Canon Reviews

I have to say I am completely disappointed with this product. I purchased it from Best Buy the day before I left for a trip to Utah. The first roll: it stopped taking pictures after the 17th one. I had to put in a new roll. The second roll: it stopped functioning after the 22nd picture. I was devastated. I developed the pictures and most of them have red eyes, and the quality is horrible. I am shocked that this product passed Canon's quality controls. I have another Canon camera that I am crazy about. I have returned the new one; I wish I had read the reviews on Amazon.com before buying it. Trust me...DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!

I bought the Z3 because of its extremely compact size and basic ease of use. I previously owned one of the higher-end Olympus Stylus cameras and found its performance 100% excellent, but too bulky to carry around. When it finally broke down (my fault, unfortunately) I bought this camera hoping to replace the other with one equally as good. I am here to tell you that the quality of pictures I have gotten so far from the camera is quite poor. If a subject (particularly, but not limited to, people) is more than five feet away the picture is without exception blurry and poorly lit. I am very disappointed with the camera, although in all other senses (e.g. film loading, size, and good looks) it is fine. However, since the photographs are the most important factors in a customer's satisfaction level, and indeed, the reason WHY we buy cameras... the Canon Elph Z3 is a bad deal and I wouldn't recommend it unless you needed a camera on the side for quick pictures. I carry it in my purse at all times (it is very tiny) which is convenient, I admit, for those Kodak (excuse me... Canon) moments you would have missed otherwise. But if you want great pictures, run screaming and tell your mom what the Canon company told you about the camera. Isn't it sad when companies market products that don't live up to their descriptions?

I'm not sure what has caused people to complain so much about this camera, it is the best I have ever owned and believe me, I KNOW cameras! I've taken hundreds of pictures (literally) and have competed in several shows with great results. And I tell you, Canon Elph is a tiny camera that packs a punch!

I bought this camera two years ago for a trip to Europe. I wanted to have something small with special features. The zoom, panoramic, dates and special subject lines, easy load small film, etc. I was TOTALLY impressed!

I took 30 rolls of film in rapid succession, within a period of 3 weeks. I didn't develop any of the film while in Europe, and even after ALL of my film, exposed and unexposed, passed through all the metal detectors of different airports, palaces, etc. it had FANTASTIC quality! In fact, the pictures of me are some of the best ever taken, other than some childhood shots and my high school senior pictures taken by a professional! These Elph pictures, held next to 35mm pictures from both my old Pentax and my Canon manual professional camera, were not any different. Mixed up, no one could tell which pictures were taken by what camera!

I loved how the film was just drop and load. It was harder to get dirty or install wrong and IMPOSSIBLE to accidentally expose to light. NOT so with my old Pentax 35 MM autofocus camera! Plus, the neat thing with Advantix film is that you can take a few pictures, rewind the film, load a new roll for different types of pictures, rewind that and load the other roll of film only partially used! With this feature, I was able to keep castles on one roll, statues on another, paintings on yet another roll!
The camera was dropped more than once, nothing broke! The metal corner bent (that's how bad the fall was) and the picture quality was not affected at all! The sliding face wasn't a problem for me to get used to, just don't slide it fast! Slide it just a little ways back towards the lens when you want to shut it off and it will recede back into the camera then you can close it fully.

I have now used this camera often for the last two years, including a family reunion. Every picture has been great (except the ones I personally messed up like not turning on the flash when needed) and I have recommended it to my friends. Nothing has been grainy, no red eye, nothing! Everything has been clear and bright! Just remember to use 400 or higher speed film, 200 and 100 definitely reduce the picture quality. I used Kodak and tried to get MAX, not regular.

I hope to join an art study program and go back to Europe next summer. The Elph will definitely be going along! Cute and functional!

This camera went with me on several vacations and has survived the elements, including a good thrashing against rocks in Class 4 Rapids. The pictures came out great, though the lense did fog up a bit on a few occasions. The underwater shots with flash came out much nicer than those I'd previously taken with another camera costing double. The sharp focus on a foreground object can be amazing, I took the most amazing photo on an eagle in flight. It looked as though the eagle was still but the background was moving. Drawbacks are in design: sometimes when you give the camera to someone else to take a photo they turn it the wrong way a shoot a pic of their face. Sounds stupid, but the front doesn't protrude much and it has happened too many times. People tend to grab the camera in such a way that their fingers get prints on the lense as well. Also, it is easy to get your fingers in the way of the lense. Improvements would include a lense cap and ZOOM, if possible.

