An improvement on its S1IS predecessor, the S2 increased to a 12x zoom 5.0 mega pixel powerhouse that is unparalleled by other cameras of its size.
We purchased this camera in 2006 and although we are in the constant market for new equipment and have had a digital SLR on our list for years, we are still so content with this camera that it's the only one we use.
It has done so well since it's release in 2005, in fact, that it's price range is $50-75 higher than it was when we bought it in 2006.
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Pros:
Extending lens with 12x zoom
Additional equipment available (waterproof casing, lens protector)
Battery life
Video recorder is better than our $750 Sony Video Camera
Settings, settings, settings
Movable viewfinder
Pop up flash
Cons:
Heavy weight - 14.3 oz
For some people the settings could be overwhelming
Off button is sometimes mistaken for the shutter button
Review:
Still after 18 months I can't say enough about this amazing piece of machinery. I took my time researching for this purchase, and am very glad I did. The features on this camera are endless, but I'll run through my favorites to save the lengthy read this could easily become.
The Auto Mode takes a fool-proof darn good picture, but if you know anything about cameras and various modes, this model provides them all. Indoor, Mountain, Portrait, Macro, Sports, and Panoramic modes, especially the latter, are better than any other camera I've owned. The Macro has to be about 2' away, but the pictures come out like an SLR. As the occasional sports-photographer, a major selling point of this camera was the unlimited speed-shutter setting that takes as many pictures as it can while I hold down the shutter.
You could get by with these modes and come off like a professional, but the S2 offers more. Color changing, four manual modes, and multiple scene modes including fireworks make for a list so long that if you haven't read the instructions, this camera wasn't worth your money. Change the length of the auto-timer. Change the noise of the shutter or the appearance of your menus. Change the LCD brightness or the auto-focus to save batteries. You can even change the color of the car you just snapped, make your subjects tanner, and make that sunset brighter without any help from photoshop! They pulled out all stops on this one.
The programs it comes with are easy to use, the download of images is quick, and the neck strap is comfortable, all worth mention as well.
The video mode was the most pleasantly surprising for us. We had bought a Sony Video Camera the Christmas before, and this Canon takes better video, hands down. Having two video cameras is great during our ski camp, so no regrets, but I make most of our professional post-camp videos with this little helper. Hint: Get a 2 or 5mb high res SD card for this if you're going to take a lot of videos.
Next, the viewfinder. Seriously a component worthy of its own article, this viewfinder bends, twists, flips, and reverses itself to make self-photos, timer-photos, spy-photos, and protect the viewfinder when you're not using it. Magnificent. Nothing worse than a scratched viewfinder.
The few downfalls to this genius are hardly worth mention, but the camera IS heavy, and why wouldn't it be when it has the entirety of Mary Poppins bag of tricks in it? If you're not an instructions-reader, honestly, don't bother with this camera; but it's worth it's weight in gold if you are. And last, the "off" button is where some camera's shutter is, so when we hand this camera to a passerby to snap one rare one of US, it's often turned off and we have to pose again. I never make the mistake personally, but it's ruined the split second missed-shots of our first Hawaii sunset, so I felt it worth mention.
We purchased this camera in 2006 and although we are in the constant market for new equipment and have had a digital SLR on our list for years, we are still so content with this camera that it's the only one we use.
It has done so well since it's release in 2005, in fact, that it's price range is $50-75 higher than it was when we bought it in 2006.
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Pros:
Extending lens with 12x zoom
Additional equipment available (waterproof casing, lens protector)
Battery life
Video recorder is better than our $750 Sony Video Camera
Settings, settings, settings
Movable viewfinder
Pop up flash
Cons:
Heavy weight - 14.3 oz
For some people the settings could be overwhelming
Off button is sometimes mistaken for the shutter button
Review:
Still after 18 months I can't say enough about this amazing piece of machinery. I took my time researching for this purchase, and am very glad I did. The features on this camera are endless, but I'll run through my favorites to save the lengthy read this could easily become.
The Auto Mode takes a fool-proof darn good picture, but if you know anything about cameras and various modes, this model provides them all. Indoor, Mountain, Portrait, Macro, Sports, and Panoramic modes, especially the latter, are better than any other camera I've owned. The Macro has to be about 2' away, but the pictures come out like an SLR. As the occasional sports-photographer, a major selling point of this camera was the unlimited speed-shutter setting that takes as many pictures as it can while I hold down the shutter.
You could get by with these modes and come off like a professional, but the S2 offers more. Color changing, four manual modes, and multiple scene modes including fireworks make for a list so long that if you haven't read the instructions, this camera wasn't worth your money. Change the length of the auto-timer. Change the noise of the shutter or the appearance of your menus. Change the LCD brightness or the auto-focus to save batteries. You can even change the color of the car you just snapped, make your subjects tanner, and make that sunset brighter without any help from photoshop! They pulled out all stops on this one.
The programs it comes with are easy to use, the download of images is quick, and the neck strap is comfortable, all worth mention as well.
The video mode was the most pleasantly surprising for us. We had bought a Sony Video Camera the Christmas before, and this Canon takes better video, hands down. Having two video cameras is great during our ski camp, so no regrets, but I make most of our professional post-camp videos with this little helper. Hint: Get a 2 or 5mb high res SD card for this if you're going to take a lot of videos.
Next, the viewfinder. Seriously a component worthy of its own article, this viewfinder bends, twists, flips, and reverses itself to make self-photos, timer-photos, spy-photos, and protect the viewfinder when you're not using it. Magnificent. Nothing worse than a scratched viewfinder.
The few downfalls to this genius are hardly worth mention, but the camera IS heavy, and why wouldn't it be when it has the entirety of Mary Poppins bag of tricks in it? If you're not an instructions-reader, honestly, don't bother with this camera; but it's worth it's weight in gold if you are. And last, the "off" button is where some camera's shutter is, so when we hand this camera to a passerby to snap one rare one of US, it's often turned off and we have to pose again. I never make the mistake personally, but it's ruined the split second missed-shots of our first Hawaii sunset, so I felt it worth mention.
