Rating: 
Summary: A nearly perfect digital camera
Review: In my opinion, the Powershot S50 is nearly perfect in many ways. The picture quality is exceptional, among the best that I have ever seen from any digital camera.The "Auto," "Program," and various scene modes allow the camera to be used as a point and shoot camera, with amazing exposure choices. In addition, there is a full manual mode that can be easily set using convenient menus. The only problem I have had (and I will likely be able to correct this as I learn more about the camera) is that the flash in the "Auto" mode tends to wash out some of the contrast in portraits.
Rating:
Summary: full function 5MP compact camera!
Review: this is a full-featured 5MP compact camera that will work for a wide range of users. i compared this with the sony DSC-P10 and the minolta DiMAGE F100 and concluded that this had the best feature set in its class. the S50 is essentially a 'shrunk' PowerShot G5. there are some differences: the G5 has a flip-out LCD which is very cool and quite practical, a 4x zoom lens, and a flash attachment. otherwise, the S50 provides almost the same level of manual control as the G5 in a smaller package. if you want point and shoot capability but want the flexibility to be more creative when you want, this camera should be on your short list. pros:
- excellent resolution from a small lens - 5MP power!
- 3x optical zoom, 4x digital
- good metering and good tonal balance - maintains shadow detail
- good natural light white balance, strong and balanced colours
- allows control over cameras internal processing algorithms - saturation, tone, sharpness
- low noise at ISO 50 (keep in mind that ISO 50 for this camera is actually ISO 100 for everyone else; likewise, ISO 100 is in reality closer to ISO 200, etc)
- compact and lightweight, considering this camera's capabilities (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.7 in, 11.1 oz)
- excellent build quality - solid 'brick like' feel - no creaks or rattles and a good positive feel to external controls
- nice metallic black finish - i definitely prefer this to the silver finish of other compact cameras
- the LCD monitor is also big (1.8") for this class of camera - gives good live preview and review even in well lit situations
- shooting priority play mode (a half-press of the shutter release always returns to shooting)
- excellent range of manual controls
- fast shot-to-shot times
- fairly good startup time, especially for an extending lens camera
- the manual focus has magnified loupe and ruler readout
- flexible continuous shooting modes (buffer after processing)
- RAW file format maintains 12-bits of data
- ability to turn JPEG shot into RAW during record review
- Compact Flash Type I/II and official Microdrive support
- voice annotation feature
- invervalometer (time lapse capability)
- AF assist lamp works well
- USB connectivity cons:
- average macro performance
- vignetting at wide angle and maximum aperture
- nine-point AiAF not available in P, TV, AV, M or C exposure modes
- average flash performance
- the four-way jog dial is not easy to use - pressing "SET" takes practice
- you'll need to remove from tripod to open the battery/CF compartment
- lens slow at telephoto (F4.9)
- AF Assist lamp doesn't have enough power at telephoto zoom
- limited apertures at telephoto
- zoom controller does not have enough steps / multiple zoom speed
- some barrel distortion at wide angle this is a fantastic camera - highly recommended. enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: I can't get this thing to focus!
Review: Everyone says that this is a great camera. Now, if only I were able to make out the subject of my photographs it might be something. All I get is blurred, messed up images. This is pretty consistent in any of its autofocus modes. Sure! I see this thing attempting to focus, but it always gets it wrong. I sat here for one hour trying to take a sharp picture of the stuff on my night stand, and was able to do it only on the manual focus mode. Even then, the picture was not that sharp. My old Sony 1 megapixel camera takes far better pictures. Is my camera defective? I Don't know, but I read other reviews that mentioned the same problem. Whatever; I am returning it today.
Rating:
Summary: Worth every penny
Review: The Canon PowerShot S50 (and S45) have managed to do what no other has... high quality photos + lots of features = compact camera Pros:
- Photo quality. As one who has owned a Pentax K1000 (all manual SLR), a Nikon FM2 (all manual SLR) and a Nikon F5 (manual and automatic SLR), the side-by-side comparisons of 11x14 prints compared to the S50 proved to be very impressive. The detail differences were almost undetectable to the untrained eye.
- Light balance. Seldom light is naturally balanced and tweaking is the norm which practice, skill and SLRs handle well. Low light exposures untweaked in Auto mode came out almost perfect with the S50... an area almost all other cameras fail.
- Photo effects. Do you prefer Kodak or Fuji film? While many who know the difference are protective of using one over the other, this filmless camera satisfies both users. The Neutral color mode will provide the balance of saturation for most Kodak junkies while the Vivid color mode will be preferred by the Fuji users. For those that shoot B&W film or like to customize their photos to have a sepia tone (brown/tan tint), there are B/W and Sepia modes to satisfy. Know what you want and it's not available? No problem. This camera also provides a Custom Effect where one can freely set the contrast. -And the best part? No need to change film!
- Manual mode. This camera truly allows full control of aperture and shutter speed.
- Macro mode. Very impressed with this on such a small piece of equipment as my benchmark was the micro Nikkor lens I typically carry around for 1:1 shots.
- Metal housing and components. Durability is key with any camera as it travels from place to place and environment to environment.
- Shock resistant? Dropping this camera from five-and-a-half-feet (several times), on the sidewalk, in a Tamrac Digital Series case (model #5692), results in flawless operation. Nothing advisable to do, but good to keep in mind for the unfortunate time it occurs.
- Lots of documentation. There are so many features this camera offers that the amount of documentation provided leaves no room for confusion. System Diagram (1 page foldout), Quick Start Guide (1 page foldout), Windows & Macintosh help notes (1 page foldout), Camera User Guide (not electronic, but an actual 181 page book), Software Starter Guide (not electronic, but an actual 132 page book.) + 2 CDs full of software compatible with Windows and Mac.
