Very tiny and compact.James Bond style appearance, pop up flash and lense.
I found the fill in flash for portraits to be perfect, focusing good too.
Portraits and group photos is where this camera has its strengths.

The lens has terrible edge definition, really bad! I spent all that money and when I looked at my first results I nearly cried!
For closeup portraits etc it excels(there being little to catch the eye at the edges).
But take one landscape and you might think the lense was made from the bottom of a milk bottle, its really that bad

The lens quality is that bad that I gave the camera away: it being either that or throw it in the canal.
In truth you only notice the edges being fuzzy in landscapes, people photos are ok.But come on, if you spend this much then you at least expect the edges in focus!.
I know its not APS but if you want an excellent, affordable compact, get a Yashica T4 (or T5). The Tessar lens is unbelivable on a camera of that price; edge to edge razor sharp!(I wish I still had my T4, I'm going to have to buy another one second hand)

Customer Service

Camera given away as quick as possible so no experience

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 35Ti;Contax T2;Contax TVS;Konica Hexar;Yashica T4

Unbreakable!! Dropped it many times and not even a scrach. Looks like it will last 100 years.

Flash only works close up.

Great little camera that I can always have in my pocket for those unforgetable moments.

Customer Service

Never had to use them

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None, this is the only camera I will use.

Small size to take anywhere. Nice styling.

Viewfinder wasn't centered with lense. Unimpressive print quality. Wish it had a 2.5X zoom.

After developing my first roll, I noticed all of my pictures were shifted to the left by about 5% to 25% of the frame (depending on distance of the subject). I would've thought it was my fault but a few photos taken by others using my camera exposed the same problem. The next couple of rolls I tried to compensate with no luck. I couldn't guess properly how much to shift every time.

The camera takes terrible low light photos (cloudy days) even with ASA 400 or 800 film. They're so grainy they almost look like low resolution pixelization on a computer. The photo quality isn't that sharp to begin with even using ASA 100 on a sunny day.

I returned it to Wal-Mart where I purchased it, so I have no idea about dealing with Canon.

I would only recommend this camera for casual photos where quality of the print isn't that important. Its small size makes it perfect for taking with you anywhere though. And in most cases having a so-so camera is better than none. I've always found if the camera is too big or complex I won't take it with me. But with the Elph, I take it along because of it's diminutive size.

I liked the Elph enough to replace it with the Elph 2. After I use it some, I'll write my impressions of it as well.

Similar Products Used:

None

-compact
-user friendly
-retro style
-good optics

-view finder a bit too small
-certain bottons are too micro sized
-flash breaks too easily
-eats expensive batteries too fast
-APS!

The Canon concept of APS/retro was good at first and got so many people hooked back into retrography. When I purchased the Canon Elph I love the posh style and pocketable size. The picture quality of the Elph was excellent. I was pleased with the Canon optics. It had great contrast and saturation. A plus for the Elph.

Now, the bad news. The camera's flash broke down after two weeks/24 roles of film. The next thing after that- the flash did not close down when the camera is off. After going back to Target and exchanging it for another- this new Elph's lens cover didn't close all the way after 4 roles of film. Other things I thought needed minor improvement were: the micro sized bottons, veiw finder too small, and the camera eats through batteris quickly.

APS is not the greatest thing for someone who wants cheap quality photos. I honestly believe 35mm is increadibly better! With 35mm you get: better selection on film, cheaper developing, and better image quality. As for a compact 35mm camera- Olympus Stylus.

I ended up returning the Canon Elph back to Target. Target's the best- they take things back(60 days with receipt/box) with no questions ask. I then bought a 35mm Olympus Stylus camera on sale for $68.99 +tax.

Customer Service

Never used it.

Similar Products Used:

None

Small size is great. Fun to bring on trips. Takes good pictures if developed properly. Used a tripod for night shots or dim sunlight and got very good results with the night shots feature. People get a kick out this camera.

Bad film developing. Sensitive or just more difficult to develop. Developing is costly but getting cheaper. Zoom not as exciting, would have preferred a longer zoom. Sharpness suffers with big group photos.

I'm happy with the camera but have to be picky were I have my film developed. Would have preferred a longer zoom. 85 % of pictures are great. I think though I expect too much from such acompact camera.

