I have the S1Is which was the previous model of the same camera. I like it a lot and am sure I would like the newer one better. Yes, get two sets of rechargeable batteries and a charger.

Bob...thanks for answering. I've had the camera just a couple of weeks and I am very pleased with the pix. I'm new to photography and of course, I'm still in full auto mode. Perhaps I'll venture past this stage with a bit of experience. Also my first experience with a digital camera. WOW, what a difference from film...thanks again....

I'm sure you will enjoy your camera. I still haven't experimented with all the features of mine. Here's a link to a video clip I made with it: Click here to see video clip.

Hi, Kathy, (and Bob) I just migrated over (well, this IS the bird watchinging forum, after all!) to the Conversation Link to check it out and saw this post.

I was given a Canon Powershot S2 IS digital camera as a Christmas gift from someone I did some photo work for and have been playing around with it some.

So far, I am VERY pleased with the results AND mighty pleased with its internal Image Stabilization system .. one of the very best I have tried yet.

What a relief to handle a digital camera with enough buttons on the outside of the case, as to avoid having to navigate thru layers & layers of menus all the time!

The video capabilities are good, although I am using a new digital camcorder for videos, a Panasonic PV GS-500, which I also like very much.

I am finding several accessories for the S2 IS at eBay at greatly reduced prices, especially after the newer S3 model came onto the market.

Including wide angle and telephoto converters, accessory tubes, filters, close-up lenses, and a great help.. a very simple device, a collapsible rubber eyepiece cup that fits over the camera's viewfinder for taking outdoor shots on bright days.

Shooting moving birds or waterfowl using the Continuous Button setting, in combination with the Image Stabilization, is a breeze.

I am not finding mine a battery drain. Maybe it is the brand of re-chargeable batteries you are using??

I use an EverReady fast charge charger that chargess four AA or AAA batteries in just 15 minutes. It also has a tiny electric fan in the charger that turns on to keep the charger running cool. I think it was only around $35 for the charger and 4 AA batteries at WalMart.

On eBay I picked up an inexpensive Mercury brand charger and 4 AA batteries that comes with a cord to charge batteries in your car from the cigatette lighter.

All in all, I think this S2 is a great little digicam, and since it has been replaced with the S3 at 6MP Resolution, the S2 is selling at a lower price now.

Not sure if we are notified of new posts in the Conversation Link area, or not?? So I will put up a message in the forum area that you have a message here if I don't hear back from you guys.

Gail R (WNY)

Gail and Bob.....thanks for all the info....am at work right now so will get back with you both when at home. This office computer leaves a lot to be desired...

~Kathy~

Whew....what a day at the office. I work at a small university and the students are just now returning from holiday and we ARE NOT READY for them to return!!!!! But, we will be....we always are.
Gosh....I can't believe its been nearly a year since I posted this message. Anyhoo, the camera is a good friend and pal now and not so new anymore. When I posted this message I had been using regular batteries, not rechargeable...hey, I was a total novice!!!! They lasted for about 50 pix...LOL. Got a charger and some rechargeable Everreadys the day after my post....gotten 5 more since then. Just got a new charger and more new batteries for Christmas, too. So....now I want the 1.5 teleconverter lens and some other goodies. This little point and shoot seems to do a pretty decent job with birds....had my doubts in the beginning. My brother-in-law is into photography big time and said it was a "so-so" camera but probably not really good for wildlife photography. For petes sake; I wasn't trying out for National Geographic.....I just wanted a "good enough" camera so I could take a decent picture of a bird and take it to someone and ask, "Do you know what kind of bird this is?".....And it does that....and more. I've gotten some pretty decent shots with it and am totally satisfied with the camera. I still haven't played with a lot of the settings and haven't really experimented with the video taking part yet. But, I'm happy with the results. My husband also got me (in addition to those much needed new batteries and charger) a Canon Selphy photo printer so now I can print some of my own photos. Its a pretty neat little gadget and really simple to use.....(and it was on sale!!!) I am quite pleased with this little camera. The only drawback for me is the bulk of the camera. Sometimes I wish it was a little more compact and easier to slip in and out of a cargo pocket. Other than that its perfect for what I want it for and takes pretty good pix. Now to see if the old budget will let me get that converter and lens. Gail....thanks so much for the heads up on the eBay items....in fact I'm heading there now to check out some things. Bob....your crow is beautiful....especially navigating to the suet log. I love crows....we have 5 that sorta "hang out" here in the neighborhood, you know, just terrorizing the Coopers and the Red-tails....what a treat when their around. Thanks to you both.......

