On August 31st, 2010 10:56 a visitor came here looking for "canon point and shoot with macro under $200" and that person was viewing the following page:

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Deep Red)
Couldn't ask for a better camera Its easy to use, looks great, and it's affordable. I couldn't ask for a better camera. Also the picture quality is great and the macro setting is bett ...

If somehow that page does not seem relevant to you here are some products with the description/reviews matching your search term :

1. 5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
2. 12x optical zoom; 1.8-inch vari-angle LCD display
3. Records VGA film at 30 frames per second with stereo sound; includes wind filter and adjustable levels for sound
4. MovieSnap feature allows you to capture a 5.0 MP still image while recording a movie; also features digital zoom and manual focus options for movies
5. Powered by four AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards

Editorial Review :

The PowerShot S2 IS is a point-and-shoot digital camera with high resolution, long zoom, movie capabilities and an array of shooting options. This camera supports PictBridge, a computer-free printing experience. Just plug the compatible PowerShot camera into a direct photo printer, or insert a memory card into the printer. Features: 5 megapixel (MP) digital camera 12X optical/4X Digital/48X combined zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer technology USD glass and aspherical lens for sharpness and color Takes still images while shooting movies 30 fps VGA continuous movie recording Movie stereo sound Digic II Image Processore and iSAPS technology for better image quality, faster operations and lover power consumption USB 2.0 hi-speed interface for faster downloads and file transfers 1.8 Vari-angle LCD screen Twenty one display languages provided Canon Includes: PowerShot S2 IS body Neck strap NS-DC3 AA-size Alkaline batteries (x4) Stereo video cable STV-250N Interface cable IFC-400PCU SD Memory card SDC-16MB Digital camera solution CD-ROM Lens cap

Customer Review :

Canon PowerShot S2

I was pleaantly surprised at some of the assecaries that I got with the camera such as additional lense extensions and filters. I am very happy with this purchase!

Rating :

Still Going Strong

I just thought I'd speak up for this camera in case there are those who are tempted to purchase a used version. For $300+ brand new here on Amazon in 2005, this camera has delivered. No black screen of death (yet) and this camera has been around the block a few times, including getting beach/boat time in Mexico some years back. What drew me to the camera was: AA batteries, viewfinder, zoom (good for its time; admittedly, I'm tempted by the newer cameras), video with very decent sound, the swiveling LCD screen (comes in extremely handy). Whenever I take it on vacation, I still carry the book with me. So much electronics and so many icons icons, I can better operate an old fashioned film camera. One thing I absolutely swear by are the Energizer e-series lithium batteries. They last forever.

Rating :

Do not purchase this camera

I loved this camera when I first purchased it after searching far and wide for the best point and shoot. After spending $350 of my grad student salary, I happily used it for 1.5 years. It then developed the BSoD or "Black Screen of Death" (google it to see how common it is, one forum has over 700 posts). It was still under warranty at the time, and Canon fixed it no problem. Again, I was pleased. Flash forward to 2010, and the BSoD returns. This time I am far out of warranty and do not want the hassle of a camera that breaks every 3 years. I'm checking out other brands.

Rating :

Canon Powershot S2 IS Digital Camera: know potential issues & DIY solutions

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R14MIAHJVWZ8GV I bought this Canon Powershot S2 IS Digital Camera as a used camera here on Amazon. When the camera first came out in 2005 or 2006, the camera had a suggested retail price at the time of around seven-hundred bucks but with an expected street price of around five-hundred dollars at the time years ago. It is now 2010 and I got lucky by getting the camera in good almost perfect condition, albeit as a used camera, for sixty-five bucks + S&H. The person who sold the camera bought a newer camera and therefore no longer wanted this Canon Powershot S2 IS camera. And so I was lucky to get the camera for the cheap price. And the camera came in the original box with the manuals etc. But as you can see here on Amazon, the price may actually vary for this particular camera whether as a new or used camera. The Canon Powershot S2 IS that I bought works fine. There are little scuffs and scratches on the surface casing, but you wouldn't notice those superficial flaws unless if you were looking. Nonetheless, I'll probably get a gray/silver permanent marker (or sharpie) to cover up at least the scuffs. Not a big deal, because that can be considered normal wear and tear for a pre-owned (used) camera. Otherwise, taking snapshots works fine, the continuous picture-taking function also works, making video works, the optical zoom works, and the image stabilization appears to work. Fortunately, as a used camera, I got lucky with this particular Canon Powershot S2 IS camera because it was well taken care of. Wonderful.

