Features

• 3.2 Megapixel Camera with 2.2x Optical/3.2x Digital/7.0x Combined Zoom - Optical Zoom is equivalent to 45mm to 100mm in 35mm-camera format
• Exclusive Canon DiG!C Image Processor and iSAPS Technology for Superior Image Quality and Faster Processing Speed
• Quick Shot Function for Super Fast Shutter Release
• 9-point AiAF and Special Scene Modes for Spectacular Shots in Special Situations
• Available in 4 Colors -Silver, Sky Blue, Lime Green, Sunset Gold - THIS MODEL IS SILVER

Features

• Compact desktop design
• Simple single-cartridge system
• Up to 4 copies per minute, up to letter-size
• Instant warm-up, no waiting
• 50-sheet paper tray; auto shut-off

Amazon.com Product Description

With a combination of speed, precision, and brilliant color, the Canon S900 brings professional-quality printing to home desktops. Print speeds as low as 37 seconds for a border-free, 4-by-6-inch print and about a minute for an 8-by-10-inch print are suitably impressive, while a system of six ink tanks (one of each is included in the box) allows you to economically replace just the colors you use most, cutting back on both cost and waste.

The bubble-jet-style print head is equipped with 3,072 nozzles, which use Canon's Microfine Droplet technology to guarantee crisp, accurate detail and rich colors. With a resolution of 2,400 x 1,200 dpi and 49 levels of gradation, your photos will come out looking clean, bright, and true to life. The border-free printer settings for 4-by-6-inch stock result in professional-looking, edge-to-edge photos you can be proud of. A large number of paper types and sizes are easily accommodated, including transparencies, fabric transfers, photo cards, banners, envelopes, letter, legal, A4, A5, and more. The S900's paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets of 17-lb. paper.

Installation is easy thanks to a convenient USB port, while a software bundle--including appropriate drivers, a user's guide, PhotoRecord (PC), ImageBrowser (Mac), ZoomBrowser (PC), and PhotoStitch (PC/Mac)--helps you get the most out of your printer. A power cable and sample paper pack is also included. Weighing about 13 pounds, the S900 has a modest footprint, measuring just 17.4 by 12.8 inches. Canon provides a one-year warranty, with Instant Exchange service, covering parts and service. ... Read more

Features

• High-speed, professional-quality six-color photo printing
• Brilliant 4-by-6-inch borderless photos in approximately 37 seconds
• 2,400 x 1,200 dpi resolution for both black and color
• 3,072 nozzles for exceptional speed and quality
• Convenient USB connectivity; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (58)

Amazing Printer!
I did a lot of research on printers and decided to wait for the Canon S900 to come out. It was definitely worth it...compared to other ink-jet printers, you are gaining in speed and quality, which is really what it all comes down to with a printer.

The printer comes nicely packed with a quick-start guide and CD right inside the top of the box. The 6 ink cartridges are also tucked in, three on each side. I ordered backup ink cartridges as well. Ordering the ink cartridges without actually having seen the printer or what cartridges it takes was a bit of a risk, especially when the cartridges were shipped ahead of the printer and were labeled for the Canon S800. But they are fine. Look for the BCI-6xx model numbers and you will be fine.

Also, be sure to order a USB A-B type cable as the printer does not come with one. These are very cheap, but if you get the printer and don't have a cable, it will make for a disappointing evening when you can't set it up.

Setup was a breeze. The print quality is outstanding, and the printer is very quiet. I do a lot of graphics and text printing and it is amazingly fast and the the text is clear. I would recommend getting some good paper, though, as regular xerox machine type paper will not do this printer justice. I could notice a clear difference in text output.

The six different ink cartridges could be viewed by some to be a downfall, but I would rather replace one $10 color when needed than have to replace all of the colors at once like in other brands.

In summary, this is outstanding printer, and if you can afford it, you will not be disappointed. Coupled with a good digital camera, you will never need to get film developed again!

Simplicity, Great Images at Fantastic Speeds
Everything about the S900 is very easy. The setup, installing the ink tanks,and print head. The inital printhead alignment was almost automatic. I was printing pictures in about fifteen minutes. I was very surprised with the speed and quality of the finished product. I use, and recommend Canon's paper pro photo paper. I tried a few other brands and received the best results with the Canon product. I use an epson photo quality printer at work and the image quality is first rate. The Canon's image is as good, the the speed is unbeliveable. It is fast, very fast. The printing maintenance features on the Canon are also well though out. Monitoring and changing ink tanks is a breeze.The automatic printhead cleaning is also easy to preform. Best Photo quality printer I have ever used.

