silverorange stuff

At the time of my purchase 3 mega-pixel cameras were still quite pricey, and I think 4 mega-pixel models were just starting to become available. I opted for 2 a mega-pixel model as I knew my requirements and expectations were low, and only intended to use the photos on screen, not in print. I ended up paying somewhere around $400 (Canadian) for a factory-refurbished model (including shipping, tax, and a 256MB CF card).

Also, I had learned through other digital camera owners that much as giga-hertz are not always the best measure of the performance of a computer, the number of mega-pixels is not always the best measure of quality in a camera. Lens, firm-ware, zoom, CCD and other features can also play a significant factor in defining the quality of the images.

While you obviously loose out on image resolution, a nice side-effect of a lower-resolution camera is that the resulting images have much smaller file sizes. This allows you to store more on on the camera storage (compact-flash, in this case), and it makes storage, management, and manipulation faster and easier on your computer.

The Buying Experience

I gauged from other happy owners that Canon tends to product quality cameras across the price range. As price was a big factor in my purchase, I opted for a factory-refurbished model purchased from the Carman’s Foto Source eBay store.

Both the experience with a factory refurbished model, and buying off of eBay were quite positive, and I will likely do the same for my next camera purchase. Soon after my purchase, Carman’s Foto Source phoned me to suggest a combination purchase with a 256MB Compact Flash card. A quick check elsewhere online confirmed that their price on the card was very competitive (I’m afraid I don’t recall what I paid for the card).

Simple, Affordable, and Reliable

The PowerShot S330 proved to be just what I was looking for, simple, affordable, and reliable. The photos are relatively good quality. While I seldom manage to get good photos using the flash (example photo, I suspect that is a limitation of the photographer, not the camera.

This photo from WalMart.com shows the relative size of the camera (assuming that isn't an inordinately large or small hand...)

The camera case is a strong, solid metal and has endured several drops 3 or 4 feet onto concrete (I cringe every time, but it seems to take the beating just fine). Compared to most newer cameras, this model is relatively large and heavy. It can fit in a coat or pants pocket, but not comfortably and not without leaving you with a conspicuous rectangle in your pants.

Though I would prefer a smaller and lighter camera, there is a nice side-effect to the weight and size of this model. Since it has a good solid weight, it is a bit easier to hold steady than some smaller and lighter cameras.

This is considered by other reviews and by Canon to be a “point-and-shoot” camera. This means it is not intended for professional photographers, and ease-of-use is put ahead of power and customization. That said, the ability to adjust the ISO setting (100, 200, or 400) and the various other settings have proved useful for me. I imaging that more advanced models would offer far more settings.

Examples of the Camera in Use

View Larger Image This photo and others from the same set turned out particularly well

I have taken over 4,000 images with this camera since I bought it about nine months ago. A wide selection of these images are available online in my photo gallery. For a good example of the quality possible with this camera when you get lucky, see the series of images I took during a sunrise on the beach.

As may be the case with most cameras, except in bright conditions, it is easy to take blurry photos (example photo). I’ve found that steadying your camera-hand against something solid, or better yet actually resting the camera on something solid, like a table, or your car roof or window while you take photos can dramatically increase the quality, especially in low-light settings.

I Will Buy Canon Again

As those around me buy smaller and smaller cameras, I will eventually part with my PowerShot S330, though I suspect I’ll be able to re-sell it, or pass it on to someone else, as it looks as though it will last.

When I do decide to upgrade (I’m a known upgrade addict), I will probably opt for a smaller and lighter model. I will likely look to Canon for my next camera, as I have been happy with the overall quality of my current model. As it worked well for this camera, I will consider a factory refurbished model again next time. I will also look to Carman’s Foto Source eBay store for my next purchase.