There are a few things that I've read about in the discussions here on Amazon that are of some concern. Specifically, there are three potential issues with this camera that people have complained about:

The first issue is the lens cap. The lens cap falls off. The way around that is to insert a little bit of the lens cap's strap under the cap as you put the cap on the lens. That makes for a tight fit with the cap not falling off. When you turn on the camera to take pictures, the cap is easily pushed off without any strain on the extending lens turret. Easy fix. See the video that I'm posting with this review.

The second issue is the so-called black-screen-of-death. I haven't encountered that problem yet because the camera that I bought was in good condition. But it is a potential concern. After researching this problem, the so-called black-screen-of-death is apparently a shutter problem and not a lens CCD sensor problem. What apparently happens is that when the weather gets really hot, and particularly if you haven't used the camera for a while after that, the oil in the shutter assembly expands and subsequently hardens, and then all of that results in oil gunk that gets in the way of the shutter causing the shutter to not open. Therefore, you have the black-screen-of-death when trying to take pictures. A solution for this problem is the following taken from a Flickr group discussion (from someone whose username is "dblthisyear"):

-{QUOTE}- "Set the camera in TV mode, (delayed shutter mode) set the shutter at 15 sec, click to take a picture and during that 15 secs (like, after 7 seconds) open the battery compartment which cuts contact with the battery circuit. Close the battery cover. At this point the camera works fine ... but only temporarily.... Here is the key to the permanent fix. While the camera is working via the temporary fix, take many, many pictures. Hundreds! I probably snapped 400-600 pics. The idea is to wear down the little patches of hardened oil on the shutter blades. For the next three days I took hundreds of pics each day. Basically, I just aimed the camera at the wall or whatever and snapped off several hundred pics." -{UNQUOTE}-

If this problem happens to me, I would probably do the fix and take a lot of pictures until the battery goes out and consider it fixed. But the idea is to keep the camera in use to keep the shutter working. In other words, don't just let the camera sit in storage for a really long time and not expect this problem to happen. Or put another way: Use the camera and don't just let it sit there.

The third issue is the E18 Error problem where the lens turret either does not retract or does not extent outwards when you take pictures. I haven't encountered this problem and hopefully won't ever have this problem. Nonetheless, if this problem were to occur, there are a few solutions suggested by the E18 Error website. Turn off the camera and try these solutions. One solution is to change the batteries to new batteries but wait a few minutes after taking out the old batteries before putting in the new batteries. Another possible solution is to use compressed air to blow out all the dust and sand out from all around the turret that may have somehow gotten into between the lens' turret and the camera body. Another possible solution is to tap the side of the camera (the side that has the padded USB cover part) on a hard surface (e.g., a desk) to shake up and loosen whatever is holding the turret in place. I would probably just pound the side of the camera against my hand. Yet another possible solution is to "force" the camera lens' turret to click the turret back into place. Look around the turret to see where there may be a large gap compared to elsewhere around the turret, and then gently move the lens around in a circular motion until you hear a click when it pops back into place.

After I read about these problems and found these do-it-yourself solutions, I felt safe in buying this Canon Powershot S2 IS camera as a used camera that was no longer under warranty.

So far, knock on wood, I've been happy with this Canon Powershot S2 IS camera. I could have bought the latest new simple point-and-shoot digital camera with more megapixels for a little bit more than what I paid for this camera. However, this camera's five megapixels are more than enough I would think because I've found the resulting digital picture can be huge, detailed, and sharp. And so I was happy to select this camera which is more like a real camera with more capabilities including a real 12x optical zoom - while paying a cheap price. This camera is a bit heavy and so you do need a neck strap with this camera to hang the camera around your neck. The neck strap was included with the camera. A wrist strap would not have been enough. If you decide to get this camera, keep in mind that it can only take SD memory cards and not the newer SD HC (SDHC) memory cards. The biggest SD cards that seem to be available are the two gigabyte SD cards. I found what appear to be four gigabyte SD cards being sold here on Amazon by third-party sellers, but, after reading comments for those cards, I think those cards are really SDHC cards. Also, if you want to do videos with this camera, the files are .AVI files and you can shoot up to a one-gigabyte continuous video which is approximately 7-8 minutes. If you want to make a longer video using this camera, then you'll have to shoot your video in segments and edit them together. A software CD came with this camera, but I'm using iMovie on my Macbook to edit video.

