Compact, good zoom-intelligence, Excellent Macro-Mode picture taking, over-all fast point-n-shot device.

camera is self contained, however carry-case is a must for longivety, Poor qaulity pictures if Hi-Speed 800 ISO is utilized,...

The reason I bought this SureShot Z90w 35mm was for its wide-angle tele-photo lens and its AF/point feature as well as the self-containing casing ( the lens is fully covered when camera shot-down (OFF) by a sliding cover), the AUTO mode on a rear-dial seems to produce best shots. On my 1-st try roll I used ISO 400 X-tra FUJI 35mm film, results were very promising: sharp pictures and good color balance; Then, I went on vacation with 3 rolls of ISO 800 X-Tra FUJI film -- big disappintment! the Camera seems to be incapable to adjust shutter-speed DX (format) to the FILM's speed, most of the pictures developed were over-exposed. I then experemented some more and realized that in-door Camera produces the best pictures with ISO 400 film, Out-door optimum ISO 200 film was producing crisp pictures; Under, no circumstances I suggest that you use ISO 800 ( film is expensive) and end result dominant over-exposure! Over all I love this camera.

Customer Service

none, don't need it.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Scanner N670U color 1400x1200 dpi LED, USB -- beats all scans i ever made.

28mm at wide end. One of the faster wide zooms in the p&s market. Good build for a P&S. Nice lens.

The diopter control wheel rotates too easily and I, at least, have to reset it often. There''s a touch of flare shooting into a real high-contrast or otherwise bright scene, but not overly objectionable. Zoom is in steps -- usually not a biggie. Most of the other weaknesses are the same as those for all other P&S cameras. That is, I won''t give it poor grades for things like "it''s too big for my huge manly hands" or "it doesn''t display the shutter speed or aperture" (like I''ve seen before), because that''s just the nature of this type of camera.

Well, I guess I''m in the minority with this camera. Maybe it''s a matter of sample variation or quality control, or user abiltiy, but I''ve had very good results with this camera. I''ve had consistenly accurate slide exposures. I only get 5x7 prints made (when shooting print film) and most have good exposure. And I''ve gotten a couple of superb 8x12 enlargements. When I use the camera, it''s most often in auto mode, or the personal set-up mode, which I usually have configured similar to the auto but with flash forced off. I usually don''t use the portrait or other special modes. I often force the flash on for outdoor fill flash. That usually works very well. I''ve found the lens to be adequately sharp for most prints. When I "know" it was wide-open for a particular shot, it has seemed slightly soft, but not really objectionable. Here''s a kicker- I almost exclusively use Fuji Reala 100ASA. Go figure. You get the flashing light in the finder more often (for slower shutter speeds), but in my opinion, it really delivers in great color, low grain, and exposure latitude. Everybody tells P&S users they gotta'' use 400 or 800. I guess I''m a slow-speed holdout (and many of my pictures are taken in bright light!) And although it''s not advertised as such, the $12 case that is marketed for the Canon 120 Classic fits this camera VERY nicely. B&H has this camera now for $140. I think that''s a bargain. It''s in the same price range as the Monolta Freedom Zoom Explorer EX, which I also have and also has a zoom starting at 28mm. I''d rate the Canon a much better camera - MUCH better build and a better lens. When I look at all my pictures, the ones I like the most are from this camera and my Yashica T4 Super. I have some great shots from my Elan IIe as well, but these little cameras are with me more often than the SLR''s.

Customer Service

Haven''t needed ...

Similar Products Used:

Canon Z115, Yashica T4 Super, Olymus Stylus Epic, Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer EX + many SLR''s, many rangefinders, viewfinders, etc.

Theorically all features are very good, 28mm Wide Angle, Design, Flash on top (comparing to SureShot Classic 120), compact

Not worth the money, picture quality is same of single use camera.