A Great Printer
I bought this printer after being disapointed by the quality of the photo printing from the HP Photosmart 1215. I am completely satisfied with this printer. The print quality is unbelievable! They look as good and clear as photographs from film. The set up was pretty simple. Be sure to use the Canon paper and ink to ensure the best quality output and to guard against premature fading of your pictures. Canon prints were independently tested, and the time before fading occurs was found to be about 25 years (similar to regular photos from film), while the HP and Lexmark printers did much worse.

I loved it while it worked
Keep in mind this is a consumer printer. It is not going to hold up long if you print hundreds of pages per month. I had mine for almost two years before it started acting up. I've probably printed between 300-500 full page (letter size or 8x10) prints with some smaller prints mixed in. It has now started clogging (one or more colors stop coming out) and doesn't appear to be as sharp as it used to be.

Using the cleaning or deep cleaning feature helped at first but it clogged again last night very soon after cleaning it. Using the cleaning feature seems to waste a lot of ink and this will fill up or saturate the waste ink pads inside the printer. Once the waste ink pads are full, the printer will not print any more and you have to have the printer serviced if you ever want to use it again. Mine hasn't stopped working yet but I'm sure the waste ink is getting full and I'm tired of wasting ink anyway by trying to "clean" it.

From reading up on this printer on the Web, it appears the print head is the weak link. Some people have had it replaced several times. A new print head is around $85 and the waste ink pads are about $25 just for the parts. I was quoted $135 to replace the head and pads. Since I did like the printer when it was working and because I already have extra ink for it, I was going to get it fixed. I then found a refurbished S900 here on Amazon for $99. It supposedly comes in the box from Canon and has a 90 day warranty and comes with ink! If it comes with all six colors of Cannon ink, that is worth $72 alone! I just bought the refurbished printer and wrote this review to help those of you who are having similar issues. I hope the refurbished printer works. If not, I'm going to find the nearest Canon office and throw both printers through the front window.

One more thing, don't waste your time, money or ink by using non-Canon paper. Kodak paper in particular (even their best paper) does NOT work well in this printer. I understand there are some 3rd party papers that work well in this printer but I have yet to use one. I have tried Kodak, HP, Epson, and a few other brands and they all stink. I prefer the Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy. It seems to look as good as the Photo Paper Pro and costs a little less. Namaste and Good luck!

Bad print heads
I had the S900 for over a year and everything worked perfectly. Then the print head broke, horrible banding that simply couldn't be fixed. So I inquired and ordered a new one - $85 thank you very much. I got it home and within 5 minutes it too had broken. I took the (new) broken printhead back to the store and they replaced it free. That was in December 2003.

Now, March 2004, the print head has broken down - AGAIN. I love the quality of the prints, absolutely terrific. But the continuing technical problems make this printer a lemon.

I paid $350 in early 2002 when this printer came out and I feel I overpaid given the recurring problems. Canon should be punished for releasing a sub-standard printer like this on to the market. ... Read more

Features

• Affordable 35mm SLR kit with 35-80mm zoom lens
• Automatic features great for beginning photographers
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction capability
• 11 exposure modes--full auto to metered manual with indicator
• Shutter speeds of 30 to 1/2000 seconds

Reviews (5)

Great Camera for Everyone!
I bought this camera in the summer of 2003 which was when I started my photography endeavor. This camera has been awesome for everything that I have done from practice portraiture, landscape, close up, and everything that I was able to thow at it. I still constantly use this camera as it still continues to intrigue me with its abilities.

Many, and I say MANY people complain online about the lense that is given in the kit. For the work that I have done, and the work that most amature to "prosumer" photographers do, you will not be so extremely dissapointed about this lense. I do have the EF 50mm f/1.8, which is awesome!

The Rebel GII is also extremely light to carry around, especially when compared to older manual type SLR's. Sure, its not as light as a point and shoot but its NOT a point and shoot, its a great SLR. As I advance more in Photography, by December 2004 I'll be buying the Elan 7Ne to meet all of my photo needs. Due to the weight though, the Rebel will be my more rugged body for those shoots that I don't want to risk ruining the Elan. Great camera overall, go buy it!

I love this camera
I just got my camera for Christmas and I love it. The quality is great, and it's so lightweight! Gotta have it if you're into photography...great starter camera.

Decent Entry Level Camera
My personal background: I've owned several Point & Shoot cameras, both digital and film, as well as an old SLR back when I was in high school. I'm a decent photographer and since I bought this camera in late August (now early November) I've shot probably around 400+ frames.

