Compact size excellent. Zoom range good. Solid feel due to metal body. Easy to use.

Mostly ineffective red-eye reduction. APS film results in grainy images when blown-up beyond 5x7. APS film choices limited to ASA 100-400. Focusing or red-eye reduction features create a fraction-second delay after shutter is depressed which makes it difficult to capture action shots (there is a workaround for this in the manual). Images show slight curvature when using wide-angle at HD picture size. Metering not always accurate or effective even in bright light. Panoramic mode a waste. Film interchange also a waste since you'll mostly be using ASA 400 film due to f4.5 lens. Film-labeling feature (which prints things like Happy Birthday on the back of your photos) is generally unneeded.

After 1 year of use and about 72 rolls of film exposed, the Elph gets an average rating. I'm not entirely satisfied with this camera overall and find it a bit overpriced. However, I also do not find too many other APS cameras in its league for compactness and features. My suggestion is for the reader to instead opt for a super-compact 35mm point-and-shoot with a zoom range of 38-80mm or 38-120mm (most are now small enough to almost match the Elph 370Z in size. You get a bigger negative size, more film types, an lower costs in processing. If you still choose to go with APS, this camera or the new Olympus i-Zoom may be your best bets. Try using Fuji Nexia APS instead of Kodak. The colors are better. I must still note however that I find the convenience of the APS negative-storage system to be excellent and wish that 35mm film had the same features (film ID, retained in case, photos imprinted with film ID on back).

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

First and only APS. Used Olympus OM-2n and Pentax Zoom90WR in 35mm formats previously.

- Compact size makes it one of those take-anywhere cameras that a good photographer must always have handy. Nice faux leather pouch comes with the package and is good for those semi-formal dress occassions.
- Camera readies quickly. Zoom moves relatively fast.
- Lens seems reasonably sharp albeit it is more difficult to tell with APS film.
- APS back-of-film date imprinting much better than on-the-image imprinting in 35mm.
- This camera does have mid-roll change which was helpful for me on a few shoots when weather conditions changed or I moved from outdoors to indoors.

- Metering gets thrown off if you're wearing a hat and the brim casts its shadow on the external sensor (or if you're shooting subjects that are in the sun while you're standing under a shade). I'm uncertain as to whether this camera uses two sensors (through the lens and on the camera) or one (on the camera). The external sensor is what can distort the metering. Be aware of this when taking your photos.
- Red-eye reduction uses a lamp and you must instruct your subjects to look at the light (which most won't do anyway). In my experience, the best red-eye reduction is with a pre-flash but that can fool your subject into thinking that the shot has already been taken (second-best is a strobe).
- Lens is slow (but no slower than most other P&Ss out there in both the APS and 35mm categories). Since APS has no ASA 800 film available (not that I might want it), you should take a light monopod with you if you're taking shots inside a museum or someplace where flash photography is prohibited.
- Images taken in HDTV format at widest angle show slight bowing and reduced light at the sides. Most people don't see it but I caught the drop-off immediately.
- Small buttons may be difficult for people with large hands. The camera's small size also increases the chances that you might cover the external light sensor. Make sure you try it in your hands and that it fits you.
- Slight shutter delay after button is depressed (due to autofocus and/or red-eye reduction). This can be overridden by chording two buttons on the camera and depressing the shutter button halfway while focusing on the subject.
- No spot metering or exposure compensation. This is a wish item.
- Not weatherproof but the metal case seems more robust than Olympus's APS model.
- Zoom is not continuous. It goes in steps (but this has not inconvenienced me).
- No diopter adjustment on viewfinder.

I don't think this camera was targeted at the "prosumer" but at the "avid" average consumer. The Elph 370Z yields good results for general family (or person) photography. Take it with you daily and use it to document your life; and you will be rewarded with above-average results (just take note of the Weaknesses I listed so you can compensate for them). Try using it for creative expression or as a subsitute for an SLR; and you'll probably be dissatisfied.

Customer Service

Haven't needed them yet (knock on wood).

Similar Products Used:

None in the APS category.

Stainless steel, size,
quality. Never had a bad canon.

Haven't found any yet.

Fits in a shirt pocket, not a suit case. My slr
wore me out to carry it. Not perfect, but close.

Customer Service

Have not needed.

Similar Products Used:

None, no need

Size, weight and ease of use. Great for snap shots.

Fragile. Picture quality doesn't seem to be quite as good as for any of the 35mm I have used. Lack of manual overrides...but then I guess that's what makes it so easy to use.

I liked this product as a pocket/second travel camera. But the terrible service deal means I certainly would never by anything by Canon again.

Customer Service

Terrible. Camera has stopped working... (don't know why!!)flashing H on LCD screen. (i) Customer services have an expensive number to call (ii) You have to give them your credit card number before they'll talk to you. Fixed service charge (U.K.) of about $140!!

