Rating: 
Summary: Great 10X Zoom Camera
Review: After considerable research I purchased the Canon S1 IS camera from Amazon about a month ago along with the Lexar 12X 256MB Compact Flash memory. It arrived even before Amazon said it would! This is my first digital camera and so far I am very pleased with it. I wanted a camera that would take good travel pictures and images of grandchildren who often don't like cameras near them. I expect to print the better pictures as either 4x6 or 5x7 and occasionally 8x10s. At first I was reluctant to consider 3.2MP cameras but my research showed that a figure of merit for a digital camera should actually be proportional to MP times the optical zoom factor squared. This gives a heavy weighting to optical zoom (it's related to picture area) and it also means that you can avoid considerable cropping and wasting of MP. That's why people are often surprised that this camera does so well against its higher MP competition. It's also adequate for printing my size pictures. Unfortunately, most hand held 10X cameras used at maximum zoom also need to have a shutter speed of 1/400th of a second to avoid picture bluring caused by camera shake so that you can use this 10X feature only in bright sunlight, unless you support the camera. The Canon S1's image stabilization system allows hand held pictures with much slower shutter speeds so it is useful more often. I always leave it on and I've taken sharp pictures of ducks, birds, and, oh yes, our grandchildren at a playground. Our daughter, who is a professional photographer, has even commented on the quality of these candid shots, something she did not do with my film camera with lower power zoom. Independently, I also purchased a lightweight RipVan100 battery charger that can operate at overseas voltages and I carry around an extra set of charged NIMH AA batteries, just in case, although I've yet to need them. Of course, in a pinch, I can always use universally available AA batteries, another feature of this camera. This camera, like all 10X zooms, uses an electronic viewfinder. I find that it is hard to see well in bright sunlight (especially if I'm wearing sunglasses), even at maximum brightness setting. Its resolution is also poor and the images often seem overexposed - but, and this is important, the images don't shake at 10X with the IS on! and the actual pictures are correctly exposed. The swiveling LCD screen grows on you and you can take pictures looking down at the camera at waist level. The grandchildren may not even realize you are actually taking their picture, adding to the candid effect. I haven't found the lack of an autofocusing lamp to be a problem in dim light and you can always set the manual focus to about 8 feet (no zoom used) and everything from 4 feet to infinitity will be sharp. (I got this tidbit from my research). After it was announced but before it was readily available the camera received so-so reviews but the recent user reviews from those who actually own and use one have been highly favorable and I agree with them. It's well made, not too heavy, and the basics can be learned quickly. Advanced users can find many features to investigate and I'm still learning how to use some of the exposure and focus lock modes for special cases. I think that using the Auto mode (or the Program P mode) with IS on will work for most people, most of the time. And, as an added bonus, you can even take movies (9 minutes/1GB at best quality) if you have a large memory. I'm glad I discovered this "fun" camera.
Rating: 
Summary: Canon Powershot S1...the NEW Benchmark!
Review: After previously owning the Canon G3, which is still an excellent camera, I have been looking for something more of an optical zoom. Too many manufacturers have been concentrating on the megapixels on the digital cameras while the optical zoom is as much or more important. Great job Canon! The PowerShot S1 is a bargain for all that it offers and ANYONE looking for a digital camera should consider it. The PowerShot S1...the NEW Benchmark in digital cameras!
Rating:
Summary: Superb Digital Camera
Review: After researching other cameras in its class including the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 and Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2, I finally decided on the Canon S1 IS. Having taken a few hundred pictures with it, I am completely satisfied with my purchase. With this camera I have the flexibility to take pictures with point-and-shoot ease while also having plenty of manual capabilities available to take more artistic pictures. Although the camera has "only" 3.2 megapixels this is more than compensated for by the 10x optical zoom. With this zoom you simply don't need as many megapixels (although it would be nice) because you won't be cropping out as much of the picture. Instead of cropping out excess, you just zoom in while you are there and have a nice original to begin with. Furthemore, more megapixels don't necessarily mean a "better" picture. There are other factors like the lens, cmos, and other processing that will affect the image quality just as much as the megapixels if not more. Image stabilization is an awesome feature and until now has been reserved for the more expensive cameras. This feature definitely helps with the long zooms and low-light conditions. With the long zoom you can do shots where the primary object is very clear while the background is all blurry. This isn't as easy to do on cameras with less zoom. The physical layout and the menu interface are excellent. The placement of the buttons are very intuitive and the menu setup is among the best I've ever used on any electronic device. It allows me to use all the manual settings with ease and speed. I can't really think of any better way to set it up. Although the viewfinders tend to make images look like they are overexposed I think that as the viewfinder ages and dims (as any