Any reason NOT to buy Canon PowerShot S1 IS?

[brigden]

I bought a Canon A40 a couple of years ago and I've barely used it due to my disappointment in the camera's capabilities. Anyway, my father offered to buy it off me, thus giving me a few bucks to toss towards a new camera. I was thinking of buying a camcorder, but I'm more interested in still photography and I've noticed the S1 IS has a good movie mode.

Anyway, $649 CAD seems pretty steep for a 3.2MP camera, but I like its features. Should I consider any other models?

I do enjoy taking artsy stuff, but more often than not I'm just snapping pics of my GF and I, or group pictures in low-light conditions.

 

[JeffCos]

Originally posted by: brigden
I bought a Canon A40 a couple of years ago and I've barely used it due to my disappointment in the camera's capabilities. Anyway, my father offered to buy it off me, thus giving me a few bucks to toss towards a new camera. I was thinking of buying a camcorder, but I'm more interested in still photography and I've noticed the S1 IS has a good movie mode.

Anyway, $649 CAD seems pretty steep for a 3.2MP camera, but I like its features. Should I consider any other models?

I do enjoy taking artsy stuff, but more often than not I'm just snapping pics of my GF and I, or group pictures in low-light conditions.

REALLY!?!?! I think you should post some of those. :Q

 

[yllus]

I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

 

[Ornery]

"Any reason NOT to buy Canon PowerShot S1 IS?"

How about five?


What is an autofocus illuminator, and why do I want one?

• Digital cameras use something called "contrast detection" when they focus on a subject. I'm not going to go into the technical explanation of how it works since it doesn't really help with this question.
  
  When light levels are low, the camera may not be able to decide on a focus distance. Some cameras won't take a picture, while others default to some preset focus distance (usually infinity). This can be a real problem.
  
  That's where AF illuminators -- also called AF assist lamps -- come into play. They cast a bright, focused beam of light -- usually white or orange -- onto the subject, so the camera can "see" a little better and focus properly. Other cameras use infrared or laser-based focusing, but it's the same result in the end.
  
  What is low light exactly? For me, that's indoors without very strong lighting. There are some cameras that I can't even do the redeye test on because they won't focus.
  
  Cameras with an AF illuminator do a much better job in these situations, and that's probably why you'll want one. If you do lots of outdoor or studio photography it's not a big deal, but for indoor candids, it's a good idea.

The Canon PowerShot S1 IS does NOT have an autofocus illuminator...

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

Yeah, after reading some reviews on the S1 IS, I'm having second thoughts about it.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"Any reason NOT to buy Canon PowerShot S1 IS?"

How about five?

LMFAO!

Cheers Ornery :beer:

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"Any reason NOT to buy Canon PowerShot S1 IS?"

How about five?

that took you 7 minutes you are slipping

 

[dartworth]

:thumbsdown:

 

[SynthDude2001]

I'm considering this camera as well...

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

I have one and I also got it for the awesome video on it

640*480 30 FPS is quiet handy to have. I have taken quite a few minute plus videos to. the only thing that nags me is it seems to focus a bit slow.

as ornery so pointed out so many times.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

I have one and I also got it for the awesome video on it

640*480 30 FPS is quiet handy to have. I have taken quite a few minute plus videos to. the only thing that nags me is it seems to focus a bit slow.

The video is very attractive...there are just a few little things keeping me from buying it. (Lack of the 9-point autofocusing found on the "cheaper" cameras, no AF assist lamp as mentioned above, and possibly 3.2mp might not be enough) ...Otherwise, I'd buy one right now without even thinking about it.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

I have one and I also got it for the awesome video on it

640*480 30 FPS is quiet handy to have. I have taken quite a few minute plus videos to. the only thing that nags me is it seems to focus a bit slow.

The video is very attractive...there are just a few little things keeping me from buying it. (Lack of the 9-point autofocusing found on the "cheaper" cameras, no AF assist lamp as mentioned above, and possibly 3.2mp might not be enough) ...Otherwise, I'd buy one right now without even thinking about it.

i actually had the camera in different modes by accident during that time. I do have pics that are clear during the wedding.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

I have one and I also got it for the awesome video on it

640*480 30 FPS is quiet handy to have. I have taken quite a few minute plus videos to. the only thing that nags me is it seems to focus a bit slow.

The video is very attractive...there are just a few little things keeping me from buying it. (Lack of the 9-point autofocusing found on the "cheaper" cameras, no AF assist lamp as mentioned above, and possibly 3.2mp might not be enough) ...Otherwise, I'd buy one right now without even thinking about it.

i actually had the camera in different modes by accident during that time. I do have pics that are clear during the wedding.

Care to expand on that a little? What different modes?