And so this Canon Powershot S2 IS camera is a good camera to consider. I also have a Canon Powershot A60 camera and so this Canon Powershot S2 IS camera would be like an upgrade - although I'll most likely use both for taking still picture shots. And I have a Flip UltraHD Camcorder, but although the video on the Canon Powershot S2 IS is only standard definition, the zoom on the Canon Powershot S2 IS is a real optical zoom when compared to the Flip's puny digital zoom. So for video, I'll probably use both the Canon Powershot S2 IS and the Flip together. And so, all of the cameras will go in the same camera bag. Thank you for reading and viewing this review.

Rating :

Beware Canons are DEFECTIVE!!!!

Like many other reviews, my camera came down with the black screen of death. Canon says that it isn't a problem with the S2 and never issued a recall (despite 30-50 reviews on amazon to the contrary). They are offering a trade in for one of three cameras that all have owners reporting similar or other issues (G11, SX10 IS, or Rebel XS). I am so sick of talking to clueless service reps on the phone. I have had issues with some Sony products (mainly PS3) but they seem to take care of business better than Canon, so I think it's time to switch to a Sony camera.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 6.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
2. 12x optical zoom lens with USM and UD lens element; 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD display
3. 20 shooting modes and My Colors photo effects
4. DIGIC II, iSAPS, and Flexizone AF/AE for fast, precise results; 2.3-frame-per-second continuous shooting performance
5. Powered by 4 AA-size batteries (alkaline batteries supplied); stores images on SD memory cards (16 MB card included)

Editorial Review :

The sleek PowerShot S3 IS digital camera offers you high resolution, an extra-long 12x zoom, advanced yet easy-to-use movie functions plus great new shooting options. The exclusive "MovieSnap" feature allows you to take a full 6 Megapixel still image at any time while you are recording a movie. Also, with Image Stabilizer technology, images and movies taken with the S3 IS are sharp and smooth, even when the camera gets jostled. It's everything you need to capture the fun, excitement and beauty of your active life - wherever it takes you!

Customer Review :

Fantastic camera

I bought this camera a couple of years ago when I decided to upgrade from my 3.2 MP fuji. I debated between this one and the then brand new S5. Eventually, price factors won and I bought the slightly older, yet much cheaper model - the S3. The camera is great. I do not like simple point and shoot cams and the proffesional cameras are way out of my leage, so this is a great place in the middle.

The 12X zoom is amazing. I very rarely use the digital zoom, but on occasions were I have, the pictures came out very well. I love the functions that the camera has and the control that is given to the user over the different options of the picture taking (shutter speed, WB, format...). The special functions are also amazing. I especially like the panarama option and the color swap function.

As for video, I was very suprised at the high quality video that you can take with the camera. They play full screen on my 22" screen and look amazing.

All in all, this is a great camera for someone who likes to feel the camera in their hand and control the picture.

Rating :

Good camera in Natural Light

I bought this camera in 2007. I took it to Georgia on Vacation and I got the hang of it quite quickly. The battery life was amazing on this thing. I owned a Samsung before and it ate batteries for dessert. The main problems this camera game me was an occasional Lens Error. That was ok because it didn't do it often and It seems that their motion stabilization wasn't quite up to par on all the shots. On the same settings in the same light roughly 60 percent of the pictures would end up with some sort of blur which was quite disappointing. Luckly I had a large memory card so I solved the issue by taking several photographs. I took this camera to the beach being careful not to get sand in it but after that visit the Lens Errors got really bad and eventually in 2009. The camera refused to start up all together. I probably would not recommend this camera because there is several better and cheaper options on the market these days. For what they want for a new version of this camera you can add 250 dollars and buy a Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens which is a professional grade camera where this is just a high end Amateur camera.

Rating :

good till the lens cap falls apart

I have owned this camera for almost 3 yrs now... i researched and researched when i bought it and i got it on sale just shy of $[...]. I LOVED it for the first year or so... LOVE the display screen, the way it flips around and you can hold it way above your head to take great zoom shots at concerts or even pics of yourself. LOVE that it has a eyehole viewfinder for those bright days that you cant see the screen all that well. Love the feel of the camera in general and all of its cool extra features --- but, that lens cap is a piece of crap! I tried and tried to get a new one, but none of them fit this camera... then i purchased a few extra lenses and the extention to put them on the camera... the lens cap problem was solved then! BUT, you have to KEEP the extention and extra lenses on it all the time if you want the protection! UGH! Then it's a pain to carry around! OH, and not to mention... that extention doesnt work so well if you are using the flash! The flash on the camera doesnt pop up tall enough to clear the extention!!! AND - you can not add a Hot SHoe to this camera to solve that problem... about 2 months after i bought this one, a friend of mine showed up with the S5 i think and hers had a Hot Shoe adapter! UGH (after 6 months of research, the one thing that i wanted that i finally gave up on, came out about a month after my purchase!!!) So, with out the hot shoe flash, you wind up with a shadow "ring around" your pic - which looks cool in some pics -- but sometimes you really want the whole shot!

