Great Camera
I have been looking at digital cameras for the past year, The prices just couldn't be justified for me... Until the 3million megapixel camera's came out. This isn't the right camera for professional shooting, as it does not take raw tiff's.. but the large superfine Jpeg's turn out close enough to raw images. This is a high end Point and Shoot camera, you do not need professional photography experience to take great photos. The camera is small and lightweight.. similar to the Canon ELPH camera's design.. so it can slide in your pocket.. And Canon has been known for their optics for years. The software works fine, I just use Adobe Photoshop to get my images though. The photostiching is neat, and works well, I took pictures in a circle around my apartment and stitched them seamlessly together to make a really wide panoramic shot.. using USB to get your images is FAST, I had no problems setting the camera up with USB or Serial. The cons of this camera is that it doesn't come with rechargable batteries (a MUST have) get the recharge/ac adaptor kit, or else you will spend hundreds on batteries. the 16MB CF card will fit about 100 average quality photo's, 34 above average, but only 7 SuperFine quality photo's (time to go buy a bigger CF card).. Digital camera's are going to be expensive, especially if you want quality and features, The higher end Kodak's, Sony's and Olympus's offer about the same features and quality, but the Kodak and Sony are much larger and bulkier. If you've used Canon camera's before, this will be simple to use

Amazing
I picked up this camera to do a web catalog photo shoot of flowers. I found it to be an impressive camera for its size. Get the IBM Microdrive because the 3 megapixel images will fill up a memory card fast!

Battery life was good but it uses a proprietary battery. It also takes 2CR5s but eats them up in a hurry.

Very good image quality, works well in macro mode. One thing I wish it had is the ability to review the image right after you took it. You can't do it easily, you have to switch camera modes and the lens closes up. With the microdrive you can afford to take extra shots and weed out the bad ones later.

Good transfer software although the serial cable mode is incredibly slow...go with USB.

All in all, I love this little camera which packs a punch.

Brilliant little machine
It's small, light and easy to use and picture quality is superb. I would agree with the other reviewers on this page with one exception: according to one reviewer you can't check the quality of your photo immediately after shooting - this is not true: keep the shutter button pressed in after shooting and the photo appears on the TFT screen until you release the button. The supplied 16Mb flash card is not enough for efficient use, but it does get you started. You can take 44 photos in medium res (1024 x 768) which is good enough quality for screen viewing. Batteries will last long enough to fill the 16 Mb card but I bought 2 extra rechargables with mine and I keep TFT screen and flash use to a minimum when not near a power supply. My biggest niggle with the Canon is that in Auto mode it only takes pictures in the highest resolution, something like 8 or 9 photo's on the 16 Mb card. With maybe a 170 or 340 Mb IBM micro drive and a couple of extra rechargable batteries this is a brilliant little machine suitable for most users, takes great pictures and fits in your jacket pocket too!

Great Little Camera
I love this camera. It is the smallest 3.3mp camera on the market and takes incredible pictures. The best part about this camera is its ability to take both type 1 and type 2 cf cards. This means that the S20 can use the IBM Microdrive (170 or 340 mb). With the 340 mb drive (@$400, with pcmcia card adapter), the camera can hold 379 shots at largest size with medium resolution, or 164 shots at largest size with best resolution. I literally shoot all day and sort the pictures out later. No more asking yourself, "should I take this shot, or will I fill the card too quickly." If you are not going to buy the microdrive, I really don't see the need to pay $800 for this camera. Its like buying a rolls royce and getting bicycle tires. Also, be aware that the S20 takes a proprietary battery (cannot be replaced by regular batteries in a pinch). When you buy the camera, buy at least one extra battery that day. Nothing is worse than having 150 shots left, but a dead battery. I love my S20, but be aware that after the camera, charger, 340mb microdrive and an extra battery, you are talking about $1350.

Scarey Quaility!
Sometimes when I take a shot, and get it to my PC I look at it and wonder, how such a samll unit can crete such clean pictures.

For most applications the S10 will do but the S20 is good value still.

EXCELLENT!
I love this camera! It takes very clear pictures and is very easy to use! I did have to upgrade my printer so keep this in mind when you buy a digital camera. I purchased the HP 932C through Amazon and it works great ! Excellent pictures and I use the camera also to take pics for my auctions and it is 100% quicker! This is an excellent camera at a great price. I like it also because it is so small too.