My camera has really stood up to the elements and multiple beatings. It has worked well for me taking pictures underwater and in the surf, and has also been to the top of multiple 20,000+ feet mountains. Dropped countless times on rock, snow, sand, and also dunked as much into water. I have learned to force the flash on anything but super sunny days - the pics come out a bit dark in conditions other cameras would have no problem with, and i've found it could really use a filter in intense light situations. Nothing you wouldn't expect from a specialty use camera. Just bought a second spare one for when the first one finally does give up - which i don't think will be for a long time.
Good camera and good value!

If you are considering buying an APS camera, then you should look no further. Note, however, that APS film is a bit more expensive than regular 35mm film, but it is much more versatile (standard Normal, Group, and Panoramic modes, etc). The reason why this camera so great is most obviously its design. The case is waterproof as well as shockproof. After taking it with me hiking, I tripped three times, each time with the camera in my hand (in its little case), and showed no signs of damage, and still worked great underwater. For me, this is great, as I usually end up losing things in my messy room, and hence they usually get banged around. This camera is durable, and therefore there is no worry. Its waterproofing is great feature, as I am constantly taking pictures on my boat, at the beach, or outside where there is always the chance of rain. You don't have to worry about keeping your camera dry, nor does it become a problem if you leave you bag with the camera in it someplace where it might accidentally get wet. The design is extremely easy to use, and the pictures are great (use 400 speed film, its the most versatile). The only bad thing is that you have to fairly responsible about cleaning the camera after salt-water use. Now, I have never done this, and the camera still works fine. Furthermore, this thing is tiny, suprisingly smaller than the most compact 35mm's. You'll be suprised at how small it is (it's not too small though). It also has bumps on the back to help you grip the camera with one hand. To anyone who is concerned about zoom, on most compact camera, APS or 35mm, they barely make that much of a difference. And to anyone considering going digital, I say just get a scanner. Your picture quality will be much better. Recommended without reservation. Its the kind of camera you can just throw in your bag and never have to worry about. One last thing, when you first put it underwater, you will see bubbles coming out. I was concerned, but found out it was just air on the outside of the waterproofing.

I first received my Canon ELPH LT as a Christmas gift in 1999, and two and a half years later, it still takes the same quality of picture that it did on its first roll of film. In fact, it uses such little power (mostly due to the absence of a zoom lens) that in the time I have owned it, I have only replaced the battery twice. My camera has had an extremely rough existence, including three months in Africa, but it has never stopped working or needed any repair. And the panoramic lens took some awesome landscapes that my friends with expensive 35mm cameras couldn't take (and their cameras wouldn't fit in their pockets!). I have had only one problem with the camera, and that is that the print on the casing rubs off if your hands are often sweaty when you take pictures. It's not a huge problem given that by the time it had come off, I already knew what all the buttons did, but it would be nice to not have to explain them to other people. But other than that, it has been a perfect camera! Next up for me - the digital ELPH!

Like a lot of the other reviewers have said, this camera takes great pictures! Clear and crisp! And I'm the kinda person that takes pictures hanging out the car window and on the back of a 4 wheeler. It's as if I was standing still! It's so nice to be able to capture a panoramic picture whenever you want, and be able to switch back to regular sized photos with the touch of a button. And all on the same roll of film. So easy. I would highly recommend this camera! And with such a low price, you cant go wrong.

Even for people on a low budget this season, this is a great, fun, easy-to-use gift. I have owned one of these for almost 2 years now, and have found many ways to get exactly the picture I want. With three photo sizes that change in the viewer, one is always guaranteed to know approximately how thier photo will turn out. Though not particularly inexpenxive, the APS film system is reasonable, and the pictures turn out great! For a younger, or older, aspiring photographer, this is the camera to start with!

I'm consistantly amazed at what Canon can pack into such a small package. I took a Canon Elph Jr. with me to Rome in the fall of 1999, and the pictures it took are spectacular. This camera has the 2x zoom feature, but otherwise it's very similar. The APS photosystem is easy to use, and the index prints and negatives that stay in the canister are godsends for those of us who are less organized than some. I was particularly struck by the clarity of the photos, the richness of the colours, and the ease of use of the camera. While the 24mm APS format is smaller than the 35mm standard film, the resolution is still excellent. Far better than any digital camera under $1000. One of the most useful characteristics is the tiny size. No one believes this is a film camera when I show it to them. And because it fits anywhere, I take it with me in my napsack and shoot photos of anything I find interesting. (I think my friends have come to curse this feature!) Paired with a $100 flatbed scanner to scan photos for your web page, or to send via email, I think the Elphs offer a far better bargain than any digital camera or film camera available today.

