Canon PowerShot S1 IS

1014 reviews

May, 2024

Positive
performance (54)
usability (47)
image quality (40)
zoom (39)
portability (38)

Negative
reliability (10)
viewfinder (3)
low-light (2)
sensor (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1014 reviews of Canon PowerShot S1 IS. The average rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Reviewers are impressed by the zoom and portability. The image quality and usability also get good feedback. The sensor and low light performance get critical views. Opinions about the shutter and reliability are different.

performance, usability, image quality, portability, zoom

viewfinder, low-light, sensor

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Canon PowerShot S1 IS is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 85/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 1014 reviews)

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User Reviews

Review Ratings

(41% of reviews)
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Features

performance
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usability
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image quality
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portability
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zoom
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Showing 1 - 517 of 582 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (413)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Canon PowerShot S1 IS

alaTest has collected and analyzed 38 user reviews of Canon PowerShot S1 IS from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Opinions about the zoom and size are generally positive. The portability and image quality also get good feedback. There are some mixed opinions about the reliability, while there are some critical comments about the performance.

usability, image quality, portability, size, zoom

performance

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

May, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Canon PowerShot S1 IS

alaTest has collected and analyzed 469 user reviews of Canon PowerShot S1 IS from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com.

86% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2024

Expert review by : Peter Rojas (engadget.com)

Review of Canon's three megapixel S1 IS

Digital Photography Review takes a look at Canon's new PowerShot S1 IS, a camera that's a decidedly bizarre blend of many things-a sub-prosumer 3.2 megapixel digital still model with loads of camcorder features in a digital SLR style case without a hot...

Aug, 2004

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Expert review by : Ryan Block (engadget.com)

Two reviews of the new Canon Powershot S1 IS

A couple of review of the (almost palindromic) S1 IS, a camera that's a decidedly bizarre blend of many things-a sub-prosumer 3.1 megapixel digital still with loads of camcorder features in a digital SLR style case without a hot shoe or interchangeable...

Jul, 2004

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Expert review by : Simon Joinson (dpreview.com)

Canon PowerShot S1 IS Review

Announced in February 2004, the PowerShot S1 IS is the long overdue successor to Canon's last 10x Zoom Image Stabilized compact, the (the PowerShot Pro90 IS). It is not only much smaller and lighter, but a lot less expensive - (hardly surprising given...

Very small, handles really well Packed with features Image stabilization works really well (and can be used in movie mode) Very quiet Fast and responsive Stunning movie mode with high quality sound Impressive continuous (burst) shooting Good color,...

Some focus errors - especially at the telephoto end of the zoom Slow AF at longer focal lengths, can struggle in low light No AF illuminator Noisy above ISO200 No rechargeable batteries Small screen, viewfinder difficult to see in very bright or very...

Despite one or two minor annoyances - specifically the focus performance at the long end of the zoom and the rather puny screen - the Canon S1 IS is a camera it is hard not to like. Sure, there are a few high end features missing (no live histogram, no...

Aug, 2004

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Expert review by : Glenn Menin (pcmag.com)

Canon PowerShot S1 IS

The Canon PowerShot S1 IS is ergonomic, and comfortable to handle.

The PowerShot S1's pixel transition results were higher (worse) than those of the others but certainly acceptable (higher than 5 percent can cause image quality problems). Boot time was mediocre, at 5.6 seconds, but recycle time, at 2.1 seconds...

Jun, 2004

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Paul Jasper (pcworld.com)

Canon USA Powershot S1 IS Digital Camera Camera

Designed to resemble a scaled-down SLR camera, the Canon PowerShot S1 IS brings together a lot of advanced features--including the ability to captures video at up to 640-by-480 pixels and 30 frames-per-second with 22-KHz 16-bit sound--for its $499...

The S1 IS depleted its four AA batteries quickly. In our tests, we had to change them after only 144 shots. If you plan to shoot a lot of video, constantly zoom the lens, frame potential shots while holding the shutter button halfway down, or run the...

May, 2004

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Expert review by : Paul Jasper (pcworld.com)

Canon PowerShot S1 IS

This point-and-shoot looks and feels like an advanced model.

Producing fine photos for a 3.2-megapixel camera and offering plenty of advanced features for a very reasonable price, the S1 IS makes a good choice for hobbyist photographers on a fairly tight budget.

May, 2004

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Expert review by : Paul Jasper (pcworld.com)

Canon PowerShot S1 IS Digital Camera

Photograph: Rick Rizner

May, 2004

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Expert review by : Steve's Digicams (steves-digicams.com)

Canon Powershot S1 IS

Continue on to Page Two Powershot S1 IS Specifications Image Sensor 1/2.7-inch CCD RGB color filter array Total number of pixels: Approx 3.34 million Effective number of pixels: Approx. 3.2 million Lens Canon 10x optical 5.8 - 58 mm with Image...

Feb, 2004

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Expert review by (imaging-resource.com)

Digital Cameras - Canon PowerShot S1 IS Digital Camera Review, Information, Specifications

In response to reader requests for more subjective comments on the cameras I review, I'm starting to add "Reviewer's Notes" to my reviews of selected cameras. (Given my seeming perpetual backlog of review work and the added time this takes though, I'll...

The S1 IS uses Canon's single-point FlexiZone TTL AF system, which judges focus based on the center of the frame only by default. With a couple of button-presses, the focus point can be moved over most of the image area (with the exception of the...

May, 2004

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Expert review by : Hardware Zone (hardwarezone.com)

Canon Powershot S1 IS

With its large focal length coverage of 38mm to 380mm (35mm film equivalent) matched by a fast maximum aperture range of f2.8 to f3.1, the Canon Powershot S1 IS readily replaces the Canon Powershot Pro 90 IS as Canon's next ultra-zoom digital camera....

Jul, 2005

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