If you want to shoot in manual mode, this camera works wonderfully. The only downsides I've found is a tendency to under expose by about 1/3 stop and the 1 fps maximum. If you don't need high speed photography and can learn to compensate for the exposure (or take your film to a lab that does) there isn't a reason to buy any other Rebel.

If you use the various auto modes (landscape, portrait, etc.) you'll find the camera works pretty well. Using these modes I can hand the camera over to a family member and expect the photo to come out reasonably well.

The only serious downfall to this kit is the lens. It is about as crummy as lenses come. The photos look fine at 4x6, but if you blow them up, you'll notice they aren't very sharp. The good news is that when your skill develop enough that you realize this, you can go out and buy that nice 24-85mm zoom and 50mm prime and they'll work wonderfully. Expensive bodies are for people with money burning wholes in their pocket. This one is for you. :)

Easy to use! Excellent Pictures
I purchased this camera based on reviews from several different scrapbooking message boards. Scrapbookers know their cameras as their hobby is all about GREAT pictures. I have an old Canon AE-1 Program that I purchased 18 years ago and I am a big fan of digital camera. I have an Olympus C-50.

The Canon Rebel takes awesome shots. I took it to Disney World and did not take one bad shot. I used Kodak High Density film. The camera is so easy to use. The telephoto feature worked really well. In the auto mode it works like a point and shoot, but the pictures cannot be compared to a regular point and shoot camera. I am not the best photographer in the world, but this makes me look like I am. You won't be disappointed.

Great for beginners, but product specs are wrong...
I recently purchased the Rebel G II and have found it to be a great camera for a beginner who wishes to move beyond simple point and click cameras. Amazon.com has recently dropped the price (May, 2003) to put it in a more comparable range with other sellers of the same camera, but I noticed that the spec sheet has some wrong information. For example, this camera DOES have a self-timer whereas the amazon.com specifications page states it does not. I can attest, the self-timer works well, I have used it many times already since I bought the Rebel G II. Also, the specs page says you can't imprint the date & time on pictures, but you can. It's all explained in the user's manual when you buy the camera. Go to the Canon Homepage and see for yourself if you don't believe me. Don't let the wrong information by amazon.com scare you away from this camera. It has alot of automatic settings (action shots, portraits, close-ups, landscapes) for beginners to use, and it has the capabilities for advanced photographers to use shutter speed, aperture and manual settings to control their shots. The pictures are looking great (I've shot athletes in full sprint and got great looking shots and done hiking and gotten beautiful close-ups of birds/flowers as well as wide landscapes). This camera takes great shots, is easy to use and is a great 1st step for a beginning photographer. ... Read more

Product Description

The CK-51B Cradle Kit includes the Lithium Ion battery, the battery holder and a charging cradle. ... Read more

Features

• 4.2x zoom lens has an extended focal-length of 38mm to 130mm for wide-angle, normal, portrait and telephoto perspectives
• Passive 3-point Autofocus system
• Exclusive Best Shot Dial for simplified exposure settings including programmed autoexposure
• High-eyepoint viewfinder with dioptric adjustment for people with varying degrees of vision
• Built-in electronic flash with multiple modes, including Red-Eye reduction

Reviews (9)

Nice camera
Nice camera, Nice features. Rating this camera low because it didn't come with a battery is nonsense. Takes good pictures.

simple and easy
Great Camera for the price. It's simple and compact which makes it easy to point and shoot. I would have given it five stars but it came without battery. Overall very satisfied.

Why ship a new camera without a battery?
Why isn't the purchaser informed the camera comes without a battery? It's the first camera I have ever purchased which required a battery and wasn't delivered with one. Because of this I am not able to rate this camera.
I have tried to turn the camera on to no avail. My wife also was unable to turn the camera on. So, we have presumed the camera has no battery. Neither of us were able to open the battery compartment to verify the absence of a battery because evidently neither of us has the required strength to do this. I shall take this to a camera store sometime this week to check the camera out. I placed a roll of film in the camera but nothing happened when I closed the case. The film was not taken up. The number "1" did not appear on the screen indicating the camera was ready for action. What more can I say???

Almost everything we wanted.
When we went shopping for a camera to replace our current one, this is the one that we came across. My brother even has the same camera and he loves it. We did research and found that it had everything that we needed until upon receiving the camera, we found that it doesn't have the date caption that we thought that it did. There are two different models of this camera, one says caption and one doesn't. We had seen the one with caption at many other stores and didn't realize that there was a model without a caption.It is a great camera, unless the date caption is an important feature for your family.

