Best Value Camera in the price range.
930344
After getting this camera last year, I've recommend 4 other people with this camera, and all of them Loved the camera just as much as I do(My grandma, my aunt x 2, my friend, my cousins all loved it absolutely!!).  Why do I say it's the best value camera in the price range is because:
Pros:
1. Picture Quality: Picture quality are terrific for a camera at this price and this size!!  Clear, sharp, really, no complaint at the price.
2. Wide Angle: Real wide angle picture
3. Stableness: It's Anti Shaking works very well, great for those hands that not stable
4. Size: with the image quality and stableness it gives you, it's really at a great size
5. Ease of Use: It's IA is by far the best i have use so far, it's easy to use, and really a no brainer.  It's the best camera for your mom, grand parent, and those whose is not an electronic geek like me!

Cons:
1. Flash/night picture: The picture at low light and with flash is not the best, but acceptable.
2. Size: Wish is just a bit smaller, but acceptable
339925
I purchased this camera recently from Amazon. When I bought it I paid roughly U$ 270, which was a very good price when the same camera was advertised by other vendors at over U$ 300. For the money I paid, this camera is awsome. I am personally not too fond of touchscreens (I am more into the "analog" and "buttons" designs.. call me old fashioned), but this camera blew my mind. The touch screen is so intuitive you can get to every corner of the menu in seconds. It has nice futures as touching an area of the picture to select where to focus. Other things it has are creative effects, like selecting one particular color and leaving the rest of the image in black and white: this creates very nice artistic images whan you want a particular item to stand out in the picture. You can even select any color in the image and swap (in real time) for another... I tried taking a shot at the swimming pool, which locked pale and white, and swapped for an aquamarine turquoise which really enhanced the picture without making it cheesy or fake-looking... It's like working with Photoshop in real time.. The camera is really small and practical. As I had read in other reviews, the batery/SD lid is quite flimsy, built of a thin plastic which doesen't look very promising. The lids on the HDMI and USB connections also look like they'll break before the camera's first birthday. However, this is not a tough-built, rugged camera to take under the rain or on the trail, so provided you serve its intended use (parties, home, theatre, and anywhere where you'd take reasonable good care of a high quality optic instrument!), you should be fine. It doesen't require silk gloves... just don't fumble with the lids too often. The quality of the pictures is good but not outstanding, at least in auto modes indoors (I have an Olympus 570UZ which I think handles white balance more nicely). The HDMI is superb, and the real plus is the 24mm equivalent widescreen, which is great for indoor group pictures where little space would usually require everyone to huddle up so as to fit in the picture.. I would purchase this again.
4181977
I think this camera is a pretty good bargain for the money.  Its an excellent entry level camera for those who have never owned a DSLR.  It is pretty user friendly.  The picture quality is very impressive and the 11 point AF feature is great compared to the older D40 with 4 AF points.  Overall, I am very satisfied with this camera, then again, its a Nikon.
2334742
I have been using this as my primary still camera for the last several years. At that time, it was the best selling entry level digital SLR camera. A sub-500$ with an 8 megapixel resolution using the bigger compact flash card. It is an entry level camera but is quite an excellent performer in many levels.
It comes with a battery and a very compact charger. It uses Digic II image processor. 7-point AF.

Pros:
- Very fast start-up time and shutter lag is almost negligible
- Image quality is close to the more expensive EOS 20D. Great color rendition and low-noise
- Lighter and smaller than its predecessor
- Can shoot RAW format
- Burst. 14 frames at 3 frames a second
- Impressive long battery life.

Cons:
- Cannot shoot using the LCD panel. You always have to use the viewfinder. LCD is for menu and playback only.
- Supplied lens is basic and slow. No image stabilizer.
- No movie capability
2090474
I previously owned a Canon ZR930. I bought it for web and other marketing video.  It is a great budget, entry level camera, but the resolution is not stellar and the lower light performance is not great, either.  I had to return 2 of them before getting a ZR930 that worked--one had a blown mic port and another had a blown Firewire port.  Third time was the charm and the ZR930 is a great entry level camera that can be had for less than $300--and it includes a mic port, which is a must.

I upgraded to this camera (Canon VIXIA HV30) after alot of research and I am glad I went with the one I did.  I decided on tape because of the flexibility and proven technology and ease of transferring to computer.  Hard drive or flash cameras have a pretty fixed recording time.  MiniDV tapes can be swapped out for longer recording.  I use Sony Vegas Studio Platinum 9 to edit video and together, this is a pretty unbeatable combination. Imports video directly into my computer, and the quality is breathtaking.  Th build wuality on this camera is SUBSTANTIALLY better than the lower end cameras like the aforementioned ZR930.  No problems at all with this camera--it has worked perfectly right out of the box and looks and feel more solid in your hands.  You are really holding a serious machine.

REALLY great picture quality.  My rough estimate is better than broadcast tv and pretty close to cable HD channels and DVD quality.  Very good audio with the built in mic. Includes a microphone input to add an external mic.  MUCH better lower light performance than my ZR930.  Normal room lighting is good enough to get decent video. Better lighting results is crisp video with great color.

