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Canon PowerShot S300 Canon makes a major update to their original S100 "Digital ELPH": More zoom, more controls, and better photos. Hard to beat! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot S300 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on PowerShot S300 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 4/5/2001

Design

Like the PowerShot S100 Digital ELPH before it, the PowerShot S300 Digital ELPH maintains the tiny dimensions that have made the ELPH line so popular. The S300 is as portable as they come, with an exceptionally rugged, all-metal body that should stand up to heavy use. The retracting lens features a smart design that keeps the camera front completely flat when the camera is off, making it a perfect fit for the smallest of pockets, while an automatic metal lens cover means you don't have to worry about smudging the lens or losing the lens cap. The S300 measures 3.7 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches (94.8 x 62.5 x 29.9mm) and weighs in at a mere 8.5 ounces (240g) excluding the battery, which is just a tiny bit larger and heavier than the S100 (but not enough to make much of a difference at all). The photo inset right shows you just how small the S300 is: Here, it's almost entirely hidden behind a standard playing card!

The front of the S300 reveals the distinctive ELPH styling, with the lens off-center slightly toward the right, and viewfinder, flash, and focus-assist illuminator windows just above it. The focus-assist light is in the middle, a bright, bluish-white LED that helps the camera focus in low light levels. The raised lettering of the Canon logo and a small grip give your fingers something to cling to as they wrap around the camera.

The Mode dial, Shutter button, and Power button are all on top of the camera, each with a sunken position that maintains the S300's sleek design. There's also a tiny microphone for recording sound with movies.

On the right side of the camera (when looking at the back panel) are the wrist strap attachment and the CompactFlash slot, the latter of which fits securely beneath a locking plastic door.

The opposite side of the camera simply holds the USB and A/V output jacks, which are protected by a snug rubber cover. This cover seems to do a good job of protecting the ports, but it sticks out a little on the otherwise very sleek case, and we also worry a bit about flexible flaps like this breaking over time.

The remaining camera controls live on the back panel, along with the optical and LCD viewfinders. A small, textured thumb grip provides a relatively secure hold on the camera and gives a good grip for one-handed operation (for small to medium hands, those with larger hands may have a little difficulty negotiating the controls, which are a little close together). The S300 features slightly more external control than the S100 offered, now allowing you to change white balance and exposure compensation with a press of a button (instead of treating it as a menu option). As we mentioned earlier, we view the increased accessibility of the exposure compensation and white balance adjustments to be a significant user interface improvement: In our experience, these adjustments are used very frequently, so moving them out of the menu system onto a separate rear-panel button is a big plus.

The S300 features a nice, flat bottom, which holds the metal tripod mount and battery compartment. We don't usually like to see the tripod mount so far over to the side of the camera because the weight of the camera, placed off-center on the tripod head, can overly stress the mount threads. Given the S300's tiny size and the solid metal tripod socket (kudos for that), this may not be a concern. One consequence of having the tripod socket so close to the edge though, is that the camera may not rest level on some tripod heads. (Again, a minor concern, since you can usually just tilt the tripod to align the camera however you'd like.) The locking battery compartment cover slides open and then outwards, with a small, rubber flap in the center of the compartment door. This flap covers a hole in the battery compartment cover provided to allow access to the connector jack in the "dummy battery" used in the AC adapter kit. (Like many other Canon digicams, the S300's AC adapter scheme employs a dummy battery that fits into the battery compartment, and which provides a plug for the AC power converter's cable.)