"I'm A Sex Machine..."
Written: May 20 '04
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Pros: Build, features, style, battery life, and so compact you could carry it in your "speedos"
Cons: So small you might lose it...and that wouldn't do!
The Bottom Line: Everybody, and I mean everybody who see's it...goes "Ooooh"
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| britisher's Full Review: Canon Elph2 APS Film Camera |
It wasn't that long ago that Polaroid (I believe invented during the space program) was truly amazing to everyone, almost magical to me as a kid. Instant pictures (well...in a couple of minutes). But we all got bored and stopped buying them, choosing instead to stick to using high street developers for our holiday snaps with the old 35mm. (Mainly I think because Polaroid cameras were so big you could use them as transport if they had wheels.)
Now we have digital. So what does this give us? If you choose to think about it...only one thing, the ability to choose from the many pictures you've taken... whether to save, print or delete, keeping only those you want.
Fair enough you can alter the image via a PC. But this is true of any APC film developed on CD-Rom.
And you can Digital Zoom...but this is inferior to the Optical zoom also available on 35mm cameras, as by definition it reduces quality to increase the picture size.
Then there's the high battery consumption as Digital cameras drink up power to fuel your back lit LCD screen... so you may find yourself in front of a naked Pamela Anderson/Tom Cruise (or whoever rocks your boat) with £250 worth of a flashing low battery indicator.
So...we're back to that point about choosing the pictures you want. Except I really like the feeling of picking up my snaps from the developers not recalling exactly what might be on them (ooh-err!)
So now I've trashed millions of pounds worth of science and development we can return to the ELPH2. An old fashioned camera that takes film. Although it is always mistaken for being a digital camera, such is its modern design.
So...to its features.
When turned on (small aluminium switch on front) the Zoom lens partially extends and the lens cover retracts with the satisfying purr of the motor (which also drives and rewinds the films)
The built in flash has many settings including red-eye-reduction, fill-flash, and night-portrait...along with the standard...well you know....flash.
It has a built in timer for self portraits (flashes 3 times to let you know when its about to snap)
Superimposed date and time stamp, in whatever format you choose, along with "tags" for birthdays or whatever.
A variety of focussing options (as well as automatic for fools like me)
Mid-roll film change...it's possible to rewind an unfinished film, replace it with another one, and later switch back and continue shooting where you left off. This way you can use films of different type (slide, negative, black and white) or speed (100, 400, 800), or if you have a sibling who wants to use the camera only for their shots you can swap between films and when you reload your own film it will return to the point where you removed it. The films when removed have an indicator on the end which tells you if they're unused, part used or finished. Sounds pretty efficient this, but to be honest I used it only once....just to see if it worked!
Like all APS cameras it allows you to take shots in 3 formats- Classic (squarish), Group (regular oblong shape) and Panoramic (Stretched left and right). Note: There is no difference in developing charges irrespective of which settings you use, even though the panoramic setting gives pictures twice as large).
So what are its faults...well, the zoom isn't much of a zoom. Don't expect telephoto paparazzi style shots from 500meters. If the bird your photographing (feathered variety of course!) was 10 feet away, it might appear to be 6 feet away on full zoom but you really shouldn't expect any more from a camera in this price range. And that's the end to the faults.
And it's picture quality? Well it isn't a Leica, but neither does it cost as much. My sister in law always professes that I'm a great photographer and even asked if I'd had any formal training (kind that she is, and gullible that I am) the answers no (blushing) I haven't. But you won't be disappointed with any of the pictures. As with all cameras it pays to buy good film and work at the right speed, but other than that, the ELPH2 is a point and shoot.
Cost: New 3 years ago it was $400, now you can pick them up in excellent condition for £140 second hand.
So what makes this camera better than a £30 model by Kodak? Simply...It's looks. Basically... you buy this camera because the man in the shop knows its power of appeal and hands it to you. Once you have it in your grasp you get a sense of tactile pleasure. It's tiny by 35mm camera standards, the same size as a pack of playing cards. It isn't particularly light, but the slight weightiness adds to the feel of robustness and quality. And then there's the brushed aluminium skin. Essentially...It is a design classic, and will be remembered as one (unlike the Kodak). Its the kind of timeless kit that will become the antique of tomorrow to be discussed with relish by the historians and experts of the future.
If you search google under ELPH2 and SEXY you'll find many entries and as with all good things of aesthetic beauty, you'll find them in many languages (note: Its called the IXUS in Europe).
And as a point to end on...If James Brown owns a camera, I'll bet it’s the Canon ELPH2!
Happy shopping
Steve
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 140
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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britisher
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Reviews written: 2
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