Rating: 
Summary: Great camera--small yet packed with performance
Review: I have been playing around with my Powershot S30 for a couple of weeks now, and I must say I am very impressed. This is my first digital camera. 35mm photography has been a hobby of mine for over 10 years now, so I wanted to get a digicam that wouldn't let me down. And the S30 hasn't. It has almost all the features of my Canon Rebel 2000 (except interchangeable lenses, filters, and a hotshoe), but with a fraction of the size. The pictures are great. I have noticed that indoor flash pics tended to be a little too bright, but that was easily fixed by adjusting the flash exposure compensation down by 1/3 or 2/3. The camera takes pictures quickly (not as fast as my SLR, but that's to be expected) and the pics are of high quality. The battery life is relatively short, but a fully charged battery was more than enough to get me through over 100 shots, using the LCD screen for all of them, the flash for most, and spending a fair bit of time reviewing the photos. I *love* the fact that the camera records all the settings you used along with the shot.
The camera is small and rugged, so it can easily be taken everywhere. Even the battery charger is fairly small. I definitely recommend getting a 256MB card (check out newegg.com) and a USB reader. At highest resolution and least compression, I can fit 157 pics on the 256MB card. The only thing I've used the 16MB card that comes with the camera for was to transfer some pics to it so a friend who wanted "doubles" could go to Ritz camera and print them out for herself. Definitely recommend!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Super Camera with Super Options
Review: I just bought this camera used from another Amazon member and all I can say is Wow! I need it to take pictures for web and print (as a professional photographer and designer), and this camera is packed with all the features I could imagine I need, at a great price. First off, the camera is a good size--small and light and streamlined. Easy to find controls and great display screen. It's easy to use -- I just charged the batteries, popped them in, and started shooting for a client. The user manual is a bit redundant, but with an image of every step of the process, is is handy. I referenced it immediately to be sure I was setting the time/date and image sizes properly. Far away shots of a dim restaurant are crystal clear. Macro shots of product labels are crisp and perfectly lit. No one has red eyes (auto flash setting). Edges are crisp and colors really pop--no washing out or muddy-ing with this. The only problem I've found is that the zoom/focus button is a bit hard to maneuver (right in front of shutter button), but I figure I will get used to it. I bought a 256MB flash card and took large images by the hundreds--I took so many I used the battery pretty quickly (2+ hours), so I would recommend a second battery and a good-sized compact flash card to go with your purchase. I plugged the battery and charger into an outlet, ate a sandwich, and the camera was ready to go again in about 20 minutes. I can't wait to try scenery pics and also some portraits (it has a portrait mode). Also want to try the video capture out. For a used price of [less amount] (new is easily [alot more]), and the price of an extra memory card and battery (bought cheap from online auction), I feel I have everything I could want with a digital camera. And with newer models out, prices should continue falling. After using other people's digitals for the past year (and tons of different brands), I think I picked a gem. I am totally impressed with the digital zoom and glad I opted for a 3 mega-pixel (and savings) instead of wasting big bucks on something more (which I don't need even for print images). Funny thing is, everyone I know spent a fortune on their digital cameras and NEVER use them!! I ask them what kind of camera they have and what features, and they all say, "I don't know. But I know it was expensive." Well, their cameras can gather dust. Mine is going with me everywhere, tucked into my purse.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Camera
Review: I have owned this camera for over a year now and taken probably 3000+ pics. I have learnt a lot in this one year about digital cameras in general and this camera in particular. The picture quality is simply superb in most conditions. The one problem of dull pics indoors that the previous reviewer mentioned is definitely something I noticed too. One thing worth trying is to not use the flash and instead use more light indoors if possible. The problem occurs because the flash range is small and it will illuminate only nearby objects. All in all, a fantastic product. I would buy it again if I had to.
Rating:
Summary: Canon S30 is most bang for buck and it fits in your pocket !
Review: I used an olympus c3040 prior to buying this camera and have thi camera for 4 months now. I like this camera's small size for the same MP/zoom range as the c3040. The small size makes it a little shakier, but you will get used to it. It takes very good quality pictures in daylight and fluoroscent lighting and has multiple white balance modes. You can also set your own white balance, which some people may find useful. I find the color and hue saturation with the factory set white balance great and much better than my previous 3MP camera. Night/Low light pics are not as good if you use the auto mode. Remember to set the setting to P (program) mode for night shots. Manual modes are great for low light situations and this camera works like any other non-digital (SLR-35 mm Film) camera. The RAW format images are useful to make even larger sized prints using appropriate software. I think the software bundled with the camera ... when used on windows 98. All they needed to do was to have windows 98 recognize it as another drive, but they made it twain based instead and boy that really ... for me. I have to go thru hoops to download pics to my windows 98 machine. However if you have XP, it is a breeze to use the camera and once you install the drivers it works like any other camera. I recommend reading the manual at least 3 times before using the advanced functions. The manual is somewhat technical but you need to read it! There is an available attachment for underwater pics, which is also great if you just want to use it in the summer on a beach or to take underwater pictures. As far as I know no other digital camera offers this yet. I also like the Photostitch option that allows you to take multiple pictures and then weave them together to get a large sized (panoramic) picture. You can combine multiple pictures to get a huge poster (even 40x40 inches) for example by using this function. It comes with a 16MB CF card which is rather small (holds 16-24 pics in high resolution and only 6-8 pics in RAW format). Now that 128/256/512 MB CF cards are available you may want to pick one up. However then you will also need an extended battery or an AC power pack as you will run out of power before you use the entire CF card. If you have no computer, this blighter can even print directly to a compatible printer, which is cool if you are travelling. I also would have really liked canon to include a small leather case with this, but then one can't ask for all! I still feel I have not found out all this camera can do even at 4 months and there are many features that I have not tried yet. The multipurpose button is sturdy, but some what difficult to use. Also they could have combined to zoom function to the same button (like in many videocams) for better funtionality while shooting. However I got used to the small buttons now and am really not finding it that much of a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Canon S30 - A *Wonderful* Digital Camera!