Great camera!!!! If you have kids...this is for you!!!
Finally I have found the camera for me! I have shopped around quite a bit, and have done alot of research! I have tried "Nikon"..."Minolta" and they do not even compare to this camera!

I have kids and taking pictures fast is a must for me! I have yet to miss a moment! The flash is ready to go quickly after a picture is taken,(so you can take 2 pics of your baby doing something cute!!)You do not have to keep someone smiling while the red eye reducer light is working, it is that fast!! The view finder is large, so you can find something moving around in the view finder quite easily! It is small and compact to keep in my purse.
I also use the Canon Rebel SLR...another great find!! But when you need a small point and shoot...this is the way to go!

TWO THUMBS UP!!!! Worth every penny I paid for!! Canon is a name to depend on! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Looking for an easy way to break into the world of digital video? Look no further than the Canon ZR65MC, which makes capturing valuable family memories as simple as pressing a button. It also features the ability to take high-resolution digital still photos and store them on memory cards.

Lens
The ZR65MC features a high-performance 1/6-inch 680,000-pixel CCD to capture high-quality video and digital photos. The zoom technology found in the ZR65MC lens is the same as Canon uses in its broadcast TV lenses. The ZR65MC is fitted with a high-performance 20x optical zoom lens, which can easily handle all your shooting needs--from wide-angle shots of all the family at the reunion to close-up sports action at full telephoto. The ZR65MC's 400x digital zoom significantly expands the telephoto magnification of the subject.

Image Stabilization
Canon's image stabilization system corrects camera shake caused by, for example, an unsteady hand. This image stabilization system makes for smoother and steadier video even with hand-held shots--at full telephoto--and with shots taken from a moving car.

Digital Still
In addition to high-quality video, the ZR65MC also captures outstanding digital photos. All it takes is a single press of the photo button to shoot crisp XGA (1,024 x 768 pixels) digital still images. The ZR65MC stores these images via the built-in slot for Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard memory cards. You can also choose to store still images on the MiniDV tape. The camcorder records the photos for approximately 6 seconds, as well as recording the sound for your verbal notes or narration.

You can search through the recorded tape for your photos using the supplied remote control. This photo search feature allows you to search for images recorded in photo mode. Search forward or backward through the images one at a time, or 10 from the current position.

More Features

• Print photos directly to Canon bubble-jet printers
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and 0.33-inch color viewfinder
• The My Camera function is designed to let you customize a number of features, including start-up image and sound, shutter sound, start-stop sound, and the self-timer sound
• Shoot panoramic still photos, then edit together on your PC with the PhotoStitch software
• The full-function wireless remote control works at distances up to 16 feet
• Wide selection of faders and special effects, including sepia, black and white, wave, mosaic, and more

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the new preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Power, Size, and Contents
The ZR65MC comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, which has an approximate battery life of 75 minutes when using the LCD screen. The camera itself measures 4.1 by 2.3 by 5.8 inches and weighs 18 ounces. This package includes the ZR65MC camcorder, battery pack BP-508, power adapter CA-570, wireless controller WL-D79, shoulder strap, stereo video cable, USB cable, 8 MB Secure Digital memory card, and the DV Network Solutions and Digital Video Solutions CD-ROMs. ... Read more

Features

• MiniDV camcorder with 20x optical zoom, 400x digital zoom, image stabilization
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and color viewfinder
• Takes digital stills (1024 x 768) and stores them on included 8 MB Secure Digital memory card
• Shoot panoramic still photos, then stitch together on PC
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394) and USB (for photos)

Reviews (24)

solid video in well lit situations, 1MP still capability
the zr65 is in the middle of canon's zr series. upgrades over the zr60 include a more powerful optical zoom (20x vs 18x) and still photo capability of 1 megapixel, USB port, and direct printing capability.

pros:
- powerful 20x zoom. while less powerful than its sibling (22x for zr70), 20x zoom is still better than most (sonys typically have 10x zoom).
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- generally good video quality in well lit situations.
- pass-through analog-digital conversion.
- many optional accessories using the accessory shoe.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- 1 megapixel still photo capability.
- direct printing capability.
- low price, okay value.