Great Camera - bad battery
Great optics, nice list of options. Takes great pictures. software bundle is good. Problem is the battery. You get one of the ... throw-aways, which lasts about 45 minutes. The rechargeable battery pack is ..., which is ABSOLUTELY NECCESSARY for this camera, so consider the price to be ... more than the going price. Also, the rechargeable batteries last a bit under an hour. You'll also want to get a bigger memory card. Using the highest resolution, lowest compression takes some great pictures, and you'll want a big card to take lots of pictures.

Almost perfect; an excellent camera
I echo the prior statements -- a fabulous midget-sized camera whose 3.3 megapixel photos allow you to trust all of your memories to it. So-so battery life.

In addition, I found that the camera was fairly easy to use. I was able to do the basic things -- take photos, change the resolution, erase, etc. -- on a first or second try. (Then I read the manual to figure out the advanced stuff.)

My only dislike of this camera is that its automatic whiteness settings aren't true to life: it's too blue. For example, light-skinned (caucasian and some asians) people's skin has a bluish tint to it. You can play around with the manual settings to get accurately colored photos, but it's a pain to adjust the whiteness for every single snapshot you want to take. The resulting discolorations can generally be fixed in Photoshop, of course, but having to do this for every photo is not ideal.

I had heard about the whiteness issues before I bought the camera and purchased it anyway. I'm glad I did; the resolution, its size, and overall quality are worth the slightly disappointing optical issues.

ýWHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?
This little machine is wonderful . I really did not know much about photography before I had this camera . I bought it primary because I am a doctor and need it for have a record of important cases . It took me only to read the manual and a little practice in order to be able to acquire wonderful pictures of everything I want , with or without macro , in color or B/W... whatever... The resolution is perfect ; with the rechargeable battery you donýt have to worry for power , ... in other words , I really can't imagine what else to ask for in a camera!!!!! It's just amazing!!!!!!I carry it wherever I may roam .

FANTASTIC CAMERA - TINY AND EASY TO USE!
The Canon S20 is simply stellar. It takes outstanding photos, yet is very easy to use. Of equal importance, it is tiny, so you'll never have to leave it behind! You simply can't go wrong with this handy, high-end digicam.

Standard Camera bought for Company Use
I am the Information Services Director for a Company that has 8 remote sites on the East Coast. I was asked to find a camera that can be used by 4 departments and at every site. After researching I found the Powershot S20 and we have set it at the standard camera. We use this camera everyday for events, building pictures and for our local access channel.

This camera is small, easy to use and when connect via the USB port, the download time to a PC is incredible. The people who use this camera have never used a camera in their life, so having them come to me the next day and telling me how easy it is, was a great relief to me.

The only draw back to this camera is the battery, I highly suggest buying the charger kit for this camera for the added money, mostly because the battery that comes with it drained after the first two hours, and $20 for each new battery is really not worth it.

A Great Little Camera
A Great Little Camera! Makes good and clear pics. I recommend the rechargeable battery and a larger memory card though. I have a 96 mb card that will hold more pics than I can take on a battery charge. I have thoroughly enjoyed the camera thus far...

A Beginner's Camera
I originally bought this camera because of its size and the fact that I had a spare Microdrive lying around. After using it for a few days, I realized that it is truly a beginner's camera. There is little manual options and those that are there, are very "dumbed down." The resulting pictures from the 3.3 Megapixel CCD are extraordinary. They are very sharp and crisp. However, if you are taking pictures of objects further than about 5 ft. away, make sure there is ample lighting because the flash is sub-par. The Microdrive and the power supply kit certainly add to the overall price of the product, but IMHO, are true necessities. In conclusion, if you are a beginner and are looking for a simple, easy to use camera that takes great pictures, this is camera for you. But if you are an intermediate user who would like to control his picture taking a little more than 'point-and-click', look elsewhere.

The Best Little Digital Camera Out There
The Canon S20 is the perfect combination of simplicity, function, and high technology. The camera takes fantastic pictures that are consistently clear, ungrainy, and in focus, even in odd lighting conditions. The metering system is great, as is the autofocus and the telephoto; all work near-flawlessly.

The S20's greatest strengths is its simplicity and its size. Although it does not offer advanced features (such shutter-speed priority, full manual, etc.) that some of the Nikons and more expensive Canons do, even an inexperienced camera user (digital or not) will have no problem taking great photographs. All of the moderately complicated features on the Canon such as macro-mode, toggling the flash, and red-eye reduction are as easy as hitting a clearly labelled, obvious button. Additionally, the S20 is just like a "regular old camera." There are no bizare swivling things like on the Nikons, and more importantly, the camera is small enough to fit easily in a small bag or large pocket.