Review: For months, I researched digital cameras...printed off the specs of at least 30 different models. My search led me to the Canon Powershot S30 and after owning it for a mere three days, I LOVE IT! One of the "complaints" I kept reading about digital cameras in general was the poor quality of indoor pictures (too dark or blurred). This camera takes BEAUTIFUL indoor pictures! We *tried* to make it blur and took some action shots. This camera took a perfectly crisp picture of my husband wildy waving his arms! And, the pics of our young children are perfect every time. The flash is really amazing. The instruction manual is very well written, very detailed, not confusing at all. In three days, I have already taken pictures (on AUTO) in every resolution, taken three videos with the movie mode and all this was without reading the manual from cover to cover. The controls, menus and manual are so easily laid out that you can use the camera without a lot of studying. Of course, to have more control over my pics, I will need to read more about the manual settings. Oh, the battery life...excellent! There is not an always-present indicator of battery power; however, when the battery is getting low, a red indicator comes on (so there is some warning). But, so far, I have used the camera quite a bit with each charge and have had plenty of power. The charging process is very fast, too. (less than an hour to get a full charge) The cover for the USB connection seems rather flimsy...but, I download my pics using my Photosmart printer so I don't have to use a USB port. If I was continually opening and closing the cover, I would be concerned that it might not last. (?) Compactflash cards...keep in mind, the type this camera uses are available everywhere...they are not "proprietary" like some brands (Sony, for instance). That was a big thing for me...I can buy my cards online from many different sites or go out to Sam's / Wal-Mart. BTW, the 16 MB card holds so much more than I thought it would! This is my first digital camera, so I am not an experienced user nor do I have anything to compare this camera to. But, I have to say that I am extremely happy with the quality of the photos and highly recommend this camera! It is A LOT of camera for the price...the 16 MB card, rechargeable batteries and base...GREAT package! BTW, I bought a Case Logic camera bag at WM on clearance that fits this camera perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: Canon did it again! A great digital camera!
Review: I started using the Canon S100 when it first came out about 2 years ago.. it was the best camera in town... Then came the S110, with more features and better battery life... the best just got better! I gave the S110 to my wife and decided to step-up with a 3.2 MegaPix camera... I bought the Nikon Coolpix 885, and guess what.. I returned it 2 weeks later... because the picture quality was so-so... Then I received the S30.. and believe me.. It's the best digital camera I ever had and have seen... it's great! Same quality as the Digital Elph (s100, s110), great features, and most important, great picture quality. PROS:
- Great finish, great style, great overall construction
- No plastic or cheap materials
- Incredible picture quality in all modes
- Super fast image processing
- Super fast "ready for next picture"
- Great LCD display
- Great size! (not that small as the S110, but still perfect!) CONS:
- Heavy for the size. (this because of the good quality materials used)
- The "navigator" joystick, is kind of not intuitive to move.
- Video mode is not good compared to other less expensive cameras I have seen.
- Does not come with a case.
Rating: 
Summary: Give Me A Break
Review: I have had this camera for over a year now. The camera is great until now. I simply plugged the camera into the USB port in order to download my pictures and all the sudden my LCD DISPLAY turned White. I have tried troubleshooting and nothing is expalined about this mess. I talked to Canon and the only option they left me was to ship it in and get it repaired...for $200.00 What a joke!
Rating: 
Summary: PowerShot S30 pros & cons after 1.5yrs use
Review: I've owned a Canon Powershot S30 since may 2002 and am happy with my purchase. Cons:
- Joystick used to navigate menu items makes it very difficult to "click"/select items especially if in a hurry. Gets worse with age.
- Sliding door is on/off switch, means camera is often accidentally switched off when framing shot as fingers press on loose door/off switch. Gets worse with age.
- Dust gets on lens easily, under sliding door.
- Supplied memory card (16mb) inadequate, recommend 256mb+.
- LCD viewfinder difficult to see in direct sunlight, makes it very difficult to use manual features where small numbers/icons need to be read.
- Often a long delay on shutter action, means you miss the framed shot.
