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Canon Powershot SD300 4MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 109
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 On: 2007-11-09
I like the simplicity of it.
There are simple icons allowing some versatility.
However,the camera under poor lighting conditions doesnt operate so well, so I rated it with 4 stars rather than 5.
It is easy to use though and a good basic everyday camera.
 On: 2007-08-30
My wife loves her little camera and I like the fast response I received from shipper. Very satisfied with service provided. The camera was well packed and protecetd from damage in mailing.
On: 2007-07-15
I purchased this camera about two-three years ago. Its my first digital camera. Its easy to operate, small enough to fit in my pocket and or purse. The viewing window is big enough for me. Easy to download pics to my computer. This camera is capturing many memories for me. Im enjoying this camera and would purchase another from Canon.
I recommend you buy another battery so when vacationing and or on outings, youll have another on hand. As you know, the battery always gets low during inconvenient time(s). There have been many times, its given out but luckily my backup battery is always on hand. :-)
On: 2007-06-21
The Canon Powershot SD300 is, even after 2 years, a heavenly product that I have yet to regret purchasing.
For one thing, my LCD never cracked. However, and this is entirely my fault, over the years, I havent always used the best protection that I could have for my camera, thus resulting in some obvious LCD scratches. But I put that blame on myself, not the product itself.
This camera has definitely taken some sharp, vivid, and beautiful pictures over the years. Even my professional photography family members acclaim some of my pictures. And here you thought it was JUST a snapshot camera...
The compact size is great, and I always continue to find amusing places where this camera can fit: jean pockets, cell phone cases, my polo shirts little itsy bitsy pocket, ...
The thing that bugs the heck out of me is that, right after I had bought this, like a month or two later, newer and supposedly better models of the PowerShot line started coming out. I bought this baby for $400 dollars, so you imagine my dismay. Regardless, Im not feeling regretful all too much because this is quite the well-made product.
The one con (of the very few) that I can think of about this product is that, over time, my camera (when the lens would retract itself) a noise that Im sure didnt appear before now does. I dont know if its the product, or if it was just those times that I brought this baby to the beach only to have sand kick at it, but yeah, just an observation.
Oh yeah, I also find myself charging the battery for this camera MUCH more often now. I dont know if age, wear and tear, or whatever has to do with anything, but charging this camera before some event is a MUST for me. Always.
But, in conclusion, its a great camera and Im truly surprised to see this older model of Canon PowerShot have such great (overrall) ratings considering the newer, edgier, and cooler models now and days.
I think Ill be sticking with this camera for awhile, maybe wait for Canon to come up with something new(er) in their PowerShot line or whatever.
 On: 2007-04-10
I bought this camera in Oct 2005. I brought it everywhere. Loved it. In April 2006, the LCD screen blew. Canon replaced it with a refurbished camera. In March 2007, the exact same thing happened to the screen and now they will only repair for $97.00, as they have determined this is the result of impact damage. How they determine this is unclear to me, as it was not dropped or impacted...Apparently, you will spend 100.00/yr maintaining this camera. That, to me, is the hallmark of a faulty product. Unfortunate - as I really loved this camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-01-15
I got this camera about 2 years ago because my sd 200 broke. It is soooo easy to use and takes great pictures. Its also very sleek and small.
On: 2006-12-21
I bought this last year ago after my wife raved about hers. It has lived up to the Canon name and takes excellent pictures. I havent taken the time yet to figure it all out but even the movie option is great. I love the camera and the low price I paid.
 On: 2006-12-14
I bought the sd300 to take with me touring by motorcycle. It is so small, I can just put it in a belt case and always have it. With the appropriate sd card I can take a huge number of pictures at a high quality setting. The pictures turn out great, BUT. Eight months after I bought it, the LCD screen suddenly went all crazed when turned on, tho there was no visible damage. I returned it for repair, no problem, no expense, had it back in two weeks. less than 3 months later, same thing. I know I did not drop or bump it, it went down in the 10 minutes between showing some pictures to one person, then to another, indoors. I called, was told it was still
under warranty from the previous repair, and got a return label. Then I got an e-mail saying that I would have to pay $97 for repairs to the lcd screen caused by impact damage. I replied to the e-mail to protest, and was ignored. I finaly called, and was told that tho the warranty was still in force, this damage was not covered. Checking aroun the web, I found that this is a common problem, not damage. Unfortunately, I had already authorized the repair when I found this out, so I guess I am stuck. I have several canon products, will not buy any more.
On: 2006-06-29
I have been a digital camera owner since the 640x480 days when digi cams were the size of bricks, and now i have one thats small as a deck of cards...the sd300. ive had it for almost a year now, and it keeps on kicking. I read all of the reviews about the cracked LCD screens and all, but i took my chances anyways...and quite frankly, the screen itself has taken a beating from me, its all scratched up from being in my pocket, banging around with my keys and coins, etc. i applied a thin screen protector and it fixes the cosmetic blemishes (and added scratch glare from sunlight) due to the scratches. picture quality is awesome, ive made large prints at costco and they look immaculate. I use a 512MB SD card which is able to hold around 200 pictures in "superfine" 4.0 megapixel mode (there are 3 modes for each of the 4 available resolutions; coarse, fine, and superfine).
it is durable too, ive dropped it numerous times, and it still works beautifully. the metal casing doesnt only look good, it truly serves its purpose in protecting the cameras vital internal components.
I dont see myself buying another camera for a long time as i usually make 4x6 to 8x10 prints, which come out great from the images taken with this camera. the size adds even more incentive for one to buy this camera or any from the powershot SD series, it allows one to easily slip it into their pocket or purse. one can then whip it out, power it up, and be ready to snap a photo in under 9 seconds...seriously. the power-up and load time is extremely fast, even faster if you buy an SD card with a faster write capability.
Also, i was able to purchase extra nb-4l batteries for this camera from pricegrabber.com for only $4.99 a piece, cant beat that.
id give this camera a 6 star rating if i could =)
On: 2006-06-25
I had this camera for about a month and the first time it broke, I dont know why it broke. I set it down and when I turned it back on, it had cracked. I then bought another LCD screen and repaired it myself, but two weeks later, I had a CASE for it, and put it in my purse. I carried my purse around and had not set my purse down. When I took it out, it had cracked again. I would not recommend getting this camera.
On: 2006-06-11
ditto....lcd cracked for no apparent reason
sent it to canon in illinois
awaiting outcome on repair
good overall camera, but no low battery signal
by: Anonymous On: 2006-06-08
I had this camera for one whole year. It was great. This camera take beautiful pictures and is so easy to operate. Its size makes it so easy to carry around.
However, while looking for cameras last year i came upon this one. Many reviews talked about cracking LCD screens. I ignored these reviews thinking it wouldnt happen to me. I was wrong. I was taking pictures one day of my car. Not even 15 m inutes later i took it back out of the case to put my pictures on the computer, and the screen was cracked. As far as i know, nothing happened that would make it crack. Its such a dissapointment, and i dont think i will be able to get it fixed through my insurance. A big disappointment. However, it was a GREAT camera while it lasted.
On: 2006-05-23
ive had my camera for almost 2 years now. its great. i havent had any problems with it, no lcd cracking or the purple stuff. i have dropped my camera before, from i would say about 4ft+ onto the cement and it barely left a dent, and it still works as good as new. the picture quality is awesome and also the video feature is really good. i love it. but the ONE con is that there is no battery indicator thing, it only blinks low battery when its about to die, but the pros about this camera definitely weighs out that one con.
ALSO, from a few of the reviews i have read, some people said that youd have to take extremely good care of this camera because its really sensitive. but honestly, i havent been taking care of my camera. i dont carry it in a case and i always either have it in the back pocket of my pants or in my purse or ill just hold it in my hand and actually its been banged around a couple of times, but i hardly have any scratches on it except the tiny dent from that one time i dropped it.
PROS:
durable
small
lcd screen is huge
it doesnt lag
its cute
excellent picture/video quality
long battery life
CONS:
no battery indicator
i DEFINITELY reccomend this camera to everyone :).
On: 2006-05-06
My wife and I bought this camera about 6 months ago as an upgrade to an aging kodak 2mb. I am pretty much a "automatic settings" guy whereas my wife loves to use manual settings, change ISO, shutter speed etc. This camera is perfect for both of us and the picture quality is amazing.
I was somewhat sceptical on reading other reviews on the display cracking but, fingers crossed, have not had any problems. The movie feature is very very impressive, and on the highest quality is good enough for transfer to DVD. Would advise you to get a 1gb ultra fast card to really benefit from the cameras features.
Only complaints are that the software that comes with the camera for image editing is terribly outdated and looks like something to be used on windows 3.1 and the transfer via the cable is quite fiddly leaving you to wonder if the door to the usb cable socket on the camera would break over use. We bought a universal SD card reader and take the card out itself and then transfer to the pc.
There is no battery indicator which is ridiculous. Suddenly the camera says "low battery" and then shuts off. Get yourself another battery as a spare. Whoever left this feature of the camera at Canon should be fired.
Download the free picasa image software. Much better than adobe photo album and the canon software included in the box.
On: 2006-04-18
Ironically enough, my camera was also stolen like the previous reviewer. It devastated me to lose my SD300 because its by far the best camera Ive ever used. Macro pics come out very clear and its very hard to get blurry shots with this camera. The size is perfect. It will fit in my back pocket. My little cousins loved using it because its so easy to take pictures. Lag time is practically non-existant. Battery life is incredible! Im buying another one. Ive researched other brands just for researching sake, and nothing compares to this camera. Its close to perfect.
On: 2006-04-07
I loved this camera (past tense because mine was recently stolen). I will only buy canon cameras after owning this. Takes great pictures, super small, and plenty of features.
I am now looking into buying the new sd450 that is replacing it.
On: 2006-03-16
One of my best buys ever. This camera is so sleek and easy to use yet is small in size. Atleast 5 friends bought this camera after seeing mine.
On: 2006-01-13
Pretty good digital camera for basic point-and-shoot and family/party photographs. It is small and cute, but equally fragile .
