Overall, the PowerShot S1 IS is a great camera that should please telephoto enthusiasts wanting a compact form.
Canon has been a little late in joining the 3-megapixel, 10x zoom class of cameras. However, it does so by being the only vendor to tout a lens-stabilisation system in this range. Still, competitors now have 4-megapixel offerings paired with those equally far-reaching lenses, and for what Canon intends to charge for this shooter, we're not sure if this PowerShot is such a good deal.
In the big-zoom arena, cameras with any form of stabilisation are few and far in between -- the Konica Minolta Dimage A series and Panasonic's FZ line are the other notable ones. The PowerShot S1 IS employs a lens-shift system but at a very high cost. Canon not only falls short in the value stakes, but in the resolution and telephoto wagers as well.
To stand out from the crowd of shooters launched earlier this year, the S1 is immensely appealing. It arrives in a sleek-looking, two-tone, silvery-grey exterior, complete with svelte curves. However, this PowerShot doesn't just have a pretty front, the curves work well to ensure a comfortable handle and the large handgrip allows for a solid hold.
On the rear, there isn't much free space on this jam-packed S1. The metallic body is covered with buttons, dials, and switches that provide quick and sometimes easy access to almost all commonly used functions. Apart from slight rearrangements, the layout on the S1 is similar to the ones found on the PowerShot G series, indicating that this 3-megapixel shooter is made with advanced users in mind. Like the PowerShot G series, there is an LCD screen that flips out and twists around about 270 degrees. This would have made composing pictures more flexible and relatively easier if not for its relatively small 1.5-inch size.
Alas, Canon has not revised one of the design "flaws" which plagued the PowerShot G series and has instead worsened. The S1 employs the same type of lens cap as the one found on its elder brethren. As such, the cap pops off with little provocation and one questions if it fulfills its primary purpose of protection. In a probable bid to segregate its product lineup, Canon has removed the hotshoe and uncompressed RAW file support on this camera -- even though it's clear the shooter has its sights set on the advanced photographers. Still, what is most disappointing is the lack of an autofocus (AF) assist lamp to aid in low-ambient light performance.
By far the biggest draw of the S1 is its 10x (38-380mm, 35mm equivalent), optically stabilised lens. Shutterbugs will be pleased to know that this shooter is full-featured as well. There's plenty of freedom for creativity with the options to independently control both shutter and aperture or even full total manual operation. Disappointingly, the real-time histogram is absent on the S1, and available only during playback. As mentioned earlier, this unit accepts lens converters with an optional lens adapter that includes threads to enable add-on lens mounting.
Besides its long list of shooting options (which will take up a fair bit of the review!), you can also shoot movies at either 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 resolution with audio, with the clip limited by only storage capacity. If, on the other hand, you prefer time-lapse photography, there's the Intervalometer function that allows users to schedule 100 shots at various intervals ranging from a minute to as long as an hour.
In our tests, we found the S1's performance to be generally good. By turning off the Japanese manufacturer's startup image and sound, the unit powered up a tick quicker at under 3 seconds. Its shot-to-shot interval clocked in at about 2 to 3 seconds with the flash on. As usual, the recharging of the flash took a chunk of the wait, and with it disabled, the unit did significantly better, coming in at about 1 to 2 seconds. In continuous drive mode, the shooter was also capable of taking 24 frames at a rate of 1.7fps.
Courtesy of Canon's USM (Ultrasonic Motor) implementation, the zoom mechanism proved smooth, accurate and quick. The AF system was also quite peppy, often taking less than a second for situations with adequate lighting. Because of the lack of an AF assist lamp, the camera's ability to focus in low-light conditions was iffy and often pokey.
In terms of image quality, the S1 delivered generally pleasing photos. However, we were expecting more given the manufacturer's length of time to bring to market another 3-megapixel, 10x zoom camera (The Pro90 IS was released in the beginning of 2001 and had a 3-megapixel imager as well). With ISO speeds below 200, we found the images to be sharp and clean in a full variety of shots -- whether this was macro, full telescope or in the widest angle. The colours captured were always vibrant and the metering generally gave well-exposed shots. The camera's automatic white balance also proved capable as it was able to handle most lighting conditions. However, we should also mention that there was noticeable purple fringing in some of our pictures.
In general, we liked how the PowerShot S1 IS handled. It was fairly quick and the focal range was a blast to work with. Even so, we felt the S1 was still a little raw around the edges, especially for its asking price. Nonetheless, the compact size, good looks and optically stabilised optics will please a fair number of telephoto buffs. Admittedly, we think this shooter will probably become a great buy further on in the year through almost certain price reductions.
Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Company: Canon
Price: AU$949
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1800 021 167
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