cons:
- the deal breaker for me is poor low light performance - expect very grainy video unless the room is well lit.
- the accessory shoe is not a hot shoe; this means that while you can get a third party video light, the camcorder will have absolutely zero interaction with the light. contrast this with sony, which has some video lights that will even adjust light intensity automatically depending on inputs from the camcorder.
- colors a bit washed out in videos.
- included battery life could be better.
- bottom loading cassette - can't remove tape while camcorder is on a tripod.
- motor noise can be heard when recording a quiet room.
- the supplied 8MB SD card is inadequate - be prepared to shell out a few more bucks for more memory.
- while easy to hold, this camcorder is a little bigger than its competition: 2.3"W x 5.8"D x 4.1"H, weighing 18.5 oz.

for its feature set, it is hard to beat the price of the zr65, but you get what you pay for. if you shoot mainly in well lit situations, this may work for you. for low light situations, you can also use a video light. but for outdoor shoots with low light, video lights won't help much either. check out the panasonic gs70 and sony trv33 as alternatives (more expensive though). i hope this helps your buying decision. peace.

Good Camera
I used this camera to take close-up pictures easily at the US Grand Prix Pit Walkabout today and I found it outstanding. Even from distances as far as 100 feet, you can zoom in far enough to see very detailed parts of the cars, like small wires used for telemetry. I highly recommend it, although the battery life is incredibly short and there is next to no space (8MB) on the card I got with it. But this is to be expected.

Not a low light camera
As stated many times before by many people this camera does not do well in low light.

Knowing that the camera does very well in well lighted situations. Even turning on extra indoor light will produce acceptable results. I have had no problems with motor noise or audio/video problems.

What makes this camera attractive is the features it has for the price. The digital effects, the chroma keying with the SD card pictures and best of all the digital to analog and analog to digital converter.

The price of this camera puts it in the range of dedicated digital to analog and analog to digital converter. This allows you to transfer old VHS or VHS-C tapes to DV. Cable boxes or TiVos with RCA outputs can also be used. Once on DV they can be transferred to the computer for editing and then burned to CD or DVD. Since it has the onboard converter it can also be used to edit video on a TV screen if your video editor supports it.

The camera also acts as a digital camera but even on the best camcorders the output is not on par with stand-alone digital cameras and is added as an after thought.

If you can live with the cameras low light problems then this camera will do well. If not save your pennies and get a better camera. If your need to get old footage in to your computer to put on DVD then consider this camera. With a Mac it will also work as a web camera without any addition software. If you are shooting a lot of low light footage this is not the camera for you.

Great Camera for Most Uses....
I really love this camera, it has just the right amount of auto functions mixed with user-defined functions. I like the little extras that come with the camera (including the special effects, various transitions, ability to easily customize the video, etc.) I am a film student at NYU and I bought this camera to shoot the many films that we are required to create (unfortunately there aren't always enough school owned cameras to go around,) and it has worked for me just fine... As for the indoor shooting issues that many have complained about, I've found it to be perfectly fine for me (although I do have the use of lighting equipment that could make any place well lighted,) I suggest propping up a desk lamp and reflecting the light off a white wall or centering the light slightly to the side of the subject (this technique is good for just about all cameras and lighting situations; as long as you don't use too powerful a light and get too close, this creates shadows.) I've not only used this camera for my films, but also for personal uses (like my little brother's birthday party) and it worked perfectly for me. Personally, I really am satisfied with this camera and it's great handling and shooting!

Great quality except in low light!
This camcorder has a lot going for it: it's small and lightweight and very easy to use. It has one of the best digitial zooms of any camcorder on the market (20X) and is loaded with lots of special effects. The quality of the video in good lighting conditions or outdoor filming is excellent...very clear and sharp. It also converts analog to digital which is a major plus. And the price is pretty reasonable for all that you get.

That being said, I have to mention the cons: the qulaity of the video in low light situations is very poor...the video is fuzzy and blurrry (just like most of the reviews say). And using the "night mode" or "low light mode" does brighten the picture a bit but the quality is still not acceptable. And there is a constant motor noise when you turn the camcorder on. However, when I play the video back on my TV you do NOT hear the motor noise (so I can overlook that).

Overall, it's a good camcorder for the price and I would recommend it. It has a lot more pros than cons. Just don't buy it if most of your recording will be in low light. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A smoothly designed point and shoot that doesn't lack in important features, the Canon Sure Shot 90u is easy to use and can adjust to most situations to capture clear photos. The 2.3x zoom (38 to 90 millimeters) provides a wide range of options in snapping your subject. The autofocus system uses 3 sensors to create a sharp and clear image, even when the subject is in motion or off-center. The 90u has several shooting modes such as automatic, action, night scene, portrait, and close-up mode.

