Editorial Review:Product Description:Coupled to a 4.0-megapixel CCD is Canon's high-performance DIGIC processor to ensure enhanced color reproduction, fast continuous shooting and a long battery life. Every image is captured through a crisp 3x optical zoom lens combined with a digital zoom for 11x combined optical and digital zoom. This results in high-resolution prints of up to A3. An Intelligent Orientation Sensor recognizes how you're holding the camera when you take a shot, as well as more accurate metering this also rotates the image on the LCD screen so the picture is always the right way round.Flexizone AF/AE lets you move your auto focus point around when composing. Focus bracketing, especially useful in close-ups, takes three shots of a subject, changing focus between the three; ideal for macro shots. With a metallic body, the PowerShot S45 has a beautifully balanced, compact, ergonomic design. The camera's 12 shooting modes are organized into three Zones (Creative Image Zone, Programmed Image Control (PIC) Zone and Auto Image Zone). They allow more photographic control so that you can achieve just the result you're looking for. A dedicated range of accessories helps you make the most of every photographic opportunity. For instant prints you can simply connect to a Direct Print-compatible printer, select your image and print - no PC required. PowerShot S45 is compatible with the complete range of Canon card photo printers and Bubble Jet Direct printers.
Amazon.com Review: Following up on their S40, Canon's Powershot S45 offers the same aesthetically pleasing metallic chassis with the powerful innards to go along with it. With a 4 megapixel CCD, images taken with the S45 were deeply detailed and could be easily printed out at 8 by 11 and larger without any loss of resolution.
Although the 3x optical zoom is average for mid-range cameras and above, it still let us get in a bit closer to our subjects when snapping shots. Improving on the S40, the S45 now captures video clips--complete with audio--of up to three minutes in length (although you'll probably want a larger storage card than the 32 MB CF card the S45 ships with). There are also easy-to-use video playback and editing controls on the camera itself.
A unique design, the metal lens cover of the S45 serves as the on/off switch--slide it open and the camera turns on, slide it closed and it powers down, with the lens folding out or back into the frame of the body respectively. You can't put any accessory lenses onto the S45 because of this design, but you'll also never try to take any pictures with the lens cap on.
The rechargeable batteries lasted for well over 200 shots before needing to be plugged in. And that's with the LCD on--Canon promises a life of over 500 without the LCD. Speaking of, the bright and large 1.8-inch LCD took up nearly half of the back of the S45 and followed the lens quickly while using it for framing shots.
While it weighs a solid 11 ounces, the 4.4-inch by 2.3-inch by 1.7-inch camera is compact enough to slide into a pocket, making it easier to take on day trips than bulkier Powershot models.
--J. Curtis Pros: - Enhanced movie mode
- Compact design
- Well priced
Cons: - No accessory lenses
- Average optical zoom
Amazon.com Product Description:Nestled between the ultratiny Elph models and the feature-packed PowerShot G models, the Canons PowerShot S45 combines most of the portability of the former with nearly every advanced feature of the latter. The PowerShot S45 offers such improvements over the S40 as a nine-point artificial intelligence autofocus (AiAF), easier access to controls with a function button, an intelligent orientation sensor, and enhanced movie mode. The S45 features a 4-megapixel CCD sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens.
Optics and Resolution The PowerShot S45 has a 4-megapixel sensor with a maximum resolution of 2,272 x 1,704 pixels, which is enough detail for photos from 4 by 6 inches to 20 by 30 inches (poster size). It also features a 3x optical zoom and 3.6x digital zoom for a total 11x zoom.
The S45's new DIGIC image processor is a groundbreaking innovation that speeds operation, ensures pinpoint autofocus accuracy, and takes image quality to a whole new level. The system is integrated with a complex scene-analysis system called iSAPS technology, which brings a highly natural, lifelike quality to digital images.
For beginners, the camera is point-and-shoot simple. Just twist the dial to auto and start snapping pictures. The PowerShot S45 offers a myriad of setting options, including three light-metering modes, white balance presets with two positions for custom settings, exposure and focus bracketing, manual focus and autofocus lock, aperture and shutter-speed priority, and adjustable ISO-equivalent sensitivity.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards, and the memory slot is compatible with CompactFlash Type II cards as well as Microdrives. The included 32 MB card holds approximately 27 images at the large or fine settings.
Movie Mode Shoot up to three minutes of MPEG video (with sound), which includes editing controls and VCR-like playback. Let the camera take over in automatic mode, or get creative in manual. The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments.
More Features - Shot presets include portrait, landscape, night scene, and stitch assist, and you can save your own custom settings.
- Five flash modes let you turn the flash and auto red-eye reduction on or off in any combination.
- The intelligent-orientation sensor displays your images in proper rotations during playback on the LCD screen and your computer screen.
- To print your photos at home, the PowerShot S45 connects directly to Canon's Bubble Jet direct printers S830D and S530D, and card-photo printer CP-100.