- Battery life only about 100 shots, seems to get worse with age. Need two batteries.
- Bulky & heavy body, compared to many other compact digital cameras.
- No protective case supplied with camera.
- Software to get images from camera to computer a large-long install, I cant find a way to do it without installing all the software on the CD.
- Impressive number settings can be controlled manually but accessing and changing them via menus and buttons is slow compared to an SLR. Pros:
- Good quality photos.
- Lots of settings can be controlled manually, compared to other compact digital cameras I've used.
- Very good software on the camera, especially for navigating and viewing images.
- Batteries charge very quickly
Rating:
Summary: Zoom in!
Review: I've had my Canon s30 for a year and a half now, and it's still at the top of its game. Brushed aluminum. Weighty, but not bulky. Crystal-clear screen. Potentially ridiculously intricate functionality, but simple enough for anyone to use. And yes, the video function is incredibly handy to have around. The cons cited in other reviews hold, of course: the joystick is difficult to use, you'll want to buy a separate 256 MB card, the battery drains fairly quickly, that sort of thing. Except for these aspects of its anatomy, it really is a brilliant camera. But here's one pro I haven't seen anyone mention yet: you can zoom in--really CLOSE!--on a picture you've taken, and then scroll around in it. This is an incredible function, catering to those social settings where everyone gathers around you and demands to see themselves in that last picture you took. Really handy (and sometimes VERY entertaining).
Rating: 
Summary: Watch that sliding door!
Review: I have owned the S30, S40, and S50 and have done everything one can do with these cameras. Here is my take on the good and bad on the Canon PowerShot S30. This was a terrific small digital camera when it was introduced, but the digital camera market advances quickly and this model has been surpassed by Canon's own S45 (which is an updated S40) and the new S50 (5 megapixel in the same body only in high-tech black). Serious photographers seekng a digital should turn to Canon's EOS Digital Rebel. The S30 and S40 are good cameras if you want lots of features in a small package without paying a lot of money. The two models are identical except for this: the S30 is 3 megapixel and allows ISO-equivalence of 800, allowing for low-light indoor photography. The S40 is a 4 megapixel model using a denser CCD, and its maximum ISO is 400. You can make the pictures smaller than the maximum size to conserve space on the removable CompactFlash cards. Several modes are available to you such as Sports (high shutter-speed and high resolution shots), Portrait, Night, etc. You can put it in complete Idiot Mode (okay, Automatic mode) and let it select your shutter speed and aperture, or you can pick one or the other and let the camera pick the missing one, or you can go full into Manual mode and pick both. There's even a Movie mode, complete with sound, which creates video clips of 320 x 200 pixels. This small camera fits in a purse or shirt pocket easily and won't get in the way if you're shouldering it in a case (not included, just buy a generic). But you pay a price for the small size: the optical zoom is limited to 3x. And unfortuately, the S30, like all the PowerShot S family, starts out with a focal length of 11mm, which is a very wide-angle view. Even at 3X optical zoom you will max out at 55mm, often not as close as you'd need. There is a digital zoom, but so what? Crop your picture in software later rather than play with that silly feature. I found 55mm insufficient for shooting across a large room. If you work closer in this won't be a problem, but it is not a good focal length for shooting children, who stop whatever adorable thing they're doing when they notice you framing that shot. (And see comment on slow shutter response, below.) The sliding door that covers the lens (and turns on the camera) seems flimsy and can cause problems. My 3YO niece got ahold of my S40 (remember, this is the exact same body as the S30) and ripped the door off. I was able to reattach it but now it's a loose tooth, ready to fall off again. Even under warranty, my choice was to send it back to Canon for 12 weeks or live with it. I couldn't live without the camera, so I kept it, loose sliding door and all. I've just learned not to lend it to people who can't baby it; a good push and that door is off the camera again. One of the S30's most frustrating limitations is a slow shutter response. I can't tell you how many shots I've missed using it; I frame it lovingly, I see the perfect moment, I shoot... but no score. The people have moved on, the sun has set, the universe suffers heat-death, and finally the shutter clicks. If you want a fast shutter then you must have a digital SLR, as almost all the compact-style digital cameras such as this one have the delayed shutter issue. Another note of annoyance on the PowerShot S family: they come with a wrist strap but no shoulder strap. I don't know what use a wrist strip is for a camera; if I'm not using it then I want my hands free. I bought a generic shoulder strap but it wasn't a great fit. At least Canon should offer one as an extra-cost accessory. I give this camera 3 stars; 4 for putting so many features in such a small package, but the loss of one because you can buy the S40 for about the same price and the gain of a megapixel more than makes up for losing ISO 800 (which produces very noisy photos, anyway). The PowerShot S30 comes with software, but you'll probably want to buy your own image editing package, such as Photoshop Elements. The package provided is fairly limited. Useful software includes PhotoStitch, which allows you to make your own panaramic style images from a series of linked shots. The included 32 MB CompactFlash card is also too small for typical use, so plan on buying a bigger card. Also plan on buying a second battery.
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