Rating: 
Summary: Best Camera Purchase I've Ever Made
Review: I purchased this camera before it went on sale, and while I wouldn't have minded keeping the extra $$$, it was definitely worth it. I have been absolutely, completely satisfied with the product and its capabilities. I am no computer expert, and this is my first (and probably last) digital camera. This is a great product, and Canon has done an excellent job.First off, the ease of interface with the PC was very good. I set up the camera, followed the brief instructions in the manual and had no problems setting up the camera to interface with my PC (I've got Windows 2000). Second, the quality of the pictures is fantastic! I have used the amazon.com site to get the pictures developed like a "real" camera, and have been very pleased with what I have gotten back. I have also used the pictures on a Ceiva Digtial Picture frame, and that has worked very well too. Third, the camera's features are top-notch. The black and white ability, as well as the piece-meal panorama pictures (you put them together with the included software) are great. The ease of looking at the picture immediately after taking it lets you know when to retake and when to keep on traveling. I do recommend the larger memory card - I've got the 48, and it works plenty well.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic little camera - but needs a couple of accessories
Review: This is the camera that I've been waiting 18 months for - decent price, small but well built, high resolution and great quality. After a week of ownership, overall I'm delighted with the product. However, it was poor of Canon not to include a pouch for the camera - no more than a $1 cost to them but essential in protecting the camera from an occasional knock, IMO. Also missing is an AC adapter to power the camera - the included battery charger requires that the battery be removed from the camera, meaning that I can't be charging the battery while transferring images to the pc
Note: If you are planning on buying this camera (or any other digital camera), be aware that you will need to buy a high-capacity compact flash card. If you go on a vacation and plan on taking more than 15 pics or so before you get back to your computer, then the stock 8mb card included with the camera won't cut it. I got a 64mb card (About $120) which should do nicely.
Also note: The battery only lasts about a day of moderate camera usage - you might want to consider buying a second battery if you plan on taking a lot of snaps.
Rating:
Summary: Exceeds my Expectatios
Review: I too have been checking out digital cameras for a long time. When the price dropped I jumped on this one. I absolutely love it. I've had it just over one month. I've developed pictures on-line several times and have been very happy. Though I have done the exact picture in two different (Kodak and Yahoo) and they both have different skin tone. Can't say which I like better, wish it was somewhere in between. I love to take pictures of my 4 boys, and in the first few days of practice I've taken so of the best pictures I have ever taken before. Fantastic close ups. It's so easy when you don't have to catch a good one by chance. Take several shots and you know if you have a good one. The pictures are sharp and clear. (Almost too sharp and clear f you don't have a flawless face. Thank goodness it is easy to touch up. I highly recommend Photo Suite III. You do take the risk of a fuzzy shot if you think you have enough light and you don't use the flash. The camera itself chooses a slow shutter speed with no flash (p.37). I was also dismayed about not having the ability to use the low resolution with the auto setting, but actually you don't lose any quality of performance in the manual setting. You just have the ability to change and set some settings. If you want to keep the settings when you turn the camera off, you just set the mode in the "saving the shooting" to last (p.62). The only problem I have with this camera is that the on/off button is so close to the shutter button. Many times I've gotten everyone together and smiling and then turned the camera off instead of taking the picture. Everyone gets tired of that real fast, hopefully I will overcome doing that. As far as the camera getting hot. I have left my camera on for an extended time to burn the battery completely out and it barely gets warm. I found an adorable small purse that everything just fits into. I just hate camera looking bags. I would rather wear the camera around my neck to leave my hands free. So I made a black stretchy slipover pouch that just hugs the camera itself, I attached a small elastic cord loop to the pouch corner, and that glides along a black cord that I threaded through the camera's wrist strap hole. The pouch stays on the cord when I slide it out to use the camera, and it gives it a little more protection from scratches. It looks attractive and people don't know it is a camera. And I don't have to worry about setting it down when I don't have pockets. The longer you own the camera and more familiar you become with the manual, the more you'll love this camera. It is very easy to use and gives fantastic pictures. This is a very cool camera and I would buy it all over again. I'm very happy with it.....