Please note that in addition to the camera itself, you will have to buy the battery recharger and, unless you want to be limited to a few megs, an extra PC card which will both add some money to your purchase. Still, for the camera you get, the extra purchases are not a big deal.

Overall, a fantastic little camera. Look no further.

Packs Powerful Punch-I can even see the background in pics
**People I want to tell you that this little cam is HOT! It has 3 picture sizes: L, M and S; If you want to send e-mail pics, the S setting is what you want. Also there are 3 picture qualities: Normal, Fine, and Super Fine. Use picture sizes and quality settings in any combination you like.

**Poster sized prints? I took a picture on the L/Fine setting and got the graphics guy at work to print it out on the graphics roller printer. I couldn't believe my eyes. The pic was poster size, the graphics were good even though it wasn't set on Super Fine. And to top it off, I sent the pic via e-mail to him uncompressed.

**I bought a SanDisk CompactFlash 96 MB Memory Card that will hold over 200 pics on the S/Super Fine setting - great for vacations.

**You must buy the Compact Power Adapter if you don't want to keep buying 1-time use batteries, which have been known to burn out in 1 days use, especially if you have the cam's LCD screen on to view pics. The Power Adapter comes with 1 battery that charged for me in 15 mins. first time, then about 80 mins. when fully depleted. You can also use the adapter to plug into wall outlets instead of batteries.

**If your TV has a video input, you can view your pics on it. Put on some music and have fun.

**Cam comes with a 16 MB memory card that will hold about 36 pics set on S/Super Fine. You may want to get some type of photo editing software though. I had problems with both photo editors that come with the cam. But, the cam's software for loading and storing pics works fine.

**The book warns, "If you have (like me) upgraded to WIN 98 or WIN 2000, the cam's USB port drivers may not work (didn't for me). Your PC needs to come with 1 of these operating systems pre-installed. You can always try the serial port connection drivers but if they don't work you will need to get a PC Card Adapter or a Memory Card Reader to read the memory card you use to store pics. I bought the SanDisk ImageMate card reader that plugs right into my USB port. When I'm ready I slide my SanDisk CompactFlash 96 MB Card in the reader and load the pics into my PC with no problems and I love it. This is the fastest technology anyway!

**If the pics look this stunningly clear on the Super Fine setting on this 3.3 Mega Pixel cam, I can't imagine buying a more expensive one. This is truly all I need!

Advice needed.
The reviews on the S20 have influenced my decision to purchase, BUT I hold a webcertificate with which I am planning to purchase the camera. US legislation prevents shipping outside the USA, so my intention is to have it shipped to my son in Houston who will eventually bring it to Australia. Will I have difficulties using it in Australia due to different voltage?

Having a lot of fun
This is my 2nd digital cam and this one is so much better than my first. It has so many more features(black & white, landscape, night scenes, stitching images, & continuous shooting to name a few) and it is user friendly. Family back home have gotten spoiled by the pictures I email to them almost daily. The pictures come out very clear, but you do have to take the time to make sure that you have it on the right settings. The images download quickly and I love being able to view the slide show on the tv. It makes it easy to show pictures that have just been taken, in better detail, to family that may not have a computer.This camera has been a lot of fun and I do not regret the purchase at all.

However,and this is the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5, I cannot get the editing software to work correctly and I was disappointed when I realized I was going to have to spend some more $ to get the supply kit. The supply kit is a must unless you have a room full of lithium batteries and even that wouldn't last you for long if you wanted to use this camera to its full capability. The software for downloading and saving the pictures is very easy to use.

B.O.B (Best Of the Best) ...
I bought this camera from Amazon.com, and I've been using it since the day that it arrived, and I think the only negative thing about this camera is that it eat batteries like CRAZY, and so if you are going to buy this DC, I STRONGLY suggest that you also get the rechargeable battery kit which is also avalible on Amazon.com. This DC is very easy to use, and the manual explanes it all, and it's the smallest of it's kind (3.3 mp) so if you need a DC, this will be the one!

