Rating: 
Summary: Very solid product -UPDATED REVIEW
Review: A few words to augment some of the other (and my own) reviews:I still consider the camera a great product, especially for beginners. We actually gave this as a Hannukah gift to three different people. Definitely get a second battery, as well as TWO big memory chips. They really don't cost THAT much, and you shouldn't limit yourself to harsh compression or low resolution just because you don't have enough space. 1 Meg pictures will seem small two years from now anyway. I bought two 128 Meg chips, they give me all the snapping space I need... Which brings me to the second point: You want the space, because you don't want to constantly look at every picture you've taken. It's tempting, and everyone will want to see the picture that was just taken on the very cool display. The problem is that it saps your battery life more than anything else. So either be a picture grinch, or buy a second battery, allowing everyone to editorialize...hey, it's supposed to be fun. The flash (in my humble opinion) is too strong for portraits and two-shots. It seems to wash people out, and throws terribly high-contrast shadows. My biggest gripe is the time it takes to auto-focus, white balance, and god knows what else it goes through before it finally shoots. I've missed numerous shots simply because the camera refused to snap, or took too long. In the beginning this is occasionally annoying, but once you become a proficient frequent user, this becomes a real issue. Overall, the camera is solid, and surprisingly heavy for an object as compact as this. I've dropped it a number of times, and it works just fine. I've even managed to dent the metal case without problems. If there was a case for it (one that could also fit the spare battery and CF chip) this wouldn't be an issue. Buy one. The software it comes with is good, but not fantastic. It is absolutely newbie-friendly, but once you've become a more advanced user you'll find it a little clumsy. WinXP is better any way, and renders their photo-browser software obsolete. The ability to stitch together pictures (like standing on a mountain and taking three or four snaps as you slowly turn) is very cool, and easy. Worth buying for that alone. Instead of the cable, think of getting a CF slot PCMCIA card while traveling with your laptop. Less [stuff] to lose, and you'll always know where your second CF Chip is. BOTTOM LINE: Thanks to this camera, I have graduated to advanced user status, and will be buying a more sophisticated product, while my fiancee takes full posession of this one. It's great, and I wouldn't have the skill or interest in digital photography if it weren't for the S300.
Rating: 
Summary: Great camera!
Review: I have used a Canon 35mm for years and the reviews of the Canon digital ELPHs are great, so I decided to make my first digital a Canon S300. My biggest concerns were pixels/resolution and camera size/portability. This camera is teensy! It easily can be carried around all day in a small camera bag and never is cumbersome or heavy. The wrist strap that comes with it is very handy, too. It is extremely easy to use, especially if you take the time to read through the manual (which I did and saved myself a lot of trial and error time). It does not have as many manual features as some larger cameras, but for someone that wants the ease of an automatic as well as the ability to change lighting and resolution settings, it is great. The buttons are better situated and slightly larger and easier to use than those on the S110 which is currently the same price as the S300. The S300 also has a 3x optical zoom vs. the 2x on the S110. The camera comes with a rechargeable battery and charger, but if you plan to take a lot of photos and use the LCD screen, you will want a backup battery. These are pricey because only Canon makes them (had to get mine from a camera shop) but they are tiny, come with a protective case and take a full charge in just over an hour. With the LCD screen on, the battery lasts a little over an hour. I would also recommend a flash card with a large memory. I got a 128mb CF card and have taken nearly 500 photos and still have room on it. I would suggest at least a 64mb. The camera doesn't come with a case, something you definitely will want. I got the smallest one CaseLogic makes that would fit the camera (which is built like a little tank and very sturdy!) I also picked up a lint free cloth specially made for cleaning digital cameras - something I would not have thought of had I not read the manual which says NEVER use any type of liquid or fluid to clean the lens or camera as it can damage the camera. The clarity of the photos on the LCD screen is incredible! I am so impressed with the technology that has gone into this little jewel. And having the freedom to take unlimited shots is quite liberating - I am discovering there is a photographer in me just waiting to get out! I got a CF card scanner to hook to the USB port on my PC and was able to transfer all the photos I have taken to a zip disk in minutes. The photos are fantastic - great color, detail and resolution. As for printed photos, so far I have not printed any so cannot say but this camera is perfect for sending digital images. All in all, I am very pleased! The only change I would make to this camera would be to add attachment rings for a neck strap as there is no easy way to put a neck strap on this camera. Otherwise, is just about perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Is the Movie mode worth it?