Expect a large drop in picture quality when the flash is removed.
On: 2005-12-11
Bought this camera to downsize from out Olympus 3000. We do a lot of outdoor activities and wanted a smaller camera to take with us. Wow what a great choice. Takes excellent outdoor pictures. Took moving pictures of my girls first mountain bike ride. We were surprised at the clarity. Camera is simple to use. We use mostly the point and shoot functions. Downloading pictures is a snap through the supplied USB cable. The supplied 16mb card is too small so we upgraded to a 256mb card. When we saw how good the movies were we went 1gb. We recommend.
On: 2005-12-08
Absolutely love this camera. Even takes good pictures at night when you use a tripod with it. Its small enough to take with you everywhere. Pictures inside are a bit fuzzy on the auto mode. Other than that I have no gripes.
On: 2005-11-16
This is an awesome camera, i bought it for graduation and loved it. Little did i know i was going to get into photography so much using the camera, so i just recently sold it to get the SD 550. I say get this camera if your just beginning in photography or if you just like to take pictures, this to me is the best 4.0 mega pixel camera out.
On: 2005-11-11
I just wanted to say that Ive had this camera for over 6 months now and it is great. I love it. I wasnt really looking for a camera THIS small but im so glad i got it because i take it everywhere and it has come in SOOO handy to have it be so small. I got pictures at events i normally wouldnt have brought a camera to if it was any bigger (like being out in the woods all day, i could just clip it to my belt loop)
I have had NO problem with the LCD screen and if it is a concern for you (as it was for me before i bought it) buy it from a place that offers a good warrenty (Ritz camera covers everything except fire damage, you can drop it right in front of them and theyll fix or replace it- $60 / year)
Only real complaint is a) red eye, but i knew i was going to ahve to live with that. Not as bad if i use the zoom which brings the lense farther away from the flash b) bad focusing in low light, the camera will really hunt for a focus and that shot that you wanted to take might have passed by at that point- or it will be blury. but again, thats the same for most compact cameras and c)no battery indicator (buy an extra battery!)
if you have any questions about this camera feel free to email me Ruffian829@aim.com
 On: 2005-11-04
Before the LCD screen gave way, this was a very nice camera. The screen breaking my have been my fault, because i take every ware with me, like snowboarding in CO. and to the beach in bermuda. it had nice features and was extremly small and compact. When snowboarding i kept it in my jacket pocket and you couldnt even fell it. It seems that im not the only one with an LCD problem if you just google SD300 LCD you will see some other complaints.
On: 2005-10-25
This camera is incredibly small (it can fit inside an Altoids tin). The pictures are just as good, and the flash is good enough for darker scenes. The video mode is convenient, but not very feature filled. I am not a serious photographer, but everything I want to capture, I can. In some cases, there were two compacts, this one, and a Sony Cybershot, and the Canon had superior low light pictures.
On: 2005-10-25
I seem to be among the many unlucky ones who encountered a problem with a cracked LCD. I bought my camera less than 3 weeks ago and was extremely happy with it. It is light-weight, beautifully designed and takes great pictures. Then the other day, my LCD mysteriously cracked! It was always in my purse and I have it safely tucked in a thick camera case so I dont know how that could have happened. I never dropped, banged or abused it in any way. There was not a single scratch on the exterior of the camera so I dont know how the LCd could have been damaged. (The Canon representative I talked to said it may have been exposed to extreme heat or cold which causes damage to the LCD. But I never kept it in any place over a normal room temperature.) I just turned it on and a white screen with purple jagged lines appeared on the LCD. And all this happened 2 days before I was suppose to leave for my vacation to Hong Kong, which was the main reason I bought the camera in the first place. Very disappointing!! Fortunately, the online store I bought it from is willing to exhange the camera for a brand new one. I decided to get the same model however because many of my friends have had the Canon cameras (the SD200, SD300 AND SD400) for years and they havent had any problems with it. I figured this one I got was a defective item and ill have better luck on the next one.
On: 2005-10-23
I bought this camera looking for something compact, and something high quality though. That is exactly what I got. I love it because it is so small, it fits nice in the pocket, and if you buy a carry case it is still small enough to wear on your belt without discomfort. I really enjoy this product, it takes great pictures, and it was a great price too, i saw it in stores for $100 more at some places.
On: 2005-10-20
i previously had 2 cameras a Kodak CX6200 2 Megapixel camera and a sony DSC-P78 and found that with the sony any photo i took tht wasnt in perfect daylight was blurry and basically not worth keeping (as a result i have tarnished memories of an epic trip to the snow) so out the door went the sony. i purchased this canon after reading many reviews for many different camaeras and i have to say i absolutely love it.
its so small it fits perfectly in my pocket and i carry it alomost every time i go out and as a result have some awesome memories of some great times.
i thoroughly recommend this camera to anyone looking at purchasing it. its fantastic.
as for the screen cracking fault that people seem to be having, hasnt happened too me (touchwood). i noticed most people got this problem a few months after purchase. something to think about
anyway, happy hunting
On: 2005-10-17
given the diminutive dimensions of said big time. Seriously, Im not much of a gizmo guru, but the camera takes good pictures. Im just afraid Ill swallow it in my morning eggs.
On: 2005-10-14
I orderded the Canon SD300 camera on Saturday 10/8/2005. I received my camera the afternoon of Tuesday 10/13/2005. I was absolutely astonished at the speedy delivery of my merchandise. I will definately order more items in the future from OneCall. Thank you for the prompt delivery service.
Scotty Ferguson
On: 2005-10-12
Im a digital point-and-shoot camera kind of guy. Ive previously owned two Sony Cybershots, a Fuji Finepix 6 mp, and a Canon S400. Going into this new purchase, I decided to look into Canon as its always impressed me with nice looks (in the Elph line) and great colors. Theyve been doing it for so long, and although other brands have been competing with Canon in features and size, nobody can surpass Canons beautiful palette of crystal-clear colors.
I wanted a camera that is small, yet still has a big screen (been a hot commodity lately). Canon delivers with this model on both fronts, the size is beautifully and intelligently compacted, taking features from past Elph models and fusing them into the most attractive and sensible package.
So:
- Small camera
- Large LCD screen
- Canon-quality photography
- Added manual mode features
- Fixed problems, like Canons past models long lags between flash shots
- New everything: new battery type (larger, flatter), new memory card format (sd rather than CompactFlash = much smaller chip)
Canon has really been brainstorming and working on always bettering their products, and it is beautifully shown in this camera. Kind of like how Apple has been constantly at work adding features to their iPod line, so too has Canon been always improving. And I applaud that.
On: 2005-10-10
Its all I always wanted. Good shots in night, small and light... and i think a good price.
On: 2005-09-26
I used to have a Canon S200 and this is superior in so many ways. Superquick from power on to being ready for picture, terrific pictures (colors are awesome), tiny camera (pocket size), fast scrolling through pics on camera, good red-eye reduction software, great video. In total, I am completely satisfied with this camera. I bought the 300 instead of the 400 as I read that the pictures with the 400 are not as good due to compressing more resolution on the same size CCD. Dont know if this is the case, but the 4 megapixels is plenty for just about everything.
On: 2005-09-22
Ive had this for about half a year now, and I have to say that is really a perfect camera, pros:
- very good image quality
- takes unlimited length movie (well, limited by the size of the memory available)
- LCD is not only large, but the display is much sharper than the Nikon and Casio cameras.
- compact.
- durable. i dropped it once from 4 ft. high (slipped out of my hands) onto some stone steps while on vacation, but it functions no different from before. The only things left to remind me of the incident are that the metal casing is a bit bent and that theres a tiny dent on one corner.
Con:
- the only thing i can think of is that in order to change the shooting mode to manual, you need to press buttons and change from menu, instead of turning the knob like in my old canon S45.
On: 2005-09-16
Ive had some experience with digital cameras. Have handled most if not all of the most popular brands, and I must say that I have found that Canon cameras seem to take the best pictures. Ive used 7 megapixel cameras from Sony and compared it with similar shots from a 3.2mp Canon, and the picture quality is far superior. The flash is also wonderful, Ive taken pictures in pitch black and they come out clear. The SD300 is a wonderful unit in the Canon line, Ive had it for some time now and I cant find anything to complain about other than because of its size it may be easily misplaced. It usually amazes people to see the pictures produced by this pint sized camera, and the camera is extremely sleek and beautiful. It uses SD cards which for me is great as it is compatible with my laptop and other devices. The battery life is also great, even better when you take pictures in the daylight and conserve on flash. The video quality and supported special effects is pretty good too. I would highly recommend the SD300 for anyone seeking a camera that you can easily fit in your pocket, has great battery life, takes beautiful pictures and video.
On: 2005-09-14
I am very impressed with this camera. The only thing is that once you get it, youll need to go out and buy a larger memory card. The one that comes with the camera is only 16MB, therefore you cant really use the video feature without using it all up after 5 seconds. Other than that, its a great buy. I shopped around forever for the best deal on this particular model. The best deal I found was on Amazon with tax included and free shipping. It was definitely worth it to shop around and I am completely satisfied.
On: 2005-09-13
Super easy to use camera. Fits in a pocket, yet gives excellent quality pictures. Couldnt be happier about my purchase.
On: 2005-09-13
I bought this camera to take on vacation and it arrived the day we left. It was easy to learn to use and takes great pictures. I was surprize that the video feature took such clear audio and video. I took pictures from a moving car and action shots of the surf which came out very clear. Im still finding all the features of this great, small, light weight camera.
On: 2005-09-13
great camera - takes quick photos and good video and i can put it in my front jeans pocket.
On: 2005-09-12
This camera is awesome & well worth the fortune I paid for it. Since I have not used all the features yet, and I have not found anything about the camera that I dont like Ill list the features I have used.
1. SIZE - this camera is the perfect size for both front jeans pockets and back pockets. The small size could be a drawback for those with large hands or arthritis, but as I have standard size female hands the small size does not affect my use of the camera (my brother also owns this camera and does not have any problems with size).
