Canon PowerShot SD30 / IXUS i Zoom Digital Camera

If consumers are searching for a digital camera with high quality images, efficient zoom ability, and sophisticated focus settings, the Canon PowerShot SD30 is not the camera for them. From my experiences with this product, I can say that Canon was seriously lacking when the company developed this camera. It does not have near the sharpness or optical ingenuity of other digital cameras in its class. Even so, this particular Canon PowerShot is overpriced for its less than satisfactory quality. For the outrageous cost of this camera, I would have expected it to take striking photos with picturesque value. Even though this camera may have a few positive features, overall it does not fulfill my expectations as a digital camera should.
I purchased this latest model in Canon's line of digital cameras last summer. I ordered it online from macworld.com, although I'm certain it is still not available at any retail stores such as Best Buy or Wal-Mart. While I was searching for a digital camera, this one in particular stood out to me because of its unique appearance. It was available in my favorite color, purple, or vivacious violet as Canon calls it. The camera's sleek design and one of a kind color was what instantly attracted me to buy it. It wasn't until I began using the camera that the saying "looks don't matter" popped into my head. There were so many things wrong with it that I instantly regretted my decision to purchase the camera.
To this day, my PowerShot SD30 does not work properly. Every time I take a picture and try to view it, an annoying cloud of menu options appears across the entire right portion of the screen. Each time I go in and take the clutter off, it magically reappears the next time I turn the camera on. Not only is this an annoyance, the fact that this camera is extremely light sensitive adds to my dislike. The pictures I take in the dark turn out just fine, but if there is any amount of light in the background, the picture becomes one big white blur. For example, this past spring break, I was unable to capture the scenery of the beach because the sunlight was much too intense for the camera to handle.
The PowerShot SD30 is not only light sensitive, it's also motion sensitive. If my hand is not completely still while taking a picture, the picture turns out blurry. White lines also appear on a picture if there is excessive motion or too much light. Another problem I find with this camera is with its zoom ability. In comparison to my sister's Panasonic Lumix with six times optical zoom, the Canon PowerShot SD30's two point four optical zoom ability is basically nonexistent. The more I zoom in on an object, the more hazy and unclear the object becomes, whereas on my sister's Lumix, the closer the zoom, the more detailed a photo becomes. Also, when I view my previous pictures, the camera only allows me to zoom in on the center of them, prohibiting me from closing in on any other part of the picture.
Furthermore, for the price of Canon's PowerShot SD30, I would have expected it to be more advanced. For four hundred dollars, this camera should produce sharper images and be more accessible. The camera's settings are difficult to maintain and produce no recognizable differences between them. For example, when I take a picture of a flower and use the foliage setting, I see no distinction in the quality between using that setting and the beach or snow setting. Also, with only five mega pixels, this camera's quality can be compared to any disposable camera purchased at a gas station. I still find myself needing to buy throwaway cameras just in case my Canon PowerShot photos do not turn out. This is a problem that no digital camera user should have. Along with this setback, the screen's size is problematic. The screen's compactness makes it hard to view the details of a photo. These traits, among many, I would not expect from a four hundred dollar camera.
Perhaps the only noticeably good characteristic of this camera is its appearance. Its flamboyant color and clever shape set it apart from all other digital cameras. However, its inability to zoom and to focus in the midst of light and motion makes me question its worth and superiority to other digital cameras. Due to my overall regretful experience with this camera, I would not recommend the Canon PowerShot SD30 to anyone.