Canon PowerShot S50

I think the front slider to operate the lens is probably not a good design on the Canon PowerShot S50 and I am disappointed that this camera has only lasted three years as apart from that I was very pleased with it.

The Canon S50 was my first foray into the world of digital cameras.

I have always sworn by the superior quality of my old SLR pentax, and was a little apprehensive as to whether this camera would compare.

My first attempt with the camera was on a once in a lifetime holiday to Alaska and Canada, so I was quite anxious about not having my trusty SLR with me, however the reults were absolutely superb.

My shots look like professional photographs, and of course there is a huge advantage in being able to see the shots immediately, and if necessary to redo them. I shot around 500 photos, and had around 100 fantastic shots printed in 7 X 5 for about £25 (Try Photobox.co.uk - highly recommended)

The camera is really simple, and has great features.

I am now a huge fan of digital photography, and this camera.

Canon PowerShot S50 - I bought this camera last year and have taken it on a number of holidays. The camera is easily carried (usually in my bum bag) and easily operated. Prior to buying this camera I had an SLR, but I now have similar quality pictures and have less to carry. One thing I would recommend is that a case is bought for the camera as the LCD screen has got scored in the bum bag.

The picture quality from this camera is exceptional and I have printed FULL size on A3 paper which are on display in my office.

The software which comes with the camera is easy to use and is quick to allow the pictures to be downloaded. The larger the picture size the slower it is transfered. Once on the computer the images can be altered and a good range of effects can be obtained.

ALL in all I am very pleased with this camere and would reocmmend it to both a novice and established user of a digital camera.

Over all, the Canon PowerShot S50 is a good camera. You can see the difference between 4 and 5 megapixels. Mine has a 1 Gig microdrive and that is worth its weight in gold i.e. equivalent to loads of memory. Thought that the focusing was a bit soft at times around the edges of photos i.e. blurred but it is not noticable on 7" x 5" prints. Most professional reviews say Canon cameras are fabulous but I am not totally convinced - maybe I got a Friday camera - probably will look elsewhere next time round, like in a years time!! Her indoors doesn't share my enthusiasm for new cameras!!

The Canon PowerShot S50 takes good pictures and has good features, as many other articles illustrate. The problem is that the camera is extremely sensitive to it's environment, and is prone to experiencing failure when used in conditions in which you would never expect to have problems.

I purchased the s50 six months ago. Since then, it has been in for repairs to Canon's Factory service twice for a combined time of over a month and a half.

The first time I sent the camera in for repair was after only a week of use. The lenses failed to operate and the lens assembly was replaced. The camera was returned in a reasonable amount of time (within 2.5 weeks).

The second time I sent the camera in for repair was a month and a half ago. The lcd panel on the rear of the camera body stopped functioning.

After the camera had been in the service center for over a month (dated from the date on the Canon Repair Acknowledgement letter -- which stated that I should expect the camera back inside of 10 days), and after placing 5 calls to the repair center -- leaving 2 voice mails which went unanswered; being disconnected twice; and speaking with a repair center person who took my number and said she would call back -- she never did, the status of my camera was finally updated on the Canon website (sorry for the run-on). The web site now stated that my repair had been re-estimated and that I needed to remit $164 for the repair.

I called the Canon repair center to provide payment --> this time they managed to get a live person on the phone. While on the phone, she informed me that the camera had been evaluated and the repair cost estimate had been made a month earlier -- yet, nobody had contacted me, the website had never been updated, and even after calling on five prior occasions, this had not been communicated. I was also informed, while making payment, that the damage requiring repair was "water related."

As a brief word on the "water related damage," I should note that this camera was never subjected to anything which one would associate with mishandling or water contact. At most, it has been used, in a protected fashion during misty conditions. You can find plenty of other articles that people have written describing their troubles with "water damage" resulting from use in high humidity climates.

