Canon PowerShot Pro1

As a 35mm user with a great deal of kit for my Canon SLRs, I would have liked to buy a digital SLR, but couldn't easily afford one at the time (I had a long trip coming up, and really wanted a digital camera to take with me). Looking at the various reviews of new cameras, I was interested in the Canon Powershot Pro 1 for several reasons, mainly the resolution, but also the name and familiarity that comes with buying a top brand, many of the controls are similar to Canon's SLR layout, so commonality bonus points there !

I got my camera via ebay, and saved a lot, in fact, if I hadn't been fortunate to win the auction at £450, then I probably wouldn't have got this particular model at all, there was no way I would have bought one at the (then) shop price of £850.

I saved enough on the camera to get a couple of (non Canon) batteries, and a good quality 1GB compact flash card. The big card is essential, as at the highest JPEG quality, I can get about 250 images on the card, the supplied 64MB card is a waste of time with an 8 megapixel camera, I wish manufacturers would supply something appropriate with their cameras.

Here comes my first gripe about the camera... It's a newish camera, so there is absolutely no excuse for having a USB 1.1 connection to download the images to a computer. A 1GB card takes about 25 minutes- far too long, so a USB2 card reader is a required purchase I feel.

Most Digital SLRs use firewire, but I se the latest EOS20D uses a USB2 connection, so progress is being made in other areas.

Second big gripe, the lens will not follow focus, to track an object moving towards or away from the camera, the cmaera has a focus mode that seems to allow follow focus, but in fact just focusses all the time, even when the shutter release is not half pressed, even when the camera is on a table, as long as it's switched on. In either of the focus modes, as soon as the shutter release is half pressed, the focus is locked, so an object moving at speed towards you will most likely be a little blurred unless you press the shutter quickly.

small gripe next, the lens has no filter threads, it has an external bayonet fitting for the supplied lens hood, and this is used to attach the 58mm filter adapter. Problem being that you can't use the filter holder and lens hood at the same time, and the lens front element is not recessed at all, leaving it dangerously exposed to fingers, dirt, and scratches- I wold have liked to be able to leave a protective filter on all the time, especially as the lens is built in, and can't be replaced if badly damaged (except by Canon I suppose, but pricey).

Overall, apart from the bad points I've highlighted here, the camera is very nice in use, and the images are stunning in the level of detail that can be recorded. For anyone needing a lightweight 'replacement' for an SLR, then this comes close, but only for still subjects !