Product Description

World's smallest and lightest 3X zoom camara. Elegant, durable stainless steel body, 3-point Hybrid AF for improved focusing performance; revolutionary, ultra thin, high-effciency light-guide flash; supports many APS features, including Mid-Roll Change (MRC), Print Quality Improvement (PQI); kit includes leather case, 15 exp. film, lithium battery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4515 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Canon
• Model: Z3
• Dimensions: 2.50" h x 3.70" w x 1.30" l, 7.20 pounds

Features

• APS-format ultracompact point-and-shoot
• 23.5-54mm 2.3x zoom lens with autofocus
• 5-mode flash with red-eye reduction
• Automatic film loading, advance, and rewind
• Features date imprinting and self-timer

Amazon.com Product Description
The sleek, compact Elph Z3 from Canon slips easily into a purse or pocket, and its stylish, futuristic design and advanced features make this APS camera a must-have for gadget lovers.

With all the attention Canon's Digital Elph series has been receiving, it's easy to forget that the first Elph models were film cameras. This latest-generation model has much in common with its predecessors, including a chrome-and-aluminum body, diminutive dimensions, and use of the Advanced Photo System (APS) format.

Refinements for this model include a longer, lower shape--less like a deck of cards and more like a cell phone--and a backlit status LCD that emits a cool blue glow at the push of a button. Several other features were revised to improve photo quality, including a redesigned lens and a newly developed passive autofocus system. Additional features include a 2.3x zoom, spot metering, self-timer, and a five-mode flash with red-eye reduction.

A lithium CR123A battery provides power, and the camera uses APS film, a format jointly developed by five leading photo companies in 1996. The APS format is designed to take advantage of a number of technological advances developed in the decades since the introduction of 35mm film. Here are the main advantages to the APS format:

• Size and convenience: An APS cartridge is smaller than 35mm, and the film is completely enclosed, which simplifies film loading.
• Midroll rewind: Many cameras let you switch film midroll, allowing you to shoot in both color and black and white. Each roll has an indicator on top that lets you know if the film inside is unused, partially exposed, totally exposed, or developed. After developing, the negatives remain inside the cartridge for protection and long-term storage.
• Three print sizes: Most APS cameras let you choose from three proportions for your prints--"classic," which is a 3:2 ratio like 35mm; "HDTV," which is a 16:9 wide-screen format, and "panoramic," which is a long 3:1 print.
• Magnetic information storage: The film is coated with a magnetic layer much like a videotape. This layer can store information from the camera that can be used during developing and printing to make the best possible prints. This also means that photo time and date information can be printed on the back of each picture instead of the front.

The two biggest drawbacks to the format are size and availability. The negative is approximately half the size of 35mm, so each photo has less detail than an equivalent 35mm negative. This can result in pictures that look grainy, especially when enlarged. Though the format is popular, it's still relatively new, so the film can be harder to find than 35mm film and developing may be slightly more expensive.

From the Manufacturer
It's all about style. Unbelievable performance. It's all about you! With its pure-fashion excitement and perfect mix of ease and excellence, Canon’s ELPH Z3 is everything you want in a camera. Smart, versatile, quick...it’s amazing how much you and the Z3 have in common!

You call the shot's with Canon's amazing 2.3 zoom lens. Cool can be so hot, thanks to a 23.5-54mm f/4.8-7.6 2.3x zoom that captures the best of every moment. ELPH Z3's precision aspherical lens brings you vividly crisp images over the entire zoom range. The carefree 3-point Auto-focus delivers on-target accuracy the instant you press the shutter. Z3 also offers Center 1-point Focusing, the mode you'll turn to when subjects are right in the middle of the frame. And, when it's time to process your film, Print Quality Improvement fine-tunes every shot you take.

The best things in life happen in a flash. With ELPH Z3 you're always ready for that next great picture. A powerful built-in strobe with five easy-access modes provides flattering light under a wide range of challenging conditions. Z3 takes the mystery out of night shots, daytime shadows and those annoying red eyes. And Z3 lights the way with its illuminated LCD control panel...the perfect way to take advantage of its Custom Functions that truly personalize your camera.

The perfect size print for every moment. Talk about fit! Convenient. Foolproof. And fun. These are just some of the advantages of the Advanced Photo System. These features, combined with striking style and Canon ingenuity, create a camera that fits you to a tee.

Customer Reviews

Just the right size!
On my last vacation I got so tired of carrying around a large camera that I did not take many photos... However, when the old one played out I seized the opportunity to see what I could find in a smaller version... I fell in love with this little guy right away... However, when I got home, I started reading reviews of older APS cameras and became concerned. So I immediately shot one roll of film.. inside, outside, close, far away and took it to an hour developing center (more and more places are developing it now)... Along with that roll I took two 35mm rolls.. When I received the prints I compared them side by side and saw no difference in the quality of the prints... Also, it was only approximately 2.00 more per roll to develop than the 35mm.

What I love about this camera besides the convenience of the size is that you can take 3 different sizes of pictures with a flip of a switch and the date imprint on the picture.

The only drawbacks that I found was the lack of zoom (but I knew there would be a trade off for the small size) and the fact that I took one early evening photo which did not turn out very well... However, I discovered there is a 1000 speed film for the APS which hopefully will take care of that problem.

Bottom line: a great little everyday camera that is lightweight, easy and fun to use....

Great Camera, has a problem, but just be careful
I bought the Z3 about a week before we took a cruise to the Carribean, love the way it looked and handled,shot both Fuji and Kodak 400 speed film, have also shot this speed with and Elph 2 I have, the Z3 is a complete runaway, had the photos developed on shipboard, they did an excellent if not very expensive job, the results were just sensatiional, If I held it up to a 35mm print, you could not tell the difference, gorgeous color, great exposures, tack sharp lens and auto exposure system, this is a real winner except for one weak point, when you shut the camera off, the lens retracts inward, you can easily bang the door into the retracting lens, which I did on 3 occassions, twice knocking the door off the track, I fixed it myself by popping it back on, no damage, I think Canon could use a fix here, other than that, I,ll still give it a 5 rating, its a winner.

Yes, Sir, that's my baby!
This compact camera is easy to carry around, and I just drop into my purse so that I can snap pictures anywhere. I love photography, but one of my bad habits is succumbing to the creative need of insatiable picture taking -- and then not developing the rolls of film.

I have another APS camera with 10x zoom, but it is not lightweight, and partially used rolls of films hide inside. What I love about the APS-format is the ability to take a roll of film out of one camera and insert it into another, even if some pictures are already on the film. So, I can check whether film is used or not, quite easily with the automatic film loading and advance features

APS-format also lets me set the coverage of the camera in three frame types. One is focused on center object without much background. Next is for group shots that elongate the lens area slightly more. The panoramic view is a large rectangular coverage. The self-timer function means that I also get to be in the picture. It seems that I was in very few family photos because I was always the one behind the camera; now I am a participant.

One of the pictures I took in this format is of my niece at her wedding as she danced with and kissed her new husband. It is a striking photograph because it is focused on them, and you see the floor, decorations, lighting, and can feel the dance and their movements to get a true impression of this moment.

Generally, I forget when I took a picture unless it is coded on the photo, especially since I may let the film sit in a camera too long. This excellent feature and stays on time and date.

Because I love this little Elph I give it 5 stars, and wish you great success with your photography as well.

Victoria Tarrani