I have virtually quit using this camera now - b/c i am so frustrated with carrying it around in a professional's sized bag - since i have to keep the extention on it... I bought a tiny poliroid camera that has most of the same features... but they are just a little harder to use --- the thing i love about my polaroid that this camera doesnt have is that you can actually crop a pic right after you take it! So now I am looking for a replacement camera for this cannon... i want to be able to add a lens when i want - but i Dont want to have to keep it on there all the time just to protect the lens b/c i cant buy a new lens cap...

Long story short... try one of the newer versions of this camera if you are really intrested in this one!! Hopefully they have fixed that crappy cap! AND... there is NO WAY I would pay $[...] + for this camera today! THere are way too many other choices out there now!!!

Rating :

Excellent camera!

This is one of my favorite cameras to use. It's simple enough that anyone can use it with the press of a button for making pictures or video... But, has enough features that you can tweak to keep pros interested by being able to fine-tune your shots.

In fact, I would doubt that there is anything that this camera couldn't capture beautifully because you can customize the white balance settings. A MUSt for any camera... Basically when you can tweak your own white balance, any camera will be able to make crisp, clear, true-to-life colorized images. It doesn't matter if the camera is $50 or is $5,000.

It also has the "RAW" file format which strangely a lot of the newer Canon Powershot cameras seem to have left out. That means you can keep the images in their original uncompressed, ultra-sharp quality.

Don't be fooled by the low "Megapixels" this camera has compared to more modern cameras. That is a salesman's trick to try and get you to but a more expensive camera. The only time megapixels will matter to you, is if you want to make very large prints. Otherwise when you just want to print pics out with your home printer or view them on your computer, you won't notice any sharpness issues... Providing you don't jerk the camera around to blur the images of course. Ha ha!

The only problems I have found with this camera is that I don't really like how heavy and bulky it is, which makes it kind of hard to handle for me. That also reduces it's portability as you'll never be able to fit it in your pocket. But you can hang it off your neck or shoulder with it's strap. It also seems to drain batteries pretty fast. I'd recommend you buy some rechargeable AAs to save you some money in the long run.

Otherwise, it's an amazing camera!

Rating :

Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized Zoom

I start off by saying that I know that some of those cameras have lens problems, so if you got a lemon one, sorry. Otherwise a very useful camera. The biggest things for me is of course a 12x zoom. I had this camera for about 3 years now, and this zoom let me take amazing pictures. I travel a lot, so 12x zoom helps to take far away pictures, for example out in nature, zoos, beach, parks like Disney World/Land, where it is not an option to be closer to an object. Also the micro focus works very well. You can see my pictures at platonm(dot)com. The 6MP is not really anything to brag about, but 3 years ago, especially for the price I paid ($298.26) it was a good choice. Do not be discouraged by the fact that it needs 4AA batteries. It threw me off at first, but then looking at other options, that combined mega-zoom and low price, there was nothing else. I bought Sony BCG-34HE4 Super-Quick Worldwide Battery Charger with 4 AA NiMH Batteries for $22.95, and those work forever between charges. I can take about 300-500 pictures on one charge, even 3 years later! Including using a flash!

As all Canons it is simple and easy to use, and since it is higher-end PowerShot it has extra features, like manual/micro focus. The lens focuses nice and fast. I sometime have problems with focus on higher zoom when it cannot focus because it cannot make out depth of an object, but that's like any other camera. It is durable. I take very good care of it, but still, nothing ever broke for me.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 9-megapixel image sensor for large photo-quality prints
2. 10x optical image-stabilized zoom (35mm film equivalent: 36-360mm)
3. DIGIC III Image Processor with Genuine Canon Face Detection
4. 3.0-inch LCD screen; Motion Detection technology and Red-eye Correction
5. Powered by AA batteries; capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

From a 10x optical zoom lens to advanced Canon technology that automatically gives you the best shot,the 9.0-megapixel PowerShot SX110 IS packs impressive value. Advanced Face Detection Technologyautomatically sets focus, exposure, flash and white balance for beautiful portraits and group shots. Sharp,steady close-ups are easy with the powerful zoom and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer Technology. Theslim and modern-looking SX110 IS is sized to go everywhere, and you'll never miss a detail with the big,bright LCD screen.

