S1 IS- keen to buy. Please HELP! Any major bugs ?

[Rooy]

Hi.
I've made some serious long reasearches on the internet and finally came to the conclusion this camera would fit my needs best (read lots of reviews and stuff)
I can't afford to spend more than $450 (inlcuding add-ons like larger memory card, two sets of NiMH AA rechargables, a charger, and a case).
This is to be my very first digital camera and all I want from it are:
-good quality pics;
-nice movie clips;
-ultra-zoom;
-pocketable (or at least easy to carry).
-ergonomics;

I'd really appreciate any good advice regarding any major disadvantages of this item. I mean I wouldn't like to feel sorry about my money after all.

I've also noticed that S1 IS connects to a PC using USB 1.1. Well my PC got USB 2.0 so I don't know what do I need to make the connection possible. Please help me !

And please do recommend me the best rechearchable batteries for this kind of camera and also the proper memory card.

Thanks a lot friends.

[Rhys]

S1 IS - major bug - low-light focussing. MF does work but isn't great.

Batteries - any NiMh will do.

USB 2.0 devices are all backward compatible with previous USB devices.

[pemabra]

I consider s1-IS a good choice for your first digital camera.

I have purchased one 4 months ago and I am pretty well satisfied.

I think a 256 Mb card should work nice for you, but with a 512 Mb you will be able to make bigger video shots.

I hope this helps.

[Prah]

Your PC's USB 2.0 ports should be backwards compatible with 1.1.

2500mAh AA nimh recharable AAs are the best batteries for it. A 512mb CompactFlash card would probably be the best deal on memory for it.

But I wouldn't buy the S1 myself. The picture quality isn't as good as I'd like, and I'm assuming the model will be replaced next month with an updated version.

If you're on a budget, do look around when buying your camera. Most outlets have vast markups on cameras and memory cards. One shop may charge 2x as much as another for the same thing.

[-Brad-]

I looked at many and chose the S1. I am very satisfied with the results. True the low light focusing may be frustrating at times, but setting the C on the pre-dial to the HyperFocal settings takes care of that, never missed a low light shot since then.

Every camera has negatives, and this one does too. BUT, it is stable, never freezes, and is a blast to work with. If you care about movies, the S1 is top notch. I set in the menu the highest setting for sharpness, but one thing I always practiced with my pictures is to tweak them in Photoshop. I've never come across one picture in all the cameras I've owned that couldn't impress even the slightest with some form of manipulation.

I love the S1, I recently bought an adapter, petal hood and filters for it. I also got a 1gb 40X card and 8 NIMh 2300 batteries. All in all, a complete package. I would still like to have an AF assist lamp and bigger screen, but the swivel option on the LCD gives you the opportunity to take shots where it wasn't possible before. Add that to a 10X zoom, Image stabilizer, know how and when to use the vast options you have, and you can take GREAT pictures. If I remember tonight I'll attach one or two.

[Rhys]

I'd love to have a decent macro mode on it, more megapixels and better low-light focussing too. Maybe the ability to take bigger videos too. Other than that, I agree, it's perfect. Maybe the ability to put a polarising filter on would be advantageous too.

[-Brad-]

Well, we're talking a sub 400$ camera. You are now talking an additional ~200$.

For the price, and lets face that's why it was so appealing and we purchased it, it's an awesome camera. Well worth its price, and then some.