Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 is (Blue)

I wanted to write mainly about the size of this camera. But let me back up first...I had a previous ELPH, that was working fine for a few years, but I started noticing cataracts in my pictures. Examining the lens, I noticed that the lens was scratched in the middle, from what I assume was the lens cover opening and closing several times over the years. Maybe it was my fault for carrying it around in my pocket throughout the years, maybe it's Canon's fault...I don't know, but it did force me to get a new camera, the ELPH 170. Size - I specifically like this camera for what it is - a small but powerful camera. I have an SLR, but to be honest, it sits in the closet for the most part. I don't want to be on vacation, at a family event like a wedding, or out with friends and have a big, clunky camera. My brother once asked me when seeing me with my ELPH, "Who still carries a separate camera, when everyone has one on their phone?" Well, my answer to him was that phone cameras are great for their size, but really as cameras, they're not the greatest. And this is why I like this size of camera. It fits in a pocket and it takes excellent pictures. 12x zoom...dedicated camera...you'll get much better pictures than anyone else who is taking them with their phone, and then you can simply stick it back in your pocket again. As far as specs, you can compare them yourself, but for me, I remember the days of film and the early days of digital cameras. The pictures I'm able to take today on a cheap camera with image stabilization and high resolution amaze me when I think of the past...but then I digress. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really don't think you can go wrong buying a Canon or Nikon today, but size is of importance to me, and the size of this camera fits a nice balance between power and size.

A very nice and small point and shoot camera. We took this to Alaska two weeks ago and used it extensively to photograph animals in Denali Park. The zoom feature worked very well. The only limitation using the zoom is that the image on the viewfinder is so small that I did not know if I got the images I wanted until we got back to the lodge and I loaded the memory card into my laptop. Then we could see the full image magnified and could edit or delete those we did not want to keep. I have other, larger cameras and chose not to take them as they are bulky. This little camera fits in a pocket. I gave my big digital SLR camera to my daughter as it was a pain to carry on a trip. Others with us in the park had elaborate equipment and several commented favorably on my images when seeing them on the laptop. It is a good choice forma trip unless you want superzoom capability and are willing to put up with the equipment. The battery life is also excellent. I have taken trips in the past with teenagers who were always having to recharge batteries. I did not recharge this one at all.

I bought the ELPH 170 IS to replace an old Powershot A470 that started having some issues. The positives: It's small & easy to carry. It's easy to use, especially if you've owned a Canon camera previously. The LCD screen is adequate (the exact same size as the one on my old A470). It's not overly complicated to use if you're not a camera expert, just put it on AUTO, point & shoot. Maximum resolution pictures so far seem to be OK quality wise but take up a fair amount of space so buy an adequate SD card. No flash images are much better quality than my old A470. The flash is better as well, it has a longer range than my old camera. The negatives: It doesn't come with any onboard storage for images. It doesn't come with a user guide. A manual is downloadable from Canon but that's up there with kissing your sister. It uses an uncommon battery (in the sense that you can't go into a convenience store & by batteries if yours fails). One strong point of my old A470 was that it uses AA batteries that you can get everywhere. Because it uses a special battery I had to buy an extra to always have a charged battery available. Not supplying onboard memory and using a special battery adds to the cost of the camera. Conclusion: The camera is easy to use, does a good job. When you guy an SD card don't go too large unless you're going to take a LOT of pictures or do a lot of video. I had a spare 16GB SD card in desk and it's got space for literally thousands of max resolutions images. A 2GB card would probably be plenty for most people. If you're looking for an easy to use camera that takes good pictures this one will probably do you just fine. If you're a professional photographer and want to control every aspect of the shooting experience this likely isn't the camera for you.

It's a good camera for the price! Set it to program mode and ISO 100 for the cleanest results. Image quality is very good when there is enough light, and since it has a flash, it will do better than a smart phone in most low-light situations. This has a real flash that will outperform the LED on your smartphone any day. I have always loved night time people-photos from my Canon PowerShot cameras. The zoom range is very big, but is best for daytime or flash. It's a great simple camera to keep in your pocket. I would recommend it for this price range. The first photo is about 11mm, the second is wide angle at 4.5mm and the third is not quite the full optical zoom at 31mm.

I had a Nikon Cool Pix and replaced it with the Canon ELPH 170. With the Canon, I don't have to choose a setting and it's much easier to switch back and forth from shooting close-up to long distance. However, the videos are grainy and not as good a quality as my old Nikon. The case feels cheap and grainy (the Nikon had a nice satiny, rubberized feel.) I definitely do not like the placement of the flash on the Canon as I keep accidentally covering it with my finger as I naturally hold it to shoot. The price of the Canon was good, and the photos are very good quality. The battery does not last as long as the Nikon, but I like that I can remove it from the camera in order to recharge it.

Excellent camera, super smooth and an upgrade in every way imaginable from the previous models - and i've owned nearly 10 Canon Powershot cameras up to this point. The zoom is incredible, contrast is great, and every picture feels very alive. Video quality is 10/10 and everything moves at a rapid pace for the on-the-go traveler. The menu functions have been elaborated a bit, just enough to give a bit more control to the user without being overbearing. Admittedly, there is a bit of grainyness when shooting darker scenes, and audio can sometimes be muffled at concerts and whatnot. Somehow even my $150 smartphone is better at capturing audio and shows than this thing, which is a big part of my personal life.

It's a simple, basic digital camera but performs very well. The images are clear with little distortion except in very low light (most cameras have this problem - nothing unusual there and still better than our last pocket camera). The optical zoom works well. A big step up from most phone cameras. The controls are relatively easy to access and it is lightweight, small. It seems well built and durable, although we haven't had it long.

This camera is compact and has been very reliable. It doesn't produce professional quality pictures and videos, but is quick and easy to use, and gives imagery that is comparable to my mobile phone camera. The fact that it has an optical zoom means it outperforms my phone's camera on long shots. The main drawback is that it has a proprietary battery, so you have to buy a charger and either buy multiple batteries or risk the camera going dead when you most need it.