Canon PowerShot S50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

x 32 MB Compact Flash English F/2.8-4.9Stylish pocket size fully featured digital camera. With 13 flexible shooting modes and new Canon technologies this is the ideal camera for taking photos in all situations.


FEATURE : 

• 5 megapixel sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels) for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches.
• 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom (12x total).
• Nine point AiAF, flexizone focus selection, three-minute movie clips, and automatic image rotation.
• Compatible with CompactFlash Type I and II cards; 32 MB card included.
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-2L); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) Transformed a skeptic! - I have been a dedicated film camera user for several years and a skeptic of digital photography. Until now.

I chose the Canon S50 after about two months of research into contemporary cameras. I relied upon a digital photography portal called "Digital Photography Review" to compare different models, and then used Amazon to compare prices. If you are making the move to digital, it is wise to factor in the price of image editing software (I use --and highly recommend--Adobe Photoshop Elements), an upgraded memory card, and an additional battery. The S50 does not come with a case, so add that to the list as well.

There has been some fair criticism leveled at digital camera manufacturers for their emphasis on mega pixels. I cannot argue with this; however, having 5-mega pixels over 4 (at a slight price premium) does give you the flexibility to later crop images to your liking, yet, retain good resolution. One of the common complaints against the S50 (over the slightly less expensive 4-mega pixel S45) is the issue of purple fringing at wide angles. My own experience has been that, even at the widest angle, color distortions are virtually non-existent in this camera. The image quality is excellent and skin tones are very good even when using a flash. The flash is a tiny band at the top right (when you face the lens) but, despite its small size, it is very effective for indoor pictures. The camera is quite small for all it can do. The number of manual controls is astounding; I have a feeling this camera offers much more creative freedom than my previous one, a film SLR from the mid-eighties, which came with three detachable lenses, a separate flash unit, and a large carrying case that, when filled with all equipment, weighed about 8 pounds!

Digital cameras generally have one drawback--shutter delay, and this is one area that the S50 does not perform well. I have seen shutter delay to vary between almost no delay to little more than a full second. Of course, I have not used other digital cameras, so I cannot tell how this compares. Another weakness is the flimsy lens cover: you have to be careful when closing the cover. I also managed to scratch the LCD screen within a few days of receiving the camera, although this does not affect the images in any way. A protective case would have helped (why doesn't Canon include one!). The included compact flash memory card has a capacity of only 32MB. I would recommend buying a much larger card (such as a 512MB card) that can store a very large number of images (several thousand at lower resolutions). With a large card, the battery inevitably runs out out before the card is full. Buy a spare!

Overall, I enthusiastically recommend the S50, especially if you are making the move away from film cameras. The S50 has irreversibly drawn me away from film cameras, even though I did not think that was possible just a year ago. Perhaps it will also transform your perspective.

By Rishikesh Bhalerao on October 18, 2003

2) Best value for the money - This is my third digital camera, my previous was a 3.2MP Casio QV3000EX. While Casio is not a well known name in the US for cameras, it's still hard to find a digital camera today that matches the QV3000EX feature/price point. The S50 does this and more!

The Good:

1. Made in Japan (not China as some other Japanese cameras ie Minolta).

2. Metal case, and it feels like it is well made (heavy). Buttons give a solid feel.

3. Turns on quick - 4 seconds.

4. Small size. This will easily fit into your shirt pocket. The S50 has the features of a G3 and the compactness of the S400. The best of both worlds. No other 5MP camera comes close to this size, with the exception of the Minolta F300.

5. Extreme manual control: 10 aperature settings (most digital camaras have 2), 45 shutter settings! You will not find a camera with more control at this price.

6. Lens can zoom in macro mode. Others such as Minolta S414 cannot.

7. Fast Canon lens - great pictures in low light and little to no blooming (purple fringe). In my opinion, Canon makes the best digital camera lens. The Casio QV3000EX has a Canon lens, and it takes great pictures. The lens makes or breaks a camera, don't compromise here.

