I agree with the reviews by Simplicissimus & "curious", it was a great camera until it died. Mine had a critical failure just over one month past the warrentee running out. I paid $150 to have it "repaired." What I got back was a refurb with a different serial number. That lasted less than a year and half before it died. Given the price when I bought it, this camera has already cost me close to $800. The repair price that Canon charges will buy a new camera of the same functionality, with full warrentee. They offer an "upgrade" to a newer model, for $220, but that is a refurb with only a six month warrentee. I would prefer that Canon built a quality product that would last at least two years. I would settle for them at least standing behind their products when they die under normal use.

For the first 15 months of ownership, I was sure I made the right choice for my first digital camera . Many great pictures, especially available-light stuff, lots of flexibility, rock solid (OK, hefty) feel. Then one day I turned it on to review pictures taken at a wedding the weekend before and nothing happened. No error message, no reaction to replacement with a fresh-charged battery, stone dead. I returned it to Canon Service even though it was a few months off-warranty. They repaired it and returned it very quickly, about two weeks turnaround. I would have called it perfect service except there was no explanation as to what the problem was, what they did to remedy it, and the fact that my MINT S30 was returned with two almost identical, obvious new scratches on top and bottom (clamshell vise?) Now I feel like it is a ticking time bomb that could die again at any time and have migrated back to film and my more dependable 1970s-vintage Rollei 35S.

This was my first introduction to digital photography. Wouldn't you know, just out of the warranty period, the camera stops working. I test the battery just before my daughter's soccer game, then hop in the car. Get to the game and....the thing won't work. The lens will not come out. I now own a piece of junk. I think the retractable lens adds needless complexity to the camera. I will look for something simpler mechanically in the future. Maybe it's back to film cameras for me. I'm tired of 60 dollar ink cartridges anyway.

I have had this camera from about 18 months. It has a horrible redeye problem even with the redeye flash turned on. Now it has stopped working altogether. It has developed the dreaded E18 error which means the lens will not come out when you open the camera. This has happened to a huge amount of these cameras; just search the web for the S30 and E18 code and you will see. Buy a different camera.

I've shot hundred of pictures in the rain, at the beach and have never had any issue other than the sometimes slow first shot issue, mentioned else where.

It has been drop off the kitchen counter and lived on with a small dent.

I'd gladly buy a newer model if I needed to, but 3.2 megs I have found to be more than good enough for family shots. In comparing this to my other camera from a computer vendor I'd have to say stick to camera vendors models, they feel and work like cameras, right down to the little mirror/shutter sound that lets other people taking your vacation pictures know that they have in fact taken a picture.

I do think the lcd too small at times to determine some options, like the flash mode (red eye). Perhaps newer SLR digitals will get in viewer features, for when you saving power by not running the lcd display.

This was an OK camera but red-eye was a problem from Day 1. Also had trouble taking good night pictures. The 4 Star rating here is WAY too high for this camera. See the most recent reviews.

My S30 did all it was expected to do as far as imaging resolution and photo quality was concerned.
Downside issues with this camera:
LCD screen - Poor to zero visibility. OK for auto shooting but useless for creative photography,
Auto focus and close-up focus did not work 100% of the time. Continuous focus was hit & miss.
Battery life inadequate - 20 mins to 1/2 hr at best
Camera was returned to Canon during Warranty but none of the above issues were resolved.
Sold the camera after 18 months of serious useage

I have been using it for 5 years now. never had any problem... Night results are not very very good though, you just need to keep camera still if you want to get them perfect.

I've had my camera for about 5 years now, I think it takes great pictures overall. Redeye is a problem I've noticed like some of the other owners, even if you have redeye reduction turned on it's still a problem. Aside from the redeye problem with flash, it takes incredible daylight photos. Bright, colorful, amazingly clear with alot of nice manual modes and auto mode is also very good. Very durable also, I've dropped my camera many times and it keeps on working.

This Camera, the Canon S30 is a piece of junk. Owned it for two years and it has stopped working.
It shows a fully charged battery as low and you can get two pictures before it stops working and tells you to get a new battery.
Even at its best it was a terrible camera. Save your money and buy something else.

I've owned this camera since 2002.

I wanted to purchase a really great camera that was next to professional, as I design websites and have an Interior Designing company and wanted to be able to put up professional pictures of my work on my website.

I did an extensive search on the Internet and found that the Powershot S30 was rated in the top 5 cameras at that time for the price range of around $300.00. This rating was consistent with many top rated sites such as Amazon and CNET.

It was not what I was looking for in size and weight as at that time smaller cameras were the rave, but I decided to trade that in for it's features and picture quality. I went ahead and made my purchase over the net.

I have not regretted it. The camera was just as it boasted. The pictures were awesome! I still own this camera to this day and among the sea of 8 mega pixels and all the latest rave, my 3.2 mega pixel pictures sits just perfectly right up there with the rest.

On the downside, the camera has a clumsy way of powering up and down, as you have to slide this piece of metal accross the zoom lens. But this is really nothing to write home about. Also, the delete image button is a little testy as well, but again, you can get around that.

Since my camera is 6 years old now I do have some wear and tear and other problems. when I power up with that sliding metal, the lens sticks and won't open out and sometimes I have to give it a little shake and a thump for it to open out. If the lens doesn't open out the camera won't turn on. And that is all the problem I am having now. I managed to drop my camera a couple of times and even cause some dents on the body but no internal damages... still works perfectly.

I wouldn't bother to buy a new camera until it breathes it's last breath, but now I will have to as I am having problems turning it on. I think it's trying to tell me to let go and move on. But I'm moving on to another Canon though, they are tried and true. Although I must say I own Sony this and Sony that, but the Canon Digital camera to me is much better.

So I'm on to researching again... although I do say I still see Canon in the top 5 so far.

Dione,
Kingston Jamaica