Film loading, advance, and rewind are fully automatic for easy operation, and you can even rewind mid-roll as well. The flash can be set to automatic, fill, off, or red-eye reduction. Use the exposure compensation to help show subjects out in under or over lit situations. The 10-second self-timer is useful for self-portraits or group shots. You can also imprint the date onto your photos for record-keeping. This camera kit also includes a wrist strap, soft compact case, one 3-volt lithium battery (CR2), and one 24-exposure roll of 35mm film. ... Read more

Features

• 2.3x zoom lens 35mm camera
• 5 programmed shooting modes
• 3-point autofocus system
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction
• 10 second self-timer

Reviews (10)

AWEFUL CAMERA!!!!
this camera was great the first couple days and then the flash went. does not work. called canon and they wanted to fix it but I had to pay for the camera to be shipped there and shipped back, because I had just bought they were willing to look at it but not guarantee that it was not going to cost anything to fix this awful camera. this was the second and last canon product I buy. the A80 is just as bad!! the flash does not read and canon told me that it was a problem they were having w/ alot of there digital cameras. STAY AWAY from this brand!!!!!! customer service is rotten to the core very non helpful.

love it
i received this camera as a gift and love it. i'm a casual picture taker and i find that the quality of the pictures is very good overall. it's easy to use.

Rip-off! Canon knew there was problem, sold cameras anyway
If you look up "canon" and "flashing h" in a search engine, you'll see what you'll get if you buy this camera. Canon knew there was a problem and put the cameras on the market anyway. Huge rip-off and a waste of my $90. I WILL NEVER BUY A CANON PRODUCT AGAIN.

Not very impressed
After reading the reviews on this site for this camera it sounded like the perfect camera to give my friend as a gift. She has been loving using my expensive SLR camera and I was hoping that if she had a nice camera she would be able to take photos that were of a great quality like mine. Well I purchased this Cannon Sure Shot and the first reason we didn't like it was that the flash took forever to take a photo. The time from when you pushed the button to when it finially finished the photo was to long for taking pictures of kids. The second thing we didn't like was that the viewfinder was so small. It made it really difficult to take accurate photos at night. I would just have to hope that I got everyone in the photo. This might just be because we are spoiled with my SLR camera but I ended up returning the Canon Sure Shot. I am now going to try another point and shoot camera and hope I have better luck. I wouldn't recommend the Cannon Sure Shot camera to anyone who wants to take photos of kids or anything else where the moment would pass you by in a couple of seconds because with this camera you won't be able to capture that moment on film.

Great Photo Quality!
I received the Canon Sure Shot, a few weeks ago, as a wedding gift. I am completely impressed with the quality of the pictures. The colors are noticeably more crisp & clear than the photos I take with my Olympus Stylus camera, and costed about the same price. My Olympus Epic Stylus is a little bit smaller & lighter & has a weather resistant cover. However, the Canon is plenty small & light compared to other cameras.... and the output is so much nicer, that I plan to use this as my main camera (I'll save the ultralight, weather-resistant Olympus for hiking or backpacking). I have to give this a 5... a great buy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Canon Elan 7E features the eye-controlled focus system, the fastest means of focusing and metering a photographer can find. By using more focusing points and greater off-center coverage than other cameras in its class, this camera is able to take an exact reading in approximately 1/20 of a second. When a photographer brings the camera to their eye, their glance is tracked by the focusing system, allowing framing and focusing to become a single uninterrupted creative process. An easy one-time calibration is all that's needed to activate the eye-controlled focus system. Once this calibration is complete, the camera is able to precisely detect which part of the viewfinder the photographer is using. It then automatically focuses the lens with amazing accuracy.

This system delivers crisp, sharply focused images whether the camera is in a vertical or a horizontal position. The Canon Elan 7E is even able to store the distinct calibrations of up to five different photographers. Using an EF 300mm f2.8 IS lens, it can track a subject moving at 186 mph until it's a mere 66 feet from the camera. This fast-focus system, combined with the ability to shoot at almost four frames per second, makes the Canon Elan 7E the perfect choice for capturing those demanding sporting events or special occasions when you don't want to miss a single moment. And, considering its continuous shooting speed, the Elan 7E is also remarkably quiet. This feature gives the photographer the opportunity to shoot the perfect wildlife scene without disturbing or scaring the subject.