2. QUALITY OF PICTURES - the overall quality of my pictures has been really good. The camera has a flashing orange light which flashes after the shutter is pressed and before it closes if the camera was not held relatively steady while the shutter was pressed. While using the action mode, all my pictures have been clear. I have not experienced any of the weird purple shadows that other reviews mention.
3. USE - this camera is very easy to use. Basically point and shoot. Changing between modes is easy once you figure it out (reading the manual is a good idea).
4. DOWNLOADING - once pictures are on the camera, it is very easy to download them to the computer (install the software first) just plug-in and follow the steps.
5. BATTERY - I have not used this camera for extended periods of time, but for just plain old regular use the battery works great.
I really love my SD300. I researched cameras for weeks before deciding on it, and it was the obvious choice (except for the price, but it is well worth it). I highly recommend this camera to anyone wanting a good point-and-shoot digital camera that is easily portable and simple to use.
On: 2005-09-08
After reading the negative reviews and warnings here (and via Google searches), I went ahead and bought this camera. As near as I can tell, it offers the best quality pictures and features for the money. Of course, this will be irrelevant if I encounter the manufacturing defects that are so often described. As for now, Im extremely satisfied with this camera!
On: 2005-09-07
I have had other small digital cameras. This one is the greatest! It is fast, takes great pictures and is small enough to carry with you at all times.
On: 2005-09-07
Canon are good quality cameras. i had the previous snapshot and i love it. My only complaint was that it is thick in width. Now i bought this one for my sister and it is even better. She loves the camera. Very easy to set up, play with and learn the many options that it provides. I recommend it to any person looking to buy a digital camera for a semi-decent price.
On: 2005-09-06
Love the camera, much faster all around than my old Fugi 2400Z.
What you may have read is true about purple fringing, only noticable in bright high contrast situations. The only other downfall is no on demand battery meter, it only lets you know a little before it goes dead. The camera takes great pictures, easy on the eyes menu system and plenty fast w/o superfast memory. If you want better than this in the Canon line skip the SD400(it dosent take better pictures) and go right to the SD500.
On: 2005-08-31
I bought a brand new camera which I expected in a seal box/container. However, I received my camera in an open box, which I think it might be already used or it is a returned item. So far it function ok. I hope it perform well
On: 2005-08-20
The SD300 is a great camera for outdoor, daylight shots. I thought that the indoor shots are pretty grainy in the darker areas of the pictures, but I expected that from a camera of this size. It has a little more trouble focusing than my older Nikon Coolpix 4500, but the SD300 is way faster and smaller. This camera is a little wider than the length of a stick of gum.
On: 2005-08-19
First, I am not a professional photographer. I *am*, however, an enthusiatic amateur, who has taken pictures for 25 years, with a variety of cameras, including SLRs. I am the proud owner of a Canon S230, Canon G1 and Canon G2. We got the Canon S230 because it was very small and took VGA quality movies (ie, 640 x 320 movies), which look good on a TV screen. We lost the S230 and needed a replacment, therefore we got the SD300. What a difference!!! This camera, the SD300, surpasses them All! I have used this camera extensively for a month now. Like the commericals for the old TV show, the Six Milliion Dollar Man, this camera does it faster, better, longer! I chose this over the SD400 as my favorite camera website, [...], thought the SD400 had soft images. I also looked at the SD500, but thought that the smaller size of SD300 camera was better for me (and cheaper to boot!)
What I liked:
0. Great, well exposed pictures that make great prints.
1. Excellent macro -- 3cm! This is better than the SD400 or SD500
2. DIGIC II processor really works well to quickly and accurately get well focused images....way better than the previous DIGIC 1 processor.
3. Movie mode is excellent. The length of the movie (with sound) is only limited by the SD care size
What I did not like:
1. Poor flash. Now, this is not a dig against the SD300 only, rather a comment on the fact that ultracompacts do not function very well for indoor flash photography...although an external flash the HFDC1, is available.
Summary:
This camera is well worth the cost. I got mine from Amazon for 300 bucks and it has performed flawlessly. I would say that it is a good idea to READ THE MANUAL as it will dramatically improve ones pictures. I would also get a high speed SD card so that movies can be easily recorded.
For what its worth, I know that others have had problems with the screen cracking. I have taken this camera on hikes, etc. without any case, just in my pocket, with no problems.
Buy this camera, you wont regret it.
On: 2005-08-18
Ive taken it out with me just about everywhere. It works great. The pictures are good. The only problems Ive had are with red eye inside and some blurriness on a few occasions. I think I was shaking a little on those. The red eye just might be because I didnt have the red eye reduction turned on. Ive also had some weird blue eye effects from time to time. I would recommend purchasing an extra battery. I bought a generic brand on a popular auction website for ~$10 shipped. Using the video feature eats up the battery and so does a lot of LCD use. But Ive taken 100 pictures in a night with average LCD use and a few video clips before the battery gave a low indication. Its rediculously small and light weight. Anybody who has complained about the pictuers not being good enough or the zoom not being good enough is being too picky. Its not designed to be a professional photographers camera. If you just want to take snaps for fun or for posterity then this is an excellent camera because it takes good pictures and you can take it anywhere.
On: 2005-08-15
Great camera for the price, compact size is a huge plus, battery life is above average, and with a larger memory card (512mg) I rarely need to think of charging the camera or emptying the stick. The video quality is surprisingly good, and the photos are everything I would expect and more from a pocket digital camera. Overall, I am thrilled with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone looking to buy a point and shoot digital camera.
On: 2005-08-15
The last camera I ever wanted was a digital....too difficult, too expensive....and then, who wants to be one of those tourists holding their cameras high above their heads and snapping away with wild abandon?
When I retired, my school gave me a check with which I wanted to purchase something memorable....so I caved for the camera. After a little research, I chose the Canon Elph and cleared it with my hi-tech son. The Amazon price (around 300.00) was very competitive.
Why I waited so long to plunge into digital land I now wonder. This is fun...and user friendly...and so easy to carry around. It is also pretty amazing since one can make a short movie; but the best part is the ability to download pictures to the laptop and flood relatives and friends with photos of vacations, babies and cats.
On: 2005-08-09
Great battery life, huge screen with great resolution, easy to use but plentiful shooting modes, small size can be carried in almost any pocket -- even a shirt pocket. Only problem is screen is easily scratched.
On: 2005-08-07
The Canon S400, S410 and S500 have all had serious reliability problems. Read the reviews on this website and you will see that many customers have had a mysterious memory error and/or the lens jamming (E18 error). These problems have shown up at about 18 months on all of these models. Since Canon hasnt fixed the problem in over 3 years since it first started showing up, I wouldnt want to bet that the new SD300 camera wont also turn into a paperweight after 18 months.
Oh - I forgot to mention that Canon will fix the cameras for $150. Nothing like turning a defective camera into a profit center.
On: 2005-08-04
This camera is great! It takes exceptional pictures and is very easy to maneuver. I would recommend this camera to anyone who needs a digital camera. :-)
On: 2005-08-02
This camera is good but there are a few problems. If your a big clutz like me then small camera is prolly not a good idea. There is also an orb problem with this camera. It is not just mine, I know people with this camera and orbs frequently show up in dark pictures and sometimes in other pictures. This was cool for about a day. Other than that I like it, I mean I didnt return it and that says something.
On: 2005-07-19
I loved by canon powershot SD300 4mp digital elph camera so much! I took care of it better than anything i have ever owned. It was never dropped, wet, left in the heat, and never in the hands of someone i didnt trust. However, I only had it for 40 days before i got the infamous "memory card error". Last night i got the error and after a quick google search i see that it is common. I loved that camera so much and boasted about it and all canon products NON-STOP. Starting today though i will make sure that everyone i know will never buy a canon product again. This is extremely disappointing. I spent $400 on a camera that should have lasted YEARS... I wanted it all through college it was my HS grad present to myself. What a waist of $400! :-( I am so upset and so very disappointed in Canon!
On: 2005-07-19
The first SD300 that was shipped to me was defective. I was concerned that maybe the camera was a bad product overall, but I know many others that own Canon Powershots who love them. I decided to give the camera another shot. I exchanged the defective one for a new SD300 and I LOVE the camera. The flash does not have a long range, so indoor shots are very dark, but I love the LCD screen and for the purpose that I use the camera, it is perfect for what I need. It is tiny, and that was an important feature for me. It is sleek looking and the zoom is decent. For basic memorabilia, this camera is perfect. For anyone looking for a nice camera that can fit in your purse and keep track of all the important events in your life, I highly recommend this one! For anyone looking to start their career in photography, there are far better cameras out there to suit your needs.
On: 2005-07-10
Our Canon PowerShot digital camera lens froze and with the E18 error. We rarely used the camera and kept it in perfect condition (locked up and well protected). But one day the lens would not retract, and the display only showed the error code "E18" in the lower left corner. I took out the battery and replaced the flash card with a new one, tried everything else I read about.... There is no reason why my camera should have stopped working, unless it was manufactured to do so...
My friends told me that their PowerShot camera did the same thing, so instead of sending it back and getting another that would soon give another E18 error, we decided to purchase a Sony Camera that works.
Canon should take responsibility for this!
On: 2005-07-07
I am an unibiased photographer (I actually use many different digital cameras, including Canon) but needed an ultra slim compact for leisure travel and everday use. Canon should be ashamed of the SD200/300 series.
Screen: I hear alot about cracked LCDs...well mine is not cracked yet but it probably will be soon. No LCDs do not crack themselves, but when you start with a poor LCD and do not protect it, well...
Although recessed the TFT LCD is left exposed and unprotected and is VERY sensative. The LCD is perhaps the worst in its class, good pixel count and bright and smooth straight on but horrible when at ANY angle or in semi bright light--it whites out around the edges, unlike Sony and Casio models. Lots of pixels do not mean a great image if the LCD is pporly constructed. Canon needs to build in a poly screen protector to improve clarity and protect the LCD. The LCD WILL BREAK if you take this in hot or cold weather or keep it in your pocket...hmmm, makes sense for $300+ and for a portable camera, right? wrong.