Rating:
Summary: Happyt together
Review: I bought this little guy a few weeks back, and I have to saythat I never had so much fun with a new toy as this. You willdefinitly appreciate the small size. You can take it anywhere withyou, unlike other bulky cameras, and capture every moment of yourlife. This is my first digital camera I've owned, so I wantedemphasis some points to all my felow novice photographers that otherreviewers may have already pointed out: 1) there's no intermediateresolution quality setting; it's either the normal 640 x 480, thebetter 1600 x 1200, or the best super fine 1600 x1200. Which, ofcourse, means the better quality pictures you want to take, the morestorage space you need. I recommend a 32M, or better, Compact Flashcard... 2)Buy an extra battery. The batter will last around 70 or sopictures using a flash, with the LCD turned off, but if you plan ongoing on vacation, you will definitly need one. 3)Image quality isinconsistent. This could be my fault, but under the camera automaticsetting, some pictures come out way too dark, red, or blurry. This isspecially true when taking pictures indoors. But daylight outdoorpictures are truely beautiful. 4) You need to hold the camera verysteady when taking pictures due to its small size. Otherwise pictureswill turn out blurry. Overall, I love this new toy. I woulddefinitly recommend it to first time digital camera owners. It willtake you some time to learn to operate it but after that it will be apiece of cake. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Smallest digital camera which is any good - & waterproof!
Review: I was looking for a compact, rugged (I carry it hiking, skiing, boating, etc) camera which is easy to use. I wanted standard memory expansion (CF cards), macro mode, and if possible, a waterproof housing (for kayaking). This is the only camera with all these capabilities. Even with the waterproof housing it is small. The lens retracts and has its own metal cover so you don't need to fuss with a lens cap. The metal housing seems very rugged. Turn-on to ready-to-shoot is about 3 seconds. I'd give it 5 stars if the automatic modes were better and if there were true manual focus and exposure modes. For example, in auto mode you can't use the flash redeye reduction, you must be in manual mode for that. The auto color balance is often fooled by dense clouds. You need to use the manual exposure adjustment in backlight or bright light conditions such as with snow in the background. The dynamic range seems not quite as good as the Kodak DC260. The macro mode works well, although it takes some practice since the camera doesn't clearly indicate when it can't focus. The white-LED backlit LCD is very bright and crisp, even in sunlight, and relatively easy on the battery. The panorama modes are wonderful. Buy at least two batteries and you'll never run out in the field. High-res photos take 1-1.5 MBytes each so you want a CF card sized accordingly. It's so small and light, even with a spare battery, you really can take it anywhere. In auto mode anyone can use it as a point and shoot camera. The manual modes give you a lot of control over exposure and white balance (but there is no manual focus or manual exposure). 1600x1200 means really good, cropped 5x7 prints and acceptable 8x10s. There are better cameras but none anywhere near as light and compact. It's a little jewel.
Rating:
Summary: Kudos to Canon!!
Review: I have owned at least 8 or 10 other cameras thru the years. In the 70's and 80's I used several 35mm SLR's, then got lazy and have had several 35mm point and shoot auto everything cameras. On two occasions I tried out APS format cameras, the latest being the Canon Elph 370Z. The APS format cannot hold a candle to 35mm for overall picture quality, but the size and feel of the Elph made up for some of the lost points. It's failure was in the flash department...totally inadequate and inconstant. But the size, look and feel of the Elph was wonderful, thus I tried out the Digital Elph S100. This camera is great. Point and shoot and 90% of the time you get an excellent photo. The inferior flash is not as much a problem with digital cameras....I guess they work much like camcorders in that department. I think anything less than a 2 megapixel digital will not give the results that a 35mm gives and anything over that is overkill for the typical person taking 4x6 snapshots. This camera is replacing a $200 Olympus point and shoot 35mm that has been an excellent camera, but didn't take a drop off a 10 foot balcony very well. When you shoot at the default resolution and reduce to 4x6 inch, you will see a sharper 4x6 than any point and shoot 35mm I have used. To get 10 photo album "keepers", I would shoot maybe 20 to 30 shots, discarding 2/3 of them. With this format, you only get printed the ones you want. This camera, like any small camera produces bad "red eye" with the flash, but with the Adobe Photo Shop that comes with it, you remove the "red eye" with just a few clicks of the mouse. Upload your digital files to Amazon's Ofoto and in less than a week you have beautiful prints. And since you print only the "keepers" it will cost you less in the long run. Now back to this camera, Canon doesn't ship it with the neat little leather case that slides on your belt that comes with the other Elphs. The one for the Elph-2 fits it perfect and Amazon has it. The 8MB flash card will give you only about 10 shots, so go ahead and order a 32 or 48MB one. This is a cool camera that you will enjoy likely more than any other camera you have ever had!