LCD will do over time) the picture will improve and not look as overexposed. So, I think it is excellent foresight on Canon's part to make the pictures seem overexposed. Personally, I don't find it to be a major issue because I view all the pics on my computer before deleting them anyway. The swiveling LCD is a feature that is indispensible. Not only does it protect the LCD if you flip it around, but you can take pictures of yourself (or others next to you) or and you take pictures at weird angles (such as close to the ground or high above a crowd) without contorting yourself. I don't find battery power to be an issue. Just get 2 or 3 sets of NiMH batteries and you should be fine for a long day of heavy shooting. Plus the fact that you can use AA instead of a proprietary module means you can use regular AA alkaline batteries in a pinch. The movie mode is great not only because of the high quality movies, but also because you can zoom while taking the movie. Most cameras will not let you zoom and you have to leave it where it is. The only downside is that you will need a high-speed compact flash card (like the Sandisk Ultra II) to take the highest quality movies. Slower cards can't keep up with the high amout of data being written. The focusing system is also great and not usually found on cameras at this level. You can move the autofocus box to any postion you want and set an autofocus lock so it doesn't change once you've set it. You can also use the manual focus if you can't get a good focus in low-light situations. There is a meter that pops up showing the approximate distance to the object that you want to focus to which is quite helpful. With the manual focus, I've been able to focus on any object without too much trouble. There are only 2 things I would like to see improved. One would be some sort of battery meter but it would be wildly inaccurate without some sort of proprietary battery (which they don't make you use) so I'm ok with them leaving that out. I would also like the lens cap to 'click' on instead of just sliding on. I understand why they made that decision though: they want the cap to slide off automatically when you turn it on which is a convenience so I don't have to take it off every time I turn it on. These are just minor suggestions and really just personal preference things. Otherwise, this camera is perfect for the price and what you get. I highly recommend this camera to anyone to both point-and-shoot people and people who want that along with some artistic flexibility. The feature set is unbeatable and the picture quality is amazing.
Rating:
Summary: From a Web Developer
Review: Being a grad student, I am very picky when it comes to spending a larger amount of money on a piece of hardware technology. I probably did research (try cnet's site) for 2 months before finally deciding on a purchase. I compared heavily against similar cameras like the Sony DSC-V1, DSC-F717, S50, Kodak DX6490, Nikon Coolpix 4300 and a few others. Deciding Factors:
10x opt zoom & IS
Manual control abilities
Swivel LCD
body style
CF memory
AA batteries
Price & Canon name brand After purchase:
This camera is awesome. The zoom works great, especially with the IS technology. The manual controls are extremely easy to use. Combined with the comfortable body style i do most things with one hand. Think of holding a gaming controller. I'm very surprised at how much I use the swivel LCD (ie hold against a steady place and view easily). The cheapest memory and ease of AA batteries make this a camera to use for an extended amount of time. Indoor, low-lighting situations are hard on auto mode, otherwise I'm very happy.
Rating:
Summary: The best camera out there !!
Review: Canon has always been the leader in digicam technology
and they have simply blown away the competition with their
latest model - the PowerShot S1 IS, this is a truly awesome
camera for the features that it offers at such a reasonable
price, here are the pros: 10x optical zoom with image stabilizer:
- the single most compelling feature this cam offers, dont underestimate the power of 10x zoom with image stabilization,
it can convert you from an average shutterbug to a real pro,
Canon had a previous model with IS (now discontinued) costing
around 1000$ and its great to see them come out with the same technology at a much lower price, IS is important not just
while using 8x or 10x zoom, it is also a critically important
feature while taking snaps in low-light conditions since it
virtually eliminates camera-shake at low shutter speeds,
I have taken really sharp pictures in several low-light
conditions (like in the subway, or Times Square at night!)
which was very difficult to do with my prev camera (Canon A60
- also a very fine camera but does not have IS). 60 mins DV-quality VGA video:
- probably the best video-mode camera out there, pretty much doubles up as a camcorder with upto 60 mins of good quality
video recording (depending on your card size). phenomenal picture quality:
- true Canon picture quality, i was very happy with the
picture quality on my A60 and this model continues the
fine tradition ! 3.2 megapixel CCD:
most people dont realise that MP has nothing to do with the
actual picture quality, its just a measure of the dimensional
size of the picture - 2mp is 1600x1200 & 3mp is 2048x1536,
this makes a difference only if you plan to crop and enlarge
sections of ur photo OR if you plan to print out really huge
copies of the snap, i think 3mp is more than enough for most
consumers/semi-pros unless you want to print gigantic copies
of every single snap (which may end up costing you more than
the camera itself). Cons: none so far ! I have been very pleased with this camera
so far, both its picture quality and the 10x IS zoom, this is
probably the finest model in the Canon lineup in my opinion,
and I am sure that anyone buying this camera would be very
happy with its performance.