Photo quality is average at best. The Casio EX series blew this away in terms of quality (although it is 5 MP)Canon produced horrible purple lines around bright objects, red eye, lack of clarity. Color good though.
Cheap battery door inexcusable, battery life is the lowest ive seen out there for a digtal camera and menus are confusing.
Overall a great waste of $300+ bucks.
On: 2005-07-04
LCD cracked in my pocket 2 weeks after we bought it. Didnt sit on it, didnt bang it into anything. Loved this camera otherwise. Great movie mode, navigation, etc.
I read the reviews ahead of time indicating that it was fragile, so was very careful not to abuse it. I suppose I couldve bought a case or screen protector, but figured it was at least engineered well enough to survive in a pocket. After all, previous cameras and cell phone lcds always have.
Luckily, J&R accepted the return and refunded my money. Feature-wise, I havent yet found anything else I like quite as much as the SD300.
On: 2005-06-03
I purchased this camera to replace a Pentax Optio 330 which got wet and died.
This is a nice little camera, much smaller than the small Pentax that it replaced. It takes very nice pictures. The LCD screen is nice and bright, but beware - it scratches easily. The pictures dont seem as vivid as they did with the Pentax, but they could be considered more realistic with the Canon. The time difference between pushing the shutter button and the picture being taken is much shorter on the Canon.
My only beef that I have is that the auto mode doesnt let me change two settings that I like to tweak.
The first one is the auto-focus selection. The camera focuses on what it thinks you want to focus on (of multiple focus points). It does provide an indication of what it selected. But, you have no way of overriding that in auto mode. You must switch to one of the other modes for that override capability.
The other is the ability to force the flash to turn on, which I use often outdoors for fill-flash. You cannot force the flash on in auto mode. Yet again, you must get out of auto mode to change this setting. You can force the flash to stay off in auto mode, but not force it to go on.
This is a nice camera to take along when you dont want to carry your larger SLR. Just be careful not to scratch that LCD screen.
On: 2005-05-30
This was my first foray into a digital camera that came with much dismay about whether to finally take the plunge. Having been a long time Canon 35mm owner, I looked at this and many other options.
This camera has been a great find. It has a large screen, easy to use controls for point and shoot fun. I used this camera on a recent week long trip to China after having owned it for only one week. I hauled along the 35mm just in case... needless to say that roll of film is still in the camera weeks later. The joy of taking a picture and checking the quality are worth the jump to digital. Colors and clarity were excellent with this camera. Shooting in the mid-quality mode let me get 300 pictures and some short video clips onto the 512 MB card with room to spare. Another added bonus was the size and ease of portability. Movie mode is great, but will eat up your memory card. Go for the 1G card if you want to take a lot of footage. Size and weight were a major concern for me and this does not disappoint. It will fit in the palm of your hand, yet is light and offers the benefits a large screen.
A couple of small downsides include getting used to the focus with this camera, particularly for long distance shots and figuring out which mode will accomplish this task best. Sometimes having too many modes is almost a hassle. It also would be great if this camera had a slightly better way to review the most recent picture, but eventually youll get it. The other twist is the lack of a battery monitor. Keep an extra battery on hand because once the indicator comes up you have about five pics left.
I also picked up the accessory pack with an extra battery. I managed to use the two batteries to take mearly 300 pictures and didnt have to charge over a 9 day vacation. The camera is tough to get out of the holder when on a belt unless theres a strap on the camera.
Quality of prints seems to be excellet. Included software is ok.
Have not experienced any of the cracked screens or error messages other users have reported, but did experience a bit of the condensation problem when going from cold to warm climates. Dont lose your battery charger... made this mistake and a replcement (Canon proprietary) cost $60.
This camera and its prints have made heads turn, particularly from other people who were on the same trip.
On: 2005-05-26
This is my fourth digital camera in the last twelve months. I am constantly buying new ones in the $300-500 price range and selling them on eBay once theyve revealed their flaws to me. Without a doubt, this is the best one Ive had and I think itll stick around for a while. Whats good about it:
1. size and style are great; there is nothing that can be improved upon here;
2. the LCD is a nice size without sacrificing the viewfinder;
3. the controls are very easy to access and understand. Though I prefer the point-and-shoot method, I find myself dabbling with the controls a lot and I take better pictures because of it;
4. the time it takes between opening the camera and taking a photo is almost instantaneous. Theres no warmup period. Likewise, taking several pictures rapidly is a breeze, no lag time at all;
5. in general, the camera is simple to use. Someone with no experience could pick this up and use immediately; and
6. I wish more cameras would use plain ole AA batteries, but since thats probably never going to happen, Canons li-on battery is adequate. It lasts a decent amount of time and charges very quickly. The charger is improved in this line from the S410, which was somewhat bigger and more awkward.
And what I dont like:
1. pictures indoors or after dusk just dont turn out that well, regardless of using the nighttime/indoor settings on the camera. I think that the flash is adequate but after all my digital camera trading, have found this to be a universal weakness. Its annoying;
2. no meter for the battery. You get about five pictures once the indicator tells you the battery is on the way out. Its something a lot of people have complained about and doesnt seem like a tough thing for Canon to fix; and
3. the software that comes with the camera is junk. I hate it. I recommend downloading Picasa, which is fabulous, and free.
As for the LCD cracking, that really sucks and I hope it doesnt happen to me. The obvious answer is to pick up a case and cart it around in that. I havent had any experience with redeye-no more than expected, anyway-or purple fringing. For the price and portability factors, the SD300 cant be beat.
On: 2005-05-25
This is my fourth digital camera in the last twelve months. I am constantly buying new ones in the $300-500 price range and selling them on eBay once theyve revealed their flaws to me. Without a doubt, this is the best one Ive had and I think itll stick around for a while. Whats good about it:
1. size and style are great; there is nothing that can be improved upon here;
2. the LCD is a nice size without sacrificing the viewfinder;
3. the controls are very easy to access and understand. Though I prefer the point-and-shoot method, I find myself dabbling with the controls a lot and I take better pictures because of it;
4. the time it takes between opening the camera and taking a photo is almost instantaneous. Theres no warmup period. Likewise, taking several pictures rapidly is a breeze, no lag time at all;
5. in general, the camera is simple to use. Someone with no experience could pick this up and use immediately; and
6. I wish more cameras would use plain ole AA batteries, but since thats probably never going to happen, Canons li-on battery is adequate. It lasts a decent amount of time and charges very quickly. The charger is improved in this line from the S410, which was somewhat bigger and more awkward.
And what I dont like:
1. pictures indoors or after dusk just dont turn out that well, regardless of using the nighttime/indoor settings on the camera. I think that the flash is adequate but after all my digital camera trading, have found this to be a universal weakness. Its annoying;
2. no meter for the battery. You get about five pictures once the indicator tells you the battery is on the way out. Its something a lot of people have complained about and doesnt seem like a tough thing for Canon to fix; and
3. the software that comes with the camera is junk. I hate it. I recommend downloading Picasa, which is fabulous, and free.
As for the LCD cracking, that really sucks and I hope it doesnt happen to me. The obvious answer is to pick up a case and cart it around in that. I havent had any experience with redeye-no more than expected, anyway-or purple fringing. For the price and portability factors, the SD300 cant be beat.
On: 2005-05-24
I strongly recommend not buying this camera. What you get in features, you lose in robustness. The battery cover is plastic and flimsy. The worst is the large LCD screen - there is absolutely *no* protection against minor knocks. My screen cracked after two weeks and I honestly have no idea how it happened (and have to pay big money for repairs)
I wish there would be a digital camera that is as robust and well designed as my iPod....
On: 2005-05-23
I had mine for about 3 weeks before my LCD screen cracked as well. If you find that it is hard to believe, (...). The camera, itself, takes good quality pictures, but the LCD screen is much too fragile. I sent my camera in and they sent me a bill of $114.05. I had heard from other people that they were not willing to waive the fee, but I decided to give it a try anyways. I simply asked the representative why my camera was not covered under warranty and immediately she says, "Okay.. this will be a ONE TIME free repair". So, if your LCD screen was cracked.. send it in, give them a call (nicely), and theyll fix it for free. Once I get it back, Im selling it and buying a different camera. =)
On: 2005-05-18
I am giving this five stars because I cant give 4.5. I had the camera for about a month and the screen became bluishly hued. I guess the Lcd might have cracked. I sent it to Canon and got it repaired for free. For a very compact camera,, it takes really good pictures. The manual mode with a good adjustment is adequate. The pictures are a little on the soft side. Night pictures are decent, but the camera really shines on cloudy days. The flash is okay for the most part. 4MP suprisingly takes really good pictures, I was skeptic gettig this camera because of the resolution, but it does look amazing. I love the macro mode a lot. The camera itself is sexy, on par with my ipod. Its light in the pocket but feels substantial when held. You wont appreciate the size until you hold it. It fits you pockets easily. If you want the best in ultracompact/best picture quality, you cant go wrong with the Canon SD series
On: 2005-04-30
I recently purchased the SD300 and have not been overly pleased with it. I am a confessed shutter bug so my quality standards are somewhat higher than most. Here are the things I like about the camera:
1) Nice look and feel - metal outside and nice weight
2) Compact size - one of the smallest with zoom and the feature set
3) Separate battery charger is very small and easy to take with you.
4) Uses standard USB cable to transfer directly from camera to computer
Things I dont like:
1) Pictures are definitely on the soft side
2) Very hard to get a decent picture in moderately low light without the flash. I suppose it is using a very slow shuttle speed.
3) I would like a battery meter instead of indication your battery is almost dead
and last but not least and the reason I returned it
4) the LCD is basically unprotected and since it is very large, I felt I would break it like many other reviewers have. I frankly do not believe the LCD breaks by itself, but since there is no protection on it, simply grabbing it a little hard seems like it could damage the display.
I want to thank all the previous reviewers that made me aware of this issue. There are many other cameras that have unprotected LCDs too, not just Cannons. However, there are also many that protect them with a plastic or glass cover.
Im trading the SD300 in for the Casio Z55 which is the same size, lighter in weight, 5 Megapixels and equivalent functionality. The jury is still out the picture quality of the Z55.
