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Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Canon PowerShot S1 ISCanon PowerShot S1 IS Review,Simon Joinson, August 2004

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot S1 ISAnnounced in February 2004, the PowerShot S1 IS is the long overdue successor to Canons last 10x Zoom Image Stabilized compact, the (the PowerShot Pro90 IS). It is not only much smaller and lighter, but a lot less expensive - (hardly surprising given the three year gap). Despite the aggressive pricing (the S1 IS is available online for as little as $315) this is a highly specified camera with a feature set that doesnt fall that far short of prosumer models such as the G5 or even the Pro 1. The SLR-like styling and plethora of controls both on-body and in the extensive menu system lets you know this is more than a point and shooter with a big lens. Heres just a few of the key selling points to whet your appetite:10x optical zoom (approximately 32x combined) Optical Image Stabilizer Ultrasonic Motor Extra-long Movie Mode with enhanced VGA resolution and sound Canon DIGIC processor with iSAPS PictBridge and Canon Direct Print compatible – no PC required13 shooting modesKey specifications Street priceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsLensFocusShooting modeSensitivityWhite BalanceImage parametersContinuousFlashStorageViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPowerOther featuresWeight (no batt)Dimensions

• US: $340• UK: £330

Plastic

• 1/2.7" CCD, 3.34 million total pixels• 3.2 million effective pixels

• 2048 x 1536• 1600 x 1200• 1024 x 768• 640 x 480

• 640 x 480, Fine, 30 fps• 640 x 480, 15 fps• 320 x 240, 15 fps• Length limited only by storage (maximum single movie file 1GB) • With audio

• TTL• Center Area AF• FlexiZone AF/AE area selection• Single / Continuous AF• Manual focus• Focus bracketing• 10 cm minimum focus range (macro)

• Auto• Program AE• Shutter priority AE• Aperture priority AE• Manual• Custom• Portrait• Landscape• Night Scene• Fast Shutter• Slow Shutter• Stitch Assist• Movie

• Auto• ISO 50 - 400

• Auto• 6 presets• Manual

• Contrast (3 levels)• Sharpness (3 levels)• Saturation (3 levels)• Photo effects (Vivid, neutral, sepia, black & white)

1.7 fps, up to 24 frames

• Built-in, pop-up (electronic)• Auto, Manual on/off, Red-eye reduction: on/off, Slow sync: on/off• Range (ISO 100): W 1.0 - 4.2 m (3.3 - 13.8 ft), T 1.0 - 3.8 m (3.3 - 12.5 ft)• Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps

• Compact Flash Type I or Type II• FAT32 supported (cards >2 GB)• 32 MB CF card supplied

• Electronic Viewfinder• 114,000 pixels• 100% coverage • Dioptre adjustment (-5.5 to 1.5 dpt)

• 1.5" TFT, 114,000 pixels• 100% coverage• Tilt, twist and swivel (Vari-angle)

• USB 1.1• A/V out• DC-IN

• 4 x AA batteries (NiMH recommended)• (Optional AC adapter)

370 g (13 oz)

111 x 78 x 66 mm (4.4 x 3.1 x 2.6 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are basedon the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE reviewbefore coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewedat a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottomright corner of the image, clicking on the image will display alarger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simplyuse the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular sectioneither pick the section from the drop down or select it from thenavigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate theirmonitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted)PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can makeout the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscaleblocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you shouldbe able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideallyA,B and C.