Rating:
Summary: An ideal APS camera replacement
Review: I've had this camera for a few days and have put it through it's paces. I bought the Digital Elph to replace an APS camera, and it takes shots that are comparable, if not better than the APS. Even the 8x10's prints (in fine mode 1600 x 1200) look about the same as with my old APS (in superfine mode, they look even better!). With a 4 x 6 print size, (in fine mode 1600 x 1200) you will see little difference in quality when compared to an average 35mm camera. The advantages of this camera far outweigh the disadvantages. Quite simply, it is easy to use, and the battery life is better than most and it recharges fast. It has a solid feel, a stainless steel case and is really well built. The LCD is easily viewable in daylight. Fine mode at 1600 x 1200, is perfect for most pictures. The software that comes with it is first rate, and easy to use. Taking panorama shots, and "stitching" them together with the provided software is really simple to do. Red-eye correction works well (For a camera that has a flash this small and close to the lens) as long as the subjects look right into the camera. The "Wow! What is that?" factor is difficult to describe. This camera is an attention-getter! Disadvantages? I can't complain about the small size of things, the buttons are about as good as they can be on something this small. As with all digital cameras you will have to buy extra memory card(s), I bought a 64MB card that hold plenty of pics. You will also have to buy an extra battery, which because it is proprietary, cost .... (but is also lithium-Ion, an advantage.) When going from optical zoom to digital zoom, the transition in the LCD screen is jerky, but who cares about digital zoom anyway (If you need to zoom in more, take your shots in Super Fine mode, and enlarge the picture in software). This baby can get HOT! when you use it. Other information of interest: USB connectivity worked fine in Win2k, but it did require a reboot before it would function. Pics in all but the brightest light outdoors seem to be slightly under exposed, I set the exposure +1/3 f-stop, and it seems to capture colors more accurately. A video out cable lets you view your photos on your TV. The Powershot ... Digital Elph is the perfect APS camera replacement.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent camera!
Review: I'm not a professional photographer, but I've got three little kids so I take a lot of pictures. This camera is GREAT! I like being able to take lots of pictures and just delete the bad ones. The small size is awesome--makes it easy to take everywhere. The kids love seeing the pictures just after they've been taken (and the grownups do too). It's also been nice to use for work, having taken pictures and included them the same day in Powerpoint presentations. Took about 5 minutes to feel comfortable taking pictures, a couple days to understand all the features. For example, had to get out the manual to understand how to delete unwanted pictures. If you go on a long trip and take lots of pictures, you'll either need to bring your laptop, have multiple expensive chips. That's true for any digital camera. I would give it 5 stars except I felt a bit nickel-and-dimed by the time I was in business. Had to buy a larger memory chip (my camera came with 8Mb, I would recommend a minimum of 64Mb--$300), an extra battery so one's always charged (or you might spend the end of a wedding unable to take pictures like me because your battery's charging in the only outlet I could find on the other side of the reception hall when the bride and groom cut the cake). Also needed to get a case. I picked up a little neoprene case at an airport Laptop Lane store that was intended for a cell phone but works great. I also have found the software to download the pictures to be a bit buggy. I've called the help desk and they've been helpful. Make sure your operating system is supported.
Rating:
Summary: Nifty point and click camera
Review: The good: Small size; durable-seeming metal case; easy to use; visually distinctive; good picture quality; fast USB connection; mostly intuitive operation; really cool PhotoStitch software that knits pictures together to give wide panoramas. The bad: Short battery life (about 50 shots with flash and LCD on -- thankfully, it comes with a recharger); no way to take 640x480 pictures in automatic mode (or, if this is possible, manuals that don't tell you how to do it). The ugly: Adobe PhotoDeluxe software -- utterly useless, as it only saves in a proprietary format; and even if it did save in usable formats, it just doesn't do very much, and it does it poorly. The conclusion: High wow factor, great toy for the technogeek, but get a second battery and some better software.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for me!
Review: The Canon Powershot S100 is a must have for any gadget hound. It takes super detailed shots and fits in a shirt pocket. Obviously, buying extra memory is a must. A 48 MB card is reasonable, holding 70+ large pictures. Having an extra battery is useful, especially if you like to make use the little LCD. The USB connection means pictures download to your computer fast and the included software is reasonable. I think the S100 is an excellent substitue for a regular point and shoot camera. Plus the fact that I don't have to worry about carrying film and developing pictures makes the $500 price well worth it. Digital photography has really arrived!
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