| Canon PowerShot S300 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 3x Optical Zoom | ||
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by Canon  Uses NB-1L rechargeable lithium-ion battery, included; movie mode can record up to 30 seconds of 160 x 120 footage Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port Included 8 MB CompactFlash memory card holds 12 images at default resolution 3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens with autofocus 2.1 megapixel sensor creates 1600 x 1200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 |
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| Amazon.com Product Description The PowerShot S300 is Canon's long-awaited follow-up to the wildly popular S100. Not content to rest on their laurels, Canon has spent the time to address some of the shortcomings in the original Digital Elph camera. The biggest new feature is the 3x optical zoom. While only a small step up from the original 2x, the new zoom requires a slightly enlarged body. Also added is a movie mode. The new movie mode allows up to 30 seconds of footage to be recorded at a resolution of 160 x 120. You can also record at 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 resolution, but the recording time shortens correspondingly. The diminutive 1.5-inch color LCD screen remains small. However, the control scheme is slightly modified to incorporate the camera's new capabilities--a wheel now controls the camera mode and has a power button in its center. The S300 includes several white-balance presets, exposure compensation of +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments, and a black-and-white mode. Essentially, the S300 is a classy digital point-and-shoot with enough features and control for most hobbyists.
Cannon S-300
Good camera. I had a S-20 and it was nice too. But in my new camera there is a better colour quality than in the older Canons.Also i like the 35-105 optical zoom better (digital zoom just blows the picture and reduses quality)Pity it is not a 3,3 million pixel ccd then it would be 5 stars. Canon ELPH S300
I just got my ELPH S300 last week and I couldn't be happier. Ilooked for a long time to decide on my first digital camera. Isearched ... for the best camera for my needs. I take mostly indoor photos of my children and I use my zoom like crazy. I love the integrated lens cover, the screen is easy to see, and the menu and dial are easy to use. I spent about 5 minutes reading the manual and I was ready to go. The battery charger is convenient and the battery charges in about 2 hours. I bought a 64 mb CF card ... and can take 64 pictures at the highest resolution, more than enough for my needs. Impressive!
This is my first digital camera. I've been impressed by the ease of use, the quality of the images, and variety of features. The only downside is that the 8 MB Compact Flash card which is included is insufficent; you will need to buy more memory, so budget accordingly. I'm somewhat tech-savvy so the S300 presented no problems in terms of getting up and running. I was able to intuitively grasp how to use most features without reading the manual. Those wanting or need to read the manual will find it understandable and well-written. There are several settings which determine the size and quality of the images. On the best settings (which is why you'll need more memory), the quality is excellent for on screen display. I've not printed any pictures yet, so I don't know about that. This is a 2.11 megapixel camera, so there are cameras out there with better image quality. That said, none are this small or ease to carry around. The S300 camera has a variety of shooting modes: auto, manual, stitch assist, and movie. You can also set the white balance so that you're shooting in black-and-white. The auto mode takes good shots under most conditions. I've not played enough with the manual mode to comment on it. The stitch assist, which allows you to create panoramic shots, is amazing when used in conjunction with the included computer software (in my case on a Mac). It'll put everything together and you can even save as a QuickTime VR if you have the appropriate software. The movie mode shoots at 20 frames per second and includes audio. The image quality is acceptable, but the audio is weak. The included Macintosh software (it comes with Windows versions as well) consists of an image database, an image editor, a video editor, a photo stitch assistant, and a camera remote control program. Excellent stuff, all. You have two ways to get images into your computer: Via the included USB cable or by using an optional Compact Flash PCMIA adapter (cost: about $10). The USB cable, at least on the Mac, works great, though I suspect the download of lots of images from the camera would take a minute or two. I'm ordering a CF PCMIA adapter. As I mentioned, the 8 MB Compact Flash memory really isn't enough. At best quality the camera holds 7 images before running out of space. With 128 MB (which is what I've ordered) it will hold 128 images. Movie times face similar constrains. That aside, overall Canon has succeeded in delivering point-and-shoot ease-of-use to a digital camera. The S300 is small enough to take anywhere, and the result is that any moment becomes a photo opportunity. Users adept with Adobe Photoshop will find that a camera like the S300 allows any image at any time to become part of their digital world, and if that's not bound to enhance creativity, I don't know what will. Highly recommended. Outstanding point and shoot, with a few minor flaws
I've had the camera for a week now; here are some observations. Like Dislikes - unable to put UV/scratch-protecting filter on lens Overall Easy and amazing results
I just spent a weekend learning-testing-downloading - what fun! This is an easy camera to learn how to use. I found the buttons, dial and menu easy to find, use and navigate. The manual is clear and it doesn't take much time to review the manual and then start experimenting. I spent the extra for the small size and mini-video capability. Size is great - it fits in a pocket - the integrated lens cap protects it and yet it is not so small that it is hard to hold steady or find buttons. The download software loaded with no problems - a little tricky to use (I'm a programmer) I thought, but it all worked. Buy a larger capacity flash card (or 2) and an extra battery. Nice Pocket Camera!
I have had this camera over 2 weeks and have taken a lot of pictures. I will try to cover some things not mentioned on other reviews. Pros: -Very accurate result of human skin tone(unlike s10 and s20 with bluish cast). -Virtually no chromatic abberations which other digital cameras suffer from! This is nice for such a small camera! -Very fast start up. -Excellent LCD with coating (protects it from being scratched) -Metallic body, very durable. Cons: -A bit pricey but worth it for a compact with 3X zoom. -No included case. -AC adapter NOT included -Still 2.11 MP The reason I got this was to replace my Canon 370Z APS camera, and so far, it has done an excellent job. Size wise, it is EXACTLY same as the 370Z! The Best of 2001
If you want a digi cam at the moment this is the best choice. I have been reading hundreds of reviews of all the competitors before I bought the S300 (IXUS 300 in Europe). And they were correct. I didn't experience any problem with the cam, everything works fine or even better than I imagined. It is so easy to take pictures and delete them (something you have to do often, not because of the picture-quality but because you shoot so many pictures!). The most important thing for me was that the camera fitted in the pocket of my jeans. You can take it anywhere and don't need anything else. If you turn the flash off, you can make "silent shots" or videos which no one recognizes. This way, I shot great pictures of my teachers in class! But don't forget to order a 128mb Compact Flash card, IT IS USEFUL! A very nice update of the S100.