8. Will NOT turn on when in your pocket. It's just plain annoying that manufacturers continue to make knobs that turn at the slightest touch. The dial on the S50 gives a solid and metal sounding click.

9. Battery charger is small an unobtrusive. Fits into the smallest of camera bags.

The Bad:

1. You pay a price for Canon. But you get what you pay for. You can get a cheaper digital camera, but you will not get one that has perhaps the best lens, great auto focus, and exreme manual control, and - in the end great pictures. Take a look at the sample pictures at Canon's site. Compare them to similar cameras. You will wonder why you thought of buying another brand. Also consider the S400 for a more limited point and shoot, or the G3 for professional/traditional SLR look and feel.

2. Uses a proprietary battery. To be honest, I'd rather use AA Ni-MH batteries. But with the Canon system, you probably get bettery power management since they can monitor the battery state better than if it is generic rechargables. In the end it's probably a wash. Buy a second battery.

By scott on May 31, 2003

Polaroid Instant Digital Camera with ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology Z230E

The Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera is the first digital camera and printer combination that is small enough to take on-the-go. The digital version of Polaroid's iconic instant camera, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera is a full-feature digital camera with an integrated printer. The 5.0-megapixel digital camera with 4x digital zoom has a 3.0-inch LCD screen, an SD memory card slot for saving pictures, and a number of picture enhancement features including red-eye removal, image stabilization, face tracking, and smile detection. No computer connections needed to print the 2x3-inch full-color, sticky-back prints and you can document each picture taken by including print dates or file numbers. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts for approximately 20 photos before it needs to be recharged.Shop Amazon - Best Sellers in Camera & Photo

FEATURE : 

• Digital camera with integrated printer instantly delivers full-bleed borderless images that are dry to the touch.
• Features automatic image quality optimization with water-resistant, tear-proof, smudge-proof and peel-off prints.
• Prints 2 x 3-inch borderless color images in under a minute.
• Print speed: 60 seconds per print, from snap to share.
• Accessories Included: 10 sheets Polaroid PoGo ZINK Photo Paper, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter/charger, USB cable.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) Early days, but already good value for money -  This is an early review (a pre-ordered camera only arrived a couple of days ago) so I've only spent a few hours using it.
Quick summary - in some ways the camera is surprisingly limited, and it's a bit bulky (and very ugly), but this is overshadowed by having a built-in photo-printer at the price of a regular digital camera. It offers the instant-printing of the old Polaroids, but with greatly increased digital flexibility, and lower operating cost.

With an overall thumbs-up in mind, some other notes:

The camera functions are quite basic and bare-bones compared to pocket cameras today, though are more advanced than a cellphone camera. There is no zoom, just "digital zoom". There are too few buttons to operate camera settings on the go without navigating through menus, so if the environment isn't suited to just point-and-click, I'm likely to miss my shot, and if the conditions are too challenging (low light and high movement), I'm likely to fail to get a good shot.
- The camera does turn on quickly though - it takes about two seconds from pressing the ON button to it being ready to take a shot.
- Navigating your photos on the memory card is going to become a problem. Your options seemare just NEXT and PREVIOUS, and once there are thousands of photos on the memory card, that is going to be frustrating. (The ability to print any photo at any time, plus the cheapness of large capacity memory cards means that there is incentive to carry a lot of photos around in this camera)
- The LCD screen is nice and large. I guess that since it's a large camera with a bigger battery because of the printer, you might as well put a well-lit big screen on it.
- I haven't used the video recording or voice memo functions, so can't comment on them.
- On the highest quality settings, 5MP photos are saved as JPEGs at about 700kB. So compression artifacts can be noticeable, but this is not an issue if you are only using the photos for the built-in printer.