Power, Size, and Contents The camera is powered by a proprietary rechargeable lithium battery pack NB-2L (included). It measures 4.4 by 2.3 by 1.7 inches and weighs 11.1 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot S45 digital camera, battery and battery charger, USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
Accessories:
see more
Accessories:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
-
great camera at a low price
This was my first digital camera, I've had it for a little over five years now and it's still going strong, even after I dropped and dented it the first week that I got it; this thing is build to last! After researching so many different cameras, I decided on this one based on the many stellar reviews it had. The picture quality is great even while comparing it to my newer (higher mega pixel) camera for regular, medium to small prints. The only problem I have with this camera is, while it's not as bulky as a SLR, it's still not as compact as I would like my everyday camera to be, and hence why I recently picked up a Canon sd1000.
If you could find this camera at a low price I would recommend it, otherwise I'd look into one of canon's newer smaller cameras, though I don't know if they are as durable as this thing.
Rating: -
A Good first time digital camera
This has been a great 1st camera - easy to use but the biggest complaint is that no matter what setting you use - it is not good at removing red eye. The other feature it lacks is that you cannot print the date on the photo, that has to be done by a printer with that option. If you don't want to have to edit every photo and have the date stamped on it, this is not the camera for you. Otherwise, it takes nice clear shot and it's great to travel with as it has a good zoom. I have had it 3 years and no mechanical problems at all even though it has been dropped a couple times.
Rating: 
-
We tested the durability
We are a clutzy family and this camera has been dropped multiple times onto concrete or asphalt pavement. The camera is covered in dents and scratches. The shutter cover barely slides closed because it's so bent, but THE CAMERA STILL WORKS PERFECTLY. We've had it for about 2 years. Of course I wouldn't guarantee the same luck to others. Best wishes!
Rating: 
-
For snapshooters only!
I use this camera mainly to shoot small art objects, since I'm an art dealer.
On average the quality of photos you can take with this camera is pretty good considering the price. It has a good array of advanced options as well, like RAW format, that later you can convert to a 11MB TIFF file (on average, for 8 bits) or a 22MB TIFF (on average, for 16 bits). Tiff's are uncompressed files, and are the best option if you want to use Photoshop to manipulate your shots.
Very well built metallic case. I drop it from 4 feet twice and not even a dent occurred. Well done Canon!
The custom option in the shooting menu is also very welcome. You can store all your shooting parameter, like aperture, speed, colour balance, bracketing options, ISO and etc. Very handy!
In good light conditions the quality of photos is excellent for a 4 Mpixels camera. Both colour balance and sharpness are excellent. Better stick to ISO 50 or 100 or you will get above average noise though.
So far so good. But ...
Below average flash. If you use it outdoors as a fill in flash be prepared to get your main subject washed out and overexposed. If you use it indoors, on a birthday party for instance, the flash is not powerful enough even for small ambients. Be prepared to get underexposed photos with excess noise when you blow them up. But I have to be fair, if you take snapshots only, you would not notice it probably.
And now about the software that comes bundled with the camera. Remember that in digital photography the software to manipulate your shots is almost as important as the camera itself. And that's the point were the S45 fails to my requirements.
The File Viewer Utility does what it should do, but will present to you an interface that would be outdated when Windows 3.1 was the king. Zoom Browser has a better interface but is a jack of all trades and master of none sort of software, not integrated at all with the rest of the bunch. But I could live with both and still rate this camera well.
But then there is Remote Capture, which was one of the reasons I bought this camera. As I take pictures of small art objects, light control is top priority and the possibility of connecting the camera to a computer using this software and get a bigger image with all the control options of the camera was really appealing. Forget it! Remote Capture is a prehistoric, poorly designed, not properly tested and buggy piece of software. I do not understand how a company with the reputation like Canon supplies this sort of software with one of their products. I am sure it is only damaging the confidence the customers have in the brand.
Remote Capture is ridiculous. You can not save your shooting preferences, so every time you connect the camera you are back to the auto everything default. When you connect the camera, Remote Capture takes total control control, bypassing the camera controls, but without presenting the information that you usually get on the camera's LCD. There is no on-line information of speed, aperture, the focusing area marks, the auto-focus options, nothing! To know if a photo will come out in focus is a lottery. You can only trust in your visual perception from what you see on your monitor.
There are so many limitations that I would need too much space to describe. So I will only mention one more: Remote Capture freezes very easily (and I am using XP-Pro!), mainly if you use it in conjunction with a photo manipulation software, like Photoshop or PhotoImpact.
Final conclusion: This camera is adequate and a good value for money if you are a casual snapshooter. For this purpose I would rate it as 4 stars camera. But for semi-professional use I can only rate it 3 stars at the most.
Rating: 
-
Poor Quality
My S45 has broke twice in the 6 months I have had it. I am very disapionted. I've always bought Canon but will look somewhere else next time! Very poor quality.