- NB-2L Li-ion rechargeable battery. No more waiting to completely empty the battery before recharging. This type of battery can be recharged at will without the risk of possible ill effects.
- Battery charger. Plug folds out from the charger and connects directly into the wall socket. No dangling cords or cables to contend with. There is also a battery charge indicator that confirms if it's plugged in properly, charging or fully charged. No guesswork. Cons:
- No LCD protection. I've seen scratches on too many of these units to understand why nothing is provided for this. In contrast, the Canon G5 display folds in like many of the camcorders on the market... a nice option that the PowerShot S50 doesn't have. It would've been nice to at least have a sliding door or something similar to what the lens has. Its predecessor, the PowerShot S45, has the same issue. Has no one noticed this problem?
- Multicontroller. The same button is used to scroll up, down, left, right and Set via the menu on the display screen. Although it's more stable and not as jiggly as the one on the S45, I can't help but think something else could've been done as I have lost count how many times it has completed one function when I intended it to complete another. Perhaps the 9 buttons + generous display screen on a camera that measures a mere 2 x 4.5 inches is why Canon chose to retain this configuration through 2 consecutive models. What else you need to buy:
- Extra memory. A 32MB CompactFlash card comes with the camera. It's a good start, but certainly not practical. Naturally, most who spend the money for a good quality camera, which produces good quality photos, will prefer to shoot in Superfine mode (highest quality). At this rate, one will have space for only 6-7 photos.
- Extra battery. Camera use with display on at all times provides approximately 60 minutes of life. Battery warning activates with 10 minutes remaining. Charging the battery from empty to full takes about 80 minutes. Carrying an extra battery would avoid any inconvenience a dead battery might cause.
- Carrying case. As noted above, the exposed LCD demands protection. One will also be looking for a place to put the camera accessories. Overall:
Having high standards for computer and photography equipment due to my professional experience and college education, the S50 passes with flying colors. I was so impressed with its performance it is now the only camera I use. What a gem! Amazon.com ratings scale: 5 stars = Outstanding
Rating: 
Summary: Great for outdoor point and shoot use.
Review: I recently bought a Canon S50 (5.3 Mega Pixel). It is a great camera for outdoor point-and-shoot use. However for close ups, i think a Sony DSC-F717 is much better. The close-up picture clarity with the Sony is amazing. However it is bulky to carry while I am on a hiking trail. Plus I have heard lots of Sony customers returning Cameras, due to manufacturig defects. Anyways here are some photografs using Canon S50 http://www.xml-dev.com/xml/photo/ They are from Stevens Canyon Hiking Trail in California. I would like to ask the readers to give me some feedback about the clarity/quality of photografs.[]
Rating:
Summary: Good choice
Review: I love the picture quality + camera features - no concerns there. I do have an issue with quality of construction - sliding door can come out of alignment if moved in a certain way. It does not appear to affect operation + it aligns itself back.
Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT
Review: Great camera...fantastic pictures and a lot of great features. Couple of bits of advice though. 1) Buy the largest memory card you can afford. The 32MB one that comes with the camera only holds a few pics at the highest quality. Buy multiple cards if you're going to be using the camera in a location where you won't be able to d/load the pics. 2) Buy a card reader. It will save time and battery life vice transferring pics directly from the camera. 3) Buy an extra battery. Battery life is pretty good to begin with but 1 won't last all day if you're taking a lot of pics.
Rating:
Summary: Great camera, lots of features. Recommended
Review: This camera has everything an amateur photographer could need. Lots of features that are similar to my Canon rebel G SLR camera, which makes it easy to use right out of the box. The pictures are very clear and stunning, and can be blown up quite large. The only complaint would be night-time shots, but most digital cameras can't handle night time shots very well.
Rating:
Summary: great camera
Review: only downside is slightly bigger size. takes GREAT pix. Might be overkill for a newbie to photography, but if you know what an F-stop is or when to use shutter or aperature priority and want great quality this is the compact digital for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Inconsistent Focusing Ability is Disappointing
Review: When this camera focuses accurately the resulting images are really amazing. However, a vast majority of approximately 1000 pictures we've taken so far are out of focus. Switching to center-point focus doesn't help. If only one feature on a camera works it should be the auto-focus. Do the five-star reviewers have low standards, or is my camera defective? I noticed one other review that mentions terrible focusing ability, so I don't think it's just me. On the brighter side, the movie mode is surprisingly good and produces nice, sharp movies. However, zooming is not possible in movie mode. My five-year-old, 0.8 megapixel Sony Mavica allows zooming in movie mode. C'mon Canon. Get with the program. Battery life is good and charging time is brief. I don't have a backup battery or the AC adapter kit and I haven't had any reason to need them yet. The flash is nice and bright and allows for pretty decent indoor photos even in relatively low-light situations. The AF-assist light probably could have been left off the camera altoghther. If you need it to focus in really low-light you don't have a good chance at getting a good picture. Don't expect any red-eye reduction from it either (same AF-assist light stays on during image capture when red-eye reduction feature is on). In fact, unless your subject is willing to incur retinal damage by looking directly into the stunningly bright light, there is no real chance of reducing red-eye at all. Big disappointment. Canon needs to utilize the strobe-flash technique for red-eye reduction. Bottom line: It's easy to look at the very best images this camera can produce and believe it to be a great camera. However, when you end up with pictures which are out of focus and when everyone in them has red-eye, you won't be thinking of the great picture the camera produced yesterday.
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