Lots of picture setting that I have not even begun to investigate yet.  A camera that is great to turn on and shoot, with alot of options to play with down the road!

Very happy with this camera. I find it to be light and comfortable to use.  Small enough so that it fits right in a large jacket pocket.

Nothing bad to say.
707117
Great camera for the price, packed with features.  For me, primarily a video camera that can take pictures.

Only real gripe is when zooming out, if you stop before full zoomout the lens doesnt just stop there, it pauses and goes back just a pinch, can be a bit annoying.

The 1080p60 video is outstanding.

The included PMB software is surprisingly powerful.  You can do very basic trimming of videos, join videos, make animated gifs from videos (or burst pictures)

My favorite thing about the PMB is that you can burn AVCHD to regular DVD and play back on a PS3 without problems at all while preserving the 1080 resolution.  If you shot in 1080p the software will auto convert it to 1080i.  If you have a Blu Ray drive you simply get to save a LOT more data.
483273
The capabilities of this camera come across as almost too good to be true.
I'm glad to report that Lumix have done a great job.
This camera performs really well in multiple conditions.
Excellent value for money
473385
At this point, any of the top cameras will take great photos and this is no exception.  The sensor on this camera ranks 5th overall in the <$3000 (body only) range (google DXOMark)  This camera is set apart by the feel and features.  It feels and handles like a camera, like a photographer's SLR designed to be efficient at taking pictures, not amusing the owner.  Everything falls to hand easily.  The function two which one needs easy access, are easily accessible: white balance, exposure compensation, ISO, others, all have dedicated buttons.  Focus is very, very fast.  It has a near infra red focus assist lamp so it doesn't blind your subject and make them stiff the way that bright white anoyoflex lights do - this alone makes it worth a nod to me.  The screen is fabulous, very hi rez and very bright.  Zooming in to check the expression of each person in a group shot or the sharpness of a photo is as easy as can be.  Everything just works.  The lens is good, not excellent - pretty sharp at the center, kind of soft at the edges at the short end, decent at the long end.  Very good contrast and color rendition.  The camera is definitely the size, weight (and construction) of a semi pro body, so if you want a compact, this might not be for you.  However, it does handle nicely with a well shaped grip.
3499129
This camera has features that you will be discovering way after your purchase. It allows you to create personal settings etc. For the money, I do not know of a comparable value. The image quality is amazing. The kit lens is very good in auto and there are a lot of inexpensive options that provide even better results. The overall value combined with features is unsurpassed by anything out there. If I could buy this camera for everyone I know..... I would. It is not a professional camera but it has alot of the qualities without the price tag.
1020845
Having lived with the DSC-P52 for almost 2 years now, I feel that it's time to throw in my 2 cents!  I'd previously used a Minolta Dynax SLR, but this Sony was my first digital camera and I've never looked back since.

I've divided this review into segments:

EASE OF USE:

Using the camera is child's play.  I only read the manual briefly, but I quickly became accustomed to the controls.  The large LCD display makes taking decent photos a piece of cake.  It's very easy to navigate your way through the functions.

ERGONOMICS:

The camera fits nicely in the hand and feels quite sturdy.  It may seem a little brick-like by today's standards, but it means that camera shake is kept to a minimum.

QUALITY OF PHOTOS:

The quality of the photos is superb.  I've taken hundreds of photos - holidays, weddings, portraits of family and friends.  There are limitations, however. The shutter speed isn't particularly fast, so don't expect spectacular results if your subject moves quickly.  I intend to invest in a digital SLR in the future to address this problem.

PIXELS:

Even though this camera is capable of taking 3.2M photos, I rarely using this setting.  For one, it uses an enormous amount of memory stick space.  For enlargements up to A4, 2M pixels is more than adequate

VALUE:

Overall, the camera is good value for money.  I would invest in either a 64mb or, better still, a 128mb memory stick as the 16mb specimen provided is fairly useless.

WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?

I most certainly would, but it depends what you intend to use if for. As mentioned earlier, this camera is ideal for snapping friends, family members, and special events such as weddings and holidays.  Just remember the shutter speed limitations for your Brands Hatch days!
1437653
This is the best camera on the market in it's price range. The camera takes excellent night shots (I have captured city skylines, fireworks, and even lightening!) which look very professional. Day shots are excellent too, the pictures always come out crystal clear and very sharp. The zoom is just enough for most nonprofessional needs. The camera also has excellent blur reduction (for shots taken from car windows). There is only one downside to this camera: the redeye reduction is not always totally effective. But, if you are like me and don't care that much about redeye, then this camera is for you.
3378901
This camera is a fantastic bang for the buck. You get so many useful features and a long zoom that works great. My only recommendation is to put it in the p setting and adjust the settings to achieve great pictures. Overall some of the great features and for the low price seem to make this camera a great choice. It even has a German made lens.
3190405
There isn't much to say about this camera that hasn't already been said.  This is a great camera.  I have a friend who is a professional photographer and uses a Nikon full-frame.  He came over to help me with the camera and get me started, and he was really impressed with it. However, if you're expecting it to be as good in terms of image quality, compared to much more expensive full frame cameras, I won't say that. For him, he prefers a certain Nikon model which is a little older, which is why he was really impressed with all of the new, modern features like touch menus and everything else.  If you are looking to start out into the black hole that is DSLR photography, this is a great launchpad.