Part of the Elan 7E's focusing system is the seven-point wide-area autofocus. The eye-controlled focus system was designed to work especially with this precision feature. Seven focusing points are arranged in a wide cross pattern with a central "cross-type" sensor. The wider-than-usual area gives the photographer the ability to achieve a remarkably sharp, focused image instantly. This function works whether the subject is off-center, stationary, in motion, in low light, or even in low-contrast situations. The shot will still come out sharp and crisp, and without the need to recompose the shot. By using the focusing-point selection keys, the user is able to select any of the seven focus points simply by pressing a key. Representing a bold innovation in speed and usability, this feature gives an additional amount of image control back to the photographer.

A highly advanced metering system, comprised of 35-zone evaluative metering sensors, is linked to the seven focusing points. Whether shooting indoors or outside, day or night, a seamless integration of exposure and focus ensures remarkable clarity and contrast in any image. This system gives the photographer accurate control over situations that combine light and shadow or that feature strong backlight. When metering subjects against very dark or very bright backgrounds, partial-area metering measures 10 percent of the viewfinder around the chosen focusing point. This provides accurate image results when dealing with shadows or highlights. The photographer can also use the Elan 7E's center-weighed metering function. This mode places greater emphasis on what it reads as the center of the frame by measuring the entire scene. No matter which function the photographer chooses, precision metering is guaranteed--whether the camera is in a vertical or horizontal position.

Giving the photographer even more creative control is the command dial. This allows manual-control light, speed, aperture, and depth of field. Shutter priority lets the photographer choose the shutter speed, while the Elan 7E automatically selects the correct aperture. This function is especially useful when capturing action shots. With aperture priority, the photographer picks the aperture setting while the camera chooses the correct shutter speed. This is helpful when control over the depth of field is essential. Using the eye-controlled focus system to define the "sharp zone," the photographer can calculate the precise depth of field automatically. It's even possible to check the depth of field using the preview button. ... Read more

Features

• Features Canon's exclusive Eye Controlled Focus--the fastest, easiest method of selecting a focus point
• Top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second and fastest in its class 4 fps film advance
• Fixed new laser-matte screen with 7 focusing points; 35-zone evaluative metering system
• WhisperDrive brings near silent shooting, when used with Canon's exclusive USM lenses
• Includes 28-90mm lens

Reviews (27)

An outstanding camera
ELAN 7e is an outstanding camera with a very impressive performance. From the day I have purchased this body, it has functioned flawlessly. I believe that this body is suitable for serious amateurs who wish to work either fully manually, semi-manually or full-automatic modes, whichever they desire. I have preferred Canon to other brands for the following reasons: 1. The dials are more handy and easy to access to 2. Canon provides USM lenses capable of working very silently. 3. Unmatched reputation of body endurance 4. The built-in eye-controlled auto focus system allows very fast and accurate way to focus (and it is a miracle, it has not focused on a single wrong focusing point as of yet.). In my opinion, it IS worth the extra you pay for it! 5. The body is very sturdy. 6. Canon has a wide service network. 7. Infrared remote controlling is enabled, allowing as much as needed time to compose the picture and place yourself in it. The diopteric adjustment is also useful for myopes like me. It has a lot of additional features that come in handy. I have to emphasize that I am not a professional so I can only recommended this body to serious amateurs. For beginners in photography, Canon Rebel will be just as good. If you intend to buy this body, do not go for 28-90mm lens but prefer the 28-105 F/3.5-4.5 II USM lens instead and definitely purchase a tripod.

Fantastic beginners camera
For the record, I have been using this camera for over 2 years now and I shoot mainly nature and people.

The Canon Elan 7E/EOS30 is a fantastic all around camera for beginners/intermediate photographers.

At the time of buying this camera, there was a confusion whether to choose the rebel or the elan 7E. I would very strongly recommend anyone to consider buying the intermediate Elan 7 as compared to the basic rebel. The rebel has a very "plasticky" feel to it and if I remember correctly, there is a single knob to set both the aperture and the shutter speed. Once you move away from shooting it as point and shoot, you will realize that the single knob can get incredibely irritating.

As for the "E" i.e. eye focus, I never really used it too much but am planning to shortly. So you can save some money by getting the Elan 7, if you so wish since the Eye feature is essentially just a gimmick. Now I also wish I had got the date feature, since down the road it might be an useful tool. (say, 40 yrs, from now, you want to know when the picture was taken ;) )

The most wonderful thing about the ELan 7E is that it allows you to grow with it...It offers a whole bunch of features, that I think will take you from a beginning stage (point and shoot) to a more advanced stage (total manual) phase. After shooting over 20 rolls of film and slide, I still find myself reading the manual and noting down some new feature to try out on my next roll.