I bought this camera for my hiking trip in New Zealand earlier this year. I was extremely pleased with it. It's small and convenient, and the pictures it took came out breathtaking! The flash is quite strong: this camera took great night pictures, even where other cameras failed! I also took pictures from airplains, through the glass, and most photos came out very good. Some (not all!) panoramic pictures aren't as sharp as one would ideally hope, but it also depended on how much I zoomed in. For those of you who are unsure whether the zoom feature is necessary, believe me, it is! The camera is very small, stylish and light, and everyone thinks it's a digital. Changing film was a breeze. I used this camera in some rugged conditions in the mountains, and it withstood the test. I wouldn't recommend using it when it rains, though; I don't think it's waterproof. The only thing I wasn't happy about was the fact that the cord attached to the camera was too short to put aroung my neck. This inconvenience can be easily overcome, though. (Also, I recommend using Kodak APS film and developing it at Kodak, using Perfect Touch.) All in all, a great camera, highly recommended, especially for scenic trips where you need to use the Panoramic viewer: you will be amazed at the quality of the pictures!

I purchased this camera about a year ago and I have not had a single problem since! I took the camera to Japan and NYC, the pictures came out far better than anything I've seen before with a film camera. The colors were brillant and detailed, it felt like I was still there. The only problem is that some pictures came out with red eyes, however that was not a problem for me because they fix that at the place I take them to so I never even see the red eye. The battery lasted a year under heavy use, the longest I've ever had before. The controls are easy to use and really come in handy. For the price, this camera is definitely a gem!

I currently bought this Elph. I think it is a good starter camera becuase it is so small. It has good battery life and is easy to setup and use. However for big people it may prove to be a little to small. But, overall this is a great Elph.

If you are looking for a point and shoot camera that is fun and easy to use, look no further. The Canon Elph 490Z is the camera you have to buy! If you are the type that doesn't know much about taking pictures, but desires to have a camera that is simple yet gives outstanding pictures this camera is for you!

This is a very well designed and compact camera. The Elph's well designed size allows it to fit anywhere, (i.e. handbag, pocket, and glovebox) easily and effectively. Therefore, you want to carry it more, and take far too many pictures. As a result, of Cannon using APS technology greatly enhances the clearity of the pictures, along with the additional processing price as well. The "H" setting or HGTV angle Cannon uses though greatly distorts the edges of picture, one is taking. Lastly, another negative I have encountered is the length of life the Lithium (Expensive) battery has a short life.

In spite of some of Elph's shortcomings, I am planning on purchasing a 2nd Elph for my mother, since it is a very convinent and easy to use device.

I bought the Canon Elph 490Z to use on my trip to Europe. While abroad, this camera was incredible. The Canon Elph 490Z is very tiny and lightweight (about 11 oz.), so I didn't hesitate about carrying this camera everywhere I traveled. Also, the camera's aluminum body handled very well during the trip; there were no breakage or scratches. Furthermore, the features of this camera were great. The 4x zoom lens enabled me to capture distant objects, while the parallax compensation viewfinder allowed me to more accurately capture objects up close. I developed 15 rolls of film from this camera. The photos look crisp and colorful, and there was no red eye in the ones with family and friends. I definitely recommend the Canon Elph 490Z!

I've been using the Canon Elph 370z for almost 2 years, having taken and exposed around 300 pictures. Here are the strengths of this camera:
1. You no more yell out "I AM A TOURIST" by having your camera hanging from your neck or arm; keep it in your pocket.
2. Group pictures come out GREAT with the panoramic feature.
3. The picture quality is also great for a point-and-shoot camera, especially when a 400 film is used.
4. The battery will let you down only after you take at least 200 pictures.
5. The 3x zoom function is MORE than enough for the average amature photographer.
6. The digital display shows only what you really need to know.
7. The flash is not the strongest you'll ever see in a compact camera, but it does its job.
8. The "red-eye-reduction" function will substantially reduce the red eye phenomenonon, and may even elliminate it. If you keep the button half-pressed for a couple of seconds, you should have no red eyes in any of your pictures.

