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Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | 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 | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| 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.
| | | 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.
| | | 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!
| | 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.
| | 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.
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