Canon PowerShot S1 IS?

[manty62]

I was looking for any information on this camera from any owners or previous users of this camera. I was also wondering if anyone has ordered from Beach Camera? Thanks.

[Rhys]

I was looking for any information on this camera from any owners or previous users of this camera. I was also wondering if anyone has ordered from Beach Camera? Thanks.

It's an excellent camera. I own one. I really like it. I feel though that it's at the very limit of what Canon can do with a small body and a small image sensor. Given the choice between this and a dSLR, I'd go for this every time - because of its compactness and low price. The photos are quite excellent too.

[poikkeus]

I haven't owned the S1 IS, but I've had a chance to use it pretty extensively. It's a very good camera.

Its good points:
1. Outstanding JPEG movie mode (maybe the best)
2. Image stabilizer
3. Nice clear images
4. Gorgeous aluminum design
5. Relatively good value
6. Intuitive design
7. Outstanding zoom

It's weaknesses:
1. Image quality could be more vivid in some cases
2. 3.2 megapixels -- may be a limitation for some
3. Slightly larger than some of its competitors (but still very portable)

If you take JPEG movies and aren't picky on image size, this could be a real candidate. I like this camera a lot.

[Rhys]

I haven't owned the S1 IS, but I've had a chance to use it pretty extensively. It's a very good camera.

Its good points:
1. Outstanding JPEG movie mode (maybe the best)
2. Image stabilizer
3. Nice clear images
4. Gorgeous aluminum design
5. Relatively good value
6. Intuitive design
7. Outstanding zoom

It's weaknesses:
1. Image quality could be more vivid in some cases
2. 3.2 megapixels -- may be a limitation for some
3. Slightly larger than some of its competitors (but still very portable)

If you take JPEG movies and aren't picky on image size, this could be a real candidate. I like this camera a lot.

I agree with all of the good points except I'm not so keen on shiny fake aluminium finishes. I personally would prefer black or khaki (preferably khaki) as it'd be more discrete.

The bad points. I agree with the first and second. The third, no. It's smaller than most competitors which is one reason I went for it.

Image quality does depend on the light levels. I suspect the lens needs a good lens hood. I suggest a cardboard tube as a handy accessory to carry at all times.

[EAP]

I was also wondering if anyone has ordered from Beach Camera? Thanks.

Several people posted positive comments about Beach Camera on the "Where to Buy Your Camera" thread. It sounds like a good choice.

[auniyal]

I have heard that 1s Is lacks :
1) Poor low light focusing;
2) no AF-assist lamp

I am also in dilema, should i go for 1S IS or fugi's s5100 (which have every thing except for the Image Stabilization).

[auniyal]

also it's just 3.2 MP :confused:

[Numnum]

There is a tiny chance that Canon will come out with S2 !

20-23 Feb. , worth the wait.

[auniyal]

There is a tiny chance that Canon will come out with S2 !

20-23 Feb. , worth the wait.

That would be gr8, hope it have 4 Mp and night assintant AF lamp, and if priced under 380$ , it will a huge success :)

[Rhys]

also it's just 3.2 MP :confused:

So what? So it's 3.2 megapixels. What does that mean? It means I can do very nice A4 prints and quite probably some decent A3 prints too.

John Reed's old Panasonic FZ-10 was a "paltry" 2 megapixels but produced photos he could print to 10" x 8" with no noticable lack of image quality.

People get so hung up on megapixel hype for no real reason.

[auniyal]

So what? So it's 3.2 megapixels. What does that mean? It means I can do very nice A4 prints and quite probably some decent A3 prints too.

John Reed's old Panasonic FZ-10 was a "paltry" 2 megapixels but produced photos he could print to 10" x 8" with no noticable lack of image quality.

People get so hung up on megapixel hype for no real reason.

If you're going to crop in close or print large, higher resolution lets you crop in closer and get better prints, it's not just all about taking prints. which means Fugi s5100 will perform better than S1 when you want to crop in close, thankx to it's 4 MP compare to S1's 3.

[John_Reed]

If you're going to crop in close or print large, higher resolution lets you crop in closer and get better prints, it's not just all about taking prints. which means Fugi s5100 will perform better than S1 when you want to crop in close, thankx to it's 4 MP compare to S1's 3.The Fuji has no stabilizer, and the S1 has one. No big deal, you say? Well, one "hidden" benefit of the stabilizer is that it lets you take shots at higher zoom factors than you ordinarily would without IS. So you can do a lot more "cropping in the camera" with the S1 than you could with the Fuji, especially at shutter speeds below 1/400 of a second, where the S1 can comfortably shoot at full zoom down into the 1/25 range, but where the Fuji would be starting to produce blurry shots if one went much slower than 1/400 in shutter speed. So, with the Fuji, you'll tend to need more cropping, (because you'll tend to favor lower zoom levels) on the average, than you will with a camera like the S1.

[JuJu]

How does it compare with the Konica Minolta Z3? I was debating between the two, and ended up purchasing the Z3 but I'm not really liking it. I don't know too much about cameras, but I find that the camera performs poorly in lowlight and can't focus well and the image on the LCD is sorta shaky.

How is the Canon in lowlight?

[Rex914]

It's a better camera overall (good photo quality), but I don't think it does any better in low light situations without an AF assist lamp. The Z3 takes somewhat soft photos doesn't it?

[jeisner]

John Reed's old Panasonic FZ-10 was a "paltry" 2 megapixels but produced photos he could print to 10" x 8" with no noticable lack of image quality.

The Panasonic FZ10 is 4MP, FZ1 was 2MP


People get so hung up on megapixel hype for no real reason.

true, but if you are often doing large prints, A4 and possible A3, you are somewhat limited with a 3MP camera IMHO, especially if you want to crop the pictures, and when there are other better options out there like the Panasonic FZ15 or the upcoming FZ5, why limit yourself?



If you think 3.2MP is enough also have a look at the Panasonic FZ3.

[auniyal]

The Fuji has no stabilizer, and the S1 has one. No big deal, you say? Well, one "hidden" benefit of the stabilizer is that it lets you take shots at higher zoom factors than you ordinarily would without IS. So you can do a lot more "cropping in the camera" with the S1 than you could with the Fuji, especially at shutter speeds below 1/400 of a second, where the S1 can comfortably shoot at full zoom down into the 1/25 range, but where the Fuji would be starting to produce blurry shots if one went much slower than 1/400 in shutter speed. So, with the Fuji, you'll tend to need more cropping, (because you'll tend to favor lower zoom levels) on the average, than you will with a camera like the S1.

There always pro and cons of the camera you may choose, I have almost made my mind to purchase fugi's s5100 over cannon's IS ,I know, Image Stabization is a powerful feature which REDUCES the Blur produced by the Hand Shake movement but does not nullyfy that, I may use a tripod for long zooms intead of compromising on the photo quality at low light situation (IS is bad at Low light photos and suffers from purple fringing and red eye)

Consedering its price and its 4-megapixel resolution, its lack of stabilization really can't be counted against it.

[gary_hendricks]

I was looking for any information on this camera from any owners or previous users of this camera. I was also wondering if anyone has ordered from Beach Camera? Thanks.

Under low light situations, it's not too good.