Rating:
Summary: Canon Powershot S1 IS Good Family Camera and Beyond
Review: Hi everbody, First of all, I was fortunate enough to get this camera from Adorama Cameras for $374.00 plus shipping. Must have been some sort of introductory special on Amazon. Got the camera about a week after ordering. Let me say that this is my 4th digital camera and I regard this as the best I have had so far. I have owned both Olympus and Minolta digital cameras prior to buying the Canon S1 IS. I want to say that Canon definitely thought out the ergonomics and the feel of this camera. It feels very comfortable and sturdy (I'm right handed. It is clear that they did not skimp on workmanship I love the smoothness of the 10x Optical zoom (that's reason I wanted a good long zoom camera)and there was no blurriness thanks to the Image Stabiliser. I recommend if you are taking shots and you are zooming in at 3X or greater on the optical zoom, engage the IS. I don't recommend using digital zoom on any digital camera, it is always easier using photo editing software to crop your photos. I tried the camera at a couple of family outings and I was definitely impressed. I was a bit concerned about it being only 3.2MP but the pictures I took looked better than my sister's 4MP Kodak camera. The auto mode works fairly well and the LCD certainly shows good detail in bright sunlight but be warned, have the display set at full brightness especially if you are using the EVF outside. There are only 2 display brightness settings. The photos I took had good contrast and very vibrant colors. There was some very slight purple fringing on some shots I took with the optical zoom at maximum. You may need to adjust the exposure setting if you are trying to photograph a subject that is on a background that doesn't contrast well. I also found that you definitely need rechargeable AA batteries, especially if you are running the LCD screen and if you are running the camera in movie mode. That reminds me, the movie mode is incredible but you need at least a 1GB card to record anything substantial at 30 fps. I recommend if you can afford it, get the 4GB microdrive. I have heard that you can take the microdrive out of the Muvo2 4GB player and use it in the camera since the S1 accepts CompactFlash Type II cards if you know how to do it right. With so many different modes, this camera will definitely grow with you. I wished that Canon had put a flash hot shoe on this camera but I can understand them not trying to create a light stripped down version of the EOS Rebel. Indoors, the flash is above average compared to other digital long zooms but could still be better, it will illuminate your subject. The camera AF did slow down somewhat in very dim lighting, make sure to run it in night scene mode, not auto. The extra long exposure lag definitely improves the shots and just to be fair, the low light performance was certainly superior to other digital cameras I have owned. I do like the fact that Canon included a nice get started quickly template but the manual could be better organized. For most people, I would say using it in auto is fine but if you like to tinker, the full manual mode is a lot of fun. All in all, a good buy despite the fact that Canon should have also included a AF assist lamp which surprised me somewhat since they put them on most every camera they make. Well, that just leaves room for improvement I guess. Now, I gotta get back to shooting some more pictures. Auf Wiedersehen!
Rating:
Summary: The S1 is simply a great Camera
Review: Hi, I just picked up my Canon S1 an simply love it. The feel of it is very sturdy in your hands and feels well constructed. The controls are very nicely placed. You could easily handle this camera with one hand. The zoom control is nice and fast, it takes a bit to get used to how touchy it can be, but easlily controlled once you get the hang of it. The colors look great for outdoor shots, and indoor shots as well. The AF(Auto Focus) seems to pick up indoors quite nicely, except for really low light areas, as i've usually had problems with my Fuji and other cameras, the Canon seems to focus more easily. Plus you can see thru the LCD or viewfinder indoors as well very nicely. You also get a 32mb CF with the camera, which is nice, but of course can fill up fast. I suggest picking up at least a 256mb card, Costco has Sandisk 256 for around $41. As for the menus, very easily done and easy to navigate thru. I also love the MF (manual focus) on the S1. You can't use it in Auto, but can in all other settings. Where I couldnt focus with the AF, I could easlily focus with the MF. I love the the LCD screen swivel capabilities also. I'm looking forward to shooting above crowds while being able to see what im shooting at. The 10X optical zoom is wonderful, and combined with the Image Stabilizer, is just near perfect. The cost of this 3.2 MP camera may seem alittle overpriced, but with the super bright LCD swivel screen (easily viewed in daylight), the Image Stailizer and the 10X optical zoom, and the 640 x 480 @ 30 fps video, "automatic pop-up flash", indoor low light capabilities and nice overall construction, plus a ton of other features, you will know its worth every penny. I almost went for the Minolta Z2, but the construction of that camera seemed very poor as the lens it self felt like it was going to fall out. Also when shooting video with the Minolta, the AF sound constantly was picked up in the video, making that a completely useless feature. Not so with the Canon S1, the USM zoom feature is that, Ultra Silent and so is the AF. Not one sound is picked up while shooting video with the S1. The Minolta did do great shots as well, but I finally went for the Canon for the sturdy construction and more readily available accessories, such as a underwater housing and optional remote control. Also as a side note, I really like the way you can customize the sounds in the camera under "My Camera". Having a bird chird or dog bark, its just the icing on the cake. I'm trying to make a Disney theme for my camera before vacation...I'm glad that companies such as Canon really know how to let the customer feel like its there very own camera, instead of just another cookie cutter gadget. Honestly, the only cons of this camera is maybe the price, and that is easlily justified with the attention to detail Canon has given this camera. I would highly recommend anyone to go out and give this camera a run though, you wont be disappointed. Anyone can use this camera,very user friendly. This camera will give you and your family many years of great memories... Thanks Canon...