I have bought this camera for our honey moon travel in Cancun, Mexico. I bring with me about 5 negative print films ISO 200 & ISO 400 (Kodak Gold 200, Fuji Xtra 400 - the new one) and one cheap single-use camera (Konika-400 ISO about 8$). All the pictures I have taken with this camera came out very bad. Although in the instruction manual they tell that it can dectect backlit situation (in certain setting mode), but it ''s not true. I have tried all modes of this camera but it can not give a result as expected. Ex: when I turned on flash to fill in a portrait picture in a backlit scene, it became under exposure, and the face is not bright correctly. Almost pictures were under exposure, I don''t understand why. I have some knowledge about photograph how aperture and speed work together, backlit situation, etc..., and own an old Canon SLR manual focus, but I want to have an automatic P&S camera that my wife can use. So I''m very disappoint with the result and lost almost nice picture of our honey moon travel. Some pictures of the single use camera came out with better or equal quality with this camera. After my travel, I returned it to the store and buy a Canon Rebel 2000, although it''s a lot more expensive. I have tried the Olympic Epic Zoom 80 of my sister-in-law, it give very good results, especially when using with ISO 400 film. The vendor had shown me a newer version of Olympic (All Weather), he told me the optical quality of Olympus was higher, I think it''s better to go with that. Although my english is not good, I try to write this review to give you idea on the bad experience that I had with this camera. I have bought it because I seen the very high note on Canon Sure Shot Classic 120, and Canon Sure Shot Z90w has similar and more interestering features (28 wide angle, clam design, flash on top).

Customer Service

never use

Similar Products Used:

Olympic Stylus Epic Zoom 80 Minoltat Freedom Some old other SLRs. And now a new Canon Rebel 2000

-Small and light.
-Ideal zoom range for travelling.
-Theoretically good features (spot/integral exposure & AF) and controls ("best shot" dial, keeps most settings)

Have had 2 of them. I returned my first one because:
-Terrible definition at wideangle with strong fall-off from right to left of frame.
-No difference of exposure (slide film) between spot and integral metering under conditions where there should have been. It always seemed to be on spot charcteristic.

The second one was better, but:
-Still bad definition fall-off towards the edges at wideangle. Unacceptable. Centre and other focal lengths OK.
-Also here no difference between spot and integral metering.
-This one gave very inconsistant exposures - too much for slide film. Flash exposure good.
-Even on multibeam focussing only the central beam was working. My first one focussed well on off centre objects.

Other comments/criticism:
- I kept moving the "best shot" dial inadvertantly with my thumb and ending up on settings I was surprised about. The big ring is good but in the wrong place for my hand.
-The dial setting is inconspicuous. A blob of white paint would have been applied had I kept the camera.
-The flash kept wanting to come up where I had my finger. That also had its good part because it is so easy to turn it off by just pushing it in instead of pressing 2 buttons about 5 times as recommended in the manual (which warns strictly against pushing it down).
-The front cover seems to be hanging on a short, thin plastic rail and is open to pressure from all sides. Interesting construction.

My daughter is happy that she got my Z90W as a present. It will be fine for the little pictures she makes on print film. My expectations for a USD 200+ camera are different from what I experienced with these 2 Z90W.

The Z90W has a good general concept and I assume I was just unlucky. I'm very curious about the coming reviews. Thanks for your attention.

Customer Service

Not happy with Canon Europhoto in Germany.

The store refused exchange my first Z90W after 2 weeks because they claimed it had to go to Canon. So I drove to Canon, about 45 minutes by car. It is positive that they have a technician with whom you can discuss your problem. I had my test film along and was convinced he would agree to swap my camera after seeing the pathetic quality pictures. To my surprise he refused to even look, told me I shouldn't expect very sharp pictures from a point and shoot, recommended an EOS (I already use the EOS 100 thank you) and said that they would notify me within 2 weeks.
4 weeks later I sent them a nasty letter and 3 days after that I received a standard printed form that my camera had been repaired and could be picked up. In reply, I wrote them an even nastier letter saying they could keep the ..... thing until they sent me a few words about what they had done with it.
The answer to that was a phone call 10 days later saying I could pick up a new camera because they didn't have the spares to repair the first one.
Draw your own conclusions.