Small piece of advice for beginners.. I realize now that the money you spend on lenses might be worth almost more than the money you spend on the camera. Coz even the best camera cannot produce a decent picture with a bad lens. I would strongly recommend avoiding the standard lens(28-90mm, I think) that comes bundled with it (even if the total package is cheap). I bought the body separate and then a canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 lens and I have never regretted the decision. Its a relatively sharp lens at both ends and is always mounted on my camera for shooting almost anything. If you are on a tight budget get the Canon 50 mm 1.8 II which sells in most shops for under $100. I am now slowly saving up for a L series lens.

Besides the usual preset options like portrait,landscape,closeup,sports,night mode,the Elan 7E offers a whole bunch of features that I found really useful. Here are some of them,

1) Depth of field preview button.
2) DEP (depth of field AE) - this really helps if your lens does not have a distance scale (like the 28-105mm). Say for e.g., you need to preset the depth of scale from 0 to infinity, this feature helps you to achieve that effect without the distance scale on your lens.
3) AE lock
4) Exposure compensation - you can set the exposure compensation upto + or - 2 stops in half stop increments and you can do it without taking your eyes of the viewfinder.
5) Auto exposure bracketting - for those really important pictures that you dont want to miss :)
6) bulb exposures - allows you to have as long a exposure as you want. I found this really useful. I hear that some cameras have limitations on how long they can be exposed. (RS - 60E3 shutter release cable is really useful for this)
7) multiple exposures
8) mirror lockup etc etc etc.

The built in flash suffices for all my needs. Lots of people in this website recommend the battery pack, but I would suggest anyone buying this camera to first check it out themselves. I find the grip good enough for me.

All in all, I just love this camera. I have been having great fun for past 2 yrs with it and am confident of having lots more fun for few more years at least and I dont think you will get a better performance for this price...If you have the money, just get it & start shooting !!

Strengths:
1) Solid feel and good looks
2) Enough bells and whistles to keep you curious and interested for quite some time.
3) focussing point selection with seven focussing points (auto or manual)
4) whole bunch of lenses to choose from
5) built in flash
6) Rugged build - have used extensively in real hot weather(AZ) as well as sub zero temperatures (MI)
7)Relatively light and compact.
8)Best price/performance ratio

Weaknesses:
1) I feel an LCD would have been invaluable tool to have during low-lit situations
2)Lack of spot metering - this is one feature I would have loved to use.
3)Auto focus fails to activate when you try to shoot closeups(macros), cloudy landscapes or under low light situations

4) Depth of field preview button is hidden...I have never been able to activate it without taking my eyes off the viewfinder !

Very Happy Canon User
I read the previous reviews and agree with most everything. This is a great camera that can be easily used by a beginner but has the features wanted by experienced pros.

The one thing I was disapointed in is that it did not say anywhere, until I already purchased the "E" model and read the manual, that the EYE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK IF YOU WEAR CONATCT LENSES. The "E" model was a waste of money for me due to this and that is the reason I gave this camera 4 out of the 5 stars.

Great upgrade from EOS rebel but avoid Eye Control
I upgraded to this camera from the EOS Rebel 2000. This time around, I did things right by just buying the body instead of getting the body+lens option. I did this b/c the quality of the lenses that come with the combined package usually are optically a joke. This time, I picked this camera up with 2 separate lenses...Canon 28-135mm IS USM and the Canon 100mm macro USM lenses. Both of these lenses have a super fast and quiet ultrasonic motor...the crappy lens that comes with the combo option will likely not have this option. You get what you pay for.

I am very very pleased with the performance of this camera. The weight feels very good in my hands...the knobs and buttons are well placed. Although this camera does not have a spot meter, it has a partial meter which will serve you fine.

If I could do it all over again, I would have gotten the plain old Elan 7 w/o the eye control. I find that eye control is not effective with only 7 focusing points...also, the need for repeated calibration to perfect this is annoying. I find myself using the center focusing point only and recomposing. Save yourself some cash to spend on lenses/filters/etc. and forget the eye control or the quartz date options.

While this camera has a very quiet whisper drive, don't let the marketing fool you since the slap of the mirror still sounds the same as you trigger the shutter.

Love this camera...it doesn't feel flimsy at all. Great buy for an intermediate photographer. I would also recommend picking up the 420EX speedlite as it was designed to work specifically with the Elan 7/7e.

A Good Camera
I received this camera as a gift and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
The instructions were easy to follow and gives tips throughout on becoming a better photographer.

The camera was light and easy to carry and button use was simple. My only complaint was I felt the flash was inadequate but overall its a good camera. ... Read more