~Kathy~

Crows are very interesting birds. I enjoy them, even when they start tuning up their chorus as dawn approaches. Crows and jays are very intelligent. I do get disgusted with the jays for their bullying tactics but I enjoy watching them.

Have to agree Bob....we get a kick out of watching the Crows pull some of their antics. Between the Blue Jays and Crows the other birds just don't get any peace at all. We had a nesting pair of Crows last summer that sucessfully raised two babes. The female seemed to delight in removing my wreath from the back door..pulling it into the backyard and trying to remove the dried Spanish moss that was part of the decoration. Every afternoon when we came home fom work the wreath would be in the yard with all the flowers plucked out and they would be strewn all over the yard. For the longest time we couldn't figure out what was happening or how it was getting there....but, one Saturday when neither of us had to work we found out who the culprit was. She worked so hard trying to get that moss for her nest that I finally pulled all the moss off for her, left it in the yard, and she and her mate carried all of it away. Guess that nest was nice and comfy. They brought the fledglings around pretty much all summer and they were a sight to behold. One afternoon the resident Mockingbird was having some of the quartered apple pieces we always put outside when Mama Crow decided she wanted some....that Mockingbird wasn't about to share....it was a draw tho'...noboby got hurt and the Mockingbird and the Crow both ended up with some of the apple. We moved to a new house last September after being in that particular place for 27 years. I thought we might have a problem getting the birds to come around at the new place. I didn't have to worrry tho' because within a day or two the Crows (and everybody else, I think) found us and we haven't missed any of their antics at all. Good thing we moved just 4 blocks down the street....LOL. Well, thanks for sharing the video Bob....it was a treat to see. Thanks again for your help too Gail....

~Kathy~

Found some pix of the nest building. Here are a couple showing Mom and Dad gathering nesting material. I'll see if I can find some pix of the young ones. Be right back....

~Kathy~

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Found 'em....couple of the young ones and a pic of the Mockingbird/Crow "War of the Apples".....

~Kathy~
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Great series of pictures Kathy. I really like the one of the mockingbird. The mockingbird that occasionally visits my garden isn't as aggressive toward the smaller birds as the jays (I have scrub jays instead of blue jays)but doesn't back down from anything. But the king of aggression in my garden is the annas hummingbird guarding it's feeder. The story about the crow and the moss in the wreath reminds me of the bushtits and my wife's clothesline. They kept at it until the line was shredded.

{{!gwi}}

Kathy, I wrote down all the various accessories I was finding for Canon S2 at eBay while shopping online and I just found the list on my desk ...

2.0x Telephoto $36.15 +$19.54 Shipping

3.0x Tokina Telephoto $59.99 + $7.oo

Pro Ultra Wide Angle, Multi-Coated .. with Adapter Tube $29.29

.5x Wide Angle $31.49 + $8.00

.42x Fish Eye $39.95 + $8.95

Ring Light, Macro $95.89 + $7.99

10x Macro Lens $22.49 + $6.00

3.2x HD2 Telephoto $74.95 + $8.95

.22x Fish Eye $64.95 + $8.95

.45x Wide Angle + Macro $46.87 + $29.31

1 GB SD memory card $29.29

Canon S2 Accessory Kit, containing all this, below ...
.5x Wide Angle
2.0x Telephoto
3-piece Polarizing Filter
+4 Close-Up
UV filter, Multi-Coated, 58mm
Diffuser Filter, 58mm
Lens Adapter Tube (slips onto end of SCanon S2 lens and then acepts 58mm filters & accessories)

All above for $87.90 US

Gail R (WNY)

WOW....thanks so much Gail. I really would like to get some "reach" with this little camera and looks like there are some great deals here. Thanks again....

~Kathy~