Review: Ok, let me start by saying I love this camera, I got it when it first came out and have been using it for several months. Over all it is a great balance of size/ simplicity and quality (both images and workmanship) I have printed 100's of photo's mostly snapshots of friends etc. and images captured on the highest setting make great 8X10 prints. The Video mode is very "cool" but after several months I have a ton of 20sec clips of people saying "Hi!" and waving. Although the feature was helpful for some video walkthroughs of restaurants (work) as well as for an insurance claim, think twice about how much you will use the movie feature, before shelling out the extra cash. The s100 is considerably smaller and less expensive, the s300 is just a bit too big to throw in the front pocket of your jeans and take everywhere, so if you don't need the video mode or the extra zoom, buy the other camera. My best friend has the s100, and I find myself leaving my camera at home and bringing my 128 card and battery to extend the life of his camera, instead of carrying mine. Again this is a great camera, I am just spoiled by access to both models. I take primarily pictures of people and am much more into "gear" than photography, so now that I bought the camera, it is time to learn to take pictures. If you are looking for an alternative to point and shoot cameras, or what I was using... Disposables! You will love this camera, it is packed with features, while still easy to get started with. So if the Video, 3x zoom and black white are features you need, go with the larger s300, if not stick to the s100. Either way you will love the Cannon Digital Elf. Recommended accessories:
1) Larger flash card (MUST HAVE) the 8mg is an insulting joke, what good is a $700 camera that can only take 8 photos as purchased, no card at all would be better at least you would know you needed to buy another. I bought the 128, I usually run out of batteries before space.
2) USB flash card reader, for about $30 is makes getting the pics on your machine a snap, and makes it easier to use other photo software.
3) Extra battery, I have finally begun to take pictures with the view lens instead of the screen, but the extra battery is still nice to have because everyone wants to see the pictures and that chews up the battery.
4) iPaq, ok so not really an accessory, but a fun way to see the pic's with a flash card reader, I wouldn't suggest that you buy and iPaq specifically for this purpose but if you already own one it is a fun way to show the pictures, without killing the camera battery, and an easy way to transfer digital images from the card using a familiar interface.
Rating:
Summary: Very Happy
Review: This camera takes great photos. I brought it with me on a recent vacation where I took over 200 photos & 6 videos, and there was plenty of room left on the 248 meg viking card (purchased separately). The photos were great, however it clearly has limited low-light capabilities. I'd recommend having a portable mini tripod available if you want to take low-light photos. ONE CAVEAT! If I had to do it all over again, I'd take a closer look at the size difference with the Elph 110, which I didn't do. This camera is small, one of the smallest, but smaller is better & it is possible that I would have gone with the Elph 110 (with the 2x zoom rather than the 3x zoom of this model) if the size difference was significant. This model is pocket-sized, but barely.
Rating:
Summary: Very easy to pick up and use
Review: I just got this three days ago and I love it already. It is easy to understand and use for a novice techie such as myself. I also found the software that comes with it pretty helpful. You can export images in varying resolutions - lower for things you just want to email to friends and higher for images you want printed. I upload my .jpg files to Shutterfly and send them to my friends so they can view and have prints made at their leisure. It is just a bit bigger than the film Elf (which I also have and enjoy) so it is fairly easy to tote around. I can't say enough nice things about it. Try it for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: Nice, just a few gripes
Review: Since I was purchasing my first digital camera, I wanted to go all out and get something nice. After buying this, I think I came pretty close. Here's what I have to complain about:
1) The battery doesn't last very long. After a few hours of light shooting you are prompted to change the battery pack.
2) The included memory card (8MB) is pretty pathetic. Make sure you buy something larger. A 64/128MB ought to be more than enough if you plan on taking a lot of large pictures.
