Canon S1-IS AF Assist Question

[sgitlin]

I am interested in purchasing an ultra-zoom digital camera, and have narrowed the choices to the Canon S1-IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3. Several reviews of the Canon mentioned the lack of an AF assist lamp, but a recent posting at Pricegrabber seemed to indicate that the current version of the camera has an AF assist lamp within the flash part of the camera. Would appreciate any information regarding this.

Thanks in advance,

Stew

[Rhys]

I am interested in purchasing an ultra-zoom digital camera, and have narrowed the choices to the Canon S1-IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3. Several reviews of the Canon mentioned the lack of an AF assist lamp, but a recent posting at Pricegrabber seemed to indicate that the current version of the camera has an AF assist lamp within the flash part of the camera. Would appreciate any information regarding this.

Thanks in advance,

Stew

Pricegrabber information, in my experience, is frequently wrong as it happens to be in this instance. The S1 IS has no AF assist.

[Paul]

I read somewhere (think it was in a forum here or at imaging resource) that some1 wrote that that the S1 IS he has is equipped with an AF assist built in the flash. I can't vouch for the truth of that claim, however. Maybe searching forums at steve's digicams and dpreview may help...

I hope to get the S1 IS myself, or its successor (if and when a successor comes out).

Anyway, I hope you'll be happy with the camera you choose.

Paul

[NeoteriX]

There is no af assist. There is another light built into the flash, but it is for red eye reduction.

[Paul]

I know that the flash has a red-eye reduction light. As for the assist, I was only saying what I'd read. I haven't seen any other texts saying that the S1 has AF assist, but that won't stop me from buying one. I guess I'll just have to learn manual focus instead :rolleyes: .