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Summary: I Love This Camera!
Review: This is a great digital camera! We just got back from Hawaii, where I did my first serious shooting with this camera, and I had to get online to add my review. I had been investigating digital cameras for weeks before selecting the Powershot S100. Basically, the consumer reviews I had read here at Amazon convinced me to purchase this camera, and I'm glad I did. At 2 megapixels, it takes great photos yet doesn't break the bank. It's extremely compact, solidly built, and very easy to operate, especially in the default automatic mode. Learning to use some of the more common advanced features, like other flash or exposure settings, is relatively simple, too. People often comment about the batteries on digital cameras. I bought a spare with this one based on other users' recommendations, but I haven't had to use it yet. I found the battery life to be very good, since I did all my shooting through the viewfinder and only used the LCD to review shots afterwards. I also ordered a 32MB CompactFlash card, which you definitely do need. At the default 1600x1200 setting, this allows approximately fifty shots on the memory card before having to download to the computer. If you plan to shot more than that in an outing, then order a larger capacity card. Bottom line - I'm very happy with my purchase.
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Summary: Update to Feb 7 Review, see below.
Review: It now appears that the reason that the Canon S100 would not download to my Dell Computer had more to do with the computer than the S100. Dell has E-mailed a fix which worked perfectly. Please "pull" my review dated February 7th. I don't think there is any need to post this followup. Thanks, Craig in Houston.
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Summary: Very Worth Your Consdieration
Review: ***Confessions of an Anti-Camera man***Up to the moment I bought this camera, I have been very indifferent towards taking any photos. Photography was too analog for me in this digital age. Make no mistake, I am in mechanical engineering, but to me, those 35mm camera was too tedious in terms of usage. You could not see how you took the picture on the spot, or that you had to use all of the film to get the prints. My attitude towards taking photos changed when I saw my dad's Nikon Coolpix 800 half a year ago. All of my problems with conventional cameras were solved when I saw the pictures on the small but very sharp LCD. Since then, my quest to find a digital camera began. After all the considerations from sorting through countless reviews, I chose Canon Powershot S100 for the following reasons. 1. It is very light and compact. Besides my cell phone, slim and light Ericsson T28, and Palm V, this camera is so compact that you worry about sitting on it without realizing that you have it inside your pocket. 2. The quality is very satisfying for an amateur photographer like me. Also, the functions included in this camera is really worth the price. I use the Black and White option with gusto. 3. You don't have to buy films... for ever! Of course, you have to have other kinds of data medium like the flash card, but having photos in forms of graphic files makes things so easier in this world of computers and the internet. In addition, places like Kinko's are now having machines that lets you make fine prints from your digital camera. However, there are some problems. 1. Because the camera's power consumption is very high, you are forced to buy an AC adapter or extra batteries. 2. Also, the 8MB flash card included with the camera is toooo puny. I had to buy a bigger one. 3. The software that is included is not that good. But hey, the Japanese are excellent in hardware, not that good in terms of software(not just yet). 4. Also, it took me some frustrating moments to install the USB driver... And I thought I was frequent with computers for the past 16 years! (P.S. To dear Craig; get someone who is good at computers and have the person install the driver for you. It was hair raising for me also) 5. You need sufficient light source in order to take a good picture.... But again, this applies to MANY digital cameras out there. My advice; believe in the power of the sun. Uhmmm... and besides these five little complaints, this camera rocks. My, I can write far more complements on this camera on and on. Also, the price; it is one of the most affordable and attention-grabbing cameras out there(actually, S100 captures not only photos but attention of other people as well). Until I get serious about photography, this camera will be 'camera' that I will cherish for a veryyyy long time to come, and I hope that you will, too.
