Editorial Review:

Amazon.com Product Description:
With the Canon PowerShot S230, you've got the best of both worlds--the compact size and high style of the digital Elph series plus the higher resolution of a 3-megapixel camera. Updating the popular 2-megapixel PowerShot S200, the PowerShot S230 also features a 2x optical zoom, an improved 3.2x digital zoom, movie mode for videos up to 3 minutes, and more--all in a stylish, compact package.

Optics and Resolution

S230's nine-point autofocus lets you sharpen the image on your subject, no matter where it is in the frame.

Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the PowerShot S230 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels) and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. Canon's high-quality 2x optical zoom lens allows you to close in on the action, while the 3.2x digital zoom allows for a combined 6.4x zoom, letting you capture intimate details that might have been missed with another camera. The PowerShot S230 is also one of the few digital cameras to feature wide-area nine-point autofocus for taking crisp, sharp images no matter where the subject appears in the image frame.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards, and a 16 MB card is included. When shooting images at the medium or fine setting, the 16 MB card will store approximately 26 images. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the S230 can also record movie clips of up to 3 minutes. You can choose from three different video formats: 160 x 120, 320 x 240, or 640 x 480 pixels. Both picture and sound quality have been improved, and an editing feature allows you to delete unwanted scenes during playback. The S230's photo-effect mode lets you do more with your still images. Choose from low sharpening, vivid color, sepia, neutral, and black and white.

More Features
Though it's primarily designed as a point-and-shoot, the S230 includes several advanced features for photographers who want more creative control, including exposure compensation, low-light manual shutter speeds, manual ISO and white balance, and stitch assist, plus black-and-white, sepia, vivid, and neutral modes.

The PowerShot S230 uses highly advanced technology to make your digital photography experience simple. DIGIC enhances image definition and processing speed, while the sophisticated iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology assures faster and more accurate autofocus, autoexposure, and automatic white balance. The intelligent-orientation sensor ensures your pictures are always right side up, on the LCD or even while downloading.

Horizontal	Vertical
S230's Intelligent Orientation Sensor knows which of your images were shot horizontally and which were shot vertically.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a proprietary Canon rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.4 by 2.2 by 1.1 inches and weighs 6.4 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot S230 digital camera, 16 MB CompactFlash card, lithium-ion battery (model NB-1LH) and battery charger (model CB-2LS), USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• SimpleTech STI-CF/512 512MB CompactFlash Card
• SimpleTech STI-CF/256 256 MB CompactFlash Card
• Canon PSC-100 Soft Compact Case for S100, SD110, S200 & S230
• Canon PSC-50 Soft Leather Case for Canon SD400, SD450, SD550, SD500, SD300, SD200, SD100, S500, S410, S400, S230 and S200 Digital Cameras
• Canon ACK-500 AC Adapter Kit for S110, S200, S230, S300, S330, S400, S410 & S500

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Rating: - Great camera --- for a while.
This camera was fantastic for four years. Then it died -- all the photos I've taken in the last few months have been pink.

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Rating: - Was good camera out the gate, but now outdated.
Have had this camera for 4 years.
Has been good, but compared to newer models, a lil' bulky and slow.
Takes Compact Flash card.

Have since upgraded to the SD750, which is awesome.

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Rating: - Love my little Elph
I bought this camera almost 4 years ago, and I love it in every way. It takes great pictures, uses a rechargeable battery and is great on battery life. I go about 6 months without having to recharge the battery. I would say I take a medium amount of pictures.

Recently Dec. 2007, I went to go take a picture and the screen was blank with a few purplish lines running through it.. My icons showed up, but there wasn't anything in the LCD. When viewing playback pictures, those pictures show up in the view finder. I recharged the battery and tried again, same thing. For a while, I thought I would have to get a new camera.

I called Canon support (for the other reviewer, I found the number very easy to find, 1-800-828-4040.) After going through their voice prompts, I got a customer service person right away. No wait! Plus, the rep was in Virginia, so there weren't any of the typical issues that happen when customer support is located in India (like HP).

I described the problem, the rep helped me reset the camera, it worked for a few seconds. The rep told me to keep taking pictures for a few more seconds, because the fix may be temporary, and sure enough, the picture went blank again. (IMHO, most customer service departments would try to get me off the phone the second it started working again).

Long story short, there is a service advisory out on this camera, it turns out that the "image sensor" may malfunction. Canon is paying for the shipment back to them and they will fix it for free. No muss, no fuss. It didn't even matter that I had the camera for almost 4 years. This was one of the best customer service experiences I have ever had.

If your camera starts acting up like this, call Canon right away.


**update 1/12/08 ***
Canon was not able to fix my camera so they sent me a BRAND new one, a SD900 , a much much better camera. My camera was not under warranty anymore, but since it was the "image sensor" issue, Canon still covered it. Amazing customer service, very rare these days. They just earned a customer for life.

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Rating: - No help provided by Canon
I ordered the camera online and the screen didn't dispaly anything. Later I found that my cousin had the same camera and she had to trash it because the battery would die very fast even though she took the pains to buy a new battery for it. I purchased a canon since I thought it was a reputed company and would care about their customer or technical support. But the truth is that they don't even have a technical support number listed anywhere. So thats it with Canon products...

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Rating: - Buy a newer camera
I own this camera and while it was very good in 2002-2003 the years have passed it by. There are other cameras with more megapixels, faster response time, better battery life, lighter weight, better lens, etc. Plus they cost the same or less than this camera is advertised for here. I still use it because I bought the waterproof case (up to 100ft depth!) and I use that regularly. You can probably find used s230s for way less than the prices here if you really want it.