Canon Powershot S1 IS

3megapixels, a large zoom and loaded with features.

Price: £479

Manufacturer: Canon

Ratings

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Verdict

Pros:
10x zoom; range of features.

Cons:
Only 3megapixels; chromatic aberration issues.

Overall:
With a host of features and a 10x zoom, 3megapixels should be enough for most amateur photographers.

Will Stapley, Personal Computer World 18 Aug 2004

Manufacturers have realised that if they want their new 3megapixel models to be big sellers, they have to stand out from the crowd, and Canon's latest entry houses more than a few tricks up its sleeve.

The most obvious feature is the large 10x optical zoom lens and, taking around one second to switch from a wide angle of 38mm to the full telephoto of 380mm, it's not sluggish. In fact, the zoom is almost a little too quick since, despite two levels of zooming speed, we sometimes had trouble getting the exact focal length we wanted.

Powerful zoom lenses do a lot for creative shots, but the problem is you're often left needing a tripod to avoid camera shake when shooting in full telephoto mode. Canon has attempted to combat this on the S1 IS and has included an Optical Image Stabilizer. This system can be activated manually and, during testing, we were seriously impressed by the way it managed to eliminate the dreaded camera shake.

Other notable features include the hi-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a flip-and-twist LCD monitor, although at just 1.5in it's a little small. Finally, there is an impressive 30fps movie mode at 640 x 480.

Manual settings are also found in abundance, which is good news for those looking to improve their photography skills. Exposure bracketing, manual focus and white balance are all waiting to be used, while the likes of aperture and shutter priority, along with a full manual mode, allow for greater creativity. Shutter speeds range from 15 seconds to 1/2,000 second with a maximum aperture of F2.8 in wide-angle mode.

With no auto focus assist lamp the S1 IS unsurprisingly had a few problems focusing when shooting in low light, although the manual focus feature allows you to combat this. Poor lighting conditions also made the EVF harder to use.

Despite all its bells and whistles, what really holds this camera back from competing with the more expensive prosumer models is the maximum resolution. With just 3.2megapixels to play with (2,048 x 1,536), the S1 IS probably won't be of much interest to enthusiasts. While megapixel ratings have little impact on actual image quality, it does mean you won't get high-quality A4 or larger prints and cropping opportunities are limited. Having said that, with a 10x optical zoom you can get close to your subject and therefore probably won't need to crop as much, but it's still a bit restrictive.

Image quality was impressive, but not exceptional. The large zoom lens was, as expected, susceptible to chromatic aberrations (where a purple haze hampers areas of high contrast). Night shots were badly affected if viewed close up, but for standard 6 x 4in prints you shouldn't notice it too much. Another problem was that image noise was higher than expected when shooting at ISO100 or higher.

Canon supplies a 32MB Compact Flash card with the S1 IS. Although it's better than the usual 16MB cards we see with 3megapixel cameras, it will need to be improved if you're planning to go out shooting all day. The camera also accepts Hitachi Microdrives.

With the Powershot S1 IS, Canon has created an exceptional camera for those who want to advance their photographic skills without spending a fortune. The superb design mimics a digital SLR and the 10x zoom lens is great for the likes of nature shots. Meanwhile the range of manual features allows more advanced digital photographers to take full control over their photos. The £479 price tag might be a little high but, as usual, you'll find it cheaper if you shop around.

Contact: Canon 08705 143 723
www.canon.co.uk

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