My conclusions on this camera are as follows:

1. The product itself is flawed -- it requires absurdly cautious handling and babying. My Canon 35mm SLR is far more reliable and much better constructed.

2. Canon customer service is abysmal. Although their CSRs are polite on the phone --> they are useless. My camera has been in repair for 1/3 of the time I have owned it. Their communication of the status of my camera has been non-existent. Even when I have attempted to actively contact them, it has been a fruitless exercise.

Canon PowerShot S50 - I was using Fujifilm Finepix 4700. I decided to have a look at the more modern digital cameras. I expected that there will be some improvement but my goodness, how much better the image quality. I had it printed in a matte photo paper at Jessops. It makes me feel my analogue cameras are a waste of space.

I did quite a bit of research for a higher pixel camera and narrowed it down to the big camera names. I liked Canon's website which has a helpful product chooser. I.e. what is more important looks or performance. Unfortunately when my Canon PowerShot S50 arrived the instructions and software were in French, the downside of best price internet shopping which I am still trying to get resolved! However as a testament to its ease of use, I had figured out all the functions within a day or two.

When I receive the correct info I'm sure I'll learn more. The large screen is great and the flash made photos taken in a very dark nightclub come out as clear as day. I've had a lot of compliments from other digital camera users as to the quality and looks, which reinforces my belief that I chose well.

Brilliant camera. Don't pay over £400.

The Canon S 50 digital camera is a fantastic camera that will take perfect pictures if you point the camera at the subject and click the buttn on green (auto) mode. Further that this the camera has presets so that you can select the climate or the tyoe of picture that you are taking.

The settings range from cloudy, sunny, flourescent lighting and many others. There is also the option to change the presets of what you are taking, like on other canon and most Nikon cameras.

You can select, portrait, landscape, night mode, sport mode, and slow shutter. These presets change F and shutter speed settings and their is also the chance to change the iso from 50 - 400.

Beyond this the camera has full manual control. There is a fully manual mode, and other modes that enable the user to change something but then let the camera make the rest of the decisions.

The camera also features a macro mode from 10cm.

And a movie mode that will take clips of moving pictures and sound. I have a 256mb card and mine will take 779sec. The camera also boasts a facility where you can 'stich' two pictures together to create a super panoramic one. Sounds bizarre, works brilliantly if done correctly.

Canon in my opinion have supassed their own standards. The camera is beautiful, and the pictures that it is capable of taking are breathtaking. The manual options give the user room to experiment whilst still letting the camera decide the more tricky settings.

This camera is perfect for anyone who is interested in photography but doesn't necessarily know much about it.

I recommend buying this camera over any others, i spent much time researching my purchase and have owned mainly fuji digi cameras in the past.

I would say buy this camera with lots of memory as 32mb gets you no-where. 256mb should do. Oh yeah and another battery will probably be needed (don't pay canon £55), and a case. Then your sorted.

BUY THIS CAMERA, you won't be dissapointed.

I was looking for a Compact Digital, with 4 or 5 Mega pixels.

It needed to fit in my pocket, so discounted some of the larger models like the Canon G3, Olympus 5050 etc.

I narrowed the choice down to the Olympus Camedia 50, and the Powershot 50.

The Powershot won for a couple of reasons.

Yes it was more expensive, but:

It had a closer range macro (10 vs 30 cm)

It had a wealth of features - now I may never use them but one day I might want to learn how to use anything but the auto mode :). In fairness, I've had a play about with most of them - the menu system is very intuitive, and there's a simple colour coding scheme to the buttons dhowing the function depending on which mode you are operating in (taking pictures or reviewing them)

I've had limited use, but overall I'm very happy with it, and paid £408 UKP

This camera boasts an array of settings, and is a great step up from the usual point and click camera, its a camera for those who like to experiement with photograpy without the cost of developing those accidents. For the simpilier tasks the automatic settings and modes produce fabulous shots with a great 5 million pixel resolution at the touch of a button, manual or automatic its a brilliant buy!!!