The camera DOES have some weak spots, too.
1. The "slider", which turns the camera on and off, also retracts the flash light. When you first attempt to turn this camera on, it comes natural that you try to move the slider with your thumb. By doing so, you place your index finger on the flash, thus preventing it from coming out. With one finger you try to open the camera, with the other you make sure you keep it shut! I could not turn on the camera the first time, I thought it was broken. Other people who used my camera also did the exact same thing. I just have to open the camera myself before giving it to somebody else.
2. The shutter actually operates quite some time after the button is pressed. I quickly became aware of this, so I just keep a steady hand until I hear the shutter closing. But some people think that the picture is taken at the moment the button is pressed. The relatively long time between the button "click" and the shutter "click" resulted in some blurry pictures.
3. The camera is really small, and the fingers of the operator can get in front any of the sensors or the flash, resulting in dark or unfocused pictures.

All of the above conditions happened only a couple of times and only when the camera was used by somebody other than me.

I suggest that you buy this camera if it will be mostly YOU that will operate it. You will soon learn how to by-pass these minor problems and make the best out of the camera. Once you learn how to avoid the little traps, you can take very good pictures. However, if you know that random people may operate this camera (say... in a party), be prepared for just a few "not-so-good" exposures.

I bought the Canon Elph 370Z in 2000. After 3 years of heavy use the camera had to go in for servicing last summer because an error message (H) had appeared in the LED. The cost for repairs was about 1/3 of the original price. Several months later the same thing reoccurred and Canon fixed it free of charge. This is the first camera that I've ever had repaired. All my previous cameras have also eventually broke down from use. But this is the only one that I liked enough to have fixed. Photo quality is excellent considering the size of the camera, plus the convenience of APS. The quality of the camera is very good, too.

If you want a point and shoot camera that you can carry in your bag or throw in a shirt pocket so that its always available, then this may be the best camera for you. While its not deep on features, it has the ones that are most important for convenience: a decent flash, 3x zoom (better for wide angle shots than telephoto closeups), and APS film.

Make no mistake, you do not get the flexibility (shutter speed, apeture, optional lenses, external flashes, white balance) that SLRs and more expensive camera can offer, but what you do get is not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes (that's not politically correct, is it?).

I looked at a pretty broad set of cameras, including the other ELPH cameras, before selecting this one because I liked the zoon range and the size of the camera. I was pleasantly impressed by surprisingly good picture quality, and my wife can testify to its extreme ease of use. This ELPH is all about size, convenience, and simplicity. If that's what you want then buy it.

This little camera has taken a lot of great photos for me. The image quality is pretty decent considering its size. The main advantages of buying this camera are:

1. Its portability.
2. 3 different shot formats: regular, HD and panoramic (which in the right situation I find is a must).
3. Very easy to use!

There are a couple of features which I haven't found to be that great though.

1. The zoom is 2 1/2. Not altogether useless but not that powerful either.

2. If you take a lot of different pictures: panoramics, HDs and regular all on the same role prepare to pay a lot to get your film developed. 3 roles 2 25s and a 40 cost me around $ to get developed. So just be prepared.

Over all this is a quality camera and well worth the money for anyone looking for a point and shoot.

This puppy is a piece of art + machine all in one. The miniature size and high quality production materials make this product a thing to put on a pedestal. But what do you care if it doesn't perform? Well it does just great in all sorts of light conditions. I've taken it to Washington State where the sun don't shine too brightly with Fuji 200ASA - great panoramic shots with good color. After 6 months with this camera - I haven't used my 35mm Olympus. However, those of you who are really into detail will find the Advanced film quality slightly unacceptable.

The controls are just fabulous - the best is the zoom lever - immediate zoom speed without a lot of time lapse. The actual zoom ratio isn't that great but you have to give up something for its size. It's got all the standard red-eye, fill-in, timer functions, plus a bunch of nifty time-date-stamp buttons. The back display gives you all the info in logical layout.

The only thing you need to watch out for is the standard 2-step focus and shoot process. Because this gem is so small, it's easy to move the camera while trying to get a good shot. And if you're thinking about the Elph 1 versus Elph 2 - I've seen 2 of the Elph 1's in the camera shop with its flash stuck in the up mode.

I bought this camera 3 1/2 years ago to take with me when I moved to Germany. It's small enough to fit in your jeans pocket, but makes cleaner and better quality prints than I've seen in a point and shoot camera. It was very durable and lasted several years of use overseas, and I'm still enjoying its compact size and light weight here in the states. If you are in any way intimidated by the digital camera age, and would like a small, versatile APS camera, this is it!