3) The movie clips are capped at 30 seconds or so (at the smallest resolution). It would have been nice if there was no limit at all but its probably there for a reason.
4) Pricey. It may drop in the future, but it is rather expensive for a 2.1 megapixel camera. And here's what I have to praise:
1) Small. I can take it anywhere and conceal it very well (fits in my back pocket).
2) Durable. I'm pretty clumsy, so the hard metal casing around this camera has protected it the few times I have accidentily dropped it.
3) Good quality pictures. Took me a little while to learn how to take good pictures with this, but now my pictures rock.
4) Good software. The ZoomBrowser program makes it really easy to quickly build a photo album.
5) Good shooting features. The panoramic mode and continuous-shoot mode (hold down the button to rapidly take pictures) come to mind. Overall, quite nice. Just be sure you read the manual first so you know exactly what everything does and get the most out of this.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Expected-Digital has Arrived in a Small Package
Review: This is a great camera. I love the size, construction, and controls. Even better, the image quality is fantastic. Pictures have a great warmth/tone, and the detail is wonderful. I bought the extra battery and a 128MB card. Even at the highest resolution, with the lowest compression, I can fit about 150 images on it. Glad I spent the extra money. Downloading to my PC is fast and easy. Prints from Ofoto come out as though taken on film. A long time film photographer and early experimenter with digital, this camera has convinced me digital is now the way to go.
Rating:
Summary: A great little camera
Review: I recently purchased an S300 and have been extremely pleased. This is my second digital camera purchase (first was in Jan 2000) and I'm impressed with how the technology keeps improving. For a camera that fits easily in a shirt pocket, the S300 does it all. Daylight pictures are terrific, and I've been very impressed with the camera's low light pictures (something many digitals do poorly). The camera's manual settings give enough flexibility for great photos in a variety of lighting conditions, with or without the flash. The movie mode is a cool feature (decent video quality) and the panoramic capabilities of the Stitch Assist mode are just amazing. Battery life is fine unless the battery-draining display is in constant use. The bundled software is excellent, with solid photo management programs and an easy-to-use interface for downloading photos from the camera. The only real gripe is the puny 8MB flash card that is included, but users can just buy a card that suits their needs. My recommendation is if you want maximum features from a very small form factor you need to give this little camera a try.
Rating:
Summary: Great photos but defective
Review: Just purchased this 300. Took 150 great photos and then the lens jammed. Returned today for a repacement. I have heard that the 100 had some of these problems. Great size, easy to use, download a snap, will not work on NT systems, nice resolution
Rating:
Summary: Great little camera
Review: I will start this by saying that I am not a "real" photo enthusiast. I WANT a point-and-shoot camera, not one that I have to focus and play with light setting. Been there done that, and didn't enjoy it. So I spent a month researching various digital cameras, in order to buy my first new camera in 14 years. There were three reasons I chose the Canon S300 over the other ones I was considering. First is size. Smaller in this case is better = more likely for me to bring it with me. Second was the mostly metal case. I drop things. Often. So I wanted a camera with a sturdy case. Third was the relative ease of use and no-brainer picture-taking. Oh, and I liked the 3X optical zoom. I have had my camera for 6 months and have taken more than 400 pictures. It stood up to three trips, a wedding, several parties, marathon-watching, and various other activities. I love the fact that I can edit out so-so pictures as I go along. And yes, I've dropped it twice, so far. It still works fine. There are a few negatives, however.
1. Images in the view-finder are close than they appear.
2. Uses up battery juice like nobody's business (get that second battery, folks)
3. Macro close-ups ...
4. Flash is too weak. Advice: Buy an extra battery and keep both charged up. Don't bother with the AC adapter. A second battery and a CF memory reader are better than the AC adapter. Buy a nice, big CF card or two (I can't even find the ridiculous 8 meg card they supplied). Buy a nice case. I eventually settled on the Lowepro D-Res 20AW. It has a nice, big, soft inside pocket for the camera and a pocket each for the extra battery and CF card. Enjoy!
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