I have been a dedicated S100 user since its release, and have really gotten my money's worth from that camera. It is not, however, a perfect camera, and the S300 attempts to address the major shortcomings. First of all, the new zoom is a 3:1 rather than the old 2:1, yielding a big improvement in utility. The S300 also adds a 30 second movie function, which once you master the download process, really adds new zip to your internet photo apps. Lastly, the new control wheel with embedded power switch works far better than the old recessed power button, which in my mind was a real problem with the S100. Now, the only question is, are these changes worth a 40% price premium? Small and convenient -- but ONLY in daylight!
I bought this because I wanted a compact, fit-in-your-pocket camera, and it is that. The integrated lens cap is just great. But be warned -- this camera has a few significant (to me, anyway) limitations. First, it's basically only good as a snapshot camera in fairly bright light. It simply can't focus worth a darn unless there's a lot of light on the subject. This is particularly troublesome because you can't manually focus. Second, if you use reading glasses (as this 43-year-old reviewer does), then keep 'em around -- you need to decipher small icons on the small LCD to control the camera. (Better keep the manual handy too. Hmmm, those reading glasses and manual make the camera a big less portable.) Third, if you ever want to take closeups, then you've got to use the macro zoom function -- but after hours of trying, for the life of me I can't make it work worth a darn. That said, the camera IS quite nice for daylight shots. I'd be inclined to buy the underwater housing for it, but underwater shots are by their nature low-light. The battery charger is very cool -- the battery slips into a cartridge which plugs into the wall. Everything you need is right in your pocket
I used to own a Kodak DC240 (1.2 megapixel) digital camera and I always found that it was a real pain to lug the thing around wherever I went. It was too big and not quite advanced enough for my needs. Don't get me wrong, the DC240 is a good camera and is perfect for those of you that are new to the digital imaging field, but it just wasn't for me. I'd always heard that the Canon ELPHs were great for portability and their quality was usually above par. So, I started looking into them and the S300 really caught my eye. It has high-quality resolution and it's small enough to fit in the pocket of my cargo shorts/pants. Although, the price tag was a little hefty, I thought I would give it a shot due to the amount of positive things I've heard about it. I wasn't disappointed. The first thing I noticed when I removed the camera from its packaging was the rugged design. The entire camera is nearly completely encased in metal. Yes, folks, I'm talking real metal here. Not plastic, which shatters or cracks when dropped. The camera has a very solid-feeling design and I don't mean that it's necessarily "heavy".. I mean that when held in your hand, it feels as though it could take a good whack and keep on working... Which is good, considering that it doesn't come with any sort of case, just a wrist strap. The camera itself takes extremely crisp photography, which can be printed out into 8x10 inch prints, if you have a decent printer. And, thanks to the rechargable battery pack, you don't have to worry about shelling out cash every time you want to take some pictures. Overall, this is an excellent piece of equipment that will keep serving you for a long time. My only real complaint is that the memory card supplied with the camera (8MB) isn't worth a wooden nickel, as it only holds a few high-resolution photos. If I were you, I'd grab a 128MB card. It's well worth the extra investment. FANTASIC & TINY - YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE IT WITH YOU!
This is my third digital camera, and my hands down favorite! The Canon Powershot S300 is my idea of a perfect camera for the average "on the go" family. First, it's photos are top-rate, and require no touching up. Second, the camera is not much larger than a deck of playing cards, so you'll always have it with you; no more missing that special shot. Finally, it has a very nice optical zoom lens that permits a greater degree of creativity than many other cameras. You can create prints from these pictures, up to 8x10 (which is all most folks go up to anyway). Buy it - You'll love it. Produces excellent quality professional pictures
Before purchasing this camera I did extensive research. After reading numerous reviews covering the negatives and positives of the digital cameras currently on the market; I finally decide on a Canon Powershot S300 Digital Elph. For a pocket sized, well designed camera this one packs a punch. The pictures are outstanding and it has plenty of features. Voice recording, movie mode, 3x zoom, and a self timer to name a few. Prior to this I was using a Minolta 35mm (regular) camera that takes excellent pictures. Therefore, I wanted nothing less than excellent from a digital camera. Price doesn't determine the quality of the pictures you may get from using a specific camera brand. Be discriminating. First outline your expectations and then price, this will help you determine which model is best for you. Things to consider when making a purchase: 1) More pixels doesn't necessarily mean better pictures. 2) More or most expensive brand on the market doesn't guarantee more features, ease of use or better technology. 3) Also, consider tech support and customer service just in case you do have a problem with the camera. Amazing camera overall.
I shopped around before buying this camera and finally bought it for the incredibly small size and sharp pictures. I have not been disappointed. The camera looks so sleek and small that people around you invariably comment on it. The buttons are intuitive and the small screen is incredibly sharp. I have a coolpix 950 at work and I can't believe it but the images off the s300 are sharper and the tones are more precise. In adddition the canon lenses are superior to Sony and Olympus and are rivaled only by larger Nikon cameras. My only regret is that the camera does not come in a 3 megapixel variety, but realistically, one almost never needs 3 megapixels for home use anyway. 8 x 10s are sharp and beautiful on the s300 using maximum pixelation and superfine mode. Needless to say a 128 mb CF card is a must. The 8 mb card this comes with is a joke! Also, if you use the display to shoot images and not the viewfinder you will need a spare battery. One more point; the s100 case does not fit this camera; canon makes a hard to find PSC 300 case for this camera which fits well, although it adds a tad too much bulk. Neverthelesss, you should get it otherwise the metal will scratch. I found the case, a battery, and a neck strap. My wife, who is not tech savvy, also loves this camera for it's size and ease of use. Although pricey, I think this camera is exceptionally well made and designed and worth the investment. All in all this is the hottest digital camera out there for good reasons: size and outstanding images! Excellent product - love it, love it, love it!!!