NOT SO INTUITIVE CAMERA WITH A BATTERY FETISH
WHILE THIS CAMERA TAKES DECENT PICS, THE BATTERY LIFE IS INEXCUSABLE. MY DURACELL LASTED 3 DAYS. THE ICONS, BUTTONS AND MENUS DO NOT COME NATURALLY. LEAVE IT TO CANON TO MAKE YOU BUY THE ESSENTIAL RECHARGABLE BATTERY SEPARATELY. FROM NOW ON I STAY WITH SONY. EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE AND THE BATTERY LASTS FOREVER.

Miraculous
I have used this camera for the last 6 months to take pictures of vacations, family, friends, pets, scenery and most of all my new baby. Before I bought a digital camera I would take maybe a roll of film's worth of pictures in a year. Since I got the S20 I have taken a couple thousand. It's truly liberating to take 10 pictures of a scene and pick the best one, everyone's eyes are open, the dog is not in the way, etc.

The S20 produces beautiful pictures, is simple to use and feels like a solid camera. I have dropped it twice and it still works like a charm. With a spare battery and a 128MB memory card I can take pictures all day long without a second thought. The camera is a breeze to use. My wife (who is not a technophile) easily thumbs through the menus and shows me the pictures of our baby that she has captured.

My only regret is that I waited until I could afford it, I wish I had put it on a credit card a sooner and gotten more pictures of my child's first few months.

The most useful digital camera on the market today.
I see the average consumer having too primary needs for a digital camera. The first and most important in their mind is a tool to record those moments that need to last forever. This translates into a digital versus film because of the unparalled ability of digital to display the recorded image. These are the shots that include family and friends, everyday life. Other important factors in choosing a camera that will handle this aspect would be zoom and flash. From what I have seen of the performance of such a small camera, it does fine.

I can't wait until canon makes SLR rangefinder digital cameras similar to the s20, but with the option of extended zoom capability. That would be cool.

The second most important need that I can percieve is a camera that is portable enough that it is not a big deal to carry with you most of the time. This would be for those shots that the consumer says "Oh that looks cool". This camera fits the bill perfectly bieng the smallest on the market that is able to support a microdrive.

I think toshiba recently released a 5 gig mircodrive. I can't believe how many pictures this translates to. Of course it costs almost as much as the camera, but for people whom are serious about recording a moment in their life, then the investment in the camera / rechargeable batteries / leather case / microdrive goes without saying.

Hope this helps!

Used for almost a year under various conditionsGreat Camera!
My dad bought this camera just under a year ago and he bought the IBM 340mb micordrive and about 3 extra batteries(wise decision). I took it with me to Vancouver,BC this summer and shot over 600 pictures in two weeks all on the superfine,large resolution and the quality surpases 35 mm film by fAR. You can fit over 1000 images on the lowest quality but on the highest you can fit around 90-100. Don't even think about using a digital camera any less than 128mb because you'll run out of room quickly. Although this is the first digital camera I have used, I am an experienced photographer and this camera simply makes taking pictures more relaxing and whats better is that you dont need to freak out if 90% of the photos you shot were useless. I used this camera at altitudes of 9000+feet and under very cold conditions and in total darkness as well as on the back of a motorcycle at 90 miles hour. I had used the camera many times prior but I was concerned with getting the most out of my pictures while on vacation so I utilized almost every mode and option on this camera.

Pros: -excellent quality during high speed photography even with low light -small, light, durable. I gave up carrying around a [price] nikon slr and a video camera for this baby. -stitch assist mode actually works great; basically it makes panoramas out of a series of pictures you shot. I used it for overlooking Stanley park, grousse mountain, and the totem poles in capilano as a test and I was amazed that it actually worked. Very easy too.

Cons: -Battery power is a major issue especially if you have a microdrive which i recommend for this camera if it is cheaper than a 5oomb flashcard; with the lcd screen off you can shoot maybe 90 pics and the highest resolution with the flash. My sister did it at a party 91shots in under 5 minutes and drained a fully charged battery. -not really manual controls, you cant set aperature and shutter speed but use fast shutter, slow shutter, etc.

-flash is good indoors even in complete darkness but outdoors the range is severly limited to about 15 feet at most

I'm assuming if you are reading this you are doing a fair bit of research before buying so you've already encountered the same complaints about battery power and memory but really this camera has the same issues as most digital cameras so there arent any major problems specific to the s-20. Definately buy a microdrive or 500mb+ flashcard if possible but be sure of compatibility before spending some big bucks.