The printer... well you can read the reviews of the previous Zink bluetooth printer - it's the same as that. There are no consumables other than the photo paper. The photos are also all stickers, which is really useful. The photo-print quality is mediocre which, given the cost of the consumables and the portable nature of the device, is impressive. I'm quite pleased with it. Loading more paper is far simpler than any polaroid film camera. Simpler than a desktop printer, even.
- The (Zink) paper is cheap compared to polaroid film or to inkjet printing. That's something REALLY nice - the device does not rape you on the price of the consumables, instead, prints are so cheap that you don't need to worry or second-guess yourself before hitting the print button.
- You can print any photo on the camera, as many times as you like, and you have some (very) limited editing functions available. (And since for a few dollars you can put a 4GB memory card in this, you could load it up with a library of thousands of useful photos and graphics and labels that you can print and stick if the need arises, without compromising the ability to use it it as a polaroid camera)
- What should be the most useful of the editing functions is being able to crop the photo before printing it, however the crop operations only zoom and step in large increments, so you can only get a crude approximation of the cropping that you want.
- You can add a decorative border to your photo before printing, from a selection of pre-set border graphics. This would be an astoundingly useful feature if you could edit or create your own borders (it would allow you to include your contact info on photos, for example). It would help even if the supplied borders were less useless. As it is, the feature is as taunting in its potential as it is frustrating in its uselessness. I hope that this will be addressed at some point through software - a utility (to import your own custom-made borders to the camera) should not be difficult to provide.
- The nature of the printer seems to be that colors are offset from each other by ten or so pixels, so if your image is thousands of pixels wide, ten pixels is nothing and the everything is colored correctly, but if your image is hundreds of pixels wide, the colors might be offset by a mm, which looks terrible. So it will print your photos fine, but if you're putting your own graphics onto the memory card, and they're low resolution, consider interpolating them up to photo resolution.

I haven't spent much time with the accessories, but
- The camera case has a useful little pocket in it for photo-paper refills.
- The photo software is a bit buggy.

For the price, I think this is good value with a lot of function. At the same time, it still appears to be early days - I'd expect that in a couple of years, there will be fuller-featured photo-printing-cameras that address most of the short fallings of this first device. In the meantime, this does the job, at a good price, and hints at the future (while looking like the past).

By Amazon Customer on August 5, 2009

2) New and Improved Polaroid Camera - We were very pleased with this camera. Our company needed to update the cameras that we use for our corporate teambuilding photo scavenger hunts. We needed something that was lightweight, easy to use, had decent pictures and wouldn't break the bank with film. The Pogo Camera worked perfect to fit our needs. Of course we ordered them at the last minute and needed them within two days. They came without a problem.

Ease of Use - On the way home in the car I put in the film strips and starting taking pictures. It was really that easy. The film is a cinch to load. I hadn' even opened the instruction book. It is just that easy to use the basic camera. What was pleasantly surprising was the wide range of things the camera can do. I mean it is still an instant camera so keep in mind it is what it is. It has the ability to use a memory card and download to the computer. The camera is smaller than the old poloroid so it can easily fit into a bag or backpack.

Battery Life - we used them for a two hour event and the batteries stayed charged. We had no battery problems at all. They are also very easy and quick to charge.

Picture Quality - the quality of the picture is good, better than the old polaroid. The size worked well for us. We didn't need to have 4 x 6 pictures and having the ability to download them to the computer gives you another option. They groups that we worked with liked the idea that the pictures had a sticker back to them. They were going to post the pictures on a photo board outside of their dinner function so that everyone could see them

The camera is what they advertise it to be. We were pleased with it and the photo paper. I would recommend this camera for those looking for a polaroid instant camera. I could see this being so popular for a birthday party or special event. We ordered ten cameras for our event and were very pleased. Also, they came with several packs of film strips and a nice little camera bag.