Customer Review :

Nice Camera But Slow

This is a very nice camera with a decent zoom and pretty easy to use features but it is S-L-O-W. Next picture delay is several seconds in excellent lighting situations, and flash recovery time is agonizingly slow. And that is with brand-new Ultimate Lithium batteries and using aData 16GB Class 6 flash memory which has been formatted in the camera. It goes downhill from there. I bought this camera based on a good CR review and regret my decision. I was seeking a good quality point-and-shoot camera with a better than 3X zoom and have always respected Canon products, but this camera is a major disappointment. When it does take a picture though, it is usually a good high-quality image. In retrospect, I would give up the zoom to get greatly improved next picture performance.

Rating :

The best prosumer camera ever

I really loved this camera...for people that want to take great pictures with a non professional camera, this one will help you.
This camera takes phenomenal pictures, everyone ask me what camera do I use to take my pictures.
the zoom could be 15x, but anyway is good!!
the camera body is resistent, mine fell down tons of time and is still working LOL
Also the camera works very well during the day or night, cause you can use the manual mode and make your own ajustments.
the camera aperture f2.8 helps you to take great pictures at night!!!

Rating :

Buy lots of batteries or a different camera

We purchased this camera over a year ago. Since then I have missed many pictures due to low batteries. We have tried all different brands of batteries with the same results. We thought maybe we could use AA rechargeable batteries but the instructions state not to use this type of battery. When they first start to die, it takes FOREVER for the camera to write the picture to the card, therefore you miss the next shot because you are waiting for the camera to reset. It is not good in low light, therefore you need to use the flash more often, making the battery life even worse! We took the camera to a 1 hour children's breakfast with a fresh set of batteries and by the end of breakfast had a low battery warning. I decided to write this review, because after 1 year of owning this camera, I am back at amazon looking for another point and shoot. I am embarrassed to see how much I paid for this! I could have bought a Canon G series for this price (the G series size is not all that much bigger)! I own a Canon G2 and it is one of the best cameras I have ever owned.

Things I liked:
- Video mode takes nice videos for computer use (youtube, facebook etc.) I am not sure how they look on a regular TV.
- Canon menus and settings are easy to understand. I own or have owned at least 5 Canon cameras.
- Had problems with other Canon cameras and the power switch being too easy to accidentally turn on the camera. Not a problem with this one.

Things I did not like:
- Battery life is terrible. I did not have this problem with the canons that use dedicated rechargeable batteries.
- poor in low light. Did not notice that IS made the low light pics any better. Have to use flash almost always.
- Slow to reset, especially as battery gets low
- Slow to focus, especially as battery gets low
- Plastic feels cheap and shows signs of cracking and wear after 1 year of use
- Price. You can get lots more for your money.

Rating :

Excellent camera

We bought it as a gift and she love it. We try it at home and took some close up pics and they were GREAT! Colors and details are amazing!

Rating :

Best Camera for Under $200

I am a amateur photographer who has been using this camera for two years now and it is hands down the best camera out there for the price. I bought two more of the SX120IS version for family because they were so impressed with what my SX110IS could do. The 3.0" screen is gorgeous and huge compared to most. The 10x optical and 40x digital zoom allow me to get almost any shot I want. My friends with DSLRs have trouble getting as good of pictures as I do because of my ability to zoom. The picture quality is also perfect and the colors are all so bright and vibrant. I like the AAs because I was able to get a set of 4 rechargeable's which give me 200+ shots a pair. If I ever run out of juice on the go, AAs are very easy to find. The SD card slot is also nice because the cards are cheap for a large one and SD is becoming so universal.

I wanted a camera that I could carry around in my pocket, with good zoom and very good picture quality. This camera was the ticket and I would buy another in a heartbeat. A friend bought the Canon S5 for much much more and mine takes the same picture quality, has significantly better zoom and is much more straight forward to use.

Pros:
Price
Image Quality
Zoom!
Large 3.0" LCD Display
Universal AAs and SD Card
Easy to Use


Cons:
You're still reading this and haven't started to enjoy one yet.

Rating :

More reviews...