New Digital Camera ???

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I am considering buying a Canon Powershot S1. Things I like are a 10 X stabilized zoom, it uses AA batteries, and it is small compared to the Panasonic DMC FZ20. The picture is only 3 Meg wondering if I will regret this in the future? Most pictures I take we burn on a CD and make up a slide show, very rarely do we print anything out, but this may change too, leaving my options open. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So does anyone have a S1 and if you do, do you like it, any regrets??

Anyone know if Canon will be coming out with a new and improver version of the S1?

Any other suggestions on cameras, I want to spend around $500.

Thanks

 

[riptides]

I think for 500 bucks you can do much better on the pixels and the speed of the optics.

My daughter just picked up a 4.1 mega-pixel with 3x zoom for
99.00 dollars. Three years ago a similar model with 3 mega-pixels cost me 500.00.

I'd look around, go for the speed click factor.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Mike,

Street price on the S1 is about $320

Any suggestions?? on speed click factor?

 

[ronjhall]

Tom
I just went through the same buying a new camera. The Canon Power Shot S1 was on the list as was the Panasonic.
Ended up buying the Konica Minolta's DiMAGE A200 . $800 with 1 gig memory and other stuff.
Here is a post on the Canon S1. Click Here.
Lots of good information in the thread.

 

[_RaT_]

More info here. Canon Powershot S1 IS

 

[Durbob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am considering buying a Canon Powershot S1. Things I like are a 10 X stabilized zoom, it uses AA batteries, and it is small compared to the Panasonic DMC FZ20. The picture is only 3 Meg wondering if I will regret this in the future? Most pictures I take we burn on a CD and make up a slide show, very rarely do we print anything out, but this may change too, leaving my options open. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So does anyone have a S1 and if you do, do you like it, any regrets??

Anyone know if Canon will be coming out with a new and improver version of the S1?

Any other suggestions on cameras, I want to spend around $500.

Thanks
)</font>

A 3 meg camera will print out a nice 8 by 10 picture unless you are gonna crop it. It sounds like that Canon will do everything you want to do. Why spend a bunch more money then you need too. I have a 4 meg Camera now that really is overkill for what i need. That Canon is on my list to get just because of the 10 zoom. That is something that would be nice to have. Don't get caught up in the more megapixel is better game. Three is good although I wouldn't go under that .

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Tom,

I have an S1, and it's a lot of camera. The best things about it are the 10x IS lens and the video mode. I have a 2GB microdrive which fits in the CF slot, and it will hold 1000 highest quality pictures or 20 minutes of DV quality movies. 3.2MP is plenty for 8x10 prints and more than enough for slide shows. The 10x lens greatly reduces the need for cropping.

Read this discussion by a very talented photographer on which camera he would use if he could only have one. Follow the link at the bottom of his post to see what the S1 can do in the hands of an artist. He uses several different cameras, so you would have to surf around his galleries (I hope you have a highspeed internet connection), since I don't think he has a dedicated S1 gallery.

There is a lot of speculation that Canon will introduce a replacement for the S1 at the PMA show later this month, so you might wait and see if it's a big improvement. Maybe 5MP (4 isn't much of a jump over 3.2) and 12x zoom and an autofocus assist lamp for low light pictures. If they do come out with something, the S1 might be further discounted. It was $500 when it came out last February, and the "S2" will probably be in that neighborhood - if there is an "S2". /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[California]

The S1-IS is unique in the moderate price range. It has 10x optical zoom (extraordinary for moderate cost cameras) and unique Image Stabilization hardware so you can use this long zoom handheld. The overall size of the camera is a little larger than those with normal 3x zoom.

I would buy it in an instant if I had a specialized application that needed the long zoom. (Best example: when my kids played soccer I often used a multiplier zoom on my Nikon 950.)

For recent overseas travel I considered the S1-IS but instead bought a similar Canon A75. To me the most important criteria was it was small enough to conceal in my shirt or trousers pocket most of the time. See attached. Also it used AA cells and CF cards which I already had.

Here's endless discussion of the S1-IS in the rec.photo.digital Usenet newsgroup.

You might consider Canon's higher resolution A85 or A95 if you often enlarge a small portion of an image. I think the A75 is sufficient for my primary use, web photos, and it makes 4x6 prints that are indistinguishable from those made from 35mm/PhotoCD. S1-IS has the same pixel count as A75 so should make similar pictures.

 

[shoppintractors]

I would also look at the Fujifilm S5100.

Check out this review.

Don

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Thanks guys this just the info I needed. I am not in a hurry to buy one, so waiting a month or so is not a problem, but want one before our big trip in the summer. If would be great if they come out with an improved version of the Canon.