This is an excellent camera that I would thoroughly recommend to those people who are considering going digital. I wanted to get a camera which my family could use as a 'point and shoot' and I could also use more creatively. The key selling points for me were: size (approx. the size of a cigarette packet and therefore will also be near to hand), robust construction with sleek design, intuitive control layout, crisp and clear LCD display, rechargeable battery (tiny) with very clever little recharger included and the ease of use. This little wonder also can shoot black and white, mini movies with sound as well as provide a slide show through your tv. The few con's are: a little pricey, camera case is not included and the included 8MB card is pretty inadequate. I would recommend purchasing an additional battery... and a bigger card (I purchased a 128MB Viking card for... and a card-reader.... Great job Canon! After owning Canon cameras in the past, you have delivered for me once again. Great Clarity
This camera is not only easy to learn and use, it produces pictures of tremendous clarity on the superfine setting. You have as much control as you need and an auto control that does the thinking for you. I did purchase an additional Flash card because I knew 8M wouldn't be enough for me. The price is right and quality is the best I've seen. Superb Camera, great choice for every level of photographer
I have had my Canon S300 (IXUS) from May 2001. It has been a great month taking over 400 pictures on holiday and then back home. All my pictures are exceptionally crisp and clear with many taken with flash and indoors. And this is without even using it at the highest resolution. The short review is, if you need a digital camera, buy this one and live happily ever after. I spent over 1 month doing research on the net before finally deciding which camera to buy. The tough choice was buying the Canon even though it was only a 2.1 MP resolution. You can buy a Sony or Fuji or other 3.34 MP camera for similar price. BUT DON'T. The biggest advantage is size and speed of use. You will alway be able to have this midget camera in a pocket near you. It is superbly designed and crafted. While it does not have any manual capabilities (some minimum features) it is rare to require them in normal use. The useful features are the movie mode and simple panorama shooting. The software with the camera is quick and easy to use with minimum fuss. Obviously the USB connection makes life simple and quick. The Zoombrowser software has a great feature to make emailing pictures a breeze as you can choose the compression level as you go along. The battery life is decent though you should get the AC power adapter and a bigger memory card. The Sandisk 128 MB card was for about US$ 100 and will give you more than enough space to enjoy taking pictures and video. The greatest joy of going digital is the ability to keep on clicking and never worry about the cost. I can happily let my kids click away without any concern. I have had prints made (4 * 6 in) from the images and they are amazing even at medium resolution and fine setting. I don't know about larger sizes but for home use they are perfect. The only few points on the downside for this camera. 1. No power indicator on the battery life. You only know its over when it starts to die completely 2. Its not 3.34 MP resolution (at this price it would have been nice though not required) 3. Its not cheap as a choice (good things never are I guess) Finally, the joy is in the jealous looks and envious comments you get whenever you pull out this stunning camera. It is an exceptionally good camera and you will have no regrets. ENJOY. Great little camera!
Amazingly fast start-up, shut-down, and picture focusing/recording. Fine quality pictures that give terrific 4X6 prints. The size and build quality is superb, battery life is reasonable, and the LCD is quite useable even outdoors. I really have no complaints so far. What a treat- in such a petite package
Having spent the last 40 years doing photography, I am not much in favor of point and shoot cameras, digital or film-based. Yet, I found myself wishing I had a camera on so many occasions when I didn't have one along. The digital Powershot Elph S-300 is so tiny, it is truly purse size, (fits in a small cigarette box size cell phone pouch), and is bound to be with you and ready to go all the time, whenever you happen upon an image you just must capture. I was hesitant to buy something as low res. as 2.1 megapixels, but find that for web work it is more than adequate, and I am able to get decent five by sevens on an ink jet printer. The color is realistic indoors and out, and you can override some controls manually. My only complaint is the short battery life- less then two hours. Buy at least one extra battery and at least a 128 Compact Flash card and you should be all set. My next purchase will be a matching CP-10 printer, despite reviews that it does not produce great quality prints and is only capable of mini-prints. This is the Polaroid of the future. I can envision traveling in third world countries and being able to give smiling photo subjects a small print in exchange for being able to take their picture. It beats passing out dollar bills, as I have in past travels, and you can still do that, as well, if you are so inclined. Without even having loaded the enclosed software that Canon bundles with the Elph 300, I was able to easily transfer the photos I'd taken from the CF card to a ZIP disk in Windows Explorer, from a CF card reader directly to the ZIP. For serious photo shoots, I will stick with my film cameras until I can afford a high end digital equivalent, but this is a great carry along for daily use. Great Camera
I did a lot of research online, I knew I was paying more for the size and style, but I haven't been dissappointed. This camera takes great pictures. My wife and I have taken over 700 pictures (we have a new baby) and we have been very pleased with the results. I took the advice of others on the site and skipped the costly AC adapter. We have one spare battery and keep it charged. You have little warning when the battery is going out. We bought a flash reader and a 64MB card (we never use the card that ships with the camera). We get about 100 photos on the factory default image settings, 1600x1200 and Fine resolution. That works well even for our new parent photo appetite. A couple extra points, after having this camera for about a week, I dropped it on a tile floor Ouch! and it landed on the extended zoom lense Ouch! Ouch! That's a feeling I never want to relive, but... Although the inner most part of the zoom was jammed against the outer barrel, I gently dislogged it, turned the camera on and off a couple times to get the lense to retract and extend. The camera issued an error code once, before the lense had fully readjusted, but since then it has been working perfectly. I consider it to be pretty rugged despite it's small size. I suggest using the included wrist strap. Before this incident I had mostly used it as a convenient way to pull the camera out of my pocket. I like the automatic lense cover, the panorama feature works well and is fun to play with, the movie feature is a lot more useful than I expected, the clips are of good quality, and are convienient to put on a web page or e-mail someone with broadband net access. We have a digital camcorder, but this is more convenient for web clips. 3X zoom is something I would not be without now that I've used it. Sometimes it's not convenient to get closer to your subject. I was concerned that I might be overpaying, especially vs the new S110 which has most of the same features, other than the zoom, but I can say I have been very happy with the purchase. A very easy cam
