Canon Elph Z3 Zoom APS 35mm Film Camera Kit Reviews.

Having owned several small APS cameras, I can safely tell you that this one is a winner. The Z3 has a decent 2.3 times optical zoom (I prefer a 3x, but this is pretty good), very small size, and excellent battery life (over 25 rolls/battery, vs. under 10 for many other cameras). It also has some of the minor features that prove useful, including date and time encoding, mid roll rewind and load, and basic control over the flash (4 modes).
If you've never used the APS format before you will be impressed by the small camera size and image results, as long as you stick with 4x6 prints. If you require 35mm results with enlargements, go elsewhere. This has nothing to do with this camera, its all in the film size. You might be able to enlarge to 5x7, but no further. These are really tiny negatives and the images get grainy when you enlarge them too much.

I've seen some complaints about reliability, but after a hundred rolls or so this camera has been flawless. It did take us a roll or so to get used to the turning the camera off (you slide the lens cover over), but once you get the hang of pressing the cover in just a bit before sliding it, it comes easy.

I'd also suggest that you check out the Canon 370Z camera. While it is a bit bigger and has shorter battery life (I've averaged 8-9 rolls per battery at best), the zoom is a full 3x, meaning that you can zoom in a bit more. That can be useful, although I have not missed it as much witht his camera as I expected.

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Problem with film loading compartment!, December 23, 2004
Reviewer: S. Davies "Philly Sean" (Philly, PA) - See all my reviews

I received this camera as a gift in June 2003 and used it maybe 10 times over the course of a year. Then all of a sudden the "EASY" APS loading dock started to get very fussy. After about a month of playing to get the film loaded, the camera stoppped letting the film out of the compartment! It's broke and I can't get it working! I took it to the Camera Shop and they said it would cost $110.00 to fix it! Forget it! I'm going back to 35MM - the film is cheaper and it cost a lot less to get developed. How much easier was the APS after all?
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Great camera, November 14, 2003
Reviewer: Abbie
It's the perfect size to keep in a purse or carry in a pocket. The quality is great. I love this camera.

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expensive disposable camera, September 24, 2003
Reviewer: "beekayw"
This camera broke within a year. Canon did not back their product and when they sent it back to me it was inoperable and unusable.
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Is it true?, March 24, 2003
Reviewer: Wade

This Camera saved my life!
Last spring I went on vacation with my girlfriend..
We were in Tokyo...just walking...talking..
shopping..having a great time.

It was 70 degrees..with a gentle cool breeze...
My girl looked great..I looked great.:)
It was the perfect day!
(OH! The camera...It was in the front pocket of
my jacket)

Then POW! out of no where a woman ran out of a shop..
hit me in the shoulder...She turned around looked directly in my eyes... raised her arm and fired a .38 caliber bullet into my chest. They said the force of the bullet knocked me back 8 feet..through the shop door....And...
I'm sure you all know what I'm about to write...YES!.. The bullet hit the stainless steel camera. Causing it to enter my lung instead of my heart.
I have now fully recovered from this tragic event.
The women that shot me claimed she was
having a nervous breakdown due to an abusive husband and an addiction problem. She is on the street again.
She never apologized.(thanks!)
I didn't get to keep the camera...it was used as evidence.
But I now have a new one....
It's a good camera...pictures are a bit grainy...but I'm not a very good photographer either..
This camera is easy to use, maintain and carry..I recommend the
front pocket. Have a great day! Wade...Texas.
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Stick with 35mm, February 3, 2003
Reviewer: "c00kie58"

In the camera store that I work at, we rarely sell APS cameras now that their novelty has worn off and this is why:
The frame size for APS film is LESS THAN HALF the size you get with 35mm film. This means that if you blow your pictures up, you will see much more of the grains. Also, there is a noticable difference even between using a 100 speed film (which you should give you the sharpest pictures) and the 200 speed film. The film quality is just bad and the selection is very limited.

APS film is more expensive, and it also cost more to get developed. It is even more if you shoot panoramics. As far as the film goes, if you purchase the value packs you can get 6 rolls of 35mm film for the price you would pay for 3 rolls of the same speed of APS film in many stores.

Instead of this camera, I suggest the Pentax IQzoom 130M. It has more than twice the zoom for LESS money! It also features an easy to use panorama mode if you like having that option. A 35mm camera is not hard to load, and the superior quality is well worth the 3 extra seconds it will take you to load film. You'll get more camera for your money and you'll be so much happier with your pictures.

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