Similar Products Used:

This is my only APS

Compact Sizel

Once there is a H error in LCD, It's a junk.

I was very satisfied before it is out of order(H in LCD). I found out that
many user have same problem.
Estimation for repair is $148 US dollar!
Terrible. I'll never buy Canon Camera again. I paid $330 to take the picture of 20 rolls of films.

Customer Service

Useless.

I liked the Elph for its compactness and for the zoom feature.

I think that as a result of being too sophisticated, it engenders many problems. I thought the camera was a bit too small for proper balance when taking the pictures. APS is also so expensive. Panoramic feature can also be found on the Olympus Stylus.

I have purchased 2 Canon Elph 370Z cameras and wasn't able to even use them. With the first camera, all photos came out in 4X7 when the camera had been set at classic 4X6. I had unfortunately sent in the warantee before developing the first roll. The dealer would not refund my money. I lost 200 dollars in the event. The Canon company to whom I wrote took no responsibility for the dealer's rip-off. I traded the camera in for my old one which I fortunately found on the shelf. The second Canon Elph was purchased through ritzcamera.com on line. When I developed the sample roll of 15 shots, the date was not imprinted on the pictures. The developer said it was not his fault. I called ritzcamera-they said I had only 30 days to return the camera. I would never think that a brand-new camera would have so many bugs. I am disgusted with Canon and Ritzcamera. I'll stick to my cute Olympus Stylus-it's a perfect little camera. I've never had problems. Besides, 35mm is better that APS.

Customer Service

Very disappointing. Ritzcamera was not very understanding, a bit abrupt and rigid with their policy. I would never buy on-line again.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus Stylus with panoramic feature and date imprinting

Convenient size--very handy.

Pictures taken in sunlight are washed out, overexposed. Pix taken on cloudy days are much better. My sister's Elph does much better in comparison; my guess is that Canon's engineers overcompensated for the zoon lens on the 370 model, thus the overexposure. (I should add that I had an authorized service center check the calibration of the camera to make sure it was OK--they said it was within specs.)

Avoid. We found the pictures sharp enough, but the colors were extremely disappointing.

Similar Products Used:

None

Great ID (industrial design).
Very accurate/consistant autofocus.
Great colour rendition.
Sharp lens - hence potential of sharp pics(see below).
Great looking camera in a very compact size.
Almost full APS features (although I don't use any of them except for MRC).
Did I mention that it looks great?

Gets lost in the hands after handling an SLR.
Viewfinder (understandably) small and makes composition more difficult.
Initial perception of graininess (see below).

I purchased the 370z 3 mths ago to try out the APS format. I chose this particular camera based entirely on Canon's reputation, great offer and the good looks. After 3 rolls (which is all I have shot using APS), I was dissappointed with the prints which were sharp but appeared grainy. After reading this forum, I realised people were getting mixed results with this camera, which prompted me to analyse furthur. After all, a Yashica Samurai which is a 1/2-frame camera using 50% of a 35mm negative can produce 6x4" prints that are, at first glance, difficult to distinguish from a quality 35mm print.

Using a hand magnifier, my APS prints appeared more like a low-res digital color printout with very distinct pixels visible. Could it be that APS develping utilised printing technology to make prints rather than the conventional lab method?

I confronted the shop that developed my phots and learnt that by default, APS film is indeed developed "digitally" (the saleslady wasn't able to elaborate furthur). Now looking at my photos again, what I mistook for graininess is actually jaggedness due to the digital printing. The shop told me that it was entirely possible to develop and print using the normal lab method (at no extra cost) but I needed to specify upfront. WHY? I believe that this digital printing (at least in Singapore) is largly responsible for the bad rap that APS is receiving. I was shown some APS prints developed normally and the results were a revelation - quality that is indistinguishable from 35mm at 6x4.

I now have renewed faith in the APS format and eagerly await my next roll to be developed, the normal way of course.

Customer Service

None required

Similar Products Used:

APS:
Minolta S1, Canon EOS IX.
Non-APS:
Olympus OM 10
Yashica Samurai
Canon EOS 10
Minolta Riva 115EX
Olympus IS 2000

compact

The pictures are grainy. The Date imprint often disappear.

I got this cameras for about three months to replace my old Olympus, I was very disappointed with the picture and color. The paramount format is the only thing that I like, but the picture is so grainy,like a low digital picture. I just want to get my money back.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus

The size is great. Great for an on the go lifestyle.

No problems!

Though I've only had the camera for 6 months I've used it quite alot, especally during the summer. I would recommend this product. Good clear, crisp pictures. Very reliable, great take anywhere kind of feel.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it yet.

Similar Products Used:

First APS.