Amazing deal
I just saw what Amazon is selling the S-20 camera for, and I just had to write and express my opinion about this item. This is simply an incredible deal. I've had years of experience in photography. (...) This little S-20 is so neat. It will fit into your pants pocket. And, in an instant it's ready to shoot a picture. The images it produces are extremely sharp and detailed. It allows manual control of several functions incl.: image size, flash, zoom focus, light balance, and many other items. This thing will take any CompactFlash brand card you shove into it, just hit the format key & it's ready to go. It will take a microdrive, which is something i haven't tried yet, but it sounds very interesting. And, if the rechargeable battery runs out, you can power up with off the shelf disposable batteries. (...)the main reason I like this camera is that it's the toughest little thing around. You can drop it on the ground, pick it up & it will still work. I've already dropped my S-20 several times without any negative results. Well, enough already. If you want a tough little camera, that fits in a shirtpocket & takes extremely sharp pictures, then this one is a no - brainer. I guess the only reason they're selling this for so lttle is that it's going to be discontinued. If that's the case, then get it. It's a classic.

Bad color corrispondence
Nice little camera, but with some relevant problem with color balancing. Also Flash is not so performing (or too strong or too weak). The biggest problem I had is that I have to spend hours at the PC to fix color and hue balancing. Sometimes good quality.

storyville redux
Every picture tells a story. Mine began after many months of research, checking prices, reviews, etc. I finally opted for the Canon Powershot S20. Working as a Picture Car Coordinator in the film industry, I needed a digital camera that had great resolution, the ability to download into my computer, and a capacity for volume. Kudos to Canon. This is the perfect tool. The memory flash cards serve as safety deposit boxes, storing the images until you need to download. Competetive pricing has the largest flash memory card well within discretionary budgets. The multi-function facets of the camera accommodate any given situation and need - indoor, outdoor, panoramic, photogenic, macro, whatever. Think tank included. You can even script a continuous visual scene with the thorough computer software. Be sure to get the auxiliary battery pack for recharging as it is indeed fuel hungry. It's worth the extra cost. This camera can assist the casual user with professional results. Also standup to the rigors of high demand and expectation. Fun, fast, and easy to use. For the money, a best buy. The finished product is always outstanding. Look like a million, pay like pauper. This is the ticket to the big time in your field of vision.

An excellent little camera...
This is an excellent little digital camera that is both rich in features and high in megapixel resolution--compared to the competition. My only complaint is that you have to remove the battery when the camera is not being used, otherwise the camera will eventually drain it. Considering the features, this is only a minor complaint.

Everything Wrong!
Bought it 2 years ago for $$$ and $$$$ for battery pack.
POSITIVE:
NONE!

NEGATIVE:
1. OVER PRICE.
2. TERRIBLE PICTURES.
3. BATTERY ONLY LAST 20 TO 30 MINUTES (40 PICTURES).
4. 2X ZOOM ?? CAN'T DO A THING!!
5. NO UNDERWATER CASE

MUST BE BLIND TO SAY IT IS A GOOD CAMERA!
SKIP IT! NOT WORTH A DIME!!!

Good camera after getting around a few weak points.
I have one of these in my glove box and use it all the time. My other Camera is a G2 and admit the G2 is far better than the S20. As most will agree the battery is flat too soon to trust for more than 20 mins. I've built some Li-ion batteries for this camera and solved the problem. I now can run almost 3hrs. before a charge in needed. Canon made a big mistake powering this with 5 AAA Ni-MH cells, should have been the Li-ion's like my G2. The G2 goes forever on a charge and the Li-ion batteries hold a solid charge with a very low rate of static dicharge.
The S20 is still a valid camera in my bag and many of my local news photos are shots taken with my S20. Its been a solid kick around digital thats hit the floor many more times than any plastic model could ever take, and if its too heavy for some then I guess you'd be crying about why Canon made the case out of plastic. Yes I have dents in my S20 but the case is why my S20 has lasted the many miles and bumps it has. OK so the S20 is a basic camera in todays market but as a used 3.3MP (Amazon's, header incorrectly states 3.2)
Digital its been time and road tested to be an Excelent example.

Poor quality and terrible customer service
If possible, I would have given the camara some negative stars.

I was glad when I first got the camera. But it did not function at all after I used the camera for less than 10 times within a year. I called customer service and was told to send it back to factory. I was told I would be charged about $160 to fix the camera. I asked what the problem was and was told they did not know what the exact problem was until they took the camera apart and gave a close check!

If you want to find a reliable digital camera, try some other brand but not canon.