For such a small and compact camera is a great instrument. The pictures are clear and its real easy to download them to your PC. I'm trying printing in their Canon portable printer and works wonders. It's just like having your own personal Kodak Lab right in your trip. Although I received it as a gift and didn't have chance to shop around I am very pleased with its performance so far. A little wonder
As the former owner of an S100, I knew pretty much what to expect when I sprang for the S300. My wish list for the S100 included a more powerful zoom, stronger flash, more manual control, and the ability to do video clips. Well, 2-1/2 out of 4 was good enough for me to switch: the 3x zoom is great (especially compared to the 2x of the S100) and all I really need, basically the same as my 35-mm point-and-shoot. The video feature is REALLY cool, and I feel the criticism about the short video-clip times is, for the most part, unwarranted. Instead, it makes one THINK about what you're shooting, quite like the "good old days" of the 8mm films, when we made every frame count and didn't let cameras run ad nauseum, churning out many minutes of vdeotape that no one would ever watch. The sound is very good (although mono) and the microphone must have excellent sensitivity. There is slightly better manual control, in the respect that it's more convenient and quicker to use, but it's still just exposure compensation, white balance, and flash configuration, so "manual control" hardly seems to be the correct term to use in describing what is very much a point-and-shoot camera. I still long for SOME ability to directly alter the aperture and shutter speed. The flash remains weak---you MUST get close (8 ft or less) when using the flash. As long as you do get that close, the exposures, even on Auto Everything, are excellent. All that being said, let's face it---virtually all of us got this camera (or one of its cousins) because of its SIZE, or lack of it, and I can't stress enough the old saw that you won't get pictures if you don't have the camera with you. The fact that it's not perfect won't take that away, and I have the camera with me wherever I go. As with other reviewers, I will remind the readers that a second battery is basically mandatory, as is a larger CF card---MUCH larger! (I have 128 and a 64MB cards) Fortunately, both of these essentials are now quite affordable. Importantly, this camera is built like a tank---quite heavy for its size, due to SS construction, but nearly indestructible and seemingly impervious to a soaking from my sweat---oops, perspiration! Finally, I have taken over 1500 pics with the S300 and my old S100, and I feel quite strongly that if you don't expect the S300 to do things it's not designed to do, you won't be disappointed. Editorial review
I find ypur editorial reviews to be craftey marketing ploys to push the sale of accessories. In one case, a negative comment on the S300 supports buying the S100. In all cases, it appears that the same person scripted the remarks which is evidenced by a similar writing style throughouteach and every review. Carl Salanitro Manhattan Beach, Ca. Great Picture, Convenient but Weak Macro and Flash
Picture quality is good for 2 mega pixels. The picture shot is more on the soft size i.e. not sharp; Depending on your preference, may need do your own editing in your photoediting software. Convenient and easy to use. If below 2 weaknesses are not important to you then it is a highly recommended. Weaknesses: The flash is relative weak and hence meant for short distance. The macro range is relatively long. The LCD is too small to know whether you get a good focus. Have to estimate myself. Only can tell it is out of focus when downloaded to PC and enlarge. Instant gratification
My biggest question before buying this camera was whether I could live with the photo quality. I could have bought a digital camera of comparable price with far better resolution and more professional functions. However, I could not find a camera that comes close to the size of the S300, which really is the best thing about this camera. It is small enough that you will not hesitate to bring it out with you on everyday events. Thus, you will find yourself capturing events in your life that might have been missed had the camera been too cumbersome. When I downloaded the photos to my Mac, I was actually quite satisfied with the photo quality. The medium range photos are particularly good, and I took a number of pictures in a dark bar that turned out great. No, they are not mind blowing, but the great content I have captured, which I probably wouldn't have with a bigger camera, far outweighs the fact that the resolution isn't a bit higher. And just to reiterate, the photo quality was my biggest worry, and I was not let down. Also, the movie feature in incredibly cool. They are a touch grainy, but they kind of have that old school 8 mm quality, which I actually like. I shot some movie clips at night while walking down a dark sidewalk and they turned out great. The ability to view your movies and photos on TV is also an underrated function. Connecting to you TV is supereasy (just plug the camera into the video port with the included cable). And watching the mini-movies you make is a kick- sound and all. This camera is incredibly easy to use, and its functions are very well designed. After a few hours you should be fairly adept at flipping through the various menus. I just purchased this camera so I cannot comment on its reliability, but everything has worked perfectly so far. I have to say this is one of the coolest toys I've bought, and I have bought a lot of them. The fact that I can take unlimited pictures for a next-to-nothing cost is the greatest thing about digital cameras. You should be able to store about 650 photos at maximum resolution on a CDR for about $1.00. Everybody complains about the short battery life. It really isn't that short, particularly if you don't use the display too much. However, you won't want to have to worry about running out of juice so I recommend an extra battery. Just to give you an idea, a fully charged battery lasted me about 1.5 hours while constantly taking photos and using the display. I thought I could live without an extra battery, but one day's use and I have changed my mind. One other thing you should know. I paid $.... for mine not including tax. Also, apparently there is an international model (with the same model number) that is not as well built and sells for a little less- at least, that is what I was told by one of these on-line electronics companies. I don't know what the technical differences are between the US and international model, but it is something to look out for. It's Small, Small, Small, Great, Did I Mention Small ?