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> If would be great if they come out with an improved version of the Canon.
</font>
They have. Probably more than you want though.
Canon Powershot Pro1

 

[jyoutz]

Regarding the S1 - very nice featured point and shoot camera. I myself have a 10D Canon, but for those who aren't into the SLR world, the S1 is nice. About 3 MP resolution? Well for 3MP, you will be very happy with viewing digital photos on-screen, and projecting them. You will be very happy printing full-frame photos up to 5x7 inches, maybe 8x10. BUT, no larger prints and no zooming and cropping. The 3MP resolution just doesn't support doing that. So your choice really amounts to: what kind a output do I want?

 

[jyoutz]

I almost forgot -for the most comprehensive camera reviews I have ever seen, go to dpreview.com

 

[_RaT_]

Thats where my link took him. What lenses do you have for your Canon 10D? I have a 50mm f1.8 for the narrow DOF and a 17-40mm f4.

 

[KubotaSteve]

As far as megapixels, my old Fuji Finepix 2800 is only 2.1mp but I have made 8X10's from it without any problem. I usually get all of my pictures printed from Ofoto.com (Kodak subsidiary) and they even state I could do a 16 X 20 with 2.1mp but I would be hesitant. I am with you on the zoom and the double A batteries. One thing I never really noticed until I used my mom's Olympus camera was the difference in the amount of time it took to take the picture after you press the button. The Olympus takes a good bit longer (seems like) and you have to anticipate on action pictures. It seems like the camera you are looking at is a pretty nice setup. I had thought about getting a new camera but then figured what was the purpose as this one still does everything I need it to and then my Smart Media chips would be of no use!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Good luck!

 

[Wingnut]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> If would be great if they come out with an improved version of the Canon.
</font>
They have. Probably more than you want though.
Canon Powershot Pro1
)</font>

I wanted to upgrade from my Epson 3.3mp camera and did a fair amount of research. Finally came down to 2 cameras - the Sony 8mp and the Canon 8mp (pro 1). I favored the Sony as it was supposed to be able to take pictures and focus in total darkness ... thought that would be a hoot. However, the price never came down below $900 ... while the Pro 1 did go down to $800 ... and then I managed to get some other discounts available on Gateway (Dell periodically has them too ... just watch on Techbargains.com) ... I picked up the Pro 1 for less than $600.

Takes GREAT pictures ... although they're a mite large ... 2mb per file .... 3600 x 3200.

 

[gsxr1100]

I have a Cannon Powershot S330. Works perfect! HAd over 1.5 years and have taken over 8,000 pictures, yes the number is right.

Mine is I think around 3 MG pixels and the pictues on Super fine pixels (high settings) are great! We had 3 of these camera for our wedding and the 8x10 printed pictures came oput unreal!

People like the larger res but try to email the pictures? We burn ours onto DVD's the wifes makes with moving menu's etc. Look neat and the pictures are very very crisp. My friends father had a $10K camera there and took pictures and you could not tell the differance.

I think the camera you are looking at is the Canon PowerShot S1 IS Digital Camera???? Is this right? Looks a little big for me, but you might not care about the size of the camera.

 

[Boondox]

Tom -- I'm not a Canon user, but can offer some things to watch for depending on your intended usage. I started digital work with an Olympus, then a Nikon CoolPix 5700. Both were fine for still shots, landscapes, etc. But stunk at candid photos and action shots because of the lag time between when you press the shutter and when the shot is actually taken. Both were also pretty clunky when it came to changing settings. I also tend to take a LOT of shots of meetings, parties, dogs etc. I found the AA battery life left a lot to be desired, and both went into an inactive mode after 30 seconds to prolong battery life. The problem with that is it took them several seconds to come back to life, and that wait cost me several good photo opportunities. Let's face it, most chances are fleeting.

I now use a Nikon D1x which is compatible with all the lenses from my Nikon SLR. Instant on, easy to change settings, 6megapixels, batteries that easily last 1000+ shots, seamless integration with the SpeedLight and resolution that gives me photo quality prints at up to 16x20. It's more camera than I could afford (about $1500 for the body alone), but the company bought it for me so I'm having a blast! No more missed opportunities for me!

If I had to buy one myself I'd look at the Nikon D70 or the Canon equivalent. Canon has done some great work with image stabilization. But that level of camera fits my needs, and might be overkill for you. Just watch the lag thing -- it's by far the most annoying feature of the cheaper digital cameras.

Pete

 

[gsxr1100]

Here is the Nikon Coolpix size
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond70/Images/inhand01-001.jpg


Here is my Cannon Powershot
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonDigitalIXUS330/Images/inhand01-001.jpg

I for one like a smaller cammera but has the same performance. Just some FYI.

 

[LarryRB]

never was much into digital camera's, however, 5 or so years back I bought a Epson 850Z and it does perfect the few times I use it...