Canon Soft Leather Case for Powershot S30, S40, S45, S50, S60, S70 & S80 Digital Cameras

For all of us who have a Canon S-series Powershot, we spent a lot of money on our higher-end consumer digicams and want a Canon-branded case to show off our camera and feel good about our purchase. So the least you'd expect would be either (1) they'd include a nice Canon-branded case with the camera or (2) make a Canon-branded case worthy of this line of digicams. I love my Powershot S-30, am taking fantastic pictures with it, but I have to say the case options Canon gives you has been the biggest frustration with my purchase thus far.

The positives: it's leather (or leatherette..hmm?), looks OK, specifically fits the S-series well and isn't priced outrageously for the value you're getting. As far as the negatives, enough people have already pointed them out so I'm going to focus on what to buy instead...

WHAT TYPE OF BAG ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
- FULLY PADDED WITH ROOM FOR ACCESSORIES: if you want a bag w/ good protective padding, that has room for an extra battery and CF card and has a neck/shoulder strap, you should seriously think about a LowePro. After spending countless hours on Canon message boards, I can't begin to count the number of times people recommended these - good looking, sturdy construction and a very good value. You can find many of their models on amazon - but check out their website, and specifically the D-series and Z-series bags.
- BELT CLIP CASE: while the PSC-30 fits the minimum requirements here (it clips to your belt), many of LowePro's models allow for clipping to the belt and are still very compact (and btw, no I'm not a LowePro employee - read on...)
- FORMFITTING SLIMLINE: by definition, these aren't going to provide a lot of impact protection, simply weather/scratch protection. so, having said that, for the ultimate in slimline cases, I'd go with Canon's SC-PS900 specifically designed for the S-series Powershots. This case is made of a neoprene-like material that pound for pound probably provides a good deal of impact protection, form fits the S30/40/45/50 perfectly with just enough room for a spare battery (w/o the little battery tray) and the camera wrist strap attached to the camera, looks cool as heck and has the all-important red Canon logo displayed on the front. But wait...they don't sell them in the US! Huh? You can get them in Europe, Asia and even Canada, but for some strange reason Canon is not allowing US retailers to sell them - sounds like a payoff from the camera bag manufacturers or something else sinister. For those in the US, the cheapest way to get it is through Canadian photo retailers (try Harry's or Vistek). No doubt it will run you more than the PSC, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Full disclosure: I have absolutely no affiliation with LowePro, but I did end up getting the SC-PS900 from a Canadian retailer and have been very happy with it.


basic protection, perfect fit, quick & easy access to camera   December 10, 2003
jemaerca (River Forest, IL, United States)
50 out of 50 found this review helpful

the psc30 is a very nice case that does its primary mission well - protect your s30/s40/s45/s50 from everyday wear and tear in a package that is light and compact.

pros:
- protects from everyday wear and tear without adding bulk or weight to your camera/case package.
- designed specifically for the canon s-series so it's a perfect fit.
- very quick and easy access: using this case's belt loop, it's a two second operation to flick open the velcro cover and fish the camera out.
- reasonable priced - in the ballpark of generics.

cons:
- does not have enough padding/protection: from all the reviews i've read, this is one of two main complaints. i have to agree; this case won't protect your camera if you drop it, but it wasn't designed to do that. if you want more padding (but with more bulk), you'll have to look elsewhere.
- no extra pockets for CF cards or spare batteries: this is the other main complaint, and again, this is true. while this is an issue for some, it isn't for me because i was looking for the smallest case i could find. adding more pockets means more bulk. besides, i bought a 512MB card and for me, that's enough storage capacity that i don't need a spare CF card. a spare battery, if i felt i needed it for that day's activities, will sit in my pocket.

i like this case. i accept the "cons" i listed as a necessary trade-off to what i was really after: the smallest, lightest case for my s50. it really depends on what you want to use this case for. if you need more protection or more storage, pass on this case. if you're looking for a simple case that offers everyday protection, a perfect fit, and allows quick and easy access to your camera, this is the one.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.


lousy case, worth about $5 - SHOULD BE NO STARS!   February 11, 2002
43 out of 43 found this review helpful

I wish I had read the reviews first before ordering this. It is a terrible case. I thought there would be cushioning of some sort and a small pocket to store CF cards or a spare battery, but it basically only makes the camera bulkier. I plan to return it and root around in my old camera equipment for something that fits.


Just don't buy it   March 30, 2002
39 out of 41 found this review helpful

I should have listened to the other negative reviews on this product. Bought it and finally have to return it. It's really what the others have said. I ended up buying a Samsonite at Best Buy for my Canon S30. If your camera is also as small as mine, that Samsonite is probably the best you can find out there.