I've read most of the reviews on this camera before I bought it. I wont give an extremely long drawn out hypertechnical review here. What often gets lost in these reviews is the most important aspect of this camera: it's small. What's so important about small ? Well, small is everything. With a camera this small, it fits in your pocket. If the choice is between carrying around a normal sized camera or taking one of these babies in your pocket, there's no comparison. I bought mine a few months back and have spent the summer with it in my pocket wherever I go. Little league ball games. Vacations. Wherever. On the technical side, the camera takes outstanding pictures. It's a 2.1 Megapixel (1600 X 1200 pixel) camera, so it's not on the leading edge (3 megapixels have been out a while now). But 2 megapixels are plenty. This is more than twice what you need for a sharp display on a computer monitor or to print out an 8" X 11" photo on a printer. The camera comes with a puny 8MB compact flash card, so I'd suggest you pick up a 64MB or 128MB card to store pictures. Figure you'll store 2 to 3 pictures per MB, so 64MB will store over 128 pictures and a 128MB will store over 256 pictures. A 64 MB card will cost you... Pros ---- Compared to my Epson PhotoPC750 (1 Megapixel, circa 1998), this camera excels in quite a few areas. It has a jog dial on the top which is very handy to allow you to choose various modes (playback, manual, automatic, movie). The camera is very quick (few seconds) between modes (the Epson took close to 5 seconds - extremely annoying). The controls are much easier to navigate on this camera than the Epson. The 3X Zoom on the camera is a really nice addition (forget about digital zoom...), and I like how the zoom button slides from optical into digital zoom when the optical is exhausted. The cartridge battery on the camera lasts longer than I'd expected from the reviews, and is more of a snap to load and charge than the Epson individual batteries were. I find night shots of the camera work a lot better as well. I haven't used the movie mode that much so I cannot comment on it too heavily, other than it's use is limited since you can only take small ( less than 30sec) movies. Cons ---- No AC adapter is Supplied. AC adapter requires you to remove battery to use it red eye adjustment doesn't work so well lack of manual controls 8MB card Price... If this was a Vodka.. it would be absolute Awesome
Attention all.... gather round and take a peek at this awesome camera. Its just about the sweetest thing. Since the first day i pulled it out the box, its just been a little slice of heaven. Its got everything you would need just to take some really nice pictures. The size being so small (pack of cards), the picture quality fantastic, and the use easy, just makes it a fantastic deal. I bought 256mb compactflash and it just makes regular cameras looking old school like a beat up '77 Cadillac. If you want a fantastic camera... all you gotta do is take a look right here. HOT HOT HOT
I'll make it short, simple, and straight to the point (just got this camera 2 days ago so I don't know ALL about it yet): Pro's: Nice and small. Pretty easy to use. Easy to upload pictures into computer - just plug in camera's USB and you're set. Has video mode. Con's: comes with 8 MB flash card, camera gets HOT when taking too many pictures at once and using flash, weak flash, pictures don't come into focus too well (but then again, I don't know how to use this camera thoroughly yet. I saw some examples on people's website using this camera and it comes in CLEAR - how do I do that?), cannot hear audio in move playback mode. Bottom line: if you like point and shoot camera's, this is THE one to get. And get a 256 MB... Amazing product in a tiny package
The Canon PowerShot S300 Digital ELPH is simply an amazing product. Canon has really done their work in putting together all of the best features in an easy-to-use, intuitive, yet sophisticated camera. The quality of pictures is outstanding; the zoom works very well (at 3x ... digital zoom on any camera is really just a gimmick), and the lens produces a very crisp, clean photo. The autofunction capabilities are top-notch and very quick. The body is extremely durable (solid metal), and extremely light and compact. The LCD display works great, even in bright daylight, and the menu features are numerous, and easy to figure out. Combine all of this with the capability of recording video, with sound (length of recording capability dependant on the size of the memory card), and you have an amazing product that is a great value .... The only shortcomings are the relatively short battery time (~ 2 solid hours) and the need to buy a bigger compact flash card than the 8MB card that comes with the camera. I was looking for a camera to take with me on mountaineering and rock climbing trips, and this camera has excelled far beyond my expectations! Everyone who's seen it in action and seen the photos it produces has decided to buy their own. It's light and sturdy without sacrificing quality. I defy anyone to find a better digital camera for the price ...! Don't leave home without it
Probably the best compromise between power and portability, the Canon PowerShot S300 Digital Elph (OK, so the name is silly) is an outstanding camera. Slightly larger than a deck of cards, I have learned to carry it anywhere, everywhere, since you can't take a great photo if you don't have a camera. On a recent scientific expedition to Alaska, roughtly half the photos I took were made with this camera, as well as all the QuickTime clips... Under brutal environmental conditions (bouncing boats, vibrating ships, dim light, mist, fog, rain) the camera did an outstanding job. Two recommendations: buy a big CompactFlash card (the included 8 MB card is a joke) and buy a second rechargeable battery. With this camera and a USB-equipped laptop (I used a PowerBook G4), plus the excellent software included in the package, you can do amazing things. Don't leave home without it. I'm sure am enjoying mysELPH
It is amazing how this camera fits so many great features into such a small package. The simplicity of use of the included software and fantastic picture quality from the camera would be hard to beat no matter how much you pay for a digital camera. I can't think of a negative thing to say about it other than the included 8MB flashcard is probably too small to fit most people's needs. I recommend buying at least a 64MB flashcard and one spare battery pack if you are like me and take lots of pictures. Other than that, don't be afraid to buy this one. It won't let you down. Great little camera
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. 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! Better Than Expected-Digital has Arrived in a Small Package
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. A great little camera
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. Very easy to pick up and use
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! Very Happy
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. Is the Movie mode worth it?
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: Great camera!