On: 2005-04-29
I am pleasantly surprised by how small it is. It is about the size of a deck of cards. But the best of all is that it does everything I want and more.
Great
- Very Sharp and rich pictures as well as video
- Great real time video in a small package - I dont bring my camcorder anymore!
- Fast focusing - no delay
- Fast processing and saving to memory
Not so great
- Metal body is slippery - use wrist strap at all times
- Software menu to adjust manual setting
- Battery life is short (about 100 shots) especailly when using flash and shooting video
This camera is for my wife and she loves it. I cant wait for a prosumer version for myself!
On: 2005-04-27
Think twice before buying the Canon SD 200, SD 300 or any SD series camera. The LCD displays are large but extremely fragile. Mine was cracked on the second day. It was NOT dropped or abused.
I also have a Canon S110 and have taken just over 5,000 photos with it since Christmas 2001 without any problems. Apparently, in an attempt to make the new models light and the displays large, Canon sacrificed durability.
In some cases Canon will "waive" the LCD repair cost. In others they demand $165 for the repair.
Canon repaired mine as a favor. And Ive since purchased a da Protector Model 104 - LCD protector. A thin plastic shield that fits well over the LCD window and is stiff enough to shield the LCD from any contact.
On: 2005-04-25
i upgraded my sd110 to this camera...im happy with my choice..
i chose this camera for its better optical zoom and more MPs..and when i received it i was happy to see that it was a thinner and smaller camera than the sd110..which i thought to be small enough
the sd300 also offers a 2" viewing screen which makes it very cool.
its a well built and designed camera in my opinion...it was a bit pricey...but all in all..worth it i guess...it was more of a buy than splurging on the sd400 in my opinion...which didnt offer enough to make me spend that extra money..
On: 2005-04-19
Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.
Now that Ive sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?
First off, lets see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.
The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:
-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.
-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens
-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)
-Much better movie mode than previous Canons
-Small light, easy pocketability
On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:
-Few manual controls.
-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.
-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)
-More purple fringing issues than other Canons
-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace
-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canons warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturers. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!
If you dont need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canons A510 or A520 if you dont need an SD model.
If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?
Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they dont mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesnt plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:
Features unique to the SD500:
-1/4 inch thicker
-30% heavier
-50% longer flash range
-14% more battery life
The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:
-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light
-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera
-USB 2.0 High Speed support
The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:
Pros:
-Beautiful, eye catching design
-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models
-New Dig!c 2 image processor
-Excellent Movie Mode
-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people
-Excellent, intuitive manual controls
-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions
-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards
Cons (most of these are minor quirks):
-Some purple fringing problems
-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times
-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs
-No RAW support
-Few manual controls
If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.
You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.
On: 2005-04-18
Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.
Now that Ive sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?
First off, lets see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.
The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:
-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.
-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens
-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)
-Much better movie mode than previous Canons
-Small light, easy pocketability
On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:
-Few manual controls.
-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.
-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)
-More purple fringing issues than other Canons
-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace
-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canons warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturers. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!
If you dont need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canons A510 or A520 if you dont need an SD model.
If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?
Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they dont mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesnt plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:
Features unique to the SD500:
-1/4 inch thicker
-30% heavier
-50% longer flash range
-14% more battery life
The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:
-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light
-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera
-USB 2.0 High Speed support
The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:
Pros:
-Beautiful, eye catching design
-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models
-New Dig!c 2 image processor
-Excellent Movie Mode
-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people
-Excellent, intuitive manual controls
-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions
-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards
Cons (most of these are minor quirks):
-Some purple fringing problems
-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times
-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs
-No RAW support
-Few manual controls
If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.
You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.
On: 2005-04-17
I love this camera. The big LCD screen is great to work with. As long as you have a reasonably fast SD card you can record video up to the full length of the card (although as with all still cameras recording video, the image is a bit jumpy & shaky, and you cant change focus while recording). It writes pictures extremely quickly -- little or no delay (especially compared to my previous, 5-year-old digital camera). And its absolutely tiny!
Be warned, though. The flash is very weak. And its easy to get your finger in the way of the flash. This means a fairly high percentage of my indoor shots are a little disappointing. My SD300 also seems to have more trouble with contrast than my old Kodak DC280. It seems to get that "washed out" white more often.
Youll be making some tradeoffs with the SD300, but I love it and strongly recommend it.
On: 2005-04-03
I bought a Canon SD300 and my girlfriend a SD200. My LCD cracked for no apparent reason 3 weeks after purchase. I took the camera out of its case to take a picture and the LCD was white with a purple blob in the center. The LCD was dead.
My girl friends SD200 broke 3 days after mine, 1 month after she got it.
Canon agreed to repair the LCDs for FREE "as a favour to me" even if the LCD is not covered under the Canon warantee according to them.
I translate this Canon Favour to me into : "We at Canon KNOW there is a defect in the SD200/300 units, but we wont admit it. However, we will make the repair"
Ive seen numerous people saying that they had to pay $200 for the repair. Refuse to pay anything and take Canon to small claims court if required.
If you have not yet bought the SD200 / SD 300, look for a different kind of camera. The LCD on these Cameras is PURE GARBAGE ! CRAP !
IF AFTER READING THE 1 STAR REVIEW SHOWING NUMEROUS BROKEN LCD ISSUES YOU STILL WANT TO BUY A SD300....DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AN GO TO GOOGLE AND DO A SEACH ON: SD300 + BROKEN + LCD....AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES YOU MIGHT JUST CHANGE YOUR MIND...IF YOU DONT...I HOPE YOULL HAVE BETTER LUCK THE US...
PS. If you are wondering...I did not sit on hit, I did not hit it or drop it at any moment.
On: 2005-03-29
This camera is great for packing in your bag/pocket and always having it when you need it. I was always kicking myself for missing great shots when we were out somewhere, and I was getting annoyed at carrying our bulky Olympus whenever we were on vacation. This camera is the perfect size to tuck in the diaper bag or in my pocket, and Ive been able to get some great shots because of that. The camera is easy to operate-- my friends mom was impressed because she is intimidated by digital cameras, but had no problem with this one.
Like several of the reviewers have said, this isnt SLR quality. Its on par with digital cameras in this range, and I have gotten great pictures for our website and when printed in 4x6" size got great quality. We printed a few pictures in 8x10" and did have some graininess. The camera is great for what I bought it for-- getting good, spontaneous photos.
If you buy this camera, I would recommend buying a bigger memory card-- the one that comes with it is too small. Also, buy an extra battery-- otherwise, you will have to wait several hours while yours charges. I always have a spare charged battery in my bag, and that way I wont have to miss any shots.
On: 2005-03-24
I wanted a small camera, and boy, is this small. I am no camera geek so I am happy with the functionality of this thing. I read the negative reviews on this site and was a bit skeptical but went ahead with it anyway because it has everything I wanted. Let me share my experience with the things people have complained about:
1) Pictures are clear, not blurry
2) No fringing or purple outlines on the picture
3) No soft edges
4) LCD is fine. I dont see how it will break by itself. I think people tend to sit down while this is in their back pocket
5) Battery life is decent. Love the fact that I do not need to buy batteries for this
6) size is great if you want to use this all the time
On: 2005-03-23
Coming from a Casio EX-Z40, I can definatley say I prefer the sd300. This camera is actually smaller than the Z40 which is hard to believe. The picture quality is ASTONASHING! The battery life, although, is subpar compared to the Z40. This is one of the only cameras to support high spead SD cards for lightning fast recording and playback. For those who are claiming the screen "just cracked", my response to that is take care of the damn thing. If you are going to spend hundreds of dollars on it you treat it like gold. Whenever it is in my pocket, it is alone, no keys, no cell phone... nothing! If anyone has any questions about this camera feel free to e-mail me at hhersch9000@gmail.com.
On: 2005-03-09
I really love my Canon sd300, I love the big lcd, the fast response and the great photos it produce, I always carry it with me in my bag, never a day its not in my bag, except if my kids wants to borrow it. This is my 5th digital cam and this is my favorite because of its small size.
I really recommend this, in fact my friend got one because of me and she brings it with her all the time. We usually get confused which one is hers and which one is mine :) So far Ive been using it since November 2004 and no cracked lcd whatsoever.
On: 2005-03-01
This camera is junk. The LCD screen cracked within days under normal use. No abusive use, no drops, screen is just too flimsy. Whats the point of having a small camera if you have to carry it around in a vault to keep it from breaking? I can not recommend this camera.
On: 2005-02-27
This is my first digital camera and I love it so far! I have only taken pictures and downloaded them onto my computer, but they look good. The zoomed pictures have been fuzzy, but I think its because I didnt use the digital zoom. The camera was also really easy to figure out by reading the manual. Ive heard Sonys are more complicated. The only downside is that the battery runs low fast. Dont leave it in the camera when not in use. OVerall, its awesome and small :-)
On: 2005-02-27
I loved this camera, for the first two weeks. The, after a day in the moderate cold (above freezing), the LCD cracked -- which some quick web searching reveals is a common problem with this model. Ill be sending mine back to Canon for repair (at their expense, I hope, though LCD cracks are in the words of the warranty a sign of "abuse"), and I look forward to its return. Its a wonderfully tiny, very fast camera that takes good snapshots and movies. Id give it five stars were it not for its fragility.
On: 2005-02-18
After doing endless research I settled on this great purchase. I had read numerous reviews discussing picture quality, easy of use and sleek compact styling. I am happy to report that I have found everything to be true! So far its perfect!
On: 2005-02-15
Purchased this camera two weeks ago and am delighted. Great quality pictures and video. It is true that you really do need to read the instructions, but even playing with the knobs and dials on this little wonder is educational and it is not difficult to figure out most things. In addition, the camera comes with a zillion cheat sheets and instruction books in multiple languages. I bought a Sandisk Extreme III SD card so as not to have to worry about memory capacity, and the accessory pack including the leather case. I keep it on my belt and I have been taking pictures of the kids, etc. easily where I would never have done so before. And the movie mode--just fantastic. Wish the viewfinder were off center a little but it is not that big a deal. Other than that, if you are a professional photographer this might not be your ideal camera, but I have already used it much more than I was using my old Kodak DC290 and I would buy it again in a minute.