Update: After using this more and getting more into photography, I was able to try other cameras and shop around.  Which lead me back to understanding that this is probably the second or third best camera for me, and that any options above would cost 3 times more.

Pros:
- While this camera isn't the best for photos (beat by other dslrs and even some mirrorless cameras), nor is it the best for video (other cameras offer 4k), it is maybe the best combination of the two (aside from a couple sony mirrorless cameras which cost 3 times as much)
- The fully articulating screen is actually not that common among even the best cameras (which is great for video)
- There are a ton of lenses for this camera which gives you options, including a great selection of image-stabilized lenses (again essential for video)
- Great value, again the combination of features for video (wide range of resolutions and frame rates, fully-articulating-touch screen, lots of image stabilized lenses) and photos (pretty fast at 7fps, fairly good low-light performance around 1100 ISO) make this a jack of all trades.  It does nothing really well, but it's good at just about everything.

Cons:
- Not the best in low light (will be easily beat by most full-frame cameras)
- Considering the cropped sensor, the body is actually quite big even compared to full-frame dslrs
- The cropped sensor makes finding the perfect lens a bit difficult since they are made with full-frame cameras in mind (i.e. if you want a nice 35mm lens, you actually are shopping in the less popular 24mm lens range)

Conclusion:
If you are only taking pictures, you could find something better for just a little more money (full frame Canon), so I wouldn't recommend this if this is you.  If you are planning on only taking videos, you could also find something better; but not in this price range.  The sony mirrorless cameras are great for video, and beat this at taking pictures; but that costs 3 times as much and the lenses also tend to be more expensive, and your selection of Sony lenses is much smaller.  If you're like me and you want a good balance of photo and video quality, without spending $5,000+; then this really is your best bet.
2829934
WOW!!  I'm impressed.  I just bought this camera for $177.74 at Sears.  (Price match of Target sale price $188.00 minus an additional 10%).  It takes great pictures 7MP, and near broadcast quality video (640x480 @ 30fps).  It has full auto mode for the beginner, and full manual mode for the pro's.  I love the manual mode, you can set the shutter speed from 1/2000 sec. up to a full 15 sec. exposure.  With that exposure you can do those really cool night shots of the highway with the car headlights / taillights streaking by, or even take indoor pictures without using the flash.  You can record audio sound bytes and attach them to a still image. I recorded the family singing "Happy Birthday" and attached it to a photo of the candles being blown out.  It has adjustable white balance, and for color correction, you can choose the type of lighting being used (ie, Flourecent, Tungsten, Sunlight, etc.).

  The bottom line is:  This is a wonderfull camera even at the $299.00 MSRP.  But, if you watch the add's you should be able to find it for under $200.00.
133180
After using this camcorder for the past month, I've concluded that it  can't be beat for the price.
The image quality is great, although I  highly recommend obtaining a color-enhancing light accessory if you plan on  recording indoors a lot.
The features are good, but the menu to obtain  them is a little akward to use at first (well, it still is).
The  digital-still option is a nice bonus, but the quality of those stills is  nothing to write home about.
It's light weight and (relatively) easy to  use.
A nice piece of equipment for the novice or the semi-professional.
658286
Best value for a point and shoot camera that has the power and capacity to shoot amazing video and excellent photos also
4140802
This camera is top notch. As far as high zoom goes, the Powershot Sline has been stellar. I have the S2, my roommate has the S3 and the S5 just came out and is looking mighty fine.

If you're looking at this camera because you want a high zoom high feature camera for the price of a 8 mp point and shoot, then you're looking in the right place. The S2is will never grow old. 5MP is enough, and if you are worried about cropping or making 8x10's then worry no more. Just shoot at the highest resolution and your 8x10's will look just as good as your buddy who claims he has a nicer camera because his p&s has 10MPs.

This camera is feature rich, especially since, in todays high end DSLR world, this camera is kind of outdated. I have shot some of my best stuff with this camera. The fully customizable Manual mode is a godsend. Also for those of you who are new to Digital Photography there are plenty of presets ready for you to shoot at until you get your feet wet and decide to start messing around with the Av, Tv, P, and M modes....

The 12x optical zoom is amazing. I can shoot in a variety of settings with confidence when I have this baby slung over my neck. Ergonomics are good too, as the camera fits in my hand perfectly and I have never once been close to dropping it. Its not bulky nor is it lightweight and flimsy.

This has to be the best value for money digital camera out there right now. High zoom, good Megapixel amount, loaded with customizable features, and a great interface that is easy to use. I highly recomment this camera to those who need a great camera but don't want to spend a thousand bucks on a DSLR. If you can't decide between this and the S3is then let money be the factor....there is not too much of a difference between the two except for MP increase to 6, "action" mode, and a few other cool things that shouldn't matter all that much to someone who is interested in these types of cameras anyhow.

Well done Canon!