By S. R. Miller on September 29, 2009

Very Cheap Polaroid Fun Flash 640 0.3MP Digital Camera Kit

The Polaroid Fun Flash 640 is a basic point-and-shoot digital camera with automatic focus and a fixed lens. It takes photos up to 640 x 480 pixel resolution--perfect for posting shots on the Web or sending images via e-mail. The Fun Flash 640 has 2 MB of internal memory (no external memory slot), 1.8-inch color LCD, built-in flash with three flash modes, self-timer, and is serial compatible for simple hookup to your PC. PhotoMAX image manipulation software is included, which lets you easily edit and enhance your images, add special effects, and create slide shows and greeting cards. This kit also includes four AA batteries, an AC power adapter, wrist strap, carrying case, and instructions. Shop Amazon - Most Wished For in Camera & Photo


FEATURE :

• 0.3 megapixel sensor creates 640 x 480 images for posting on the Web or e-mail.
• Autofocus lens for point-and-shoot simplicity.
• 2 MB internal memory can hold up to 50 images at default resolution.
• Connects with PCs via the included serial cable.
• Serial cable, AC adapter, wrist strap, and PhotoMAX SE software included.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) So far so good - After reading the other reviews from amazon.com, I decided to settle on this camera. Reasons are the price of this and its overall features. First off, I didn't expect this to be a high-end camera producing flawless photos, because obviously it is not the type. However, I think it's the perfect camera for the novice user, like myself. It's got all the basic standards that digital cameras should have, such as the LCD screen, self-timer, and a 640 x 480 resolution.

LCD - I agree that the LCD is not clear enough, but I think it's good as it is. I mean, the LCD is pretty useful since it allows me to have a good idea on how the picture looks like. I really enjoy this feature.

Self Timer - This is another fun feature and I'm glad that it came along with. I think self-timers are essential in any camera.

640 x 480 - This is resolution is really THE resolution to get average results. This resolution size is another essential in digicams and I'm glad it's w/ this camera.

Anyway, I enjoyed using this camera. It's very easy to use and not to mention, the software is top quality! I've printed out several photos and the smaller size ones aren't bad at all. You could minimize your photos and use them in your greeting cards, works better than very poor quality scanned pictures! Pictures posted on websites/sent through emails are very good quality.

As for the battery issue, I guess it does drain the battery. My hint is, use an AC adapter if possible, like when you're taking pictures indoors.

Overall, I'm glad I bought this camera :) I just hope it doesn't break (as another reviewer mentioned).

By starz35 on June 8, 2001

2) Excellent choice for very low cost digital camera - I bought the Polaroid Fun Flash 640 SE -- it has no LCD screen, so it's really like a point-n-shoot 35mm camera. I bought mine at Circuit City for $39.

I wanted a digital camera to take photos of preschoolers in my Bible club at church -- to post on a private Internet website, so parents can enjoy looking to see what their kids do during our club meetings.

I wanted a cheap, easy-to-use camera that took a decent photo when rendered on the web (I don't care to print the photos).

I wanted a camera that was easy to download photos into my computer, manipulate and upload onto my website.

I got exactly that with this camera product. For $40, it's a great deal. Spend more for the camera with the LCD screen if you wish, but you might not really need to go for that extra expense.

Installing the camera software went with NO TROUBLE whatsoever (on my 3-year-old PC). My particular camera model hooks up either via USB or serial connection (I use serial, which is slow but within a two minutes or so, I can download 20 photos onto my PC). The camera comes with easy-to-use software for manipulating the photos. Two complaints on the software: I have to click around too much to do the work I'm trying to do, and it's a little less than straightforward to create web-ready JPEGs outside of the software's "photo album" file format.

The camera itself is purely no frills. It does have a digital display to show number of pictures taken and the flash mode, but that's about it. If you take a photo too close to your subject with the flash on, the picture causes the person's face to wash out (and then they have no nose!). But most other shots can be easily enhanced via software -- to lighten, sharpen the pictures.

So bottom line, use this camera to take pictures to share on the web when resolution and photo quality isn't as much of a priority as low expense and ease-of-use.