Rating:
Summary: Blurred shots in dim light.
Review: I am extremely pleased with this camera but bear in mind, I only send the pic over the internet and view them on the computer - no printed photo's, no enlargments. The only bad feature of this camera is its failure to focus in very dim lite situations. It does tell you by displaying the 'yellow' rectangle (not the green one which indicates it's focused) in the middle of the screen. If you watch the color, you'll know when it is focused (green=focus, yellow=not focused). Although I haven't had the camera that long, the battery life seems quite good compared to my 3 yr. old Kodak digital. I especially like the adjustable LCD screen, having had the older Kodak screen washed out from overhead sunlight. Word of caution: I had called Canon several times about the low light shooting problem, and two of the 'tech' people said to return the camera for repair, saying it was faulty. I questioned there diagnosis, and finally talked to a rep who understood the problem as something inherant to the camera and not correctable. He explained it as not having sufficient contrast to properly focus the distance. Don't pay $399, they are sold in the low $300 on the internet. I bought mine from Wiloughby's in NYC, and the price was fare and camera arrived quickly. Jay
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Experience
Review: I am very upset at this camera!!! I have been a long time fan of Olympus digital cameras for many years. While looking to upgrade to a newer camera a few months ago, the S1 IS caught my eye. I waited for it's release and purchased it when it became available. Other than some frequent focusing issues and only being 3.2 megapixels, I liked the camera for what it could do. So I purchased the telephoto lens and adapter mount, and two large high-speed memory cards for the camera. I successfully tested the cards and camera taking many photos around the area in which I live. So, because of it's zoom capabilities, it was the camera I choose to go on vacation with me this past week. What a mistake that was! The first day of the vacation was with me and my wife participating in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway. A very expensive trip and we couldn't wait to capture those moments with still photos and the movie capability of the S1 IS camera. After a few, apparently successful shots, the camera reported a memory card error just as my wife was getting in the race car. So I grabbed another card, with the same result. So I opted to use the original card that came with the camera, and it failed to work as well!!! The camera would sometimes seem to take a photo, but would then report that it was corrupted, there was a card error, or that the card had no images when attempting to play it back. So, now all of those memories are just that. Our only option was to purchase three photos from the experience organizers for over $100, just so that we could have some photographic images of that day. And that was only the first day of our vacation. We spent the next four days traveling about, visiting historic parks and landmarks, amusement parks and a nice evening at Stone Mountain, GA... all with no camera!!! After contacting support, they were less than willing to defer the costs of shipping the camera. So, now I'm out an additional charge for shipping, and without a camera until they get it fixed. Just hope it doesn't break and bring a backup when you go on vacation or for anything important.
Rating:
Summary: The One For Me
Review: I have done quite a bit of research on digital cameras, and have read many reviews. The fact is, that there is no perfect digital camera, and people are going to find little things they don't like about all of them. I purchased the S1 IS about a week or so ago, and this is one great camera. Some people say the lense cap falls off... well... it's suppose to... keep it attached to the camera so it don't get lost and put it back on when you put it in the case. Some people say the battery life is bad... well... get some rechargable 2300 ma batteries and a charger... and keep a couple sets charged... one set will last for hours... and... if you are in a jam you can get AA batteries anywhere. Some people say the display is hard to see in bright sunlight or in low light... well... I have not seen one that is not. Some people say that the pictures are not sharp... well... try setting it in auto until you learn how to use the many great settings... I printed 8 1/2 x 11's that where as sharp as a tack. There was a problem with memory erros, but if you download the firmware update, and follow the instructions, it will resolve the problem. I personally did not have that problem, but I updated my firmware anyway. The fact is... This is one heck of a great camera. The zoom is outstanding, you can print up to 8 1/2 x 11's with good quality, the stabelization is great, and if you want to learn the manual settings, they are great too. I would still reccomend a tripod for shots with shutter speeds greater than 1 second. The software is everything you need to organize, enhance, and print your pics. If you are looking for the perfect digital camera... you will never find it. If you are looking for the best digital camera in the $400 to $500 dollar price range, I would recommend the S1 IS above all others in the same price range.
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