Canon Powershot S1 IS Digital Camera: Do Not Even Think of Purchasing Unless....

After numerous attempts to bring my parents into the digital world, I think I have finally succeeded. I failed a few years ago with a Sony digital camera that they could not quite figure out how to use and have succeeded only modestly with regards to the computer and internet surfing. But, heck I decided to give it another try when they asked about a digital camera the other day. Why not, I thought. They have to learn someday and they are not getting any younger.

At any rate, one of my father's biggest complaints was that the older Sony did not allow him to focus in as much as he would like and they both struggled mightily with transferring anything to the computer. So, I knew one thing to look for and another that I would have to walk them through.

Out I went and I must admit that I went out the door very closed minded in that I was going to come home with a name brand that I know and that I associate with cameras. This ruled out the likes of Sony, Microsoft, Gateway and a host of others who focus their businesses elsewhere. Nope, this was going to be a purchase that came from a camera company. This was also going to be a purchase that I spent a decent amount of time with before actually letting my parents attempt to use it. I figure that this way they may actually use it and learn how to use it in short order. Hopefully. At least that is the plan.


THE SPECIFICS:

* Dimensions of 4.4" x 3.1" x 2.6"
* Weight of 131.1 oz
* 3.2 megapixel sensor or 2048 x 1536 pixels
* 10x optical zoom
* 3x digital zoom
* Powered by four AA batteries
* Images stored on Compact Flash Type I or II memory card
* Image stabilizer technology
* Prints up to 11 x 14 inches
* 1.5 inch LCD monitor
* Shutter speed of 15-1/2000 seconds
* Package includes the following: Lens cap, neck strap,
compact flash card, interface and av cable, digital
camera CD-ROM, four AA batteries, and ArcSoft Camera
Suite CD-ROM.

As always, I may not have the most technologically advanced epinions in this space, but I have a pretty good idea what works and what does not and why I like or dislike something.


WHAT I LIKE:

1. Everything. Ok, not quite as you will see eventually, but this is a very good camera with a lot of cool add on type gadgets. I also think that for the price you are doing pretty well- especially when you see all the extras that I mentioned. The S1 is not for professionals, but you will not hear anyone complaining about the photo quality.

2. Speaking of the photos, they are wonderful. Everything I have taken and stored on the internet and/or printed out has turned out to be very crisp, clear, and concise. I owe a some of this to the image stabilizer. What this does is allow you to take a photo of something that is moving and have the camera fooled into believing that the image is still. Hence, you do not get the "bleeding" that you will sometimes see with other cameras when you try to photograph something that is moving or on an extreme zoom. Regardless, the photos look great. Like I mentioned above, they are not professional quality, but they are very good.

3. Hey dad, this thing can really zoom in on something. He wanted the ability to zoom and he got it. The S1 can really capture an object a great distance away and does so with amazing clarity and crispness. The 10x zoom feature makes it possible to take wonderful naturally lit shots and also those shots that are from long distance. I took a few of the golf course I play a lot and they really looked good. Had I taken the shots without the zoom feature, I would have been wasting my time. A great feature to have available.

4. Hey dad, the S1 hooks up to the internet with very little difficulty. Ok dad, follow this closely: You simply plug this into your USB connection and the computer and camera instantly communicate. You do not have to do anything at this point. The photos will automatically download. Dad, it could not be any easier. In all seriousness, this is a very easy process and a quick one at that.

5. The LCD screen is quite cool. Have you seen the LCD screens that are difficult to see in certain light? Too bright and they just cannot be seen or they appear faded at best. The S1 has two different levels of brightness so that does not happen. Cool, huh? The 1.5 inch screen pops out from the camera so that it is easy to see. The screen provides a nice preview of what you just took. You can also video a short movie with the S1 and you are able to view it on the LCD screen also.

6. Like I mentioned, you can videotape with the S1 like it was a camcorder. Ok, not really, but sort of. You can take up to an hour worth of video with sound, but the problem I found was that the battery will not make it through a full hour. The video is not bad and the sound is decent, but there are better options than using this as a camcorder. It works, but think of it as a few years away from where it will eventually be- like a cam/phone.

7. The software is as good as I have used. I was not familiar with the ArcSoft brand until recently and I must say that I am impressed. The software is intuitive and easy to use. It also loads quickly and allows you to do all of the editing actions that you may want to try once you have downloaded your photos.

8. The ability to print high quality photos at a size that I could never print them before- 11 x 14 inches. I was always restricted to a smaller print if I wanted decent quality prints. Now you can get good quality with the larger size and very good quality with smaller sizes. Do keep in mind that photo paper will always provide the best print job.

9. The S1 is pretty easy to use and understand. The one thing I did not like and I know my parents did not like with the old Sony was that everything was on a menu screen that you had to navigate. While there are still menu screen with the S1, most of the time you will be using individual buttons that are on the camera. All of the buttons are intelligently marked and placed where they are easy to find and use. I think that everyone will find this to be a big improvement over fumbling through different menu screens in an attempt to find a command.

10. Though I am not going to try t, I get the feeling that if I dropped the S1 it would not be done immediately. The S1 has the feel of a solidly built camera and should last a pretty good while.


WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:

1. Ugh! All the consumer electronics companies continue to crank out amazing devices for our daily useage, but when will one of them smarten up and develop a battery that actually does some good. The four AA batteries are not all that bad, but you have limited uses if you want to take and view in the best modes and depending on what else you do with the camera. The batteries are no worse than any other camera, but why can they not be improved.

2. You will lose the lens cap in a matter of days. The stupid cap does not come with a connection to the camera itself and is not one of the slide types that you do not have to worry about taking off. No, this one has a cord attached to it, but it does not attach to anything. Keep this in mind and figure on ordering at least one spare cap over time.

3. I am not a fan of buying this when I did, but I wanted it. Keep in mind that consumer electronics always fall in price rather quickly. The S1 runs around $450.00 now and my guess is that in a few months it will be under $400.00 and falling from there until a new model comes out. Hence, I feel as I cheated myself by buying it now, rather than in a few months.


THE BOTTOM LINE:

I am a huge fan of the Canon Powershot S1 and think my parents will be as well. The camera is of very good quality and was pretty easy to use. The results were very good and that, ultimately, is what you look for in a camera. I really only had a few complaints and they were minor things that would not keep me from buying something. All in all, I highly recommend the Canon Powershot S1 and suggest that you consider it if you are looking for a digital camera. You may want to wait until the price falls, but either way, you will be making a good choice with this camera.