Opinion Canon Powershot s2 IS Digital camera

[Bambamski]

I'm looking at this camera, don't know anything about them though. does this sound like a decent camera? does anyone have one?


Photo Features
The five megapixel PowerShot S2 IS digital camera provides users with the high quality resolution, color and low noise that consumers have come to expect from Canon. The camera's fast f/2.7(W)-f/3.5(T) image stabilized 6.0-72.0mm 12x zoom lens (36-432mm equivalent) makes tack-sharp long telephoto shooting positively practical. When the optical zoom is augmented with the camera's 4x digital zoom, the maximum focal length effectively becomes equivalent to a 1728mm lens on a 35mm camera. Despite its extensive optical range, the lens is ultra-compact and retracts securely into the camera when it is powered down. In addition, there are two levels of close-up shooting, Macro and Super Macro. Super Macro mode enables extreme close-up shooting to 0 cm from the end of lens barrel, for creative shooting great for shooting flowers to use in scrapbooks, on invitations and more.

High Definition 12x Optical Zoom Lens With Image Stabilizer
Canon used its unrivalled optical expertise to produce an ultra-compact 12x zoom lens that features 11 elements in nine groups, including one aspherical surface and one ultra-low dispersion glass (UD) element. The UD element is particularly effective at reducing chromatic aberration when the lens is zoomed out to its maximum telephoto range for enhanced sharpness and color fidelity.

What Next Print Features
You've taken the picture, reviewed it, like it and can not wait to print it out. Direct Printing significantly expands the appeal of the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera by making it simple, quick and convenient to produce high-quality photos without the need for a personal computer. Simply connect the S2 IS directly to a Canon Compact or Canon Direct Photo Printer, as well as PictBridge compatible printer and press the blue lighted Print/Share button on the back of the S2 IS and you are printing. True one touch printing it is really that simple. Beyond its Direct Print capability with Canon's Compact Photo Printers and acclaimed Canon Direct Photo Printers, the camera is also PictBridge compatible, an industry standard that offers the flexibility of direct printing to other brands of PictBridge compatible printers

Ergonomic Design
The camera's compact ergonomic design includes strategically placed controls for convenient telephoto and movie shooting, plus a large rubberized grip, which makes holding the camera easy, well balanced and secure. The grip even includes a soft back and bottom to maximize comfort during long periods of shooting. The PowerShot S2 IS digital camera also features a variable-angle 1.8 inch LCD screen. By positioning the vari-angle LCD monitor appropriately, the user is free to compose shots, even self portraits, without having to move or twist into uncomfortable positions.

Stay Right There
Are shaky hands a problem? Do pictures never come out the way they ought to look? With Canon's optical Image Stabilization technology, users have the flexibility of actually shooting at shutter speeds two stops lower than would otherwise be possible. The PowerShot S2 IS digital camera is also the first PowerShot digital camera with multi-mode Image Stabilization users can choose between Continuous IS, Panning IS and a new "Shoot Only" IS mode that is only active during exposure while shooting still photos.

Versatile Exposure Modes and More
PowerShot S2 IS digital camera users will enjoy the flexibility of a full array of exposure control settings similar to SLR models, including Program, Shutter and Aperture-priority AE modes, and Manual Mode. In addition, there are 18 Shooting Modes including six Special Scene Modes, which are Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor and Night Snapshots, for optimum results in certain shooting situations. The PowerShot S2 IS digital camera has a maximum shutter speed of 1/3200 second and can capture still photos continuously at rates up to 2.4 fps

Fast Focus And Zoom
Did you ever attend wedding, try to sneak a picture of the bride and groom after the ceremony started and the sound of your camera gave you away? Not anymore with Canon's Ultrasonic Motor (USM) technology. The silence of the USM is particularly beneficial in the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera's movie mode to preserve and enhance the quality of audio recording.

Movie Features
The PowerShot S2 IS digital camera keeps data compression rates low, so movies record at high quality with VGA resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). Individual movie clips can last as long as 60 minutes or produce file sizes up to 1GB on an SD media card. What's more, powerful features such as optical and digital zooming, manual focus, Photo Effects and My Colors are available for greater freedom and flexibility while shooting movies.

What Did You Say?
That question will never be asked again with the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera's stereo sound capabilities. The new camera is equipped with 16-bit audio recording at sampling rates adjustable up to 44 kHz. Microphone recording levels are adjustable in 5 steps, as well as built-in wind filter to minimize extraneous sound. Now Mom will not miss baby's first words while she is at work or running an errand. Additionally, the camera can be used for recording lectures, dictation.

MovieSnap - Never Miss Another Photo Opportunity While Shooting Your Movies
Have you ever missed a defining moment in your child's life because you had to switch from video to still or vice versa? Not anymore! Now with the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera's new MovieSnap feature it is possible to capture still images at resolutions up to five megapixels while recording movies. The MovieSnap feature provides consumers with the luxury of "preserving the memory as a movie," while capturing high quality 5MP stills of the defining moments. For instance, a father can record his daughter's dance recital and take quality still photos while in movie mode, or record movies of his son's first steps while capturing a still image of his first fall. Regardless of mode dial position or whether the camera is in shooting or playback mode, the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera automatically starts or stops recording movies simply by pushing a button on the back of the camera.

