor scene through an indoor window using the zoom. The picture looked like it had been shot outdoors rather than from inside. I took a picture during the day in a well lit room with no flash and it was beautiful.
If you buy this camera, do yourself a favor and spend an hour going through the manual. You will find out how easy it is to control the many options, so you will be more apt to use them. I even liked the manual design. There are separate manuals in Spanish and English, so you can dispose of the one you dont need.
I know I will be happy with this camera for years to come. Some of Canons cameras have become legendary in the photo world and still have an active life on Ebay years after their retirement. I believe this is one of those cameras.
On: 2005-04-09
This beauty is brilliant! The body style is ergonomically pleasing and lightweight, the overall design is simple to use, it will satisfy a novice and professional alike, and the pictures are beautiful! Even the manual is well designed. My long search for the perfect camera finally came to an end.
When I first took this camera out of the box I was in love with the design. Weight is important to me, and this camera balances beautifully. Its extremely lightweight and easy to grip. Obviously, a lot of engineering went into the body style. After trying out a myriad of cameras that fit my hand clumsily, this one fit like a glove. The only drawback is that its meant to be gripped with the right hand, so it could take some adjusting for lefties. Otherwise, its an ergonomic 10 out of 10.
The overall design of camera options leads the pack. It wont take long to master the operation of this camera. The most used options have their own buttons, so you dont have to wade through menus all the time. It is loaded with features, and sometimes this makes a camera hard to master for a novice. Not with this one! If you want a point and shoot camera that you can set and forget, this camera is for you. If you are a hobbyist or pro who wants the ability to easily switch from automatic to manual operation, this camera wont disappoint. It is also a camera that can grow with you. With a ton of add-ons and interchangeable lenses, you wont have to shell out money for a new camera as your skills improve. The zoom is more than you get with most cameras, and having a viewfinder is a must if you like to shoot outdoors in bright light. Theres even a vision adjustment on the viewfinder. You may have read criticism of the lens cap. If you read the manual, you will see that its meant to attach to the neck strap, so you really dont have to worry about losing the cap as some reviews state. I would prefer, however, a more secure snap on cover.
As we all know, the proof is in the pictures, and Canon is still delivering the goods. I immediately set out to shoot a little bit of everything. In my opinion, one of the hardest shots to get perfect with point and shoot is indoors at night with inconsistent ambient lighting. I used the low light option on the dial, and I was really impressed. The shots I took were very evenly lit and the flash hadnt overexposed my subjects. I took a picture of an outdoor scene through an indoor window using the zoom. The picture looked like it had been shot outdoors rather than from inside. I took a picture during the day in a well lit room with no flash and it was beautiful.
If you buy this camera, do yourself a favor and spend an hour going through the manual. You will find out how easy it is to control the many options, so you will be more apt to use them. I even liked the manual design. There are separate manuals in Spanish and English, so you can dispose of the one you dont need.
I know I will be happy with this camera for years to come. Some of Canons cameras have become legendary in the photo world and still have an active life on Ebay years after their retirement. I believe this is one of those cameras.
On: 2005-03-25
This is a very nice digital camera. I am very pleased so far, I will be going on a trip in about a month, Ill give an update.
The only reason I dont give this camera 5 stars is: it does not have a FOCUS ASSIST LIGHT. And also Im not finding a "macro mode".
Does anyone out there know if this camera has a macro mode?? If so, I would love to hear from you. sswaney@uusd.net
On: 2005-03-24
This is a very nice digital camera. I am very pleased so far, I will be going on a trip in about a month, Ill give an update.
The only reason I dont give this camera 5 stars is: it does not have a FOCUS ASSIST LIGHT. And also Im not finding a "macro mode".
Does anyone out there know if this camera has a macro mode?? If so, I would love to hear from you. sswaney@uusd.net
On: 2005-03-21
I want to add this to my review..it is the manual online. Great for when you cannot find the book. So easy to find in favorites.
http://imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S1IS/canon-powershot-s1-IS-A.HTM
This is a bit bigger camera than I am used to, but it is a small trade off for the perks....
While chasing anyone of my 10 grand kids around DisneyLand two weeks ago. The 10x zoom saved me from the familiar yell..."wait for Grama", I simply zoomed in and got shots from yards away that were wonderful. Spontaneous. No one, two, three, CHEESE.......
And with the Stabilizer my shaky hands were no trouble any longer.
Action is caught and frozen in mid air...clear, in focus.
I stood next to the fast water slide waiting for my family to shoot out and down the falls in the raft.
(There is a slight hesitation to the S1 IS between shots. But once you get used to its timing, no problem)
...Those shots of the family on that raft as they flew screaming past me - turned out clear and in focus.
I had it on Automatic on a gray day. I mention this picture due to the speed they were traveling. And it was me at the camera button..............Slo Mo......Amazing camera!!
I am totally amazed and thrilled at the quality of action pictures and zoom ability I have been getting with this PowerShot S1 IS 3.2 MP Digital with 10x Image Stabilized Zoom.
