julesagogo's Full Review: Canon Elph LT APS Film Camera
The Canon ELPH LT seems like a tempting buy, but unless you like grainy, out-of-focus pictures, RESIST!
I purchased this camera over two years ago, mostly for the sake of convenience. I wanted to replace or supplement my Canon Rebel 35 mm camera, which takes great pictures but is heavy and unwieldy. I figured the ELPH would be the perfect camera to take to parties, on vacation, or other places where I'd prefer to be a stealth photographer rather than a camera rig-wielding photo dork. I found the ELPH LT for about $90, which meant my heart (or rather, wallet) wouldn't be broken if it didn't work out.
The ELPH's size is a definite plus in these situations. Pop it in your purse or pocket, and you're ready to go. The ELPH has gained the nickname of "Spy Camera" among my group of friends because it's easy to whip it out and take a quick shot with a minimum of fuss.
That said, however, the ELPH's small size can also be a problem. The camera is of the right proportions for me, a woman with a small frame and hands. However, I find that most folks who are larger than me (that is, 99% of the men I know and many of the women) have difficulty handling this camera. It's also virtually impossible to deal with the miniature buttons used to adjust the date/time and message printing options. In fact, since I changed the battery last year I haven't bothered to update the date/time because it's too bloody hard to deal with.
I also bought this camera (and continued using it despite many disappointments) because I was intrigued by the APS photo system. The fact that I didn't have to deal with negatives or clumsy film loading was a plus. Also, friends had shown me great pictures they had taken with APS film whose quality was on par with 35 mm.
What a HUGE disappointment, then, to have my ELPH LT pictures developed. Photos taken anywhere besides in full sun (including outdoor photos taken on partly cloudy days!)were grainy and distorted, even when using high-speed film. Photos taken in full sun were often crystal clear in the center and blurred at the edges. At first I wondered if this was just a limitation of the APS system, but then I remembered all the nice APS photos I'd seen that my friends have taken with cameras other than the ELPH.
I gave the ELPH chance after chance and finally learned that I can't count on it to consistently deliver pictures that I can display or share. Since these are my principal motivations for taking pictures in the first place, I find that this camera is next-to-useless.
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