The Canon Powershot S2 IS is a difficult camera to evaluate. While it is has some impressive specifications and is very full-featured, it also exhibits several imaging problems. An important point  is that it provides a combination of features currently unmatched by other cameras of its class. Notably, its movie mode allows zooming, stereo sound, noise-filtering and adjustable parameters. Another impressive feature is its 0 cm macro mode which allows to take pictures of objects right next to the lens. As for the negatives, most cameras in this class are noisy at all ISO levels and many of them produce slightly soft images. Considering this, its worse weaknesses are chromatic aberrations and tendency to overexpose.

Competing models such as the Panasonic FZ5 and the Konica-Minolta Z5 produce better pictures but don't offer so many features. On the other hand, the Sony DSC-H1 is beaten hands down by the Canon Powershot S2 IS.