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Summary: Canon Digital Elph
Review: I have had a Canon Digital Elph for several months and am thrilled with the camera. While it has its limitations - lack of a good zoom, anemic flash and hard-to-see viewfinder, it takes great pictures and is exceptionally easy to tote around. I have not used the highest resolution mode and have been quite satisfied with 8X10 prints printed on my HP 890 or sent to Ofoto. The panorama mode can produce spectacular results and by the way is an easy way around the limitations of the camera's 2.1 megapixel resolution. If you play around with the size of your panoramas, you can print pictures larger than 8X10 that will be as sharp as your 8X10's. If you don't have a large format printer, use a printing service for that special photo. I have been blown away by the instant feedback I get from a digital camera and the Elph has made photography a lot more fun. Often, it's the only camera I carry, but I still lug around an APS SLR with a big zoom when I'm doing serious photography. I have been rather surprised how well some hand-held night shots come out. I've gotten pictures at dusk that are reasonably sharp and show much more detail than I would expect from the camera's ISO 100 rating. It is essential to have a second battery as your battery will always run out when you need it. I use Lexar CF cards, they come with a USB cable and transfer pictures 3x faster than the camera. Set the camera in "manual" mode, which is still basically automatic, as it allows you to choose all the flash modes available. In addition, set the camera to remember the last settings or you will have to put it into manual mode each time you turn it on. Unlike a lot of digital cameras on the market, the Elph is easy to use and carry and feels like a camera. Its menus are a little complex but people who don't find features that are there and complain about difficulty of use just haven't studied the manual. I have recommended the camera to my friends on this basis: in 5 years it will be obsolete but it will still fit in your pocket and you will still be using it for snapshots.
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Summary: Ryan Parasram
Review: I wrote another review and this is the update. I discovered that the camera has a manual mode that gives you total control over exposure, white balance, flash (red eye, person against bright background, flash on, flash off, flash automatic). I use the camera with windows 2000. You may have problems when you first install. Install a second time by going to Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager->Right Click the camera->Reinstall Driver. After reinstalling a second time, the camera works. When downloading images, stop all anti-virus programs. If you dont, you'd find that the downloads freeze and abort spontaneously (note that I use VShield).
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Summary: Camera and Computer are not talking
Review: I'd like to review the S100, but unfortunately, after a month, I have not gotten a single picture into my brand new whiz-bang Dell computer to view it. The camera shuts down completely whenever plugged into the USB cable. The computer has no pre-loaded S100 drivers. The software bundled with the camera does not seem to include a usb driver. It seems to be oriented towards rs232c ports, but the literature says that the S100 only connects to usb. I downloaded a driver from the Canon web site but nothing has changed. The computer does not even know it has a new "device" connected. I suspect that I might need the optional, Canon ac power kit, but the Canon tech folks advised me otherwise by E-mail. I don't want to shell out the $$ for the ac kit if Canon says isn't necessary. I am at the point where I would return the camera, but it was a gift and that is not an option. If this isn't the right forum to pose these problems, I apologise, but I am getting to the end of my patience. Someone knowledgable please help.
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Summary: Most practical camera
Review: I have used this camera for about 3 weeks so far, taking over 500 pictures. I have 2 batteries and a 128 mb card. Here are some useful facts:- On a battery charge, the camera takes approximately 70 pictures, where the camera is opened and closed between pictures. A 64mb card stores approximately 100 pictures at default resolution (ie between 500k and 1.5mb per picture). The viewfinder does not accurately represent the pucture being taken. The LCD should be used. However, in dark settings you must use the viewfinder. The digital zoom is crap. Turn it off. It fits in your pocket. The closest competitor is the SONY DSC-P1 (3.3mp). But that camera is a little larger and you defeat the whole purpose of having a truly portable camera. I take my camera everywhere. Tamrac makes a tiny pouch that is best for the camera. The front even has a zipper for an extra battery and your wallet stuff. The panorama setting is unbelieveable ! You take around 12 pictures in a circle, stitch them together and voila; you have a perfect memory of where you were standing ! The pictures are a little dark sometimes. You have the option to have the flash automatic or off. I would have liked to force the flash on as well.
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Summary: My one was defective
Review: I got mine today but it was defective. Whenever I turn on the power it gives me an error code E18. I haven't been able to take a single picture! I can't believe it was made in Japan (I lived in Japan for 14 years and never bought anything that was defective). Anyway, I need a replacement or refund. Do they refund the shipping & handling fee?
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Summary: Size is everything...
Review: OK, not quite everything...but this camera is so compact that you will have it by your side when you need it. The pics are great and use is very intuitive. This would have gotten 5 stars, but I've found that indoor flash pics require manual adjustments after they are taken. The pics are good, but the flash seems to be under powered to do well indoors without out a VERY GOOD light source.
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Summary: EXCELLENT CAMERA! A LOT OF FUN & EASY TO USE
Review: Don't be fooled by the small package, it is a great digital camera and records excellent pictures. The medium resolution is incredible and the pictures are sharp and clear. It comes with easy-to-use software and is great for those just starting as well as those that are more serious. I highly recommend it!
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