An ELPH built like a TANK...
Written: Jan 07 '00 (Updated Jan 07 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: APS film format, compact size, ease of use, good quality pictures...
Cons: Gradually wearing flash retraction, accidental on/off button...
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| hackjaz's Full Review: Canon Elph 240 APS Film Camera |
Canon's original ELPH is a fantastically durable camera. I bought it when it first came out and have been using it for a few years now. I have put it through everything - sub zero temperatures, a scorching car dash, (in the hot sun - all the windows up) travels around the world, you name it, this camera has been there.
The durability, however, is what I really want to write this review about - you can just about ad waterproof to this camera's list of features. I was having a weekend of water skiing, and wakeboarding, having lots of fun on the lake and snapping away. I finished a roll of film and stuck my ELPH in the pocket of the trunks I was wearing, thinking I'd just run it up to the deck when we docked for lunch. Well, lunch was still a ways off and it was my turn for a go at the wakeboard so I threw on a vest and hopped right it. I did my thing for about 20 or 30 minutes until I reached down and felt the small bulge in my trunks pocket that the wet camera hugging my leg was making. I signaled and the boat swung around to pick me up. When we got back to the house I thought for sure the camera was ruined, but in the hopes that it could be repaired I poured the water out of the battery and film compartments and set everything out on the deck to dry in the afternoon sun. By evening everything seemed to be dry and the leather case wouldn't wring anymore water out of it. Much to my surprise, the only thing the water did was kill my battery. I even took in the roll of film hopping that maybe something would come out - perfect pictures, they turned out beautifully. I picked up a new battery for the camera and was using it again that weekend and have been using it for about a year since with no evident damage.
This being one example of it's durability, I could go on to tell the number of times it has been dropped, case or no case, and thrown around by this person or that, but maybe that's all for another review.
The drawbacks are really little and endurable for the quality and durability of the camera and the superb quality of pictures. Yes, as others have mentioned the on/off button can sometimes be accidentally triggered and the motor on the flash can start to wear and not retract the flash completely but once you put the camera back in it's case the flash is safe and can't be snagged on anything.
Overall, I love this camera, have had years of great pictures from it and plan to have many, many more - definitely a keeper!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hackjaz
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Member: Kees Vermeulen
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 3 members
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