Canon S1 IS -- user reactions?

[poikkeus]

This is creeping to the top of my "wanted" list because of its excellent feature set, including the 10x zoom, image stabilization, and general good looks.

But at 3.2MP, I'm wondering if image quality is an issue for users. How do users of the camera feel about the pictures it takes.

Thanks!

[lowkl]

If you do a search in the active forums for Canon digital cameras, I think you'll find a ton of feedback on the S1.

You'll find that most who actually use one are very satisfied with the camera. Sure, there a number of things which can be improved, but what you will find is that most of us (yes, I am one too) are near fanatical in support for the S1.

All the features of the S1 just work well together, and if you can considering it due to its long zoom, IS and other cool stuff, you will *not* be disappointed.

The 3.2MP these days is on the low end; however, it still is more than enough for up to 8"x11" prints. Remember that with the 10x zoom, the need for cropping becomes minimal.

As for sample photos, just go to sites such as www.pbase.com and look for photos taken with the S1. If you are really bored, you can check out my photos of my trip to South Africa (http://boblow.fotopic.net/c302384_13.html) .

[roxbury29]

Hello,
I too did the research and forums for 3 months.
asking similiar questinos...

is 3 meg enough - etc...

This camera is great. I love it
the 3 megs is perfect..you can crop and it still looks good
at least for 5x7 and 4x6
when you crop them

I usually never print much larger.. but i am sure you can

Just read the manual first.. .
The video mode and 10xopt is awesome !!!

go to local store and look at it..
and check the forums...etc...

good luck !

[NeoteriX]

Others have had good comments. Like others have said, 3.2MP is on the low side, but it's certainly adequate for anything I do, and to me is a reasonable tradeoff for all of the other features -- IS, manual focus, compact form, etc. If you note the recent competition for the S1, the Panasonic FZ3, you'll note that even though the camera was released recently, they opted to go with a 3MP sensor. In my eyes, even though the S1 and FZ3 both have 3MP sensors which has been eclipsed by other cameras, they are the only two budget long zoom cameras I would consider buying (the Olympus, Fuji, and Kodak offers are poop).

Overall, I have been very satisfied with my S1, and have yet to reach it limits. I do, however, look forward to whatever Canon has up their sleeves for the next generation model. :)

You can check out my S1 gallery at:

http://www.pbase.com/neoterix/

[Rhys]

I have an S1 IS. I love it and use it for my more creative photography. Where it does fall down is with the night exposures. These have to be focussed manually as the autofocus really doesn't have a clue from dusk onwards. The video mode can produce grotty videos in low light too. I've made excellent videos and some ghastly ones too.

I decided that A4 (11x8) was big enough for my needs. I never printed above 10x8 with 35mm more than once or twice. On that basis I decided that 3 megapixels was ample.

My one comment at the moment is whether a camera that takes SD might not be mildly more useful. I have a PDA that takes SD and a camera that takes CF. Now if there was an adaptor that'd allow me to put my SD card into my S1 or my CF cards onto my PDA....

[NeoteriX]

Hey man...

there is. ;)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000165CBA/002-3059634-0970414?v=glance
http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Video-PNY-P_CFSD_SD016_RF.htm

[poikkeus]

The galleries I've visited have been interesting (and I love the movies the camera produces), but even the best pix look kind of washed out. Compared to the Digital Rebel (which is almost twice the price), this problem becomes more obvious.

My only pre-sale reservation about the camera is that I really need more intense image quality. Maybe I should just save up....

[meng-chieh]

Go and take a look at my site: www.meng-chieh.fotopic.net

All the photos there are taken with my Digital Rebel, however due to compression by fotopic.net, they all look....not as good as before. I guess what I'm suggesting is that the photos by S1 all look not as good for similar reasons.

[poikkeus]

I've heard that on different monitors (and different computer systems) images can vary greatly.

All the same, I have to compliment you on your photos; even the challenging ones (like the pumpkins) have definition and intense color. Although I've viewed several nice S1 IS archives thanks to links, these photos as a rule seem less intense and defined. I love the features of the S1 IS, but photo quality always takes priority for me.

I've noticed that prices for the Digital Rebel are going down (thanks to rebates) -- a good sign that a new model is in the wings.

[John_Reed]

The galleries I've visited have been interesting (and I love the movies the camera produces), but even the best pix look kind of washed out. Compared to the Digital Rebel (which is almost twice the price), this problem becomes more obvious.

My only pre-sale reservation about the camera is that I really need more intense image quality. Maybe I should just save up....If you look at dpreview's review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz3/) of the Panasonic DMC-FZ3, the reviewer does a pretty thorough job of comparing the resolution of the S1 and the FZ3. Also, I don't think you'll see any "washed out" photos in the samples gallery there.

[poikkeus]

Thanks for turning me on to the FZ3; I'd been so fixated on Canon that I'd passed by this well-reviewed Panasonic. The image quality seems excellent, both in color and detail. I also liked how the camera is smaller and lighter than the Digital EOS -- which is like an iron weight.

Each FZ3 gallery has images that seem richer and more saturated than the Canon S1 IS. (That said, the Canon is still a beauty of a camera, and I'm sure I'd fall in love with it in no time.)

I'm glad I have the wisdom of experienced users to point me in the right direction.

[amanchen]

is s1 really poor in low light focusing? because i often shoot my family in night scenes. is the manual focusing easy to have a right focus (to see that the lcd is not that great in low light too). thank you.

[r0nn13]

I did a lot of research on this camera and its closet rivals.

I love my S1 IS and discarded the Olympus 770UZ as it was more expensive memory and batteries but equal movie mode.

I discounted the Panasonic's due to their poorer quality Video mode and usually higher price, more expensive memory and batteries also. Compact Flash and AA batteries are the cheapest; as I have now 4 sets of batteries (16) and 4 CF cards (32mb, 64mb, 512mb, 1GB).

If the Panasonic had a proper VGA movie mode with 30fps and a bit cheaper then I would have went for the Panasonic.

You can't go wrong with the S1 as a good first fully manual camera that is cheap to buy and run. Can't beat it with a big stick...

If the movie mode is not important to you and you would never use it then go for the Panasonic FZ3 or 20 if you can stretch it. If the movie mode is to be used every now and again then get the S1 :D .

[Rhys]

I find the night-time focussing is the big disappointment with the S1. When light levels are low at around dusk, many times I have had to focus manually. That's not quite as intuitive as it should be though.

[-Brad-]

Use HyperFocal, your low-light focusing problems will be solved. I posted the settings in another thread. Try it, I'm sure you'll be impressed with the results.