Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red)

I purchased this item through Amazon and received it yesterday from Ace Photo Digital, and I am very happy with my purchase so far. The camera arrived quickly (at the early end of the expected delivery window) and was carefully packaged. I charged up the battery and 45 minutes later got to work.I got the black finish option. It isn't a smooth finish, but a little rough, like fine-grit sandpaper. I really like it because the camera is quite small in stature, and the finish allows for a sure grip at all times. After a brief initial set-up (set date/time and select language) I started snapping some shots in auto-mode. Wow, what a clean picture. I came from a 6 mega-pixel point and shoot, so 12 mega-pixel unit is a healthy upgrade. Pictures are sharp, balanced and vibrant, even in the low lighting around my place. I stepped outside and snapped a few more in the sunlight and found more of the same.Having mastered auto-mode (and who can't really?) I opened up the menu and started playing with some of the features. I've seen some reviews complain that putting the camera into a particular mode is too cumbersome, and I have a couple thoughts on that. Number one, the menu is optimally set up, easy to read and navigate. Icons illustrate the various modes, with text alongside to explain what each mode is and what it does. Selecting a mode was simple. Number two, as far as selecting a mode on the fly, any pro photographer will tell you one of the secrets to taking great pictures is planning ahead. I really don't know what Canon could do to make it any faster, other than assigning individual buttons on the camera for each mode, and that's not exactly feasible. Several features are included, so unleash your creativity! Video mode is nice as well, easy to use and shoots great video.Only two negatives I can think of for this purchase is something that plagues too many electronics when buying online. I want to know exactly what's in the box, and I couldn't find that anywhere in the product description. I ordered an SD card along with my purchase and I'm glad I did, because one is not included with the camera (that may very well be standard procedures these days, but I'm pretty sure my old Canon came with a card). So I will tell you what IS in the box: camera, manuals, cd-rom, RCA cable to connect with a tv, USB cable, one battery, and one wall-charger. The second drawback is that the LCD display screen is a bit exposed. In this small package space is a premium and it seems like the screen is pushed outward a little to compensate. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my protective case.Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. Tons of features, easy to use, excellent pictures and a great price. Highly recommended.

EDIT #2 (December 2011). I become more and more disappointed in this camera as time goes by. Just reviewed loads of photos from this summer/fall and I hate to say it, but -- they suck! My former Canon AS1100 (vintage 2008) took photos soooooo much better than thing. Interior shots are especially bad, whether flash is used or not. I figured to take this camera on a long international journey, but forget it. The photos are that disappointing. I did take the AS1100 on a long international journey (six months in Africa) and its photos were awesome. One even won a photo contest. The AS1100 hd a CCD sensor and the Elph 300 a CMOS -- that's the thing.So, I guess I'll be shopping for a new camera in the next few months. :(EDIT: I originally gave this 5 stars. Well, after shooting many photos under a variety of conditions during a recent vacation, I have to drop it to 4 stars. Using the camera's Auto mode, on many shots, the image quality is poor to mediocre. I assumed Auto mode image quality would be superior to the last two (and less expensive) Nikon and Canon point and shoots I have owned, but that is definitely not the case. Auto mode images tend to be soft and faint and not realistic, e.g., grass is a faint green, not the rich green of healthy grass. Pretty disappointing! To get the most from this camera, you have to use Program mode and set ISO at 100 or 200, and experiment with the manual white balance settings. Then photos come out much better, with improved quality and richness and color accuracy. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't allow you to apply custom ISO and WB settings to various scene modes, like Foliage or Fisheye.ORIGINAL: One of the best things about this camera is its 24 mm wide angle lens. This is wider than the 28mm lens that is standard on most pocket-sized point and shoots (and the Elph 100, a step down from the Elph 300) and it is very cool. If you're not familiar with how 24 mm vs. 28 mm compares, do a little Googling. It's outstanding for landscape shots and group shots and makes photos more engaging and descriptive, with no downside. Great move, Canon!The small size of the camera is fantastic. Pocketability and performance are very nicely balanced in this well built and well designed camera. It was good to see Canon back out of the megapixel war and reduce the megapixels on this model to 12.1, from 14 in its predecessor (the SD 1400). With the 5x optical zoom, CMOS sensor (vs. CCD), HD video and an impressive palette of shooting options, there's a lot to like in this little gem.One peculiarity is that the volume on video playback on the camera is extremely low. It's difficult to hear if you're playing back videos on the camera. It's a lot lower than another Canon point and shoot that I used for a few years. I think I have it adjusted to the max, though I have to take a closer look at the manual. Which leads me to ...Raspberries to Canon for not including a full user manual booklet. Since when has it become acceptable to sell a product without providing the customer with an easy means of learning how to use it? (I know, lots of mfr's do it but still). I travel extensively for months on end with a point and shoot and refer to the manual fairly often. If I want to look up some detail or just browse, I could just grab the manual from my pack over a cup of coffee. Does Canon expect me to lug around a printout of the full PDF manual? It's not always convenient to have a netbook running and use the manual on it. Nor is it as enjoyable or instructive as flipping through a book.Though I can see some logic in not providing a full booklet and am all for not wasting paper, I would be happy if Canon made available for purchase a proper user manual for $10 or $12 or whatever.