On: 2005-02-08
I am very happy with this camera due to its small size and several different shooting modes. However I noticed that in low light conditions if you do not use the flash the pictures are somewhat blurry, even if you change the settings around. It appears that the camera needs the flash to focus properly. Red-eye is a major problem with this camera even with the red-eye reduction shooting mode. So be prepared to fix a lot of red-eyes out of your pictures.
Also my LCD cracked for no apparent reason. I took the camera out of its case to take a picture and the LCD was white with a purple blob in the center. I was unable to view anything on the LCD or even change the settings. I mailed the camera back to Canon for repairs, which takes about 3 weeks and as you can imagine it is not covered under warranty. The cost for the repair is close to $200. I did some research on the internet and found that this is a common problem. I really like the SD300 but am rather unhappy with the LCD repair costs and problems.
On: 2005-02-06
I bought the SD300 for the holidays, but the LCD broke when I pressed the menu button on the back. This happened three weeks after purchasing the camera, and Canons warranty wont cover the problem. To fix the camera, the cost is a whopping $155.00! I consider this a defective design and I certainly do not recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2005-01-31
I have owned and tried out 5 digicams within 5 years ranging from :
1. Nikon Coolpix 800 - First camera, good pix but simply too big, sold on ebay
2. Canon S200 - Small, 2megpixels only but good backup camera
3. Canon S45 - not small at all but good features, sold on ebay
4. Nikon Coolpix 5400 - returned within 1days from Costco because of too complex manual and old technology (introduced 2 years ago)
5. Canon SD300 - Smallish and good image and excellent video
Whoever want to be professional, please go get digital SLR. Any so called prosumer digital camera ($400+) is not going to solve your problem. Please ask yourself if you are taking pictures in auto or semi-auto mode 90% of the time or not. If so, any so called features is a joke.
This one offers simply but enough features to satisfy you needs. Good picture and excellent video. However, please do not abuse the use of video mode unless you have multi-GB SD card. The video is good but the file size is way tooooooo big.
On: 2005-01-29
This is a pretty good camera with some drawbacks, but apparently CANON has a lens problem that I wish I had known about before I got to Cancun. The Lens jams in the open position and then all you get is a small "E18" message before the camera shuts down. Resetting the camera has not worked. Apparently this is a continuing problem from other models so do your research. Hopefully Amazon will credit me, since I bought this as a Christmas gift for my wife. I should be okay till January 31st, otherwise it would be off to the repair shop...and that is as good as buying a reconditioned item for full price. Wait and see if others report this problem.
On: 2005-01-26
OK...
I was a little nervous based on some of the reviews here - so here goes ( I Have had this for a couple days now)
Size:
Absolutely tiny - unbelievable how small these things have gotten. I am convinced that the role of SLRs and regular film cameras are dead. I did not use my SLR because it was big and bulky - this thing will sit in your pocket and not even be noticed. Still functional easy to press buttons and use the camera. Very happy.
Camera Usability:
I came from a previous Canon S45 - so I was familar the interface which really hasnt changed much in the last three years. It has a 2 inch lcd which is very bright and nice to look at. If you know canon - no need to read the book. If you are new to canon - it is pretty intuitive - so again Very Happy.
Camera Picture Quality:
It is a 4MP camera and appears to take pictures every bit as good as my old canon s45. Zoom is 3x and it comes with all the standard manual settings - including an underwater setting - which is pretty exciting - since I will be taking my camera to Hawaii in a couple of days and am interested to see how that works (apparently takes some of the blue out of the water to show the real colors of the aquatic life) - and yes I ordered the optional waterproof case. (Pretty expensive - but makes this very functional for beach, pool, snorkling and raining - NOT for scuba.) - Very happy
Camera Speed:
Shutter is pretty darn quick - easily as fast as my old Canon EOS Elan II - especially with the flash off - wow - very fast - and I am using standard Sandisk memory (Not the ULTRA stuff - which may even make it faster) - Unbelievably happy
Video Quality
OK - This is what sold me on this guy - you can now take 640 x 480 resolution video on this little guy - pretty hard to believe. AND you can take unlimited up to the size of the memory card (so for a 1GB card that is about 9 minutes at the highest resolution). This was one of my biggest wants on the s45 - you were limited to about 3 minutes and half the quality. I have personally maxed out a 1GB standard Sandisk card with no problems - pretty cool! Unlike another reviewer I was able to not only play the video on my computer - I could do it from my hard drive or the card sitting in my card reader. Video looked pretty good for something this small. The other cool option was a 60 frame / second video option. If you wanted to record sporting events (swing of the bat) this is pretty cool - you get 60 individual frames for each second of action - you capture everything. - Happy - and very cool.
Battery / Charging
Not much to say here - have yet to put the camera through its paces - but the battery seems to do pretty well - and the charger is tiny to match the camera - nice for traveling.
Overall - very cool - very fun and excited to have it! My wife loves it - and she hates technology - she called it cute - and something she could shove in her purse - so it was a winner for her as well. Only downsides might be their is no compression for video - so it burns through memory extremely quick -
I will be back in a week after a hard week of taking pictures of water and waves and can update how she did when I get back!!
*************UPDATE*****************
OK - little slow to write my update - but have to say this thing is a champ.
I took two SD cards on my trip - 1 1GB and 1 512MB. I filled them both with pictures and video. The battery was great - every time I used the camera - the battery lasted all day no problems. Quality of the pictures was as expected. Underwater case - worked great. Underwater pictures were outstanding using the "underwater" mode on the camera (Takes out some of the blue).
The video was great - I used all three modes (high quality, regular quality and internet quality). We ended up using this more than our camcorder - (because it is so convenient).
Have to say - after a month now - love this thing - and use it all the time because of the size!
On: 2005-01-25
I have owned an S400 Canon and have been very happy until it recently died. So, I sent it to Canon for repair and decided to go ahead an upgrade to the latest/smallest version of the Canon compact camera.
The size, feel, weight and video on this camera are incredible. I wouldnt want it any smaller and the video far exceeds the quality and duration of the S400. However, I had over a third of the photos come across as blurry and the image wasnt quite as clear as this cameras predecessor.
I am not a pro photographer and use this strictly for fun/recreational use. I dont have the "serious" camera but only one everyday camera.
I think Canon is close to a perfect product but needs more work.
With the success of the S400 and S410 versus the number of negative comments against the SD300 (and quite a few positive), it is clear the Canon gave up a little too much to compress the footprint of this camera.
On: 2005-01-16
Moving up from my Minolta Dimage x20, I wanted a smaller camera with greater megapixels and better video. The SD 300 gives you that and more. My challenge is what I took for granted. You can not zoom while taking video with the Canon as you can with the x20. The was a big downer. Also you can only date stamp a photo in the postcard mode (1600 x1200). Again I could date stamp all photos at any quality level with the X20. Since I store and view all of my pictures on computer, visible dates are important.
The SD300 is good little camera. Just know what you like and make sure you get it when looking to upgrade.
On: 2005-01-14
I have had the camera 3 days...taking great pics and video at least what I can fit on the ridiculously small 16mb SD card that it comes with. I am no professional photographer but to me its great. Tiny not much bigger than a deck of cards, well placed controls, easy to use. Lots of options/functionality! Big LCD very sharp disply. Works great in the auto mode! As for the review of the burry pics, purple fringing, red eye...it is non exsistant for me.
On: 2005-01-14
No matter how good a camera is, it wont take a good picture if it is sitting in a desk somewhere, which is where my high end SLR sat occasion after occasion due to its size. The SD300 takes incredibly good pictures for its size. If you are going to the Grand Canyon or an indoor wedding where you need a powerful flash, take your SLR. Take the SD300 with you for nearly everthing else.
On: 2005-01-12
I bought this camera and Iam very happy
Pros:
Excellent Pictures and Video Same miniDV quality
very small and stylish
Great Flash better than s500 & sony p150
sharp 2" lcd screen
Cons:
The little purple and little soft edges
I highly recommended this camera for advanced and novice users
On: 2005-01-12
Unlike the otehr colorful reviews, this is anything but a paid-for advertisement. I bought this camera in December and was hugely disappointed in its performance. I am aware this is not a high-end camera meant for professional photography, but I tell you the truth a disposable camera would have been better. I have experience with many digital cameras (many of the Sonys are my favorites) and I can tell you from that experience that this one is haggard.
A month ago I attended a holiday party at the White House only to regret not testing this new camera before I got there. It has one fundamental and unmistakable flaw: it takes horribly blurry pictures. 1 in 10 of the pictures I took turned out OK. The rest were so badly marred that I would have been MUCH better off with a disposable $3 camera than this one.
Do yourself a favor and research a little bit more before settling with this one. I highly recommend looking at any sony that comes equipped with a carl zeiss lens - those are usually most reliable.
Good luck.
On: 2005-01-07
The reason I obtained this camera was as replacement to the S410.
At first glance I was ecstatic because of the size, but playing with it, I soon came to realize I mised the easy functionality of the S410. The abilty to change different modes from a click of the button.
A mode that I had to hae with the new camera was photo stich. I thought that the SD300 didnt provide this, but after toying a bit I found it, and now I must say I am completely in love with the camera! Its wonderful for these reasons.
1) The quickness of ho everything works. I.e. - menus, shooting, uploading.
2) The easy menu access. I like it that there are no buttons to push other than the func. and/or menu. (A problem that I had with the S410 was if I put it in my pocket, a different mode came out each time)...so to continue
3) Size/portability. The camera is just about the size of my cell phone. I can carry it in my pocket anywhere I go.
4) The quality of the photos. Pristine.
This is truely a wonderful portable camera for anyone who is a point and shoot fanatic!
The macro mode is a great new addition to give those wonderful close up shots.
If you love to shoot, you will love the SD300.
