Canon PowerShot S300 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 3x Optical Zoom

by Canon

Product Details

Product Manual [2.49mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 3.7 x 2.5 inches ; 8.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005ATZN
• Item model number: 6742A001
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,330 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 25, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The PowerShot S300 is Canon's long-awaited follow-up to the wildly popular S100. Not content to rest on their laurels, Canon has spent the time to address some of the shortcomings in the original Digital Elph camera.

The biggest new feature is the 3x optical zoom. While only a small step up from the original 2x, the new zoom requires a slightly enlarged body. Also added is a movie mode. The new movie mode allows up to 30 seconds of footage to be recorded at a resolution of 160 x 120. You can also record at 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 resolution, but the recording time shortens correspondingly.

The diminutive 1.5-inch color LCD screen remains small. However, the control scheme is slightly modified to incorporate the camera's new capabilities--a wheel now controls the camera mode and has a power button in its center. The S300 includes several white-balance presets, exposure compensation of +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments, and a black-and-white mode. Essentially, the S300 is a classy digital point-and-shoot with enough features and control for most hobbyists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive!, May 8, 2001

By 

Ty Davison (Salem, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon PowerShot S300 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is my first digital camera. I've been impressed by the ease of use, the quality of the images, and variety of features. The only downside is that the 8 MB Compact Flash card which is included is insufficent; you will need to buy more memory, so budget accordingly.

I'm somewhat tech-savvy so the S300 presented no problems in terms of getting up and running. I was able to intuitively grasp how to use most features without reading the manual. Those wanting or need to read the manual will find it understandable and well-written.

There are several settings which determine the size and quality of the images. On the best settings (which is why you'll need more memory), the quality is excellent for on screen display. I've not printed any pictures yet, so I don't know about that. This is a 2.11 megapixel camera, so there are cameras out there with better image quality. That said, none are this small or ease to carry around.

The S300 camera has a variety of shooting modes: auto, manual, stitch assist, and movie. You can also set the white balance so that you're shooting in black-and-white. The auto mode takes good shots under most conditions. I've not played enough with the manual mode to comment on it. The stitch assist, which allows you to create panoramic shots, is amazing when used in conjunction with the included computer software (in my case on a Mac). It'll put everything together and you can even save as a QuickTime VR if you have the appropriate software. The movie mode shoots at 20 frames per second and includes audio. The image quality is acceptable, but the audio is weak.

The included Macintosh software (it comes with Windows versions as well) consists of an image database, an image editor, a video editor, a photo stitch assistant, and a camera remote control program. Excellent stuff, all.

You have two ways to get images into your computer: Via the included USB cable or by using an optional Compact Flash PCMIA adapter (cost: about $10). The USB cable, at least on the Mac, works great, though I suspect the download of lots of images from the camera would take a minute or two. I'm ordering a CF PCMIA adapter.

As I mentioned, the 8 MB Compact Flash memory really isn't enough. At best quality the camera holds 7 images before running out of space. With 128 MB (which is what I've ordered) it will hold 128 images. Movie times face similar constrains.

That aside, overall Canon has succeeded in delivering point-and-shoot ease-of-use to a digital camera. The S300 is small enough to take anywhere, and the result is that any moment becomes a photo opportunity. Users adept with Adobe Photoshop will find that a camera like the S300 allows any image at any time to become part of their digital world, and if that's not bound to enhance creativity, I don't know what will.

Highly recommended.

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing camera overall., June 17, 2001

By 

Sam I Am "soff3" (Woodmere, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon PowerShot S300 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I shopped around before buying this camera and finally bought it for the incredibly small size and sharp pictures. I have not been disappointed. The camera looks so sleek and small that people around you invariably comment on it. The buttons are intuitive and the small screen is incredibly sharp. I have a coolpix 950 at work and I can't believe it but the images off the s300 are sharper and the tones are more precise. In adddition the canon lenses are superior to Sony and Olympus and are rivaled only by larger Nikon cameras. My only regret is that the camera does not come in a 3 megapixel variety, but realistically, one almost never needs 3 megapixels for home use anyway. 8 x 10s are sharp and beautiful on the s300 using maximum pixelation and superfine mode. Needless to say a 128 mb CF card is a must. The 8 mb card this comes with is a joke! Also, if you use the display to shoot images and not the viewfinder you will need a spare battery. One more point; the s100 case does not fit this camera; canon makes a hard to find PSC 300 case for this camera which fits well, although it adds a tad too much bulk. Neverthelesss, you should get it otherwise the metal will scratch. I found the case, a battery, and a neck strap. My wife, who is not tech savvy, also loves this camera for it's size and ease of use. Although pricey, I think this camera is exceptionally well made and designed and worth the investment. All in all this is the hottest digital camera out there for good reasons: size and outstanding images!

70 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Camera, great choice for every level of photographer, June 28, 2001

By 

Kapil (Bombay, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon PowerShot S300 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I have had my Canon S300 (IXUS) from May 2001. It has been a great month taking over 400 pictures on holiday and then back home. All my pictures are exceptionally crisp and clear with many taken with flash and indoors. And this is without even using it at the highest resolution. The short review is, if you need a digital camera, buy this one and live happily ever after.

I spent over 1 month doing research on the net before finally deciding which camera to buy. The tough choice was buying the Canon even though it was only a 2.1 MP resolution. You can buy a Sony or Fuji or other 3.34 MP camera for similar price. BUT DON'T. The biggest advantage is size and speed of use. You will alway be able to have this midget camera in a pocket near you. It is superbly designed and crafted. While it does not have any manual capabilities (some minimum features) it is rare to require them in normal use.

The useful features are the movie mode and simple panorama shooting. The software with the camera is quick and easy to use with minimum fuss. Obviously the USB connection makes life simple and quick. The Zoombrowser software has a great feature to make emailing pictures a breeze as you can choose the compression level as you go along.

The battery life is decent though you should get the AC power adapter and a bigger memory card. The Sandisk 128 MB card was for about US$ 100 and will give you more than enough space to enjoy taking pictures and video. The greatest joy of going digital is the ability to keep on clicking and never worry about the cost. I can happily let my kids click away without any concern.

I have had prints made (4 * 6 in) from the images and they are amazing even at medium resolution and fine setting. I don't know about larger sizes but for home use they are perfect.

The only few points on the downside for this camera.

1. No power indicator on the battery life. You only know its over when it starts to die completely

2. Its not 3.34 MP resolution (at this price it would have been nice though not required)

3. Its not cheap as a choice (good things never are I guess)

Finally, the joy is in the jealous looks and envious comments you get whenever you pull out this stunning camera. It is an exceptionally good camera and you will have no regrets. ENJOY.