- Smallest 3-megapixel zoom camera available
- 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality prints at 8 x 10 and beyond
- 2x optical plus 4x digital Canon autofocus zoom lens
- Uses Type I or II CF cards, including Microdrive; Included 16 MB card holds 31 images at default resolution
- Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port; uses 2CR5 disposable lithium battery (included) or optional rechargeable battery kit
Product Description
The PowerShot S20 is equipped with a 1/1.8-inch, 3.34 million-pixel CCD sensor. PowerShot S20 allows users to produce 8 x 10 prints boasting a level of image quality that rivals those from 35mm film. The high-performance 32-64mm (35mm format equivalent) 2x zoom lens incorporates three aspherical lens elements to correct for a variety of lens aberrations at all focal lengths and deliver sharp images with reduced distortion, even toward the outer perimeter of the image frame. A Canon proprietary dedicated digital signal-processing integrated circuit maximizes the performance potential of the 3.3 megapixel CCD through high-speed high-precision image processing. The camera’s built-in buffer memory realizes a shutter interval of about 2.2 seconds, facilitating stress-free operating ease. The PowerShot S20 offers five picture-taking modes for a variety of shooting conditions and user preferences and includes such features as spot metering, AE lock and ISO equivalency settings.Amazon.com Product Description
The Canon PowerShot S20 is one of the smallest 3.3-megapixel digital cameras in its class. Its half-inch 3.34-megapixel charge-coupled device (CCD) creates full-color and B&W high-resolution images up to 2,048 x 1,436 pixels. It offers a 2x optical zoom lens and a range of shooting modes. The zoom can be enhanced at the touch of a button with a digital teleconverter (2x/4x) for seamless zooming up to 8x.
The PowerShot S20 features an extremely compact design that is only 4.1 inches long, 2.7 inches high, and 1.3 inches wide. In addition, the PowerShot S20 weighs just 9.5 ounces. Despite its small size, this camera features large easy-to-control buttons. You can take one digital picture after another. With IC signal processing, the camera speeds up the interval between shots to 2 seconds. It also stores and plays back images eight times faster than previous digital cameras. It has complete USB compatibility. Cables are supplied for transferring images to your Mac or PC with either a serial or USB port. You can record at three levels of JPEG compression: superfine, fine, and normal. The camera is compatible with JFIF and CIFF file formats.
The centrally located mode dial makes perfect shots easy. It offers five shooting modes–auto, manual, image (landscape, night scene, B&W, slow shutter, and high-speed shutter), stitch assist, and flash. With these modes you have the flexibility to get great shots at any time of day and in any kind of weather. The PowerShot S20 also offers red-eye reduction, a self-timer, and continuous shooting.
The Canon PowerShot S20 uses CompactFlash type I and II memory cards and also supports IBM’s 340 MB Microdrive, capable of storing the equivalent of 10 rolls of pictures at a time. The PowerShot S20 comes with a comprehensive software package that is fully compatible with PC and Macintosh computers. It includes Adobe PhotoDeluxe ZoomBrowser EX, PowerShot Browser, Time Tunnel, SlideShowMaker, PhotoStitch, PhotoRecord, and PhotoAlbum for both Mac OS and Windows. The package includes a wrist strap, a video cable, interface cables, a lithium battery, an 8 MB CompactFlash card, a case for the CompactFlash card, and a user’s manual.
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Canon PowerShot S20 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom
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I love this camera. It is the smallest 3.3mp camera on the market and takes incredible pictures. The best part about this camera is its ability to take both type 1 and type 2 cf cards. This means that the S20 can use the IBM Microdrive (170 or 340 mb). With the 340 mb drive (@$400, with pcmcia card adapter), the camera can hold 379 shots at largest size with medium resolution, or 164 shots at largest size with best resolution. I literally shoot all day and sort the pictures out later. No more asking yourself, “should I take this shot, or will I fill the card too quickly.” If you are not going to buy the microdrive, I really don’t see the need to pay $800 for this camera. Its like buying a rolls royce and getting bicycle tires. Also, be aware that the S20 takes a proprietary battery (cannot be replaced by regular batteries in a pinch). When you buy the camera, buy at least one extra battery that day. Nothing is worse than having 150 shots left, but a dead battery. I love my S20, but be aware that after the camera, charger, 340mb microdrive and an extra battery, you are talking about $1350.