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. Very solid product -UPDATED 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. exceeds my expectations.... which were HIGH
This camera exceeds my expectations. Which were high to begin with. I bought this because it was small, looked really cool and had enough manual mode muscle to keep me interested. And the picture quality received high marks. All of these expectations were met. I find these things most noteworthy: - The ability to change settings to approximate brightness and color balance accessed through the white balance button in manual mode. It's much more than a point and shoot if you want to dive into the manual mode settings. But the point and shoot aspects are pretty good for almost all situations I face. - Response time is very good. I don't feel any undesirable lag time between clicking the shutter and taking the picture. The s300 fires up fast when turned on. - The software is very easy to use on a mac, a little less intuitive on a windows machine. - It's small and TOUGH. I dropped it on the way home from the store, but there is no discernable scratch, or malfunction, or even a rattle. For this price (...)it should be nearly indestructible, and it is. - The controls are fairly easy to understand. - The battery life is more than adequate so far. Up to 40 shots (that's as many I've done w/o recharging. Using the LCD display much of the time, but turning off if not in immediate use. -- The s300 will shut off automatically if unused for three minutes. very nice!! I bought a 128 Mb compact flash card to replace the 8mb card that comes with. One thing to be aware of: - Right after you take a picture, The "review a shot" setting can be set to 2 seconds, 10 seconds, or off. For me, 5 seconds would be about right, but the s300 not user-configurable to that degree. The way around this is to depress the shutter button as if you're ready to take another picture during the 10 second cycle. The display switches automatically to previewing the next shot. Otherwise, this is one of my happiest gadget purchases ever. recommended unconditionally. Best value price/quality-efficiency-size
Nothing comes handier when you plan to get memories from a trip, anniversary, parties, or you just need to take a picture of a document. You will have to buy a bigger memory cartridge, 128MB is more likely adequate and a spare battery. That will add-up ($) to the total cost. I have also bought the AC adapter and the power supply, but was not worth the price and, believe me you can easily live without it. The quality of the picture is perfect most of the time and the red-eye reduction works quite well. However, sometimes I had to fix red eyes in a photo editor. Taking panoramic pictures works between quite well to amazingly well with the Photo Stitch program. There is also a remote feature of the camera to take picture ordered by your computer through the USB port. I didn't use it for any reasons other than to test it, but one day it could become handy. Great little camera!
This is my first digital camera, and I'm impressed. The picture quality is great. I'm glad I didn't spend more for a 3+ megapixel camera (although I might have been able to get one at the same price, I don't know). I'm looking forward to getting a 64mb flash card so I can hold more video. The macro mode is great: six inches away and I got a crystal clear picture! No regrets here. Highly recommended
I bought the European version of this camera (called the Ixus 300) six months ago and I love it.
Sleek-looking Baby!!!
Having searched for a digital camera for almost a year, the little Canon is quite extraordinary. The small size, compared to other digital cameras, means that you could carry it in your pants pocket if you like so it makes a good camera for taking on your trips. Its sleek-looking steel body was what drew me to buy it. There really is no visible difference in a 2.11 megapixel photo and one with 3 megapixels. Photos have very sharp lines. The 8MB compact flash card that it comes with is really not enough. You would need at least a 32MB or 64MB card. The bigger memory allows you to store more pictures at the highest resolution, or if you prefer, longer MPEG videos. It also comes in handy when you travel and don't plan to lug your laptop or notebook along so you can't transfer your pictures to your hard drive that easily. Love it! Great little camera, but problem with darker shots
Purchased camera in early September and have been very pleased with shots. One thing (big thing) Canon needs to work on though is the flash. It has big problems when using it as a filler flash - THE PICTURE ACTUALLY GETS DARKER! What's up with that? I have to use software to brighten it, but I lose some quality when doing that. Besides that, I'm extremely pleased. Get an extra battery pack, larger memory card, and memory card reader - you will need them. I don't think you need an AC adapter. It's location is on the bottom of the camera which makes it difficult to use. How are you supposed to place the camera, on it's face? Overall, my review may sound negative, but it's not. I still love the camera. Super Camera
I started off with the film version of the elph line. Great camera. This one is really great. It's small enough that you will carry it around. Get the extra battery and a larger CF card. They thought about everything in this camera. One thing I liked about the film version was the carrying case. They don't make one for this and they really should. Otherwise a really good investment. Digital Camera Goodness
Got the Powershot S300 for Christmas and I couldn't be happier. I went out to Chicago for New Years and took a ton of great pictures. The camera is very compact, I carried it around in my jeans pocket for most of the trip. I got a Viking 128MB compact flash card for the camera that works great and I didn't come close to filling it. Downloading pictures to your PC is easy with the included USB cable. Works well on Windows ME and XP(I downloaded some pictures on a friend's laptop while in Chicago.) The software is pretty good. I need to play with it a little more, but it seems to have everything I need. The PhotoStitch mode is pretty neat too. I took five pictures of the Chicago skyline in the PhotoStitch mode. Using the software I created a great panorama in less then five minutes. I had read in some other reviews that battery life is an issue. I haven't invested in a second battery yet. Right now one battery appears to be sufficient for me. I use the viewfinder instead of the LCD to frame shots. I'm sure that helps with battery life. This is my first digital camera and I would recommend the S300 to anyone interested in getting one. A Pleased Customer
Yes, the 3 megapixel cameras are here, but I was thoroughly satisfied with the S300, liking its compact size and sleek look. The first batches of pictures were about as good as film for 5 x 7 size. Some comments: You MUST have a bigger memory flash card, preferably 128 mb. The other reviewers who also suggest a spare battery are also right. The camera has both a digital and optical zoom. The optical zoom was excellent, but the digital was of little value because the quality degraded rapidly. If you're looking at other cameras, forget digital zoom. I found it a solid camera, easy to use. The software worked fine and I was cranking out good looking pictures after only a little tweaking of the printer and the Photoshop color settings. I'm an experienced amateur with 35mm film, and wondered whether digital was really ready. For me, it was. Look no further
It feels good, not bulky, heavy, or complicated. Lots of features: Great zoom even digital zoom gives clear shots, date and time Of shot feature, preview options, TV and video viewing, capable of shooting a short movie, email pictures with ease, usb port,Hook up and the best is its size. Battery runs low quickly but, with all this camera's power and beauty, just gets an extra battery and memory card. All Photographers do. My review