I'm just trying to learn all I can before I drop $300+ on a camera.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: yllus
I'm a little ignorant to the advantages of the S1 IS. It has a very nice zoom factor with the stabilized (hence the 'IS') lens, but how often are you going to use that? For $649 CDN I would step up to, damn, I don't even know what. An A85 minimum, maybe a A95 depending on price? You could still use add-on lenses for more zoom.

I have one and I also got it for the awesome video on it

640*480 30 FPS is quiet handy to have. I have taken quite a few minute plus videos to. the only thing that nags me is it seems to focus a bit slow.

The video is very attractive...there are just a few little things keeping me from buying it. (Lack of the 9-point autofocusing found on the "cheaper" cameras, no AF assist lamp as mentioned above, and possibly 3.2mp might not be enough) ...Otherwise, I'd buy one right now without even thinking about it.

i actually had the camera in different modes by accident during that time. I do have pics that are clear during the wedding.

Care to expand on that a little? What different modes?

I'm just trying to learn all I can before I drop $300+ on a camera.

dunno I woudl accidently change the settings to god knows what

I need to learn the computer more

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: Anubis

that took you 7 minutes you are slipping

Tell him about that Panasonic that you, or somebody else mentioned. I'd like to see somebody buy it and let us all know how it really works. Link


Anand's wedding was like six weeks ago! When are we going to see even a handful of some decent images from that day? Hell, there must have been a dozen digital cameras there, no?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Adul
dunno I woudl accidently change the settings to god knows what

I need to learn the computer more

I see....so I assume the Auto mode always works well?

 

[Adul]

Text

Pics from one of my more recent bbq

 

[Ornery]

No, no, no!

The OP of this topic specifically mentioned, "more often than not I'm just snapping pics of my GF and I, or group pictures in low-light conditions."

THAT is the kind of examples I want to see. THAT is where I've found most of these $300.00 Point & Shoot cameras fall down.

 

[virtuamike]

I've shot with it. It's fine.

Linky

Hell for what you're intending, the zoom might even be overkill.

The 9-point autofocusing is a null point if you're not shooting in auto mode (as you can move around the focus point manually). Lack of AF assist lamp wasn't an issue for me when I was testing it indoors.

And the difference between 3MP and 4MP isn't that huge unless you're planning on printing out something bigger than 8"x10". I shot with a 2MP A60 for over a year and it more than suited my needs.

The only reason I wouldn't buy an S1 IS is if I wanted something smaller like the S410. Otherwise it's a great camera.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: Anubis

that took you 7 minutes you are slipping

Tell him about that Panasonic that you, or somebody else mentioned. I'd like to see somebody buy it and let us all know how it really works. Link


Anand's wedding was like six weeks ago! When are we going to see even a handful of some decent images from that day? Hell, there must have been a dozen digital cameras there, no?

yeah but we didnt share much

most of the pics where taken with a canon 10D that our digital camera editor has. I am not sure what anand has done with those pics as of yet. I should ask him

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: Anubis

that took you 7 minutes you are slipping

Tell him about that Panasonic that you, or somebody else mentioned. I'd like to see somebody buy it and let us all know how it really works. Link


Anand's wedding was like six weeks ago! When are we going to see even a handful of some decent images from that day? Hell, there must have been a dozen digital cameras there, no?

your sarcasm meter is busted again dude, i dont have that panasonic i might have recomended it tho,, it does have an impressive zoom and image stabelizers

 

[SynthDude2001]

Nice pics, Adul.

Damn it, I'm hungry now......

 

[BaboonGuy]

NIKON D70

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: virtuamike
I've shot with it. It's fine.

Linky

Hell for what you're intending, the zoom might even be overkill.

The 9-point autofocusing is a null point if you're not shooting in auto mode (as you can move around the focus point manually). Lack of AF assist lamp wasn't an issue for me when I was testing it indoors.

And the difference between 3MP and 4MP isn't that huge unless you're planning on printing out something bigger than 8"x10". I shot with a 2MP A60 for over a year and it more than suited my needs.

The only reason I wouldn't buy an S1 IS is if I wanted something smaller like the S410. Otherwise it's a great camera.

That's a very nice pic too.

My main concern is that most of the time, I think I probably would be in Auto mode. Generally if I'm going to pull my camera out and take a pic, I won't want to bother with manually adjusting a focus point and such. Grrr.....why could they not put in the autofocusing system they already have in the cheaper cameras???

I'm still tempted to buy it though....10x zoom and Image Stabilization seem very nice. And the movie mode is probably more than anything that sways me in this camera's direction.

Such a difficult decision. :frown:

 

[Ornery]

The 10D is not a Point & Shoot. The OP is about to drop $300.00 for a camera. IMO, that should be enough money to guarantee that 90% of the images that come out of it are keepers. The $400.00 Point & Shoot I purchased, was returned because of the low light focus issue. Thank God it could be returned!

What did the other cameras capture from that day? For a once in a lifetime event, one that you bother to drag your camera to, don't you want the results to be spectacular? At least decent?