Similar Products Used:

Always looking for the perfect and affordable very compact travel camera that I can force my will upon. The previous one was the Pentax 928 (wonderful but unreliable), the Canon's successor is a Fuji DL Mini Zoom (looks good so far).

I purchased this one because of its zoom range. It's perfect for me for general use and traveling, shooting snapshots. It's small, lightweight, nice looking, very easy to use. "Left-eyed" people will have a hard time with the diopter adjustment and zoom control, but "right-eyed" people will find the controls very convenient. The clamshell is tight - it will not open when you don't want it to. The "Best Shot Dial", while decried in Pop Photo's otherwise glowing review (March 2001), seems to work well. For quick, general photography, use the dial as intended. I don't think you can go wrong. At the time that any of the categories is selected, however, that category can still be customized. I've shot one 12-exposure roll so far, to test. All prints, except perhaps one end of the wide angle one, are VERY sharp. The flash works well, the redeye reduction works well. Closeups are great, but I am initially confused by the parallax lines in the viewfinder, as 1/3 of the actual view of the lens, at closeup, is completely out of the viewfinder area! Most confusing, but probably not at all unusual.

The Best Shot Dial has many features that can become a bit cumbersome, but with continued use I'm sure I'll figure out what I need and don't need, simplifying the process. I was disappointed that the lens zooms in what I think are large steps. From the widest setting, the next possible step could be close to 35mm or so. There are no in-betweens.

I highly recommend it for those requiring a 28mm wide angle setting. There aren't many out there, so it wasn't a difficult choice. ;^) With the Best Shot Dial, it is very easy to use right out of the box. That is good for beginners. More "advanced" users will find the extra customizing useful. I think the price is a fair one, too.

Customer Service

Not tried.

Similar Products Used:

None. I've gone only by Pop Photo reviews and reviews here at this site.

Size, 28mm wide angle lens, Canon reputation, spot metering.

Dial takes some getting used to, shutter lag is longer than in other cameras I've used (mostly Olympus), zoom moves in a series of steps instead of being continuous.

I wanted a wide lens, which really limited selection. After playing with a number of others, I saw the Canon and bought it at Canoga Cameras (they're great to work wit h and prices are very good!). So far I'm pleased. Prints are sharp, with only minor vignetting at wide settings. I wish the zoom was continuous and not stepped, but that's my only real criticism. My biggest problem with the camera is that I bought it for my wife, and wouldn't you know, she likes it so well that I rarely get to use it!

Customer Service

Haven't had to use it, though I did call to ask a very basic question and was not impressed with the knowledge of the people who answer the phone. I even asked for someone in the tech department and that person didn't know the difference between the focal length of the lens and the lens speed.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 928, Olympus Stylus Wide 80, Fuji DL Mini Zoom

Ease of portability.
28mm-90mm lens.
Auto wind, rewind, loading.
Diopter for viewfinder.
Best Shot dial on back of body, with variety of shooting modes.
Ease in handling, once you get used to it.
Forces you to plan and previsualize your shots.
Red-eye reduction, autofocus, spot focus, flash choice.
Quality lens.

No filter can be used.
Flash too close to lens.
Battery too expensive.
Lens' aperture not large enough, so you are forced to use high ISO film (400 and up).

This is a good camera for the advanced amateur who wants something for casual, everyday shooting.
One can't carry his heavy SLR and associated gear around all the time -- definitely beats carrying a backpack! The camera fits into my shirt pocket, with a neck strap.

Customer Service

Just bought this, so have not tried yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Canonet G-III QL17.
Canon Sure Shot Owl.

Good theoretical features

i just developed my first roll ( speed 400). To my suprise all the photos came too bright. Don't know the reason. Yet to find out.But for wide angle top right of the photograph is dull in lighting when i shoot indoor and the object is about 1to 1.5 meter in distance.

I bought it for its zoom 28-90mm. Don't take my ratings as granted.

Customer Service

No

Similar Products Used:

NO