I cant take good macro pictures with the Canon S300. It can focus only above 6+ inches (telephoto no help but computer edit+crop helps) and its flash can overwhelm the subject. It's better to use daylight and tripod when taking macro shots (no flash). I've tried low light shots but the AF have difficulty focusing on distant subjects beyond the AF assist (no moon shots here). My low light pictures are generally within flash range to be clear (same for all point and shoot cams without manual control). Avoid taking moving subjects coz they turn out blurred most of the time. The movie feature is very short (less than 30 sec for 160x120 resolution, shorter with more color/movt). I see dusts in the viewfinder. My wish list:a cover to protect the LCD, & LCD display off during playback mode (or standby mode with lens retracted & LCD display off). My dream: it has a 10X optical zoom, digi zoom can be turned off, more manual control and scene modes, and water resistant (esp sea water)! otherwise this is a very good 2.1 digicam: very compact, well-built, good picture color quality and clear pictures (among the best in 2.1 digicams). Nagtatampo ang asawa ko dahil naubos ko daw pera namin d2 kung alam lang nya na bibili pa ako mga accessories, hahaha. Its a good buy! Looks cool, too!!! don't rush buy the 128 mb, it will get cheaper
This camera is a good long term investment considering its great picture qualities and ease of use. I think it's the best 2 megapixel camera so far- it is compact, has a cool design, and, of course, its pictures quality is amazing. People recommend that you should have a 128 mb flash card. It's true , but getting the 64 mb one is more than enough. I would suggest you to get the 128 mb or higher later until the price drops again. the bottom line is that this camera is truly the best considering at the price and quality. You won't regret it. Great family digicam
The size, design, ease of use and durability make this a great digital camera for general use and beyond. I wanted a digital camera that would be easy to use and easy to bring along wherever I go. The S300 meets all expectations and the picture quality is great too. I took it right out of the box and took all of our family Christmas pictures with more than satisfactory results. I am just now beginning to "experiment" with it to get a little creative on an ameteur level. To get the most out of the S300 do read the owner's manual. Also buy both an extra battery pack and larger memory card. They add to the cost but will add even more value to your ownership experience. The only negative comments: because of it's small size the icons and buttons are a bit small and sometimes hard to differentiate, a problem that goes away as you become more familiar with the camera. Also I did have a problem with the recharger and made several attempts to contact Canon support. Major disappointment there....there is no one home! I get automated replies indicating live support would be 1 to 2 days off. I have tried this 8 times over the last month but have never heard from Canon. I since resolved my problem without them. Great combination of size and quality
I own an Olympus E10 which is a 4+ Megapixel camera, and although the image quality is superb, it is hardly the camera to take out for the "fun" shots or to carry around all day (the thing is the size of a standard 35mm SLR). That is why I purchased this S300. And I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the images considering they are half the resolution of my other camera. Not to mention it is packed with features that even my E10 does not have (or should be as easy to use). I'll stick with the E10 for the professional photography, but for everything else, this camera surpasses my expectations. By the way, the first thing I did was put a 128MB CF card in. The 8MB card makes a good storage card for the Visor handhelds. Smaller means you'll use it more often
The quality is excellent. Buy an extra battery and more memory. A small s300 case is available... Learn to use the white balance for indoor pictures. So small you can put it in your front jeans pocket. You'll love it! Small size, good pictures, software bugs.
I bought this camera based on size and 3x zoom. The image quality was better than I expected. You will need several accesories. I bought four extra batteries, two 128 & one 256Meg compact flash cards, a padded neck strap, and a little CaseLogic nylon case to hold everything. Pros: Cons / Missing Features: Great Camera
I bought my camera while on vacation last year. In a very few minutes I was up and running and taking pictures. It is very simple to use, yet has a wide variety of features. I have several friends that own digital cameras, some much more expensive than this one, that don't have the features and don't take as good of pictures. The only complaint that I have, and it might be due to my clumsy nature, is that the power button is right next to the shutter button so I have found myself occasionally turning the camera off instead of taking a picture. Otherwise, it is great! Simple, small, easy and takes great pictures
Our first digital camera. So very simple with so many features. Get the 128MB memory card. I bought the viking (sp?) one. Next will get an extra battery but it's not essential unless plan on taking lots of pictures at a time between rechargings. It fits in my shirtpocket! Great picture quality up to 8 by 10. haven;t yet tried larger but it could still be very good. The zoom is good but digital zoom is a waste of time as picture quality declines rapidly. Overall a great buy. Size, picture quality, and video - Wow!
When I convinced my wife that we "needed" to spend more money on a video camera setup, and finally stop using our traditional cameras, she was skeptical. I promised her that we'd take more pictures if we had a digital camera. Once she agreed to the purchase, she warned me that we'd better actually use it a lot more than our traditional camera. So I searched high and low for all types of cameras and finally found the S300. I was originally drawn to it for it's size - I can slip it in my pants or coat pocket whenever I want. The size really makes all the difference because we've now used it 20 times more than our traditional camera due to the convenience. Our old camera wasn't huge, but it wouldn't fit in my pocket (and didn't fit easily in many of my wife's purses). So we'd leave it at home (or in the car) on many occasions. With the S300, it comes with us anywhere and everywhere. But here's where it gets good: we've been amazed at how the picture quality is and how much fun it is to take small video clips (with sound) on this tiny device. I'm no expert photographer, but I do enjoy being to have some amount of manual control for certain shots, and it gives me just the right amount of control, if I want it. And the panoramic feature is really awesome - not something you can't live without, but impressive when you use it. Here are the only cons that I can think of (but none of them are bad enough to avoid the product, merely for information): That's it. I'd recommend everyone buy one of these. I thought that I might want to eventually get a higher mega-pixel camera, but I've compared pictures with other cameras and I don't notice any difference until after 8x10 size pictures (which we rarely print out). Kent Excellent choice in 2.1 meg cameras
Outstanding performance. High quality pictures. Versatile. I do recommend that you also purchse an additional memory card of at least 64M. It is necessary to take a large quantity of pictures. If you can afford it, go with the 128M card. Also, buy a compact flash card reader. Not only can you use it to store photos, but also store or backup important files from your laptop or PC. I store a lot of media files and Powerpoint presentations on the cards. You will not be disappointed with this camera. Top notch overall performance. The video feature is handy, and you can even take pictures in panoramic format and stitch them together. In my opinion, it is the best camera in it's category for the money. Easy to Use and great fun!