Rating: 5 / 5
I have been looking at digital cameras for the past year, The prices just couldn’t be justified for me… Until the 3million megapixel camera’s came out. This isn’t the right camera for professional shooting, as it does not take raw tiff’s.. but the large superfine Jpeg’s turn out close enough to raw images. This is a high end Point and Shoot camera, you do not need professional photography experience to take great photos. The camera is small and lightweight.. similar to the Canon ELPH camera’s design.. so it can slide in your pocket.. And Canon has been known for their optics for years. The software works fine, I just use Adobe Photoshop to get my images though. The photostiching is neat, and works well, I took pictures in a circle around my apartment and stitched them seamlessly together to make a really wide panoramic shot.. using USB to get your images is FAST, I had no problems setting the camera up with USB or Serial. The cons of this camera is that it doesn’t come with rechargable batteries (a MUST have) get the recharge/ac adaptor kit, or else you will spend hundreds on batteries. the 16MB CF card will fit about 100 average quality photo’s, 34 above average, but only 7 SuperFine quality photo’s (time to go buy a bigger CF card).. Digital camera’s are going to be expensive, especially if you want quality and features, The higher end Kodak’s, Sony’s and Olympus’s offer about the same features and quality, but the Kodak and Sony are much larger and bulkier. If you’ve used Canon camera’s before, this will be simple to use
Rating: 5 / 5
It’s small, light and easy to use and picture quality is superb. I would agree with the other reviewers on this page with one exception: according to one reviewer you can’t check the quality of your photo immediately after shooting – this is not true: keep the shutter button pressed in after shooting and the photo appears on the TFT screen until you release the button. The supplied 16Mb flash card is not enough for efficient use, but it does get you started. You can take 44 photos in medium res (1024 x 768) which is good enough quality for screen viewing. Batteries will last long enough to fill the 16 Mb card but I bought 2 extra rechargables with mine and I keep TFT screen and flash use to a minimum when not near a power supply. My biggest niggle with the Canon is that in Auto mode it only takes pictures in the highest resolution, something like 8 or 9 photo’s on the 16 Mb card. With maybe a 170 or 340 Mb IBM micro drive and a couple of extra rechargable batteries this is a brilliant little machine suitable for most users, takes great pictures and fits in your jacket pocket too!
Rating: 5 / 5
I picked up this camera to do a web catalog photo shoot of flowers. I found it to be an impressive camera for its size. Get the IBM Microdrive because the 3 megapixel images will fill up a memory card fast!
Battery life was good but it uses a proprietary battery. It also takes 2CR5s but eats them up in a hurry.
Very good image quality, works well in macro mode. One thing I wish it had is the ability to review the image right after you took it. You can’t do it easily, you have to switch camera modes and the lens closes up. With the microdrive you can afford to take extra shots and weed out the bad ones later.
Good transfer software although the serial cable mode is incredibly slow…go with USB.
All in all, I love this little camera which packs a punch.
Rating: 4 / 5
after months of research, i finally bought this camera and it is very good. i originally looked into the canon digital elph but eventually bought the s20
pros: 1) it’s small size, though the elph is even smaller (the sales person slipped it into his shirt pocket and it fit like a pack of cigarettes) 2) great quality of pics, elph has lower resolution, but you won’t be able to tell if you plan on posting your pics on the web…but you’ll need the high resolutions for printing 3) the price is reasonable 4) uses rechargable battery (a must) or store bought batteries. the digital elph uses only a specific size of rechargable batteries and can’t take any store bought ones. 5) the camera’s body is pretty sturdy, it had a minor incident with the sidewalk and it’s a little scratched up but still in great shape 6) this isn’t unique to the canon s20 alone but all digital cameras in general…digital photo printouts on photo papers don’t last as long as pictures developed from traditional films (35mm). don’t use it for pictures that you plan on keeping for a long time (i.e. wedding, family portraits, baby pics, etc.)
cons: 1) this thing drains the battery so quickly! must buy rechargable battery & kit, 2) an additional (bigger memory) CF card is a must unless you plan on taking only 11 pictures at high resolutions 3) canon makes this leather case for its powershot cameras that you can buy but it really should just be included with the camera kit b/c you’ll end up needing to buy some sort of a case to protect the camera
overall, i love this camera and have had a lot of fun taking pictures but it hasn’t completely replaced my 35mm camera.
Rating: 4 / 5