Canon PowerShot S1 IS 3.2 MP with the Canon PowerShot S1 IS ultra-zoom digital camera. With its super-long Zoom, amazing stability and true Movie Mode, the PowerShot S1 IS brings a new dimension to the PowerShot line. Equipped with a host of top-quality features, this stylishly compact camera lets you create stills and movies like you’ve never done before.
Close, closer, closest: the high-speed Zoom Motor moves you in at top speed in near silence. So the high-resolution, super long 10x Optical 38-380mm Zoom Lens (35mm equivalent) with Canon’s exclusive optical Image Stabilizer can let you capture the action with an intensity you’ve never seen before. Canon’s shift-type optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, which significantly reduces the effects of camera shake–an important feature for high-magnification lenses. Tiny movement detection gyros and a correcting lens element counteract the effects of lens shake to deliver sharper final images. The resulting compensation is the equivalent of between 2 and 3 extra stops, which means the camera can be used at slower shutter speeds without a tripod without any detectable increase in image blur.
The PowerShot S1 IS features a maximum resolution of 3.2 megapixels, or 2048 x 1536 pixel images–enough for prints up to 11 x 14 inches. It also has 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 resolution modes. The camera features a 10x, f/2.8 – f/3.1, 38-380mm (35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens. The zoom is driven by a tiny ultrasonic motor (USM), which uses ultrasonic frequency vibrations to drive a tiny rotor that is powerful and highly responsive. In digital still modes it drives the zoom at maximum speed, while in video mode it slows for a smooth effect and runs virtually silent, avoiding interference with video sound recording.
Helpful consumer’s review
After researching other cameras in its class including the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 and Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2, I finally decided on the Canon S1 IS. Having taken a few hundred pictures with it, I am completely satisfied with my purchase.
With this camera I have the flexibility to take pictures with point-and-shoot ease while also having plenty of manual capabilities available to take more artistic pictures. Although the camera has “only” 3.2 megapixels this is more than compensated for by the 10x optical zoom. With this zoom you simply don’t need as many megapixels (although it would be nice) because you won’t be cropping out as much of the picture. Instead of cropping out excess, you just zoom in while you are there and have a nice original to begin with. Furthemore, more megapixels don’t necessarily mean a “better” picture. There are other factors like the lens, cmos, and other processing that will affect the image quality just as much as the megapixels if not more.
Image stabilization is an awesome feature and until now has been reserved for the more expensive cameras. This feature definitely helps with the long zooms and low-light conditions. With the long zoom you can do shots where the primary object is very clear while the background is all blurry. This isn’t as easy to do on cameras with less zoom.
The physical layout and the menu interface are excellent. The placement of the buttons are very intuitive and the menu setup is among the best I’ve ever used on any electronic device. It allows me to use all the manual settings with ease and speed. I can’t really think of any better way to set it up.
Although the viewfinders tend to make images look like they are overexposed I think that as the viewfinder ages and dims (as any LCD will do over time) the picture will improve and not look as overexposed. So, I think it is excellent foresight on Canon’s part to make the pictures seem overexposed. Personally, I don’t find it to be a major issue because I view all the pics on my computer before deleting them anyway. The swiveling LCD is a feature that is indispensible. Not only does it protect the LCD if you flip it around, but you can take pictures of yourself (or others next to you) or and you take pictures at weird angles (such as close to the ground or high above a crowd) without contorting yourself.
I don’t find battery power to be an issue. Just get 2 or 3 sets of NiMH batteries and you should be fine for a long day of heavy shooting. Plus the fact that you can use AA instead of a proprietary module means you can use regular AA alkaline batteries in a pinch.