This was my first digital camera after coming from using feature rich standard/regular cameras and I am very impressed! It is small and very versatile. I did a great deal of research on several sites and found that the S300 had fantastic point and shoot ease with no noticeable lag time between snapping pictures. There are just enough manual features to bring a beginner to an intermediate level without much confusion. It is simple and intuitive. The cannon instruction manuals are very good and the included software rated much better than the others. Only cons I can think of (to be objective) It's really an excellent investment. I use it constantly. Incredible little camera...perfect for travel!!!
I spent weeks researching a digital camera for my recent trip to Europe. I wanted something very portable, easy to use, that didn't drain down batteries like crazy. After much thought, I decided to go with the Canon Digital Elph S300 and boy am I glad that I did! I couldn't be happier with this item. It has a nice durable metal case, a fully retacting lens and integrated lens cover, which is great for simply slipping it into your pocket when not in use without worry of scratching the lens. The battery useage is another incredible selling point. I shot nearly 200 pictures (about six days of sightseeing in Holland) before I needed to charge the battery pack! If you buy an extra battery pack ... you'll never be caught without enough power on the road. The 256MB FlashCard I purchased with it was more than double the amount of storage space I needed for my entire 8 day trip. ... Upon my return home, I used the supplied cable to review my shots on my 36" TV and WOW...the pictures are incredibly sharp, colorful, and lifelike. The camera performs very well, even in low light conditions. The controls are easy to use and easy to figure out. A five minute read through the well written user's manual and you are good to go. My only complaint is that ... Canon doesn't give you a little protective pouch or case to put it in, like they do with their ... APS Elph Cameras. This camera is truly amazing. If you're at all considering this stylish little camera, JUST GET IT! It is definitely worth the price. The Elph S300 will not disappoint you! great camera for pics, even short video clips. buy this now!
had a kodak dc200 that [used] up 4 aa alkalines quicker than i could eat lunch. this powershot is a dream! very simple to use, sleek, i don't even have a cover yet, the lens closes up tightly when turned off, and i love the video movie feature. you can take short movies with sound, play them right into any tv with included rca jacks and share your moments immediately with family. no training, okay just read the manual for a bit, but it is so easy to use. impressive is the little rechargeable battery, get an extra one, and a few 256 meg compact flash units when you can. amazing value. my high-tech buddy had one, so i bought the same model, then i showed my partner and he had to get the same model. i suggest you sell the car if necessare, and buy this camera today. pictures make better memories than do cars. digital is so easy, why buy film again? i paid [more] for my first 256 compact flash, so quit your waitin' and get on it now before you log off. no regrets in phoenix,... later! Additional Notes
I've had this camera for about a month and I love it. It takes great pictures and I usually just use the medium quality mode. I like that I can take black and white pics and movies for a more artistic (read: comedic)feel. The white balance is adjustable in several modes (sunlight, cloudy, flourescent, tungsten, auto, b/w) plus the exposure can be set in a +/- scale to take in more light or not. I only have two complaints with this camera: the movie length is limited to 30 seconds (not the size of the card), and an 8mb card is kinda silly. I get enough shots on my 16mb card, but this should come with at least a 32mb. Easy to use --- even for an imbecile like me!
(This would have been a 5-star review, except for one detail we'll get to later.) On the whole, this is an amazing camera -- it's small, easy to use and the buttons are intuitive -- you won't need to sit there days on end trying to figure out which button does what. Let me get this point across: the photos are crisp. Absolutely, crisp. You don't even need to use the highest setting for crisp, clean photos that are 100% true-to-life. What really convinced me that I had a great camera was the consistent brightness of an LCD screen. When you're taking a picture, you want to be able to look into that little TV screen and see exactly how your pictures will look once you press that button. If the screen is dark, you generally can't adjust it using the "brightness" button; that just washes out the colors in the image. (Same thing with your computer -- when you significantly adjust the brightness, you're basically just fading out the colors.) I can be in any light with this camera, and I know I'll be able to see what I'm taking a photo of. As I previously stated, this would be a five-star camera, except ... one detail. Uploading pictures has been a total pain for me. I could never properly install the software that came with this camera! I'm an avid computer user and I generally know what I'm doing, but for some reason this software drove me (and my computer!) nuts. (FYI, it's a Pentium 4 machine, loaded with Windows 2000 Pro.) I've been using Photoshop 6.0 to upload my photos, but this is slow, and I lose the original date/time when the photo was taken. AAAAARGH. Still, I'm very happy with the camera -- it's worth it to have your photos digitally stored for a lifetime. The picture quality is incredible and the camera is easy to use -- don't worry if you blow your budget purchasing this, you'll be glad you did later. great compact camera, can't go wrong
I love this camera, every pictures I took are just perfect. it's very light and very compact camera so that you can bring it with you anywhere. The software is also easy to use. Can't go wrong. Great camera, easy to use!
This camera is great! It is compact and easy to use. It has a rechargeable battery which lasts quite a while on a charge too. Takes about an hour to recharge. Doesn't have a battery meter though, only tells you when you are just about to run out. All in all a great camera, perfect to throw in your pocket on the go! Great work horse before you reach for your slr.
Good camera, easy to use, handy. Limited flash, and don't try to use an aux flash. The unit flashes 2x, to determine the correct exposure, thus firing an aux flash, and when the exposure flash is firing, the aux isn't. Anyone found a solution? Still The Best!!!
Just had to give kudos to this awesome camera. Mine has been through hell (always near saltwater-oceanfront) since 2001, and it still works excellent. One weird thing...the video will only shoot for a few seconds...anyone else experience this late in the cameras life? | ||