By famousdavis VINE VOICE on September 5, 2001

The Unforgettable Photograph: 228 Ideas, Tips, and Secrets for Taking the Best Pictures of Your Life

Renowned photographer George Lange’s work is guided by one simple truth: An unforgettable photograph is not about what the subject looks like, but what it feels like. In this entirely new kind of photography guide, written by Mr. Lange and Scott Mowbray, magazine editor and longtime amateur photographer, the rest of us will learn how to take photographs that don’t just document life but celebrate it.

No fancy equipment required. Just hundreds of simple, inspiring ideas and lessons—each one illustrated with a photograph—organized around the six essential principles of seeing like a photographer. (Here’s one: Shoot the Moment, Not the Subject.)

Here’s why to shoot in natural light—always. The fun of putting babies in surprising places. How to get intimate with food. Using a dramatic sky as your backdrop. The benefit of learning to know the light in every room of your house. Shooting hands or feet instead of faces. How to move past the “I was here” postcard effect. How to catch the in-between moments. Because in the end, it’s about living the moment, shooting the moment—and being in the moment forever.Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices


BRIEF ABOUT AUTHOR : 

George Lange has been taking photographs all his life. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he began his career working for Annie Leibovitz and Duane Michals, and went on to shoot for many major magazines, national newspapers, entertainment studios, and corporations. Today he is best known for his commercial still and motion work.

Scott Mowbray, now the editor of Cooking Light, is a serious amateur photographer and longtime Time Inc. editor. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and Louisville, Colorado.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :


1) An Unforgettable Book - This book is great. Lange demonstrates his experience and talent as a photographer with beautiful photographs. The point of the book is to give you tips "for taking the best pictures of your life" and it does just that. It doesn't really focus on the technical aspects about photography which makes it different from other photo books and is something I enjoyed. This book is about telling a story with your photographs and capturing those special moments that are constantly disappearing. Lange encourages readers to always keep shooting and look for the in-between moments that make a picture truly memorable. The design of the book is simple, clean, and beautiful and is easy to just flip through or read cover-to-cover. I recommend this book to any photographer looking to capture simple moments of life with a new perspective.

By john girard on September 7, 2013


2) You'll learn at least something that will make your pictures more artistic and you as photographer more respectful... - "The Unforgettable Photograph" by George Lange is an extraordinary photography book that will give numerous tips how to create beautiful pictures that will help you to save a part of everyday reality forever so you can always remember it.

The book is not only for inexperienced photographers but also for people who have lot of experience taking pictures because it is the little things that separate quite ordinary images from a little masterpieces that will be after many years still admired by you and all those who saw them.
Among 230 ideas the reader will learn why is good to take pictures on natural and avoid artificial light, how to take pictures of vegetables and fruits, how to avoid each picture from the trip doesn't look like a postcard, and many more...

The author's main idea he tries to teach each photographer that isn't most important how the subject looks but how she/he feels when you're taking picture.

To make sure that this book is also for you, it's important that you won't need expensive cameras and accessories to be able to adopt described techniques - all the lessons author is teaching can be tried with even 50$ cameras because it's not about the quality of device, but the quality and feel of photographer.

Overall, this guide with 228 ideas and secrets that will help you to start making unforgettable photographs can be helpful for anyone who enjoys photography, because you'll be able to learn at least something that will make your pictures more artistic and you as photographer more respectful.

By Denis Vukosav TOP 100 REVIEWER on September 24, 2013

Sony W800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera (Black)

Sony DSCW800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera with 2.7-Inch LCD (black).

FEATURE : 

• MP Super HAD CCD sensor for beautifully detailed images.
• Sony Lens w/ 5x Optical Zoom.
• Reduced blur with SteadyShot Image stabilization.
• Capture your videos in 720p HD Movie mode.
• Simplify camera menu with Easy Mode.
• Take stunning images in Sweep Panorama mode-up to 360.
• Smile Shutter technology automatically captures smiles.

• Creative shooting with Picture Effects.
• Conveniently charge your battery via USB3.
• In camera guide helps navigate features.