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"Batteries and Memory answers revealed" on by juice20D
Pros: 8MP and Digic II processor
Cons: No Raw and No Remote
Summary: OK folks, Looks like we have some people who don't really understand the product or the target market for this product. I have 3 Canon Cameras, the 20D, S50, and S80. Let me say that the S80 is the PERFECT companion to any SLR and is a fantastic digital compact for stand alone use. The only legit complaints for this camera have been battery life and Canons choice to go to SD from CF.
First lets deal with Battery life. You can get third party batteries that are 1200 mAh (nearly twice the capacity of the OEM that comes with the S80) so what is the big deal. I got two of these third party batteries for $40.
Secondly, the decision to use SD rather than CF was almost a deal breaker for me because everything else that I use is CF and why would I want to have 2 forms of memory? Again that question was anwered with a $50 SD to CF converter that allows me to use the SD memory in any CF device. So the memory is universal.
Ultamately, this digital compact lives up to the reviews and in a lot of ways surpasses them. The Underwater enclosure is unbelievable and the lense adapter is very useful. I have done 2 photo shoots sense purchasing the S80 and have not been disappointed. The best surprise from this camera is the time that it takes from power up to shooting. I would have missed many opportunities with shooting action and kids if it weren't for the fact that this camera performs so well.
Bottom line, only you can decide to upgrade, but if you are looking for your first digital compact, this is it! -
"I say save and upgrade" on by Matthewvern
Pros: Great pictures,Tons of scene modes, Nice LCD, Scroll wheel is a major +
Cons: EXTREME noise before picture and video taking (not in the pictures), too many buttons and menus to comprehend
Summary: I recently bought the S80 as well as the Rebel XT. The s80 claimed to be a nice transition from compact to pre-SLR. The s80 has great features and many different adjustments for the novice photographer. Only problem is that whenever you are looking at the LCD screen while you are trying to take a picture there is a TON of noise. When I say TON I mean it. Never have I ever seen that kind of noise. When I called Canon to try and see what the problem was they said it was normal and it might have something to do with the size of the screen or brightness. What? I Adjusted the brightness, no change. I had the Kodak V550 and it also had a 2.5 inch screen. No Problems with the Kodak. I say that before you spend $600+ on this camera, go ahead and save %200 more and get the fantastic 8 megapixel Digital Rebel XT. It is simply amazing with better picture quality and with an not-so-complicated interface.
The s80 is a good camera, but THERE ARE FAR BETTER 2.5 INCH LCD CAMERAS OUT THERE TODAY. Com' on Canon. -
"Not Worth the Upgrade for Previous S Series Owners." on by someguy12345
Pros: Nice size/aesthetics, large screen, fast timings with DIGIC II processor
Cons: Can't shoot in RAW, problems with overly saturated green tones, pricing
Summary: This camera does not live up to its pedigree. Previous S Series cameras were the ultimate prosumer cameras allowing people who wanted to expand their skill set to do so without jumping into the SLR market. The lack of being able to shoot RAW images is a real drawback. If you are looking for an advanced point & shoot this is overkill. I would wait till the second revision of the this new form factor in the S series till all the kinks are worked out. Those considering the S80 might want to look at the S70 which is considerably cheaper, has the same lense, uses cheaper memory and allows you to shoot in RAW mode for greater control of your images.
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"Great Feature Set, Poor Reliability" on by INTENSE1
Pros: Great Reviews, Impressive Capabilities, Nice Looking,
Cons: Poor Reliability,
Summary: I had this camera for a little over a month used it 3 times and was impressed. Then one day the lens made a grinding noise, failed to extend upon power up and I got an "E18 error.(Note: I have babied this thing, never dropped, exposed to contamination or moisture - barely used). Upon further investigation online there are a large number of E18 issues being reported with the Canon Powershot camera series going back quite some time. Apparently, Canon has taken little action. There is even a legal site for a class action law suit. In my case Canon will warranty repair the product, but I will be out the Camera for over a month and missed photo ops during the x-mas holidays due to the failure. And the real question is how long with the repaired unit last once outside of the 1 year warranty the repair cost is around $200. A number of people have experienced the failure outside of the warranty period. Maybe a extended warranty is appropriate in this case. Caveat Emptor - Let the buyer beware.
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"This is a great camera" on by Donato777
Pros: Image quality; wide angle lens; ease of use; manual controls
Cons: Flimsy battery lid
Summary: I recently purchased the S80 and I could not be more satisfied. It is one of the best cameras I have ever owned. Here's why: (1) Image quality: superbly clear with vibrant colors and detail. (2) Wide angle lens - The most important reason for buying it and a great advantage for every conceivable shot except one that requires an UZ. (3) Ease of use: very intuitive, clear, with a fairly low learning curve. (4) Bright and beautiful LCD: I was worried that 115,000 would not be enough, but my concerns were groundless. (5) Very nice and user-friendly optical viewfinder - larger than I expected. (6) Compact size, but not really ultracompact.
(7) Build/quality: It is a little thicker than I expected, but it feels very solid in the hand. You can feel the high quality build of this camera. (8) Sliding door to protect the lens: I did not think I would like this feature, but it is really cool, protects the lens and turns on the camera when you open it. (9) Good batter life. Nine positives = a score of "9" : Spectacular!
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