On: 2005-01-07
I simply dont think you can find a better camera when you compare the size, construction quality, capability and price. It is so small, I have difficulty holding it. I guess thats why Panasonic came out with a ultra-compact camera with image stabilization. The image quality is good but definitely not great. The lens is only so big so the image can only be so good. The best part is that you can buy a weather-proof case from Canon designed specifically for the SD300 and SD200. Even with the case, the camera is still smaller than my Leica Digilux. Both camera and water proof case were made in Japan. I noticed that a number of Pentax Optios are now made in China. Nothing wrong with that but I think the Japanese made product still maintains a slight edge over its Chinese made equivalent. All in all, if you are looking for a super small camera to throw in a purse or pocket, I would highly recommend the SD300.
On: 2005-01-05
This is the perfect camera for folks who are not professional photographers.
* The controls are very simple and are easy to master.
* The camera is FAST, both for start up and for focus/exposure. * The focus is excellent and is very clever--the camera seems to have a relatively smart algorithm for identifying the subject(s) of the shot.
* It takes fairly high quality movies at a fast frame rate (30 fps). You cannot store your daughters recital, but you can capture several minutes of high-quality video on a 512 MB memory card.
* The camera senses orientation: if you turn the camera on end to take a "portrait" orientation shot, the picture is automatically rotated in the camera memory.
* The pictures are fabulous.
* The software is particularly easy to use. Instead of managing your camera like a disk, you can set up the software to automatically download all of the images on the camera to "My Pictures" (or any other folder) when the camera is plugged into the computer.
* The camera is VERY small.
On the downside:
* The default memory card (16 MB) is ridiculously small--you will want to order a much larger card (256 MB+) immediately.
Great camera!!!
On: 2004-12-30
This camera is everything I was looking for in a camera. It is SMALL, easy to use (I never even had to read the users manual to figure the bad boy out), the pictures and video are beautiful!
The screen is a great size too. Everyone I know is jealous.
On: 2004-12-29
I actually waited for Canon SD300 to come out for about 3 months. I got it as soon as it was out. The feature set is great. I like taking pictures in the manual mode. That way I have control over ISO settings, exposure, white balance etc.
The picture quality is fine. Not over the edge but decent. The biggest complaint I have with this camera is the red eye problem. The problem persists even when you turn on the red eye reduction. If your subject is looking right into the camera, you will get those devil eyes almost every time. Ive had other digital cameras where I never had to turn on red eye. And with this camera even when red eye reduction is on. The results are terrible. I am truely disappointed at this. Canon!! Youre better than this...you couldve done a better job!!
On: 2004-12-29
Great size, great features, fantastic movie mode. The image quality is okay - not great, and the red eye function doesnt work. If the red eye function worked, then I would rate it a 5 star.
On: 2004-12-28
Ive owned several digital cameras in the past, including Olympus, Canon, and Pentax. I took a chance on buying the Pentax this year, becuase I didnt know much about the quality of the photos of this brand. The Pentax S4i is fantastic for its size, weight, and large LCD screen. BUT, for picture quality Pentax S4i is only good when you take pictures outside or have a lot of light in the room. If there is even the slightest lack of light, the grain is easily apparent. Its like looking at a picture with sand on it.
With Canon, it doesnt grain as easily as Pentax. When it does have grain, its smoother - less noticable (not sandy like Pentax). The picture quality is better than before. The flash is noticably more powerful. And no more long lag times in snapping a photo, which was a problem from previous Elphs. Previous Elphs every now and then took its sweet time trying to focus in-and-out before it feels ready to take the picture.
The size is slightly smaller than the Pentax S4i, which is amazing to me. Its not as light as Pentax, but I dont mind it a bit (whatever makes the photo better). Lastly another significant change is that Canon finally uses the SD Memory Card instead of the Compact Flash (which processes faster than the usual Compact Flash).
Overall, it is the best point-and-shoot digital camera I found thats out there. If you want to protect this camera, buy a very padded case (youll be glad you did). When I had the Pentax at first, I was lucky to find this light blue/gray Samsonite case that I found at Target that fits the camera perfectly and is very padded (without being huge). I dont know if they sell it anymore, but Ive accidently dropped my Pentax down the stairs before and it was perfectly fine.
On: 2004-12-24
SD300 is the latest Elph from Canon. It is slimmer and loaded with more features than ever before.
Pros,
1. Good picture quality for a super-compact camera.
2. Priced right.
3. Excellent feature set.
4. Large LCD screen.
5. Cool metallic body.
6. Excellent package including a smart world charger.
7. Uses industry standard SD cards, not propreitary memory sticks or xD.
8. 3x is the right zoom for most people.
9. Intuitive interface and solid build quality.
Cons,
1. No manual controls yet on Elph.
2. Awkward to hold compared to older Elphs (No place put your right thumb when taking pics).
3. Battery life is below average.
4. Another costly & propreitary battery from Canon.
5. 4MP is a waste of money for most people, 3MP is the right number.
Its hard to get very exicted about the latest Elph if you already own one, there isnt much new. However if you are looking for your first, the SD200/SD300 are an excellent choice.
On: 2004-12-16
I had this camera for a few weeks now. Absolutely love it. The sleekest thing about this camera is the size. I can put it in my pocket and bring it anywhere I want. Its a great point-and-shoot camera. Quality of pictures are as good as my S30. The high resolution movie is also amazing. If you are planning to get this camera, I would recommend 2 accessories:
1. Canon Digital Elph Accessories kit for SD300 and SD200. This kit includes a spare battery, a sturdy case (just fits the camera, has a belt clip and handstrap, plus a steel neck strap).
2. Sandisk 1GB SD card. Even though this is not the Ultra II highspeed card, I can still use it to shoot videos with the camera.
On: 2004-12-14
This camera is simply amazing. I suggest you buy this over any other camera on the ultracompact market.
I really did my research to find this camera. I looked in about every place on the net that sells cameras, and I chose this one.
Pros
-ULTRACOMPACT
-Huge LCD
-Spectacular "set-up" photos, like portraits and closeups.
-Great spontaneous photos, like quickies
-Read/Write time (with the included sd) is AMAZING
-Startup time is under 1 second (excellent)
-Canons photo manual is very helpful and nice
-Included software is pretty darn good. (Im sure you could find better, but I use it because of its simplicity.)
-Manual settings is very good for an ultracompact
-Battery life is good, and it charges in 90 minutes
-Switching from Photo to Review (and vice versa) is VERY fast
-Excellent video mode for a camera of this caliber
Cons
-No battery life meter (that I can tell)
-Sort of flimsy av-out flap
The Pros heavily outweigh the cons, no doubt.
Overall, I would seriously recommend this camera to anyone who wants:
1. A small, lightweight camera they can take everywhere
2. Nice, big prints from an ultracompact
3. Enough funtions to get the job done.
Buy this.
On: 2004-12-13
My priorities when shopping for a camera were:
Small size, large screen, movie mode with sound, at least 3X optical zoom, good image quality.
The SD 300 delivered on all counts. It is really small- I know that Casio makes a thinner camera, but I have found the SD300 to be a great size when you dont want to lug something big around.
The screen is large, (2") for its size and has good resolution.
I have recorded a couple of movie clips, and at low res I could conceivably record for almost an hour on the 512 meg SD card I got at Costco for $54. The included 16 meg card really doesnt hold enough shots to be useful.
The optical zoom is the standard 3X. Like most people I shut off the digital zoom because I like my pictures to look good, not like garbage. Dont digitally zoom, just optically zoom and crop the picture with photo editing software.
I have loved the pics Ive taken with this camera. The colors and resolution looked great. I find I often shoot using the "children and pets" mode for the high speed shutter, and turn off the flash. Not that the flash is too much, except way up close when ANY camera would give blown out pics- I just prefer using natural light when I can, and the good low-light capabilities of the camera allow for it.
As others have mentioned, a battery charge indicator to give advance notice the battery is going to poop out would be nice. A camera this small cant have a large battery, so you have to be conservative. I turn off the imaging beam, and that seems to make a big difference in extending battery life. Another feature that I miss compared to my Olympus is a button that takes you directly to viewing mode. I find that I blast back and forth between shooting mode and play mode to make sure I got the shot I wanted, and that slide switch isnt going to last forever.
Overall I recommend this camera to anyone who wants a lot of features and quality in a small package.
On: 2004-12-10
This is my fourth camera from the Canon Powershot line, I use the high end SLR Canons professionally but carry a small camera with me for that once-in-a-life time shot that might appear; typically I use one of the Canon Powershot line as the software is familiar to me and theyre rugged. I used the S40 for a year, the S50 for a month or so, and then the Powershot Pro1, all excellent cameras for their intentions.
However, the SD300 will run rings around all of them, pointedly it has the instant on and instant auto-focus and immediate shooting that pros demand, but get only with the high-end SLR cameras, features that are sorely missing from the Powershot line. The digital lag problem, typical in low end cameras, culminated in the Powershot Pro1 wherein the camera is un-useable for motion shots or in poor light (its still-life capabilities are excellent though). Now Canon has stuck their high end DIGIC processor and software in this cellphone-tiny Elph, since it has the same processor as the 20D, it feels closer to it in performance than it does to the rest of the Powershot line; indeed this is the first Powershot to have such a processor: It shoots sport-photo fast, ie 5 frames at full resolution every two seconds with enough of a buffer to get a dozen or so shots before it slows down, each shot appears immediately on its large screen, another first. It has an onscreen 9 point focusing (with green squares) that is user modifiable for the person-in-the-corner shot. The flash is so good it should be an attachment: shoots six different ways depending upon light conditions. My large hands had no trouble at all with the buttons, biggest problem I anticipate is forgetting its in my pocket and sending it through the laundry, its that thin!
Now for the feature that none of the high end Canons have, including the multi-thousand dollar digital SLR line, and the other Powershots can only approximate: a 60 fps movie mode, Holy Cow! Shooting good quality slow motion movies with this credit-card-with-a-lens, what a hoot, it also shoots normal speed 30 fps for a 640x480 movies of surprising liquid-like evenness, there is no jerking even with rapidly moving objects. So not only is it a stand by still camera, if you are a film maker who needs a light weight movie camera around for that once-in-a-lifetime scene stick this one in your wallet. Home run for Canon.