Other Movie Enhancements
In addition to the 30 fps VGA movie mode, S2 IS camera users can also shoot VGA movies at 15 fps to reduce file sizes and increase recording time. For maximum recording times, resolution can be reduced to QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) at framing rates of 15 or 30 fps. The PowerShot S2 IS digital camera features a five-mode slow motion replay function, as well as an in-camera editing that lets users chop unwanted footage from the beginning or end of a movie clip.

DIGIC II Hi-Speed USB 2.0
True to the tradition of all PowerShot digital cameras, the PowerShot S2 IS model has the latest advances in Canon technology including the proprietary DIGIC II Imaging Processor. DIGIC II enhances picture definition, crisp vibrant colors and quality, while helping increase the speed of the cameras' startup, autofocus, shutter response and playback as well as the image processing speed. The pace of image transfer is accelerated with the inclusion of a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. The USB 2.0 port is backwards compatible (at no increased speed) with computers featuring standard USB 1.1 connections.

My Colors Function
Now even the most casual picture-taker can easily opt for verdant valleys of greener greens, juicy apples of redder red, skies and seas of bluer blue and even add or reduce a little tan to the skin tone as they are shooting. Whether the desired effect is to make the color "more real" or surreal, these digital dynamos are capable of capturing and saving both the original still image and the enhanced color versions as separate files on the camera's SD memory card.

Convenience of AA Batteries
For all of its features, versatility and capabilities, the camera is powered by four easily accessible AA batteries and accepts either Alkaline (disposable) batteries or rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. Alkaline batteries are rated for approximately 130 shots before they need to be replaced, while Canon NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride NB4-200 AA-size batteries) provide peak performance and approximately 550 shots on a single charge.**

Optional Accessories
To enhance its flexibility, the PowerShot S2 IS digital camera is compatible with several optional accessories, including wide-angle, telephoto and close-up supplementary lenses. The S2 IS digital camera is also compatible with the Canon High-Power HF-DC1 auxiliary flash unit, which increases flash range up to 23 feet.


Features:

Ultra-compact 5.0 Megapixel digital camera with a super long 12x Optical /4x Digital / 48x Combined Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer technology and a UD lens.
Take a 5.0 Megapixel still image while shooting a movie with the new, exclusive "MovieSnap" feature.
High-quality 30 fps VGA continuous movie recording, with new options including zooming during movie recording and Stereo Sound.
DIGIC II Image Processor and iSAPS Technology for superior image quality, faster processing speed and lower power consumption.
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed for faster downloads and file transfers.
1.8 inch Vari-Angle LCD screen with enhanced resolution for clearer image preview and review.
Wide range of system accessories including Tele and Wide-Angle Lens Converters.

[Mariognarly]

Bambamski,

I have the Canon PowerShot S1 IS and I love it. Its basically the same camera, but is 3.2 MP and only 10x optical zoom. I bought it mostly for wakeboarding, and has served me quite well although I have yet to really experiment with the sequencing shots, but I can tweak it to do about 4-5 frames on a wakeboard trick/jump in good lighting. I wish it would be a little quicker on the sequencing, maybe 3-5 fps or something, but I think I would have had to spend quite a bit more money to get that. Im pretty satisfied for what I paid for it. I was so mad when I saw the S2 come out! I definitly would have went for that camera if it were out when I bought mine.

I think this is a great introductory high-end camera. Its better than most digitals with its features, etc while still being affordable. Next step up would be a digital rebel, but Im going to get a few more years use out of my camera before I decide if Im going to make that step.

I get great wakeboard shots, and its fairly easy to use. I think youd be quite happy with this camera if you are going to use it for mostly wakeboarding. Im moving back to Calgary in less than 2 weeks, if Chestermere hasnt got too cold on us, maybe you Geoff and I should hit the water again, I'll let you see for yourself, its the same camera I was using the first ride we took this year. Good luck!

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=42525&highlight=canon+toy

[wakeman61972]

Camera is very nice quality

[Bambamski]

Thanks Mariognarly

YOur camera at the soundsaround sale is going for 388. I think they want 600 for this one which is 100 bucks off. I think I'll go down today and try and get one if there are any left.

If there's still water in the slew I'm up for riding. Weather here sucks though.

[somepunk22]

I was debating between that camera and this one:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz20.asp

I went with the panasonic mostly because it was easier to add lenses, hot shoe, and a faster continueous shooting. Now that I just look at the site, I noticed they came out with a 8mp version for just a little more. !@#$%^

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz30.asp

[special_k]

bambamski - did you buy the S2?

i am going to pick up one of those this week...i was tossing up between that one and the panasonic dmcfz20 but have decided on the S2. Although the panasonic has a slightly better lens, the other features of the S2 won me over - the better movie mode, ability to take photos and zoom during movie mode, the flip out screen, *edit* - better burst mode (continous shooting).

plus the fz20 is a year old. if you can stretch the cash, i'd get the fz30, which is even better than both, and a brand new model but costs at least a couple of hundred more.

[special_k]

here you go...a side by side comparison of the 3

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s2is%2Cpanasonic_dmcfz20%2Cpanasonic_dmcfz30&show=all

[Bambamski]

I bought the Canon

So far so good. hopefully it will stop raining this week and I'll be able to try it out.