Canon PowerShot S30

Opinion: Can be had for very cheap prices now...get this over the earlier S10/20 as the body is nicer and the IQ a touch better.

Make sure you know how to use manual settings as the auto-mode isn't the best.

Opinion: this was my first digital camera, i loved it way back when it was a current model and i still do. i did not do any proper research, hadn't heard of DPReview, i just got lucky. it is built like a tank, image quality excellent. 3mp is quite limiting if you make large prints as i do but it is all you need and more if you don't print large. if you don't plan to make large prints and want a great little camera go on ebay and put some low ball bids on as many of these early S-xx series Canons as you can find then sit back and hope for the best, if you win one you won't be sorry. by the way you won't be seeing mine on ebay. i moved on to a dslr a while back and just recently decided i wanted a 10mp(that large print thing) compact that would be a worthy successor to the S30, i now have a new Panasonic LX3 but the s30 is not for sale

Opinion: Good quality and ease of use but imtermittent problem in lens retraction mechanism

Opinion: I bought this camera new 2 1/2 years ago for £350 and don't regret it at all!!. From day 1 the pictures have been clear, sharp and have excellent colour. Cheap 2nd hand prices these days make this an excellent camera to buy even going on todays standards. They can be picked up on ebay for less than £60. Picture quality from mine still outperforms most newer cameras (esp the Fuji's we buy at work).

Battery life has been consistently good, averaging out at around 120 shots from a single charge. 3rd party batterys can be picked up relativly inexpensively and can easily extend the battery life to beyond 200 shots with there increased capacity.

The image quality and colour definition far outperform any previous camera that I have used including Fuji Finpix 4700, Nikon coolpix 4500 etc.

I was so impressed that I have now bought a new Canon S70 (it's just as good).

Opinion: Have bought this camera from ebay for only 90 Euros. Very good Construction, nice Image Quality.
Was quite expensive when new.

Raw files have 2.2 Mb (average).

Opinion: Happy owner of Canon S30 for the last two years.
This is excellent camera, very handy while traveling.
For night pictures I use sturdy/solid tripod.

Invitation to view some of my pictures please use these links:
http://www2.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?sort=id-d&id=5309
or
http://www.worldisround.com/home/rafal2001/

Opinion: Beware loose screws. S30 broke at 1.5 years, just outside warranty. Won't turn on. Little rattling sound inside. Unscrewed off back cover, loose screw fell out. Have yet to determine from where. Need to unscrew more panels to see.

Also beware multi-switch. "Set" becomes more difficult to use with time, as button gets worn.

Other than this, great camera.

Opinion: After 2 years using this camera I like to say:

Hard rock

Its like old Mercedes-Benz

Compact size

ISO 800

RAW

Sensor size 1/1.8"

Compact Flash (Type I & II)

Hi quality pictures

Opinion: after 2.5 years, thoroughly enjoy using this camera. color is like kodachrome film, plenty of flexability and user control.