I have a few of my zoomed in pictures here in the Gallery to look at. The Bee on the Poppy is over 7 away from me. Notice his shadow on the flower.
On: 2005-03-20
The Camera is good and have taken some good pictures with it, does whatevr is promised. But what i mainly want to say is when something goes wrong u will get little support from Canon. I find that really BAD, i was totally disappointed and i have decided not to buy any canon product in the future just for the reason that they have poor customer service.
Also one more thing before buying This Camera you have to be aware of is that this camera is extremely sensitive to water.... even the slightest amount can screw This camera up completely and Water Damage is not covered by Canon Warranty.
i had been on a trip to sea world, i had it in a waterproof bag all the time, but i guess some water got into it when i was trying to get some snaps of shamu..... well that was the end of my honeymoon with canon.....it stopped working.... and i had to struggle so much just to get in touch with "rude" customer representatives.
And once i sent my camera they took 2 weeks to respond and tell me what was wrong with my camera... and then i had to pay almost half the price of the camera for repair!!!!!! and i got the camera back after another week..... by the way even the shipping and handling has to be borne by you..... and one more thing you should know is that canon though it sells products all over USA has only ONE service center for the entire United States. This too i find unbelievable.
So if you are looking for gud customer service i would say dont go for canon.
On: 2005-03-20
I want to add this to my review..it is the manual online. Great for when you cannot find the book. So easy to find in favorites.
http://imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S1IS/canon-powershot-s1-IS-A.HTM
This is a bit bigger camera than I am used to, but it is a small trade off for the perks....
While chasing anyone of my 10 grand kids around DisneyLand two weeks ago. The 10x zoom saved me from the familiar yell..."wait for Grama", I simply zoomed in and got shots from yards away that were wonderful. Spontaneous. No one, two, three, CHEESE.......
And with the Stabilizer my shaky hands were no trouble any longer.
Action is caught and frozen in mid air...clear, in focus.
I stood next to the fast water slide waiting for my family to shoot out and down the falls in the raft.
(There is a slight hesitation to the S1 IS between shots. But once you get used to its timing, no problem)
...Those shots of the family on that raft as they flew screaming past me - turned out clear and in focus.
I had it on Automatic on a gray day. I mention this picture due to the speed they were traveling. And it was me at the camera button..............Slo Mo......Amazing camera!!
I am totally amazed and thrilled at the quality of action pictures and zoom ability I have been getting with this PowerShot S1 IS 3.2 MP Digital with 10x Image Stabilized Zoom.
I have a few of my zoomed in pictures here in the Gallery to look at. The Bee on the Poppy is over 7 away from me. Notice his shadow on the flower.
On: 2005-03-19
The Camera is good and have taken some good pictures with it, does whatevr is promised. But what i mainly want to say is when something goes wrong u will get little support from Canon. I find that really BAD, i was totally disappointed and i have decided not to buy any canon product in the future just for the reason that they have poor customer service.
Also one more thing before buying This Camera you have to be aware of is that this camera is extremely sensitive to water.... even the slightest amount can screw This camera up completely and Water Damage is not covered by Canon Warranty.
i had been on a trip to sea world, i had it in a waterproof bag all the time, but i guess some water got into it when i was trying to get some snaps of shamu..... well that was the end of my honeymoon with canon.....it stopped working.... and i had to struggle so much just to get in touch with "rude" customer representatives.
And once i sent my camera they took 2 weeks to respond and tell me what was wrong with my camera... and then i had to pay almost half the price of the camera for repair!!!!!! and i got the camera back after another week..... by the way even the shipping and handling has to be borne by you..... and one more thing you should know is that canon though it sells products all over USA has only ONE service center for the entire United States. This too i find unbelievable.
So if you are looking for gud customer service i would say dont go for canon.
On: 2005-02-01
I will spare everyone the technical details that seem to get repeated on just about every review. I have had this camera for a few months now and overall I am very happy with it. The first thing that I can complain about is the autofocus in dim light. This doesnt seem like it would have been difficult to remedy before production. The second thing is the fact that it does seem to overexpose pictures when using the flash in Auto mode. If you are taking pictures with good lighting then this camera is great. I have used most of the features and like them all. I would reccommend this to just about anyone. The price is great for the feature set. If anyone has any tips on improving the exposure with the flash I would appreciate any tips. Thanks and hopefully this helps
PROS:
swivel view finder
zoom
software
price
CONS:
autofocus in poorly lit areas
overexposure when using flash
On: 2005-01-31
I will spare everyone the technical details that seem to get repeated on just about every review. I have had this camera for a few months now and overall I am very happy with it. The first thing that I can complain about is the autofocus in dim light. This doesnt seem like it would have been difficult to remedy before production. The second thing is the fact that it does seem to overexpose pictures when using the flash in Auto mode. If you are taking pictures with good lighting then this camera is great. I have used most of the features and like them all. I would reccommend this to just about anyone. The | | |
