Canon Sure Shot A1
Waterproof and beautifully gaudy
I have had people ask if this is a real camera and rightfully so because it looks like a Tonka tough toy. Despite it’s interesting exterior it outclasses a lot of sleek stylized high level P&S cameras that would be taken more seriously. It’s quite a pragmatic camera and the more I used it the more the design and styling makes sense. The very bulbous and uniquely colored Fischer Price stylings hide a real sleeper of a feature rich camera. The thick plastic case and buttons make it easy to handle even in wet situations while keeping it protected from shock. The coloring is very useful when you are trying to spot the unit even if it was under some water. It’s attached by a large sturdy neck strap which at that size is usually found on SLRs. I took off the strap and wish it had a wrist strap as I do not plane on much aquatic shooting myself.
One feature that is well thought out is the preset focal distance mode almost like a Ricoh GR “snap focus” setting although that focus is only for up close shooting. It’s a good way to make sure you get the focus you want if you can’t wait or trust the autofocus at the moment. Having that option along with autofocus is ahead of it’s time. I really appreciate how easy it is to select flash or no flash mode as soon as the camera is powered on, something I wish every P&S camera had. I can no stress this enough. I love my Olympus Mju (aka Stylus) but you have to hit the flash mode button twice every time you turn it on to avoid it flashing. Sometimes you will lose the candid moment while depressing the tiny membrane switch. With this camera I can turn it on and immediately know if I’ll be blitzing people or not. The large viewfinder that would be easy to use underwater even with goggles as it’s very accommodating to me as a glasses wearer. The power/mode selection is a large rotary control knob with an extruding handle which can be manipulated even with gloves on or without looking directly at it. I will say that there are times when the camera accidentally gets activated while in my pocket because the knob is so accessible. The shutter button is also nice and large which is easy to depress. It really is a well thought out niche camera. I would expect nothing less from Canon who produce very quality products.
Living in Seattle it’s nice to know I can have a camera on me walking around the city and not worry about moisture damage. Other companies have made weather proof P&S cameras (Konica, Minolta, Nikon, and etc) but this one is the one for me. For the 13 months a year it rains here I can have this in my backpack and not worry. I have only had a couple missed focus/exposure during my times with it in sub-standard weather about what I would with any other P&S camera of this caliber.
It really is one of the few cameras I can throw into my backpack anytime of the year and be care free about what I do afterwards. As someone that babies their cameras it’s a relief to not think about dust from my pocket getting in the internals, water shortening the life span, or pockets treasures scratching the outside (it can still happen but the color and material hides imperfections well). I would highly suggest this camera to anyone even little children could use it because of the simple design and rugged build.
-Dindo 11/20/21
Specs:
- Aperture: F3.5-
- Speed: 2s-1/250th
- Focal length: 32mm
- Power: 1 3V CR123A battery