On: 2004-12-08
So the reviews usually hype up things that end up not being that important afterall, but I just got this camera and it really does do all those things they said it would.
The movie mode is amazing. I got a 1GB card and this doubles as my videocam.
It can take really close up photos, which makes it very useful for work.
Photo quality and color is great, as with all Canons Ive used in the past.
The burst mode really does work. I can take 10 photos in a few seconds while moving. I tested in this in the shop and got clear photos of the entire showroom.
My other top choices were the CasioZ55 (gorgeous, but movie mode not as good), and the Pentax Option S5 (strange coloring, didnt like the last optio I bought for fathers day). In the end this Canon was the best choice by a slight margin and I got it for an amazing price.
On: 2004-12-02
If you are looking for a 4 megapixel camera that can do it all and also be super portable, the Canon SD300 is it. My comments go double if you are considering the SD300 because of its very compact size. When looking at its competitors, be sure to take into account the overall travel package including the battery charger, much like you would when deciding on portability of a laptop computer. For example, the Pentax Optio 4si and 5si cameras are about the same size and a touch lighter in weight, but they only come with bulky charging cradles that also need a bulky A/C cord. The SD300s charger, by contrast, is very compact; no bigger than the camera itself, and its plug swings out so you dont need any cord. The overally travel package of camera and charger is like carrying two tins of Altoids mints. In fact, they will probably fit inside the tins. Very portable. The cameras performance is great. I considered, besides the Pentaxes, the Lumix FX7, the Sony T1 and Casio Z55, but I bought the Canon and am very satisfied with it, even though other cameras come in 5 mpxls whereas this one is 4 mpxls. Do I wish it had 5? Of course. But I find 4 mpxls is more than adequate for my needs and rarely if ever do I wish I had more. You can easily go to 8x10 prints with 4 megapixels.
On: 2004-12-01
First of all, for anyone looking for a camera this tiny, youd better understand that there will be compromises. Battery life, image quality, etc. This camera does not take pictures nearly as nice as my Powershot G5. I never expected it to.
But for a super compact camera, its absolutely amazing. Things that I really love:
1) This camera is FAST. It starts up, and is ready to shoot, in about 1 second. My G5 takes about 3. In between pictures, you hardly have to wait at all. The new Digic 2 operating system is very snappy.
2) The image quality, especially outside, is wonderful. There is some purple fringing that is common to a small lens, but youll only see it where a bright edge meets a dark edge. And most of the time, itll never appear.
3) The movie mode ROCKS. Imagine, shooting 640x480 at 30fps with NO TIME LIMIT! I bought a 1 gig 66x SD card, and can shoot until the card is full. At full res, 1 gig will hold 8.5 minutes, which is actually pretty amazing considering this is a tiny compact camera. You can also shoot 60fps, for slow motion FX, but that is limited to 360x240.
4) its SMALL. Finally a camera that I can carry with me. Its about 30% thinner I think than the S400 S500 series cameras.
5) Simplicity. Few buttons, and a very well laid out menu system. I never even cracked open the manual, no need. Its so easy to use.
All in all, Im very pleased with this camera, and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a super-small camera that takes great pictures.
Dont expect it to get great battery life, especially if youre shooting with the LCD and Flash all the time.
This thing is SOOO cool.
On: 2004-12-01
If you are looking for a 4 megapixel camera that can do it all and also be super portable, the Canon SD300 is it. My comments go double if you are considering the SD300 because of its very compact size. When looking at its competitors, be sure to take into account the overall travel package including the battery charger, much like you would when deciding on portability of a laptop computer. For example, the Pentax Optio 4si and 5si cameras are about the same size and a touch lighter in weight, but they only come with bulky charging cradles that also need a bulky A/C cord. The SD300s charger, by contrast, is very compact; no bigger than the camera itself, and its plug swings out so you dont need any cord. The overally travel package of camera and charger is like carrying two tins of Altoids mints. In fact, they will probably fit inside the tins. Very portable. The cameras performance is great. I considered, besides the Pentaxes, the Lumix FX7, the Sony T1 and Casio Z55, but I bought the Canon and am very satisfied with it, even though other cameras come in 5 mpxls whereas this one is 4 mpxls. Do I wish it had 5? Of course. But I find 4 mpxls is more than adequate for my needs and rarely if ever do I wish I had more. You can easily go to 8x10 prints with 4 megapixels.
On: 2004-11-28
This is one of the best point-and-shoot 4 megapixel cameras currently being produced. As with all Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, the SD300 is very easy to use. Canon also makes a 3 megapixel version of this camera (PowerShot SD200) which is about $100 cheaper.
What makes this camera DESIRABLE:
(1) Takes Great Pictures. This is the most important part of a digital camera, no? The SD300 is quick to focus, is quick to take pictures (very low lag time), takes crisp pictures, and is very easy to use. The SD300 even focuses in the dark thanks to its focus-assist lamp (you can turn this feature on/off). The picture quality is excellent compared to other cameras similar in size. The ease of use is much better than other 4 megapixel point-and-shoot cameras. Many have complained about the flash, but thats almost a non-issue for most snapshots. Most people take snapshots of their friends & family when they are about 5-7 feet away from them. The flash is PLENTY strong for that. If you have a huge group and theyre like 10-15 feet away, then the flash will be a problem. But seriously, whens the last time you tried to take a picture of a big group of people forcing you to stand 15 feet away to get everybody in the picture?
(2) 4 megapixels with 3x zoom. Having 3 megapixels is the new minimum when it comes to digital cameras. Canon was very generous giving us 4 megapixels in such a small camera. The general rule of thumb for megapixels is: the more the better. Not only will more megapixels allow you to print bigger & better pictures, having more megapixels gives you the flexibility to crop: you can take a small portion of the picture and blow it up to full screen and still get good detail. The SD300 also features 3x zoom. While this is generally not something to get all excited about, the only other SD series camera until now (the SD110) only featured 2x zoom.
(3) Size. The SD300 is noticeably smaller than the S410 or the S500, and even smaller than the SD110. The SD300 will fit nicely in your pocket or your purse. Plus the stainless steel finish is so handsome/pretty that you will want to take this with you everywhere. After all, if you dont carry your camera with you, then whats the use of owning a camera?
(4) Movie with Sound. With its built-in microphone and speaker, the SD300 can capture and replay movies with sound. The 640x480 resolution is awesome. You can replay on your 19" monitor at full screen and the video will look great. Under the 640x480 mode, you can capture video at 30 frames per second (fps) or 15 fps, and there is no limit per clip as your only limitation is the amount of space you have left on your memory card. Under the 320x480 mode, you have the Fast Frame Rate option giving you 60 fps, up to 60 seconds per clip, which is great for capturing action shots such as your golf swing. While the main function of the camera is to take still pictures, the high quality video feature is so much fun that you will be using this a lot.
(5) Battery & External Charger. The battery life is average. You can take about 140 pictures on a full charge with the LCD screen on and about 400 pictures with the LCD screen off. Since Canon includes an external charger with all their SD series cameras, I recommend getting a second battery. This way, one battery can be charging while you are using one battery, so that you will never run out of batteries.
Downside. The only downside is the access to manual mode. On the SD110, S410, and the S500, you can switch to the manual mode by turning a knob. On this camera, you need to press function and switch to manual mode using a soft menu. There are few features only available in the manual mode such as turning off AiAF, long shutter, panorama mode, etc. Unless you use those features a lot, this will not be an issue for you.
Recommended Accessories. A must-have accessories are the already mentioned extra battery and a bigger SD memory card. Get at least a 256MB card (a 512MB card would be nicer) since the included 16MB card will not be sufficient for most people.
If you can get by with 3 megapixles and want to save about $100, check out the 3 megapixel version of this camera: Canon PowerShot SD200.
On: 2004-11-27
This is one of the best point-and-shoot 4 megapixel cameras currently being produced. As with all Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, the SD300 is very easy to use. Canon also makes a 3 megapixel version of this camera (PowerShot SD200) which is about $100 cheaper.
What makes this camera DESIRABLE:
(1) Takes Great Pictures. This is the most important part of a digital camera, no? The SD300 is quick to focus, is quick to take pictures (very low lag time), takes crisp pictures, and is very easy to use. The SD300 even focuses in the dark thanks to its focus-assist lamp (you can turn this feature on/off). The picture quality is excellent compared to other cameras similar in size. The ease of use is much better than other 4 megapixel point-and-shoot cameras. Many have complained about the flash, but thats almost a non-issue for most snapshots. Most people take snapshots of their friends & family when they are about 5-7 feet away from them. The flash is PLENTY strong for that. If you have a huge group and theyre like 10-15 feet away, then the flash will be a problem. But seriously, whens the last time you tried to take a picture of a big group of people forcing you to stand 15 feet away to get everybody in the picture?
(2) 4 megapixels with 3x zoom. Having 3 megapixels is the new minimum when it comes to digital cameras. Canon was very generous giving us 4 megapixels in such a small camera. The general rule of thumb for megapixels is: the more the better. Not only will more megapixels allow you to print bigger & better pictures, having more megapixels gives you the flexibility to crop: you can take a small portion of the picture and blow it up to full screen and still get good detail. The SD300 also features 3x zoom. While this is generally not something to get all excited about, the only other SD series camera until now (the SD110) only featured 2x zoom.
(3) Size. The SD300 is noticeably smaller than the S410 or the S500, and even smaller than the SD110. The SD300 will fit nicely in your pocket or your purse. Plus the stainless steel finish is so handsome/pretty that you will want to take this with you everywhere. After all, if you dont carry your camera with you, then whats the use of owning a camera?
(4) Movie with Sound. With its built-in microphone and speaker, the SD300 can capture and replay movies with sound. The 640x480 resolution is awesome. You can replay on your 19" monitor at full screen and the video will look great. Under the 640x480 mode, you can capture video at 30 frames per second (fps) or 15 fps, and there is no limit per clip as your only limitation is the amount of space you hav | | |