Customer Service

Never had to use Canon Service

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First APS, Used a Pentax Zoom 105Super - broke when dropped and never got to work as good as when new even when repaired

Great size . . . fits easily into a fanny pack when hiking/travelling also fits in a suit jacket pocket or small handbag for functions and parties. (about the size of an american pack of cigarettes)

Great design - very industrial/hightech looking.

Great Panoramic shots!

Easy loading and rewinding.

ON/OFF button is easily activated if it presses up against something. Find myself constantly checking to make sure it hasn't accidently turned on and waisting the precious $$ battery.

Pop-up flash fails to close all the way when turned off.

Red-eye reduction is poor, if it works at all. I found that the hesitation for the red-eye flash confuses people.

Didn't have much luck with night photography.

Expensive APS developing costs.

Can't shoot black and white film . . . yet.

Purchased for it's attractive design and convenient size. If you're looking for a convenient travel camera, I would highly recommend it! Great camera for traveling, backpacking, dayhikes etc. Fits perfectly in a fanny pack around your waist. I took it on a backpacking trip through South East Asia, along with my Minolta 35mm (rarely used, inconvenient size) . . . the little elph went everywhere with me and was great for those "quick, where's my camera . . . what a perfect shot" moments. The elph was always right there easy to whip out - even while balancing on the back of a motor scooter!

Customer Service

not used or needed yet

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 35mm

Tiny size,ease of use.

Pop up flash does not close all the way when camera is turned off. Canon offered to fix it for $75 (out of warranty) Forget It!

I wouldn't spend the money again. Maybe the Elph 2, but the picture quality and lack of lens speed don't impress. Better yet the Elph Jr. faster, fixed lens. Or best yet stick with 35mm for cheaper, better processing, and better lenses.

Customer Service

Obviously non existent for a poorly designed flash mechanism.

Similar Products Used:

Cheap Kodaks, Nikon Pronea S.

small and gadgety (2x zoom and "automatic/passive AF"), has a nice solid feel in a tiny package, looks cute but techy

the pop-up flash won't always pop-down when you're done

This is a great camera for point and shoot type stuff and it takes surprisingly beautiful pictures. Many people are surprised when I show them the camera that took the panoramic. It's a great little take-anywhere camera, and I usually have it with me all the time.

I've gone through about 10 rolls of film and most of them were keepers. The bad ones were a result of "experimenting" with night photography. "Don't do it." Also, I find that when given to a passer-by, for group photos, the pictures tend to blur a little. Possibly because most people aren't used to the same size; or maybe these people just can't hold a camera steady.

"automatic/passive AF"
If I were to buy an APS P&S camera today I'd probably want to look at the Elph 2. It's about the same size and has the same features as the Elph. It also adds the mid-roll change feature and you won't have the flash pop-down problem since the flash doesn't pop.

Customer Service

never had to use it

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first APS camera

very small, great looks,
desirable gizmo.
Good autofocus. Has internationl date printing facilities as well as other messsages (congratulations/happy birthday etc) In several languages inc Japanese.

sometimes requires reseting after film rewind (remove battery)
So time/date has to be reset
Red-eye reduction a waste of time. Flash inefective/very low power. No hot shoe/sync.
Flash fires about 3 seconds AFTER you press the button! High cost of processing APS films

This is called the IXUS in the UK and cost £200.00. Thats $300.00 !!! Loadsa dosh... (purchased 12 months ago)
It looks fabulous in brushed stainless steel. The low power flash however is a real bind. The red-eye reduction rarely works well. Quite honestley I wish I'd bought a $40.00 35mm plastic fantastic from Kodak. At least the cost of processing is then only $5 or $6. With APS in the UK its nearly $12 for 24 exposures. I could not recommend this unit if flash is important. My wife suggested that we purchase a quality item that she would be happy to use. In light of the problems listed, she would be unable to perform a reset. Having said all that, the lens is good and the metering adequite as a quality snapper, especially out doors. Its small and light enough to fit in a shirt pocket and not be felt. It's supplied with leather case that can be threaded on you belt. Pay and extra $25.00 for an infra-red remote. An expensive mistake.

Customer Service

Store not very interested. Back to my SLR I think!

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only 35mm zoom compacts, which only seem to last a couple of years, though they performed better than the this little be

Small and compact. Ease of use. Built in flash and macro/telephoto lens.

Power button position allows camera to be accidently turned on way too often.

Best camera overall for the beginner to novice user.

Customer Service

Never needed a repair.

Similar Products Used:

None